Meeting with Thousands of People from Various Sectors on the Anniversary of Eid al-Ghadir

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

I congratulate you all on this blessed Eid, this great day, this monumental historical event; to all of you dear brothers and sisters; to the entire Iranian nation, to all Shiites and all Muslims around the world.

Eid al-Ghadir has been described as "the greatest Eid of God"; among all the festivals in the Islamic calendar, this Eid is the highest; it is the most profound; the impact of this Eid is greater than all these festivals. Why? Because the duty of the Islamic Ummah regarding guidance, regarding governance, has been determined in this event of Ghadir. There is no doubt that the Prophet of Islam's recommendations were not acted upon in Ghadir - the Prophet had also foretold, according to some narrations, that it would not be acted upon - but the issue of Ghadir is about establishing a criterion, a standard. Until the end of the world, Muslims can place this standard before themselves and determine the duty of the general path of the Ummah. The fact that the Prophet chose the most sensitive time to announce the issue of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist was not the Prophet's choice; it was the choice of God Almighty. Revelation came from the Lord that: "Convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord." Not that the Prophet did not know about the issue of Imamate and Guardianship from the Lord beforehand; indeed, it was clear to the Prophet from the very beginning of his mission. Moreover, the various events of these twenty-three years made this truth so evident and clear that there remained no room for doubt; however, the official announcement had to occur at the most critical time and it happened by the command of the Lord: "Convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not do so, you have not conveyed His message"; meaning this is a divine mission that must be proclaimed. Then, at Ghadir Khumm, near Juhfa, the noble Prophet stopped the people, gathered the caravans of pilgrims, and announced this matter, and the noble verse came: "Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you"; the favor was completed, the religion was completed. In the blessed Surah Al-Ma'idah, before the verse "Today I have perfected", there is this blessed verse: "Today those who disbelieve have despaired of your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me"; today is the day of despair and hopelessness for the enemies; meaning the criterion has been specified, the standard has been made clear; whenever the Ummah wishes, whenever they open their eyes to the truth, they will see the standard, they will observe the criterion, and there will be no doubt remaining. This is the significance of Ghadir.

The issue of Imamate and Guardianship, as it is clearly defined in Islamic history, is a divine matter. It is not the case that the noble Prophet selected Amir al-Mu'minin based on his personal calculations; although all personal calculations would lead anyone to the conclusion that the successor of the Prophet is Ali; however, the Prophet's action was a divine action. From the early days of his mission, when the noble Prophet presented Islam to the various tribes of Arabs in Mecca - which is a detailed story in the history before the migration, in the early days of his mission - he went to this tribe, he went to that tribe, the chief of one of the tribes, which is specified in history - these are among the certainties of history and the issue of Shi'a and Sunni does not play a role in narrating these events; even the Sunni brothers have narrated this - said to the Prophet that we are ready to collectively embrace Islam, on one condition; that condition is that after you, this matter should be in our hands; the chief of our tribe should become your successor. History records that the Prophet responded to this person by saying: No, "This is a heavenly matter"; this is something that is not in my hands; it is heavenly, it is in God's hands. They did not embrace Islam and left. Thus, the issue of the Prophet's caliphate is based on divine revelation; it is based on the will of the Lord, and the Prophet had no control over it. However, if the noble Prophet were to choose, who should he choose? The one who should be selected by the noble Prophet must possess all the fundamental criteria of Islam to the fullest extent. Now, let all Muslims in the world evaluate Amir al-Mu'minin - it is true that various hadiths have been narrated regarding the virtues of some companions - let them look at the criteria, place them side by side, compare them with the Qur'an and the established Sunnah, and see who will be chosen. The knowledge of Amir al-Mu'minin, which is one of the criteria; the noble Prophet said about Amir al-Mu'minin according to the narration of all Muslims - both Shi'a and Sunni - "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate"; what greater testimony is there? Regarding the jihad of Amir al-Mu'minin, God Almighty: "And among the people is he who sells himself, seeking the pleasure of God"; this verse was revealed concerning the struggles and sacrifices of Amir al-Mu'minin; no other person has had this verse revealed about them. Regarding the charity of Amir al-Mu'minin: "And they give food, despite their desire for it, to the needy, the orphan, and the captive"; Amir al-Mu'minin and his noble family are included in this verse. "Indeed, your ally is Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give zakat while they bow". Everyone has said this is about Amir al-Mu'minin. These criteria - the multiple criteria in Islam that determine selection, superiority - from knowledge and piety and charity and sacrifice and jihad and the other criteria that have been introduced in Islam, all of them, one by one, apply to Amir al-Mu'minin. Who can deny these qualities in Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him)?

Our invitation to all Muslims around the world is to reflect on these truths. We do not insist that one sect must necessarily accept the beliefs of another sect; no, unity does not mean this. Unity means that with different beliefs, different branches, they should take the commonalities and not use the points of disagreement as a means for brother-killing and war and enmity; this is the essence of unity.

However, as a statement of truth and a request for truth, this is a logical request from all Muslims: to go investigate, to observe what the great Shiite scholars have written, what the great Shiite scholars of our time have compiled, written, researched, and presented in the Islamic world; their writings have been appreciated by the scholars of Islam, the intellectuals of Islam, the distinguished figures of Islam; they should observe these; they should not confine themselves, nor deprive themselves. The books of the late Seyyed Sharaf al-Din Amili (may God be pleased with him), the noble book Al-Ghadir authored by Allameh Amini, these are truths that have been compiled. The issue of Ghadir is a historically established matter. In dozens of books, the late Amini narrates dozens of ways from the Sunni sources that recount the event of Ghadir in the same manner that we narrate it. This is not something that exists only in our books. Now, regarding the meaning of Mawla, some may raise objections, some may not raise objections. The event is a real, factual event and a statement of the criterion; it is clear that Amir al-Mu'minin Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) is a high peak; both for the Islamic ruler and the Islamic government, and for every individual Muslim.

The youth of that great man is a model for the youth of the Islamic Ummah; seeing the truth with such clarity and sincerity and insight, recognizing it, pursuing it, defending it with all their being, traversing the fields of danger, disregarding danger and belittling it, not deviating even a little from the correct path, keeping their eyes on the Prophet, "following the footsteps of the Messenger"; moving step by step behind the Prophet, being completely submissive to the divine command and the commands of the Prophet, while at the same time increasing their knowledge moment by moment, aligning their actions with their knowledge in all moments of life. This is the youth of Amir al-Mu'minin. The middle age and old age of Amir al-Mu'minin are also filled with difficult tests, strange trials, and in all of these, that great patience, beautiful patience; prioritizing the interests of Islam - where the interests of Islam are at risk - over everything, even over his own rightful claim. Amir al-Mu'minin could have risen when he felt his right was being violated; Ali was not afraid of anyone. He was someone who, if he advanced, certainly people would follow him; but "I held my hands until I saw the people returning from Islam, calling for the destruction of the religion of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)"; he said: I saw the motivations opposing the essence of the religion coming alive in hearts, there are enemies, there are opponents, they want to take advantage of the situation, so I came to the forefront, defended the essence of the religion; I passed over my own right. He observes the interests of Islam with all his being. Then, when the time for governance and politics, according to divine decree, comes to him, people refer to him, insist, and ask him to take the reins of power, he enters the arena with authority; "He does not fear the blame of the blamer"; he fears nothing, no reproach turns him away from the path. A complete model; this is Amir al-Mu'minin; this is the exalted human being that the Shi'a hold in such esteem and rank. It is good for all the Islamic Ummah to pay attention to this.

The event of Ghadir, according to the view of the late Allameh Amini (may God be pleased with him), the author of the book Al-Ghadir, and later in the view of the late martyr Motahhari (may God be pleased with him), is a means of unity for the Islamic Ummah. Some should not think that the event of Ghadir is a cause of division; no. Today, see that more than ever - it has also been in the past - Shi'a are accused. They should see that the issue of Shi'ism arises from a correct, pure belief in divine revelation - this is the meaning of Shi'ism - a belief in values, a belief in criteria, making the criteria that the Qur'an has established as the standard. Now, a bunch of slanderous, frivolous speakers in various corners of the Islamic world accuse the Shi'a of things that the Shi'a are far removed from; the issue of being fabricated and artificial and later coming into existence and being political and these claims! No, the issue of Ghadir draws a line through all of these.

What benefit do those who try to portray this large Islamic community and movement as outside the bounds of Islam gain, which is what today's policies pursue? Today, these policies promote this; why? Because the Shi'a, thanks to the spirit of Guardianship, have been able to achieve what all Muslims have longed for. All well-meaning, caring, and interested Muslims have wished for a day when Islam would sit on the throne of power with all its completeness and truth. Muslim intellectuals have lived in longing for such a day in the last one or two centuries and have passed away in that longing. Today, the Shi'a have brought this about; this Islamic governance, this Islamic greatness, this Islamic dignity. This is thanks to the spirit of Guardianship. The enemy sees this and wants to empty the circle of the Shi'a, the circle of the people of Guardianship. Therefore, today the accusations against Shi'ism are more than ever. Throughout history, there have been individuals with misunderstandings and misinterpretations who have spoken against Shi'ism, leveled accusations, and fabricated lies; but today, the volume of accusations is greater than all those accusations, and these are driven by policies; why do they not understand this?

We must also understand; we Shi'a must understand; we must know that the policies of global arrogance today aim to separate the Shi'a from the non-Shi'a, to separate Muslim groups from one another and incite them against each other. We must not assist in this goal; we must not allow the enemy to achieve this goal; both we and the non-Shi'a; those who are not Shi'a; the non-Shi'a groups and sects in Islam. All should know this: today it is the Shi'a who, in the Islamic Iran, have raised the banner of Islamic power and dignity and are holding it high, and global arrogance feels helpless; this is a reality; this is a reality. The conspiracies that have been plotted against the Islamic Republic system by various enemies - of course, at the forefront of them is America and the most wicked of them is England - have been due to the fact that they are intimidated; they fear the Islamic movement, the Islamic awakening, the awakening of the Islamic world; they know that if the Islamic world awakens, pays attention, feels independent, feels its identity, feels dignity, this sensitive region of the world, which is under the control of Muslims - the most sensitive regions of the world are these Muslim-populated areas - will be freed from the grip of global arrogance; they fear this. Because they fear, they conspire; they employ various tools. Today, the leaders of the arrogant policies - America and the Zionists and the other arrogant powers - have mobilized all their resources to try to isolate the Iranian nation, to render the Islamic Republic ineffective; they have not succeeded, and by divine grace, they will not succeed again.

In this nuclear issue, you see that they have reached the point of spreading lies, misleading world public opinion, and fabricating falsehoods. The issue is not about a certain radio or a certain propaganda apparatus; unfortunately, the group of Western politicians - that is, the same influential group that is mostly under the influence of the Zionists - has made it their job to mislead public opinion, to spread lies, to create false slogans. We want these heads of countries; not to lie so much. These Western governments, the American government, the British government, and some other European governments should not mislead world public opinion so much. These lies will backfire on them; they have tried it and seen it. When they lied, when they spoke falsely, and then the truth became clear, they lose their credibility; just as in some cases this has happened; they told a lie, misled public opinion, acted based on that, and then the truth became clear. Their own nations will hold them accountable.

Regarding the nuclear issue, what Iran seeks is the necessary knowledge; knowledge that if the Iranian nation does not pursue today, tomorrow will be too late; a tomorrow when oil will not be used and all the wheels of the world's economy will run on nuclear energy and the Iranian nation will be left empty-handed; waiting for others to help them; this is what they want. This is our nuclear issue; I have said it many times.

Today, we are working for the nuclear knowledge that is important for us, so that twenty years, thirty years from now, our children, our youth, the future generation, the great nation of Iran, will not have to extend their hands to the West. The Westerners today, who have our oil, which is extracted from our land and given to them, are bullying us for this very oil! - today, the oil that comes out of the wells of this region, its profit for the Western governments is greater than its profit for the oil-rich countries! - today, when the oil is ours, in our possession, they are bullying us; tomorrow, when we want to take nuclear energy from them, you will see what happens to the nations. The Islamic Republic system thinks about that day. Therefore, today it insists that we must acquire this knowledge, this technology, this capability for ourselves. Then they create a commotion in the world about why we want to acquire this? And they slander, mislead public opinion that they are seeking a nuclear bomb, that they are this or that.

...(12) It is clear. Pay attention! It is clear that this is the undeniable right of the Iranian nation. However, the issue is that the arrogant powers of the world, in order to take this undeniable right from the Iranian nation, are working with various tricks and schemes and propaganda to achieve this action. We must be insightful; we must be aware; we must be vigilant. Nations, in their path, in sensitive matters, must understand what the enemy is doing. When they see that they cannot confront a nation with military action, with threatening and intimidating actions, then they start to disrupt through other means; we must understand this. Creating discord, creating enmity, making excuses.

Today, the propaganda of global arrogance focuses on the existence of divisions within the country. Some individuals must answer before God; they must answer before God for doing things that allow the enemy to perceive division within the country and become emboldened. The issue is to recognize the enemy; to understand the enemy's tricks; to know what we are saying and how the enemy might use every word of ours and become emboldened, encouraged, gain morale, and open paths for their interference and influence; these are things that must be paid attention to.

Of course, our nation, thanks be to God, is a patient and proud nation with steadfastness; this has been proven. Our nation has shown this over these thirty years and before these thirty years during the revolution; we are patient. Now, the leaders of arrogance and their spokespersons keep saying in their propaganda that our patience is running out, that we can no longer endure - they say this in front of Iran - you did not endure against the Iranian nation; where did you show patience? Wherever you could, you did; whatever you could do, you did against the Iranian nation. When did you show patience? Did you not conspire? Did you not propagate? Did you not impose economic sanctions? Did you not launch military attacks? Did you not unleash your rabid dogs in the region? - meaning the usurping Israel against the Islamic Republic system - when did you show patience that now you say your patience is running out?! The patient one is the Iranian nation. We are the ones who have been patient, we are the ones who have stood firm, we are the ones who have ignored your conspiracies, your propaganda, your clamor, and continued on our path. And this nation will continue on this path, the same path that the finger of our great Imam, Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), pointed out to us, with all its being, with divine assistance, with the efforts of these young people, and God willing, it will reach the final peak.

Do not abandon your efforts, dear youth! Do not abandon your work, do not abandon your insight. Amir al-Mu'minin is a model; he is your model, young people. The knowledge of Amir al-Mu'minin, the piety of Amir al-Mu'minin, the purity of Amir al-Mu'minin, is a model. Do not abandon these. Jihad in the way of God, striving in the way of God - which every field has its own jihad - do not abandon this and know that the future of this country will be much better than today, God willing. And this future belongs to you. And the spirit of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) and the prayer of the Awaited Imam (may our souls be sacrificed for him), God willing, will support you.

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