Statements at the Allegiance Ceremony of Students and Clergy

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

I extend my condolences to all of you dear brothers, who are the teachers of the nation and the vanguards of the movement towards the sacred goals of Islam, and who have always been the focus of special attention and care of our late and dear Imam. This great calamity and irreparable loss is truly a tragedy for the community of clergy, as they are the spiritual heirs of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), just as the scholars of the nation are the heirs of the divine prophets, and our great and late Imam himself was the heir of the prophets in their knowledge, goals, and path.

Since the Islamic Revolution of Iran is founded on the pure Muhammadan Sharia, it cannot be confined to a specific border, nationality, or ethnicity. The issue is not that the Iranian nation or the officials of this country want to export the revolution to a place or for someone using the usual methods of the world; rather, the issue is that when Islamic and divine thought and a new vision are presented to a group of Muslims, naturally, the entire Islamic world, according to its capacity and position, will benefit from that vision and understanding.

If the propaganda apparatus of global arrogance spreads venom against the Islamic Revolution, it is not unexpected, because their propaganda is based on deceit, trickery, and lies. The issue is that when a correct thought and a liberating and awakening idea is based on Islam, it will have supporters, buyers, enthusiasts, and admirers throughout the horizons and lands of Islam.

Who went from Iran to the farthest corners of European, African, and Asian countries and spoke to them about the virtues of the Imam of the Nation (may his soul be sanctified) that this great movement in the world rose in support of him during his blessed life and in mourning for that dear one after his passing? Despite the will of global arrogance, the Islamic world and the Islamic nation are united. When we speak of Islam and the principles of the revolution and the goals of the Islamic Revolution, our audience is all the Muslims of the world; and when we speak of struggle and confrontation with global arrogance and the world's bullies and plunderers, our audience is all the oppressed of the world. This is the nature of our message; global arrogance knows this. Its enmity with us, with Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), and with the Islamic Revolution is because of this point.

Another point is that if Islamic values are to be presented as definitive values in the world and attract human hearts and bring about change in the lives of Muslims, unity among them must be preserved. With division and enmity and sectarian warfare, it is impossible for Muslims to achieve unity.

We do not tell the sects of the Islamic world to abandon their specific beliefs and accept the beliefs of another sect; but we tell all Muslims that among us, the common points are more and more important and fundamental than the points of difference. Our enemies focus on the points of difference; we, on the contrary, must strengthen the common positions and not allow the enemy to find an excuse and find a point of pressure on the body of the Islamic nation through our division.

Fortunately, we have solved these issues in Iran. Many of our brothers in various parts of the Islamic world have either solved these issues or are close to solving them; but the enemy has not given up for a long time. From nearly two hundred years ago - when colonialism entered Islamic countries - until today, they have worked on the issue of division among the sects of Muslims; we must be very careful. Shia and Sunni must commit themselves to strive to bring Islamic sects closer to each other and to protect and support each other with brotherly love and interaction.

The main and final point is about the clergy. Colonialism's effort throughout the Islamic world was either to eliminate the religious scholars and remove them from the scene, or to distort and render their true identity ineffective. In some countries, the community of clergy was limited to a small center and office that performed some not very important tasks and had no connection with the daily lives of people, and the religious individual could not even engage in teaching religion.

In societies where the destruction of the clergy was not possible, they tried to attach this class to corrupt powers and courts and oppressive governments. The court-affiliated clerics, who were so often mentioned with disdain and hatred in the statements of our dear Imam, betrayed Islam and Muslims greatly. Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) said to one of the notable figures of his time: 'I see that you have made your neck the axis of the millstone for the oppressors, so that they may turn their injustices around the axis of your neck and rely on you to oppress the people.'(1) The scholar who justifies the oppression of corrupt systems is more dangerous than the systems themselves. The clergy that operates based on the goals of global arrogance is considered its ugliest and most vile agents, because it promotes the falsehood with the appearance of truth.

Global arrogance tried to spread this dangerous phenomenon in Islamic countries over nearly two centuries through money, enticement, and pressure. Of course, it was not entirely successful in this endeavor, because throughout the Islamic world - especially in Iran - the community of clergy stood firm in its rightful and decisive positions, initiated the great revolution in Iran, established the elevated Islamic Republic system, raised the flag of Islam in the world, and honored this religion.

If the clergy in our country had not been at the forefront of this issue, the movement would not have become widespread, and forces would not have been employed in the path of Islam. In the Islamic world, we also know scholars who, in the most difficult conditions and under the harshest pressures, spoke the truth and followed it. These are the people who endured severe pressures in their countries for supporting the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), and the revolution. Certainly, these individuals are among the righteous servants of God and have raised a flag that preserved the dignity of the clergy.

There are also those who acted in the opposite manner and caused great harm to Islam. They are the means of conspiracy, infiltration, and enemy propaganda. The Muslim people of the world must seek refuge in God from their evil and consider them as 'the adversaries' of Islamic concepts and values.

Our duty as the community of clergy - of which I am also a student in this great spiritual assembly - is to increase the spiritual strength of the scholarly community of clergy with all our might. The respected scholars should engage practically, intellectually, and in conduct and appearance in this matter, because the dignity of the clergy is the dignity of Islam and the revolution - especially the dignity of the Imam.

Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) greatly honored and supported the clergy. Any action that the clergy takes that is fruitful, blessed, brilliant, and beneficial for Islam and Muslims is also an honor and asset for the Imam. Conversely, any action that arises from the community of clergy and individuals in religious garb that, God forbid, causes doubt in the minds of people or ambiguity in their beliefs and thoughts, or leads to people's distrust of the clergy, will be a source of disgrace for Islam and the revolution - and especially our dear Imam - which must be countered.

I believe that the great scholars of the seminaries across the country can and must make every effort to strengthen the intellectual, ethical, and scientific foundation of each student and cleric and not pass over this important issue lightly. In the same way, they should confront the ugliness within the clergy. How meticulously and vigilantly our dear Imam (may his soul be sanctified) dealt with this issue; for this reason, he ordered the establishment of the special court for the clergy to confront the deviations within this community. He wrote the decrees for the officials of that court, and I have also endorsed and confirmed them. That court must operate with strength and decisiveness so that the community of clergy can display its beauty, brilliance, and spiritual purity more than ever. Truly, the religious scholars are the banners of religion. Every scholar is a banner for Islam and a proof against friends and enemies. 'Hujjat al-Islam' in the true sense of the word conveys this meaning.

Your efforts, respected gentlemen, scholars, and students, and speakers over these ten years are incomparable to the efforts of any other group. During this period, your endeavors, sincerity, and presence in various arenas have stirred eager hearts and prepared them for sacrifice.

How often did the enemies of Islam intend to sabotage in various places, but the presence of a cleric prevented their sabotage. Today, the revolution and the Islamic Republic still need those efforts. The community of clergy must still feel the heaviest burdens on its shoulders and be the vanguard and pioneer of various segments of the people, and as Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) always recommended, spread religion, ethics, and spirituality in society with their actions and words and turn all hearts towards spirituality, religion, and ethics.

Once again, I sincerely thank all the dear brothers, respected gentlemen, scholars, and students who have come from near and far and formed this gathering, and I ask God Almighty for your success, support, and victory.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings