Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with the Officials of the Islamic System on the Occasion of Eid al-Fitr

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

I congratulate this blessed Eid al-Fitr to the entire great Islamic Ummah, to the dear nation of Iran, and to you esteemed attendees and dear guests and ambassadors of Islamic countries present in this session. As we have repeatedly recited in the supplication of the Qunoot of the Eid prayer, the Almighty God has chosen this day for His chosen Prophet as a "treasure, honor, dignity, and increase," making it a source of honor and dignity, and a means of increasing the spiritual light and glory of that great man and his religion. The day of Eid al-Fitr is a great day and a day for the Islamic Ummah. Today, the Islamic Ummah is in greater need than ever for shared values, unity, and a sense of dignity and greatness. For many years, the Islamic Ummah has been humiliated, and the immense cultural heritage and the greatness of the personality and identity of this Ummah have been denied. With this humiliation, they sought to remove the Muslim nations from the political arena, action, and struggle, so that there would be a vacant space for their encroachments on Islamic countries and their resources. This has been the policy of the colonial and arrogant powers in the Islamic world for several decades, and they have been successful for a long time.

If the Islamic Ummah had paid attention to its Islamic identity, a problem named Israel would not have arisen in the region. The Islamic Ummah was sidelined from the arena of regional developments - that is, its own home - and decisions were made against it in its absence. The Islamic Ummah has not fulfilled the duties that were upon it for many years; there should be no doubt about this. We must understand and acknowledge our shortcomings. If we had not succumbed to laziness, complacency, and humiliation, the enemy would not have been able to dominate us. We have fallen behind, and we are to blame for this backwardness. However, today the tide has turned. Today, the Islamic world has become aware of its identity. This Ummah must utilize all elements of dignity - which exist in the essence of the noble religion of Islam and the Holy Quran. The first step is to pay attention to God and adhere to divine law; it is to trust in God; it is to have confidence in God. The Almighty God reproaches those who have "ill thoughts about God"; He says: "Upon them is a circle of evil, and the wrath of God is upon them"; those who deny divine assistance in the presence of action must blame themselves. If we enter the field of action, the Almighty God will assist us; this is both a definite statement of the Quran and a certain promise of God, as well as our own life experiences. The history of Islam is full of experiences for Muslims, that wherever they exerted effort, entered the field, and relied on divine power, the Almighty God assisted them. Divine assistance is certain; however, the condition for this assistance is presence in the field of action: "And God will surely aid those who aid Him"; whoever aids God, God will aid him. By sitting idly, by being lazy, by indulging in illusions, by playing with the interests of the Islamic Ummah, and by prioritizing personal desires over the interests of the Islamic Ummah, divine assistance will not manifest.

Today, the Islamic world has awakened. We must value this awakening. We must channel this awakening in the right direction. Instead of relying on arrogant powers, we must trust in God. Wherever this happens, victory will inevitably follow.

What concerns you dear brothers and sisters who are the officials of this Islamic country is to appreciate this nation. Our nation is a great, brave, faithful, pure, and sincere nation. Appreciate this nation; appreciate serving this nation; appreciate being a servant to this nation, which is a great honor. Accept responsibilities for serving this nation, for being a servant to this nation; and this is an honor. This great nation, this faithful nation, and this nation that has been able to inspire the Islamic world with its struggle, patience, awareness, and high spirit. You yourselves are part of this nation. You share in the virtues of this nation. But today you are responsible. Today you have burdens on your shoulders that you must bear. Sincerity, diligence, tirelessness, selflessness, and prioritizing public interests over personal interests should guide your actions. This is your action; this is your worship; this is the greatest of worships. Of course, if you want this spirit to remain in you, you must connect your hearts with the Almighty God. Ramadan is a great opportunity; Eid al-Fitr is a great opportunity; all the days of the year and all the hours of life are a great opportunity for connection with the Almighty God. Reciting the Quran, paying attention to the teachings and meanings of the Quran, feeling the duty of gratitude towards the Lord, humility before the Almighty God, heart humility, humility before the nation, and modesty are the criteria and standards for our actions. We must observe these. This means being in the field, working for God, not allowing personal desires to interfere, and not becoming weary. If it is for God, a person does not even feel tired. "And indeed, it is great except for the humble." When there is humility, fatigue and reproach will disappear. When there is attention to God, fatigue will vanish. This belongs to you and me.

This nation is also present in the arena. Our youth are in the arena. In every field where this nation feels its presence is needed for the country, it has entered with all enthusiasm and eagerness. In the sacred defense era, you saw its field of jihad, you see its field of science, you saw its field of politics, you witnessed its presence in marches, and you saw its presence in the successive elections of this country; this is our nation, and it is a great nation. We must appreciate serving this nation and thank God for making us servants of this nation; we must act on this duty.

In the Islamic world, the issue is the same. Today, the foremost international issue in the Islamic world is the issue of Palestine. Of course, the issues of Iraq, Lebanon, and Afghanistan are also issues of the Islamic world; all are important. In all of these, we see the hand of the guilty and sinful global arrogance, America, and Zionism. The duty is clear. Muslim nations and governments must think about returning to their identity and gaining power so that they are not bullied. Today, in the Middle East, the greater interest of America is the interest of the Zionists and Israel. Some Arab and Muslim governments also have good and close relations with America; however, their interests are not prioritized. In the face of the interest of Israel, their interests are not considered at all. Everyone must understand this and pay attention to it. In Palestine itself, they have tried hard to incite the Palestinians against each other. Fortunately, the Palestinian officials have shown vigilance and prevented conflict, bloodshed, and war. However, the enemy has not given up. The Hamas government is a popular government. The positions that Hamas has declared; that is, not recognizing and not negotiating with Israel, are exactly what the Palestinian people have demanded. Those who say our words are the words of the Palestinians, the words of the Palestinians are those slogans of the government that is currently in power due to the election of the Palestinians and these slogans were given, and the people elected it. The self-governing officials must also yield to this demand of the Palestinian nation. They must come together and recognize the popular government of Hamas and its positions.

The issue of Lebanon is the same. Lebanon and Hezbollah have shown that with steadfastness and high determination, one can stand against Israel and defeat it. Something that did not even occur to some politicians of Islamic countries, but it happened; it occurred; Israel was defeated in the shadow of steadfastness, resistance, reliance on the Almighty God, and utilizing all the capacities and forces of Hezbollah and the people of Lebanon. This is a general prescription applicable to all the Islamic world; there is no difference. The condition is that we, who are the officials of Islamic countries, do not interfere our personal interests, desires, and whims in the matter and consider the interests of the Ummah and the interests of the country. If this condition is observed, this result is certain and inevitable.

In Iraq, the same is true; a popular government is in power. Contrary to the wishes of the occupiers and their desires, and contrary to the model and pattern they had envisioned for Iraq, what has happened is this. Therefore, you see that troubles arise from all sides. The creation of these troubles is the work of those who do not want a truly popular government to be in power in Iraq, which is currently in power; they want to create problems for it. All signs and evidence indicate this. We hope that the prominent cultural, religious, political, social, popular, and tribal officials in Iraq will pay attention that the remedy for their problem is "unity of word." They should not fall into the trap of the enemy and weaken themselves with religious, sectarian, political, and factional motivations and strengthen the enemy; the result will be the domination of the enemy.

We hope that the Almighty God bless this Eid for all Muslims. May He provide goodness and blessings for all Islamic countries and, God willing, may the Islamic world become more cherished and honored day by day. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.