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

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

I congratulate the great Islamic nation, the honorable people of Iran, and you esteemed attendees, as well as the officials, managers, and servants of the country, and our foreign guests from Islamic countries on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.

The fact that the blessed month of Ramadan culminates in Eid al-Fitr carries a profound and enlightening meaning; that is, the fasting and standing of the people and their struggle throughout the month of Ramadan against the inner devil and the commanding self results in an Eid that manifests the gathering and unity of the people in the arena of attention to God the Most High and humble connection with Him.

Although Islam invites people to worship, self-cultivation, and self-discipline, it does not view this merely as an individual act where each person connects with God solely for themselves; rather, it sees this connection, attention, remembrance, humility, and supplication to God as a means to take firm and solid steps in worldly matters and in building their future. If, as some great figures have stated, for the happiness of the Islamic nation, "the word of monotheism" and "the unity of the word" are two definitive principles - which they indeed are - then Eid al-Fitr and our prayers and supplications on this day also represent the unity of the word and the word of monotheism; for it embodies both spirituality and supplication and humility; it strengthens the heart through faith in God and brings about a state of tranquility and peace, freeing one from the various turmoils of the human soul. At the same time, Eid al-Fitr connects all forces and powers to one another and brings them into the scene of life. Therefore, today, both our nation and the great Islamic nation are in utmost need of this fundamental pillar and great Islamic principle.

The Islamic Revolution directed the hearts of the people towards God and brought their souls into the arena of struggle and effort for a better life, resulting in the Iranian nation stepping onto the path of prosperity and salvation. By the grace and power of God, they have achieved significant advancements on this path, which they must continue, knowing that the unity of the word is the key to their victory; this key must be preserved.

In a broader context, the key to the victory of the Islamic nation is also the unity of the word. If the Islamic nation wishes to advance in the fields of knowledge, progress, material advancement, control over its destiny, liberation from foreign domination, and inner and outer happiness, the path lies in the word of monotheism and the unity of the word. The centers of arrogant power, which use every means to strengthen their power over the world, have sought to use every tool in the Islamic world for division, discord, and conflict, and unfortunately, they have succeeded to a considerable extent. If today the Palestinian nation is suffering such a bitter fate; if today the body of the Palestinian nation is bloodied and the tragedy and sorrow of that nation have penetrated the depths of the hearts of the suffering, it is due to the discord among Muslims. If there had been unity of the word, this situation would not have arisen. If Islamic Iraq has fallen under the boots of occupiers, it is due to the discord among Muslims; if today the countries of the Middle East are directly threatened by the arrogant and intoxicated cries of America, it is due to the discord among Muslims. If Muslims wish to escape this humiliation, if they want to save Palestine, and if they want to ensure that in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other Islamic lands, the enemy cannot pressure the bodies and souls of Muslims, the path lies in the unity of the word and the unity of nations, governments, and slogans. The day of Eid al-Fitr is a day of unity and solidarity.

Unfortunately, in the Islamic world, there are those who, in order to draw closer to America and the centers of arrogant powers, are willing to engage in any wrongful act and sow discord between Shia and Sunni. Today, I see the hands that in some of our neighboring countries are deliberately and calculatedly seeking to create discord between Shia and Sunni, separating ethnicities and sects, and pitting political factions against each other, so they can fish in troubled waters and secure their illegitimate interests in Islamic countries. We must be vigilant. Nations, governments, all Muslims, political factions, intellectuals, and prominent figures must be alert to this enemy plot and not allow the enemy to succeed in creating discord under various pretexts. They intend to do the same in Iraq.

Today, the issue of Iraq is a bitter matter for the Islamic world. Iraq is a united and singular country that the arrogant powers have plotted to divide, knowing that this cannot be done all at once; therefore, they wish to carry it out gradually. The people of Iraq and the Muslim nations and governments must be vigilant. The division of Iraq poses a great danger to that country and the region. Iraq belongs to the Iraqis; the fate of Iraq must be determined by the Iraqis themselves; the constitution of Iraq must be written by the Iraqis themselves. A constitution whose foundation, plan, and infrastructure are written in Washington will not serve Iraq. The occupiers of Iraq should know that if they do not act otherwise and do not entrust the affairs of the Iraqi people to themselves, they will not escape the grip of the Iraqi people; the people of Iraq will not submit to them.

The occupiers of Iraq wish to act in the Middle East as they do in Palestine. Today, the Zionists and Americans in Palestine have reached a dead end and have no way out except to yield to the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian nation is a wronged nation that, despite its oppression, is very brave, and it is right to say: "the heroic nation of Palestine." This nation, alone, in exile and with empty hands, resists and has rendered the material powers of the world, which possess all means of killing and oppression, helpless. The occupiers of Iraq should know that if they wish to act anywhere in the Islamic world and the Middle East with the Zionist and arrogant logic that operates in Palestine, the people will rise up in the same way. The Islamic nation has awakened and become aware.

Our dear nation has shown over the past twenty-five years that it is committed to the revolution, Islam, and its system and officials, and it is also committed to the hard-won independence. We did not achieve this independence easily; we did not easily attain this religious democracy; our nation has struggled in this path, and pure and noble souls have been sacrificed along the way. Our nation has endured hardships; will it easily give this up?!

What sustains us against the enemy's plots is faith in God and trust in God's promise. God's promise is that: "Indeed, Allah will help those who help Him"; whoever supports the religion of God; whoever brings their forces into the arena according to divine instruction for success, prosperity, and righteousness, God the Most High will not leave them alone and will grant them success and victory. Our experience also shows this.

We ask the Almighty God to grant our dear nation and the great Islamic nation the blessings of this blessed Eid and the blessings of the blessed month of Ramadan, and by the grace and power of God, to provide the means for the victory of the Islamic nation over its enemies.

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