Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in a meeting with the officials of the Islamic Republic on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr

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

I also congratulate this blessed Eid to the great Islamic Ummah, especially to the dear and heroic nation of our country, and also to the esteemed attendees and dear guests and representatives of Islamic countries present in this assembly.

Eid al-Fitr is one of the greatest Islamic occasions. The Islamic world considers the day of Eid al-Fitr as a true celebration and rejoices; and this is what Islam has desired for the Islamic Ummah: "God has made this day an Eid for you and has deemed you worthy of it." What is important is the second part of the matter. We must utilize this divine gift; both personal use, meaning allowing the light of knowledge, repentance, and return to God into our hearts, which if we open a window of knowledge and divine love upon our hearts and illuminate our inner selves, many of the darkness and troubles of the outside world will also be resolved; because it is the hearts of people that are the source of good and evil - in their actions, behaviors, and social and international relations - and also we must make public use of it.

The Islamic world should use Eid al-Fitr as a point of unity, reflection, and return to oneself and God. This is what the Islamic world needs today. After all analyses and beyond all the series of causes and factors for the troubles that the Islamic world is facing today, one sees the essence in the division of Muslims. If Muslims are united, their hearts will also be warmed and they will not be intimidated by their enemies. Anyone who is intimidated by the dominating international powers does so because they feel lonely and unsupported. If a government and a nation are intimidated, the reason is the same; if individuals are intimidated, the reason is the same. If Islamic nations feel encouraged by one another; if governments see that their nations stand behind them; if nations see that their governments are determined to uphold their rights; if nations see that brother nations are in harmony and solidarity with them; then the fear that global arrogance has instilled in the hearts of some nations and leaders will have no place. The first effect of unity is that one feels empowered. The first effect of division is that it empties the essence of a person; "and your wind goes away"; it takes away the freshness and vitality of a person and a nation. We must observe this lesson within our own country. All segments of the nation, especially the officials of the country, must preserve the blessing of unity, agreement, and solidarity - which God has bestowed upon us - and not put it at risk: "And remember the favor of God upon you when you were enemies, and He brought your hearts together, and by His grace you became brothers." Brotherhood, the feeling of companionship and solidarity, is a great blessing from God. Within the country, among the various ranks of people, among the officials, among the politicians, among those whose words and positions matter to the people, this feeling must be dominant. They must overcome divisions and the causes of division; they must come closer to one another; they must resolve and absorb minor disagreements within the broader context of unity and commonality; not that they emphasize the minor issues and overlook the great commonalities. Islamic brotherhood, love for the country, being nurtured in the embrace of the revolution, benefiting from the great blessing of the Islamic system, concern for the future, and caring for the people; these are commonalities that must be preserved. Minor disagreements should not undermine these. This is an obligation and necessity for us. It is not merely a matter of "it would be better" to observe it. No, it is a matter of "we must" observe it; anyone who does not observe it has harmed the interests of the country and the people and the fate of the revolution.

The same applies at the level of the Islamic world. Governments must come closer together; the feeling of Islamic power must be created. If global arrogance can separate each of the Islamic governments and states from the body of the Islamic world with minor issues and deceptive promises, the situation will be exactly what you observe. This is the situation of Palestine. The issue of Palestine is not a joke or trivial. Today it is the most fundamental issue of the Islamic world and is tied to the fate of non-Palestinians throughout the Islamic world. The officials of Islamic countries should not think that if they abandon the Palestinian people to the bloody claws of their enemies, Israel will leave the Muslim governments alone after swallowing and digesting them - which of course will never happen. Certainly, the Palestinian nation is strong and powerful; this has been demonstrated. The Palestinian nation has shown that it has the power of resistance and deep motivations, and undoubtedly it will break the teeth of the bloodthirsty aggressors; and until today, with their resistance and perseverance, they have created a huge and unsolvable problem for the illegitimate and usurping Zionist government that has not occurred for this government in the past fifty years. The pressure that the Zionists and their supporters exert on the Palestinian people - these oppressed and weary people - is because their movement and uprising have thrown such a boulder into the gears of the system of arrogance and colonialism that it has disrupted all calculations. Of course, the Islamic world must look at this issue seriously; it must not lose sight of it; it must recognize its duty towards it and act accordingly. Then, work will proceed correctly, and God willing, a bright horizon will emerge.

We hope that God, by the blessings of this noble day and this great Eid, will free all Muslims from the bonds of captivity and will include all the Islamic Ummah and our dear nation in His mercy and blessings on this great day.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.