Statements of the Supreme Leader in the Eid al-Fitr Sermon

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

Thanks be to God, Lord of the worlds. Thanks be to God, Creator of creation, Provider of sustenance, Splitter of the dawn, Judge of religion, Lord of the worlds. I praise Him, seek His help, ask for His forgiveness, and rely on Him. I send blessings and peace upon His beloved and chosen one, our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad, and upon his pure, immaculate, and chosen family, especially the remainder of God on earth. Blessings upon the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers. I advise you, servants of God, to be pious.

I extend my congratulations on the blessed Eid al-Fitr to all you dear worshippers, to the great nation of Iran, and to all Muslims around the world. It is a great day following very magnificent days and nights. The Commander of the Faithful, peace and blessings be upon him, said in one of his Eid al-Fitr sermons: 'O people! This day of yours is a day in which the righteous are rewarded.' O people! Today is a day when the righteous receive their reward and recompense from the Almighty God; the reward for fasting, the reward for the worship of the month of Ramadan, the reward for abstaining and restraining from desires. 'And the wrongdoers will suffer loss on this day.' Those who have acted wrongly will find the loss of their wrongdoing on such a day. Today is the day of recompense. 'And it is most similar to the day of your resurrection.' Today is like the Day of Resurrection. 'Remember, as you leave your homes for the Eid prayer, your departure from the graves to your Lord.' As you leave your homes for the Eid al-Fitr prayer, remember the time when you will leave your graves on the Day of Resurrection to head towards the great field of resurrection and the place of divine reward and punishment. 'And remember, as you stand in your prayer place, your standing before your Lord.' As you stand in the prayer place, remember the time when you will stand before your Lord on the Day of Resurrection, ready for accounting. 'And remember, as you return to your homes, your return to your homes in paradise.' As you return from the prayer place to your homes, remember the time when you will head from the field of resurrection to your heavenly homes to reside in them.

Then he said: O servants of God! 'The least reward for fasting men and women' is that the Almighty God will grant them on such a day or on the last day of Ramadan, 'an angel will call them at the end of the day of Ramadan,' an angel will address them at the end of the month of Ramadan and say: 'Rejoice, O servants of God!' Rejoice, O servants of God! 'Your past sins have been forgiven.'

This is the reward of Ramadan. For a proper fast, a meaningful act, and a sincere and devoted worship, such a reward is given at the last moments of Ramadan and the last hours of that dear month: 'Your past sins have been forgiven.' The forgiveness of past sins is not a small reward! 'So see how you will begin anew.' See how you will start anew from today. Do not think and say to yourself, 'We will sin so that we may be forgiven in another Ramadan!' No one knows if they will live until another Ramadan. Last year, at this Eid prayer and in this prayer place, there were people who are not here this year. It is not known who among us will be here next year and who will not. Moreover, a sin committed with audacity and deliberation darkens and blackens the heart. From such a person, sincere worship does not easily emanate; so that their sin may be forgiven for that worship. Let us strive to avoid sins and perform righteous deeds. This is the characteristic that makes a person successful.

Today, on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and after these luminous words from the sermon of the Commander of the Faithful, peace and blessings be upon him, I want to present a short moral point. That point is that in one of the prayers of Sahifa Sajjadiya - the third Sahifa Sajjadiya - at the end of a prayer recited between the supererogatory and obligatory morning prayers, it is narrated from Imam Sajjad, peace be upon him: 'O God, grant me complete intellect, penetrating determination, a superior mind, a pure heart, abundant knowledge, and outstanding manners.' The Imam asked the Almighty God for six things. He says: O God! Grant me complete intellect, strong will, a superior mind - which I want to emphasize on this third request - a pure heart, abundant knowledge, and outstanding and brilliant manners!

The third point and request, 'a superior mind,' means that 'the essence and core of my work should be more than its appearance and form.' See what Imam Sajjad, peace be upon him, asked from God! I want to repeat this point for you, the faithful people, for the great nation of Iran, for the hearts illuminated by the light of faith and who have enlightened the world with their words and deeds: 'a superior mind.'

We have two types of people: one type is a person whose everything is in their appearance. Their appearance is attractive and eye-catching and sometimes humbling and submissive. But their inner self is hollow and empty; there is nothing in them. This is the worst type of person who wants to be the source of great effects. God forbid! But another type is a person whose inner self is preferred over their appearance. Whatever their appearance is, their inner self has more attraction and is better than their appearance. Imam Sajjad, peace be upon him, teaches us to ask God to be a person of the second type.

We know that prayers are not just requests from God; they are also lessons for us. Hypocrisy belongs to the first type of person. The monastery belongs to the first type of person. Hollowness and lack of substance are specific to the first type of person. Such a person is not useful in war, is not effective in hardship, and cannot bear heavy burdens. Whatever they have is only appearance! But Islamic education is different from this. Islamic education is based on the fact that you must preserve your appearance, but your inner self must be better than your appearance. Some people say, 'Whatever the appearance is, it is. The essence is the inner self.' Yes, the essence is the inner self. But the appearance must reflect the inner self: 'The appearance is the title of the inner self.' The appearance must also be corrected. No one should pretend to do wrong. If the acts and appearance of someone show and recognize the worship of God, it leaves a very good impact. But at the same time, the inner self must be better and more substantial than the appearance.

O Lord! We swear by the great beloved of the universe, Imam Mahdi, we swear by that pole of all virtues of existence, make our inner selves better than our appearances.

O Lord! Include us in the prayers of the Guardian of the Age, may our souls be sacrificed for him.

O Lord! Grant the pure soul of the great Imam and the sacred spirits of our martyrs and predecessors, from this gathering and from the good deeds of our actions, benefit today.

O Lord! Accept the deeds of Ramadan from all of us and grant us the success of righteous deeds.

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

Say, He is God, the One. God, the Eternal. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.

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

Thanks be to God, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad, and upon his pure, immaculate, and chosen family, especially Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, the Truthful Lady, the two grandsons of mercy, and the leaders of guidance, Hasan and Husayn, and Ali ibn Husayn, and Muhammad ibn Ali, the opener of the knowledge of the prophets, and Ja'far ibn Muhammad the truthful, and Musa ibn Ja'far the patient, and Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, and Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad, and Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi, and Hasan ibn Ali al-Askari, and the proof, the son of Hasan, the standing Mahdi. Your proofs over Your servants, and Your trustees in Your lands. Bless the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers. I advise you, servants of God, to be pious.

Today, in the international political arena - governments and global powers on one side and nations and large masses of people on the other - there are both beautiful and ugly characteristics. The beautiful characteristics are the awakening of nations, the Islamic inclination of Muslim nations, and the intolerance of the oppressed, and the ugly characteristics are the oppression of the oppressors, the bullying of the tyrants, and the conspiracies of the ill-wishers and malevolent towards nations. Among the undesirable and ugly points on the global scene, one point - in my opinion - is uglier than all. Today, I want to emphasize that point so that the opinion of the Iranian nation is known to all those who are watching. That point is that we do not expect the bullies and the bigwigs of the world to be good and not to oppress; but we expect fairness and independence from the international assemblies of the world! The United Nations is called the United Nations. It means a place that belongs to the nations. This international organization is not in the possession of governments, let alone a few bullying, greedy governments of the world. Unfortunately, today, the reality is something else, and this is that very ugly point. Of course, we had seen the actions of the Security Council, which is the main decision-making body in the United Nations and the heart of this organization, before. We had understood how much this organization, in critical times, falls into the hands of superpowers and becomes for them - and not for the nations. The example of this is the imposed war. When the imposed war occurred and Iraq broke our borders and entered several provinces of our country, we, as usual, complained to the United Nations. According to the regulations of the United Nations, the Security Council should have issued a resolution within a few hours condemning Iraq as the aggressor. They did not do this; and for several days, they showed no reaction. When the Iraqi army, taking advantage of our chaotic situation at that time, settled well in the land of our dear country and occupied several thousand kilometers, only then did the Security Council raise its head to say a word. For example, they issued a resolution! What was the resolution? Was the resolution that 'the aggressor should leave Iranian soil'? Not at all! They issued a resolution that 'Iran and Iraq should declare a ceasefire'! What does this mean? It means that the Iraqi army has entered Iranian soil, and now that it is the turn of the valiant defense of the Iranian nation, hands should be tied, and no one should defend, and the aggressors should not be expelled! This was the resolution of the Security Council! You know that for several years, they kept saying this without condemning the aggressor! Of course, our warriors, in not too long a time - almost within a year and a half - took back most of the lands themselves.

We had this precedent in the case of the imposed war from the Security Council of the United Nations. After several years, Iraq's attack on Kuwait happened. When Iraq attacked Kuwait, the issue was no longer the issue of an oppressed nation. The issue was the issue of the interests of America and the superpowers, and you all saw that within a few hours, the first resolution was issued that 'Iraq must leave Kuwait.' That is, the same thing we had been telling the Security Council for several years that they should issue such a resolution in the imposed war that was started against us, and they did not.

Anyway; within a few hours, the first resolution was issued, and then immediately, one after another, the Security Council issued various resolutions and allowed the Americans to enter the Persian Gulf. They allowed Iraq to be destroyed and to do whatever they wanted. Until today, the implementation of the Security Council resolutions regarding the Kuwait war is ongoing and is still being implemented.

We had seen these issues. In recent months, once in the case of Bosnia, where the Security Council should have taken a fair action, we saw it did not. Just as in the case of the Ibrahimi Shrine in occupied Palestine, no action was taken. Muslim nations announced their readiness to send forces as United Nations soldiers to act as a buffer between the Serbs and the Bosnian Muslims. The Security Council said that 'Muslims cannot go because they might support the Muslims involved in the conflict.' Of course, this was a wrong statement. Because Muslims were going for mediation and wanted to act as a buffer between the parties to the conflict; not to fight. The Security Council made such a claim. But at the same time, they allowed Russian soldiers, who were known to have friendly and close relations with the Serbs, to go to that region as United Nations soldiers and be present there as a buffer.

So why did they not consider here that Russian soldiers, in terms of religion and various ties, have connections with the Serbs?! The world published images of Russian soldiers' tanks carrying the United Nations emblem. In those images, it was shown that the Russians entered the region, and the Serbs chanted slogans for them, clapped, and cheered! Even now, Bosnian Muslims are being victimized, and the United Nations does not care! The Security Council also does not fulfill its duty.

The second issue is the bloody tragedy of the Ibrahimi Shrine. In this incident, Israel should have been severely condemned. It should have been prosecuted and forced to endure punishments. These actions should have been taken by the United Nations, and they were not. The Security Council also did not fulfill its duty in this matter at all.

What do we see as the reason? In the influence of the great powers, and at their head, the influence of America over the Security Council and the Secretary-General! This is the opinion of the Islamic Republic system and the opinion of the Iranian nation. We have no special enmity with anyone. We respect international officials according to their status and position. The previous Secretary-General of the United Nations repeatedly came to Iran. At that time, the President, the Speaker of the Parliament, and the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs respected and honored him. If the Secretary-General fulfills his duties, we respect him. But in our opinion and in the opinion of the Iranian nation, the current Secretary-General of the United Nations has not fulfilled his duty. This recent ugly move that the so-called Human Rights Commission of the United Nations made and in a scandalous action accused the Islamic Republic is of the same kind. Right before their eyes, the Israelis kill hundreds of Muslim worshippers and kill more than seventy people, but they do not condemn them!

In this region, which government and nation do you know that is as popular, free, and its government is in the hands of the votes and opinions of the people as the government and nation of Iran?! Where do you find such a parliament and such freedom where the statesmen are from the people, among the people, and with the people? The Iranian nation, for the sake of God, to preserve its independence and freedom, for its oppression resistance, to stand on its own feet, to not be under the influence of America, and to completely wash away and eliminate the disgraceful past of the monarchy era with its brave and noble behavior, stands against all the bullying powers and will continue to stand. The future of this nation is bright. Day by day, the power of this nation increases, and its roots deepen. Day by day, the words of this nation find more buyers in the world, and you see that today it is the same. Today, we are stronger and more reputable in the world than ten years ago. The nation, by the blessing of Islam and the blessing of the Quran, is more straightforward, braver, and ready to pursue its great path and high goal.

Let me also mention one more point at the end of this talk: Unfortunately, the issue of Hajj has not yet proceeded in its normal course as it should. The Saudi government is obstructing, and I do not know why?! The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hajj Organization, the leadership's representative office, and the leadership's 'Ba'tha' have made many efforts, and many of the Hajj arrangements should have been completed in these days - after Ramadan. But they are creating problems. I do not know why they are doing this?! Of course, we assume good intentions. We hope that the Saudi officials, God forbid, do not take any action that would anger the Iranian nation. They should not do anything that would make the Muslims of the world feel that Hajj is also a tool in the hands of America and the great powers. It should not be so, and we hope it will not be.

I declare that Hajj is the right of Muslims, and the House of God belongs to Muslims. 'Indeed, the first House established for mankind.' The House of God belongs to no one. If someone has the honor of managing the House of God, they should thank God and provide the means for the nations to go to Mecca; not obstruct. This great and faithful nation, with its interest and eagerness to visit the House of God and the pure grave of the Prophet and the graves of the Imams in Baqi, peace be upon them, deserves to be prioritized over other nations for the pilgrimage and circumambulation of the House of God. We ask God that the rituals of Hajj, which are Islamic rituals, remain Islamic and not fall victim to the international policies of global arrogance.

O Lord! Awaken the Muslim nations by Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.

O Lord! Punish the oppressors of the world at the hands of the oppressed.

O Lord! Grant the proud and great nation of dear Islamic Iran what is worthy of its nobility and what is worthy of Your generosity.

O Lord! Make the pure spirits of the martyrs and the sacred spirit of the Imam pleased with us.

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

By time. Indeed, mankind is in loss. Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings