Statements in Meeting with a Group of Children of Martyrs Graduating from Various University Levels

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

I am very pleased to meet you, dear ones, and the survivors of our esteemed martyrs. We thank God that we have witnessed the day when you, the children of martyrs, have, thanks be to God, traversed the paths of knowledge and progress and graduated at various levels. I hope that our society and country will also witness the day when you, dear ones—who carry the fragrance of martyrdom and are the legacy of our dear martyrs—take charge of the major affairs of the country.

What is important for us is that in universities and educational environments, as well as throughout the entire country, the orientation should be the same as that of our self-sacrificing, brave, and devoted martyrs who followed this path with enthusiasm and gave their lives. Everyone, in every part, at every level, and everywhere in this country, must strictly avoid doing anything contrary to the revolutionary and Islamic orientation that our martyrs pursued. Universities must also follow this direction, as should the administrative centers of the country at various levels.

You are the children of martyrs, and your fathers gave their lives on this path, and you are more entitled and deserving to continue this path and move in this direction. You must be very vigilant about yourselves and your orientation.

Let me also tell you, dear ones, that a person is constantly exposed to trials and tests. Nothing grants a person permanent immunity—not knowledge, not struggle, not even religiosity and piety—if one does not strive to preserve it. It is not the case that we can say to ourselves that we have performed this great act and struggle in the path of God, so we are no longer vulnerable; no, it is not so. Even those who perform great deeds in the path of God, if they do not watch over themselves, are vulnerable. One must constantly watch over oneself.

The Holy Quran speaks about those warriors who were wounded in battle—which is the highest level; a person goes to the battlefield and gets injured, like our dear disabled veterans—and says: "Those who responded to God and the Messenger after being wounded"; those who went to the battlefield and fought in the path of God and were injured and wounded, "for those who did good among them and were pious, there is a great reward"; this great reward remains for them, provided they maintain piety and righteousness. Otherwise, if someone performs that struggle and gains that spiritual value but, God forbid, does not preserve that value for themselves, this is a loss. What can preserve that value for us? Piety. That is why in every Friday prayer and in every chapter of the Quran, "piety" is constantly reminded to us. At the beginning of the Quran—these verses that were recited here—there is talk of piety: "This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of God."

You, dear ones, are esteemed in this world and the hereafter because you have endured a great hardship in the path of God, which is the loss of a father; this is a very significant matter, and you must preserve it. This value is not permanent and everlasting; it depends on you maintaining and preserving it, and its preservation is through observing piety.

Preserve the path of those fathers and martyrs. God willing, you will achieve high scientific positions, become researchers, scholars, professors, doctors, engage in technical work, manage factories, and administer governmental and national sectors. Wherever you are—whether in university or in the workplace—you must not forget that the path is the same as that of the martyr to whom you are a survivor. You must follow his path; and this is what, if we remember, will preserve our revolution.

Of course, in the pursuit of knowledge, you must especially strive more, so that those who have a disease in their hearts cannot say anything or find an excuse. You must study more and better than everyone else and achieve higher scientific levels than everyone else. Martyrdom is a sign of steadfastness. Martyrs were often the steel elements of the battlefield and among the steel elements of the people. This spirit and determination must manifest in your studies and work.

I am very pleased to see that you, thanks be to God, have traversed these various stages; God willing, you will continue your studies. Those who still have a path to continue their studies should continue, to become more educated and knowledgeable and to be as beneficial as possible to society and the system.

This revolution belongs to you; it belongs to the youth; it belongs to the faithful and Hezbollah people; it belongs to the families of martyrs; it belongs to the children of martyrs; you must manage it, and you are the ones who must, God willing, take over this country and this revolution. You must, God willing, continue the path that our great Imam started and your fathers paved.

These gentlemen responsible for the Martyrs Foundation must, God willing, do whatever they can and within their capacity to help this cultural work; because cultural service to the families of martyrs—which we have repeatedly emphasized—has more importance and value than material services; its permanence for the families of martyrs is, God willing, greater and more blessed.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings