Statements in Meeting with Officials and Administrators of the System, on the Occasion of Eid al-Fitr

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

I also sincerely congratulate all Muslims around the world, the dear nation of Iran, and you, my brothers, esteemed attendees, and officials of the country on this blessed Eid and this great day. We hope that God will bless this Eid al-Fitr for our nation and other nations. What is more important than anything else and must be considered in all circumstances, especially today, after the blessed month of Ramadan and on Eid al-Fitr, is that the foundation and main basis of any nation's movement and success is to repair and strengthen its intellectual, ideological, and spiritual foundations.

Islam teaches us that for progress in achieving worldly and otherworldly goals, a transformation must occur within a person. Until this transformation occurs within a society and specifically within Islamic societies, and until hearts become acquainted with God and the path of God is regarded and followed as the supreme path and the straight path, the problems of Islamic societies will not be solved. Ramadan, which is a divine treasure and gift available to Muslim people, contains valuable gifts for us in this regard. On the one hand, fasting during Ramadan, which is an exercise and discipline, is a means of self-control; without self-control and taking control of desires and passions, no great work can be successfully accomplished. Ramadan, with the capital of fasting, is a valuable scientific exercise in this direction. By God's grace, followers of the school of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) have benefited from the supplications of these great ones during Ramadan, with their enlightened and aware hearts from the supplications and prayers and communion with Almighty God during the nights, days, and dawns of this blessed month. Those familiar with the whispers of Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) understand well that the reason for our separation from the path of God, the reason for our distance from spirituality, the reason for our deprivation and the like from attaining those spiritual and celestial positions, are the troubles we encounter due to following desires and obeying the commanding self.

In the supplication of Abu Hamza, Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) says: "Separate me from the sin that prevents me from adhering to Your obedience." This means, O my Lord! Separate me from the sin that prevents me from adhering to Your obedience. Thus, it becomes clear that sins, whose essence in the meaning of sin is these things that a person engages in following their desires and passions, do not allow a person to fly and soar.

During this Ramadan, we repeatedly said, "O God, change our bad state with Your good state." We asked Almighty God to change our bad state to a good state with His blessing and grace. If this happens, by God's grace, all problems will be solved. Especially each of us who bears a responsibility at the national level, whether small or large responsibilities, needs this change of state more and should lament more about our bad state. I say this about myself, that I am more afflicted by this meaning and need this change more than you. This is the key to movement and transformation in a country and a nation. "Indeed, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves." What is within them, in their selves, in their souls, must change for the affairs of life to transform.

Today, in the Islamic world, you see that Muslims are in one of their worst situations. Perhaps throughout history, it is rare to find a time and show that Muslims, politically and internationally, have been in a situation similar to today. Despite the large population, abundant resources, natural and human wealth, excellent geographical position, and the possibility for Muslims to gain dominance, unfortunately, when you look, you see that Muslims are afflicted; Muslims are submissive to the enemies of religion. This means they have either willingly submitted or have been forcibly placed under the yoke of foreign powers. Today, the scattered situation of Muslims is one of the calamities.

A few hours ago, I was counting the calamities of the Islamic world: the bloodshed, the issues of Palestine, the issues of Bosnia, the issues of Afghanistan, the issues of Kashmir, the issues of Tajikistan, the issues of India, the issues of some other countries. These are all calamities of the Islamic world. But the greatest of these calamities, which perhaps can be considered the mother of these calamities, is the disunity and division of Muslims and their neglect and distance from the great Islamic Ummah. This must be corrected. A transformation must be created in this. If Muslims unite, if they awaken, if they become aware of their power, if they believe that the current situation is changeable and they can take control of their destiny, and if they see how some nations, like the great nation of Iran, were able to take control of their destiny and not be influenced by powers, certainly the calamities of the Islamic world will also end. Today, this is the essence of the matter.

We do not forget this general invitation of the great Imam, who constantly called Muslims to unity and solidarity. Our intention of unity is not what some countries pursue and never achieve. We do not say, "Let's create political unity; let's create financial unity; let's make two countries one country; let's make two governments one government." These are things that have always been said and have never happened. Our intention of unity is understanding; understanding between governments; understanding between countries; cooperation between members of the Islamic Ummah and Islamic governments; their empathy with each other and not being influenced by the purposes of the enemies. This sensitive region of the Persian Gulf; the sensitive region of the Middle East; the entire Islamic region, which is a very sensitive region in the geography of the world and the political geography of the world, must understand each other; be together and empathetic.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to extend a hand of friendship and brotherhood to all Muslim countries and to understand with them in solving the issues of the Islamic world. Everyone must understand the issues of the Islamic world and everyone must know that global arrogance and the arrogant powers will not think of Muslim people. You must see what they do with Muslims around the world. They shed the blood of Muslims; they make their days bloody, bitter, and dark; they violate their honor; they take their homes, and the great powers either watch indifferently or help the aggressor. So far, there has been no third option. That is Palestine, which has been suffering from this incident for over forty years. Now Bosnia has also started. Other Islamic countries and some newly independent regions have the same situation. Let me say, Islamic governments today have the opportunity to move in the direction of the wishes of their nations and the interests of the Islamic Ummah. If they do not move, it will not be long before the nations themselves will take action and make decisions. The nations have awakened, and the great Islamic Ummah will not tolerate the behavior that is being done to Muslims today for a long time.

We hope Almighty God will bless this Eid for all Muslims; open the way to achieve Islamic goals and objectives; make the sacred heart of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) happy with us and include us in the pure supplications of that great one and, God willing, fulfill all the sacred goals and aspirations of our great departed Imam (may God's mercy be upon him).

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings