Speech in Meeting with Commanders of Exemplary Resistance Basij and a Group of Basij Students and Clerics

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

Dear Basij brothers and sisters! Welcome; I hope you are always under divine grace and favor.

The Basij is one of the blessings of the Almighty upon the country, the revolution, and our great Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified). If the armed forces in any country reach full readiness but lack the support of voluntary popular forces, their capabilities will certainly not be complete. In our country and revolution, if the Basij forces—these sincere and faithful volunteers to the goals of the revolution—had not supported the battlefields in the past and do not continue to do so—God forbid—the defense of the revolution would certainly falter. The foundation is the people's force, which is the Basij. That is why you dear young people—whether clerics, students, or other groups—who are part of this great jihad in the path of God, must pay attention to the fact that the main axis is the armed defense of the revolution and it must be strengthened as much as possible.

Regarding the Basij, one task is the responsibility of the officials, and another task is the responsibility of the faithful and devoted Basij forces themselves. We are now concerned with the latter and will point it out. Those who have attained this blessing, who have been able to voluntarily stand in the ranks of jihad in the path of God, especially in the front lines, breaking through and enduring hardships, and performing various tasks that the Basijis have done and everyone knows, must purify their intentions with God and strive greatly in the growth of spirituality, ethics, piety, and righteous deeds within themselves.

Brothers and sisters! Know that we are never far from the greed of Satan. Satan covets us at all times. Satan even coveted the prophets; let alone people like us! What distinguishes the sincere servants from others is that they constantly humiliate Satan and thwart his greed. How is this possible? With piety. Piety is not a complex thing that one cannot understand.

The meaning of piety is to perform whatever the Almighty God has commanded, fulfill the obligations, and avoid the prohibitions. This is the first level of piety. One must recognize the divine prohibitions and not go near them. Satan is a tempter. When the spirit of piety, devotion to God, dealing with God, remembrance, attention, prayer, and reliance on God takes root and grows in the heart of this faithful Basij youth—whether a student, cleric, from other groups, urban or rural—then it becomes that solid, unshakeable line that no power can move. This guarantees the advancement of the goals of Islam and the revolution; this must be valued.

You young people who are Basijis and dear, and were beloved by the Imam, and God willing, are under the attention of the sacred presence of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and included in his pure prayers, the greatest point of your work is maintaining piety; being ready for sacrifice in the path of God and for being present where the Almighty God has willed.

Enemies come in various forms: foreign enemies and domestic enemies. Sometimes there is an enemy within as well. The internal enemy—the face tainted with hypocrisy—must also be recognized. In confronting these various enemies, the hope is in you. You are the ones who must stand like a solid foundation against these enemies.

The organization of the Basij and your regular and orderly presence in the centers where you must be is very important. It must be such that each Basij member knows to which unit they belong and where they must be; so that when Islam and the Islamic system need them, they can prepare themselves.

We hope that the Almighty God grants you success and preserves you. God willing, you will be under divine grace and favor and throughout your life, you will face progress in the path of goals and take firmer steps every day than the day before.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings