Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with the Officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the Occasion of Eid al-Mab'ath

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful I sincerely congratulate this noble and blessed Eid to all Muslims around the world, to all free and freedom-seeking individuals, to the great Islamic Ummah, to the honorable and dear nation of Iran, and to you dear guests and respected attendees. The day of Mab'ath (the Prophetic Mission) is undoubtedly the greatest day in the history of mankind; because both the one who was addressed by God and entrusted with a mission - namely the esteemed Prophet of Islam, may God’s peace and blessings be upon him and his family - is the greatest human in history and the most magnificent phenomenon in existence, and a manifestation of the Most Exalted Divine Name; or in other words, the very Divine Name itself is embodied in his blessed existence. Furthermore, the mission that was placed upon this great human being - that is, guiding people towards the light, lifting heavy burdens from the shoulders of humanity, and preparing a suitable world for human existence, along with the infinite responsibilities of the Prophethood - was a very significant duty. Thus, this day is the greatest and most cherished day in history. If someone wishes to confine the content of the Prophethood within the framework of what we can comprehend with our limited intellects, certainly the essence of the Prophethood and the truth of this mission would be oppressed. One cannot limit the content of the Prophet's mission to the bounds of our incomplete understanding and perception; however, if we want to define the Prophethood and its scope - even though it is infinite - in a brief statement, we must say that the Prophethood pertains to humanity and is for humanity; and humanity itself is infinite and has immense dimensions, not limited to the body, materiality, or the fleeting life of this world; it is not confined to spirituality either; nor is it restricted to a specific segment of history. Humanity is always and at all times humanity, and its existential dimensions are infinite and unknown. Humanity is still an unknown being. The Prophethood is for this humanity, for the destiny of this humanity, and for the guidance of this humanity. Of course, in every era and at every time, each individual and each group of humanity utilizes it according to their capacity and potential; just as the Muslims of the early Islam were able to benefit from the concept of Prophethood and the truth of the Prophethood, spreading this radiant light throughout the world of their time, guiding many people to the right path and leading them to the truth of servitude. After that, at a certain point in history, they were able to create such a civilization, greatness, and knowledge in the world that its brilliance can still be seen beyond the high walls of history and the long distances of time, and the world enjoys the blessings of that scientific, industrial, intellectual, and civilizational advancement. In all eras, whenever Muslims have been able to appropriately benefit from Islam, they have been fortunate. Every individual who has been able to benefit according to their capacity has made themselves prosperous. What happened in Islamic Iran - namely that great revolution and the establishment of this Islamic system - was a plan and a reflection of what Islam brought for humanity. The Iranian nation had a bad life. The Iranian nation experienced a dark era. They had strayed far from their human dignity. Due to their distance from Islam, they were oppressed in terms of knowledge, humanity, politics, and economics. Thanks to their acquaintance with Islam and the understanding of Islam, this nation was able to, through a great movement, reach the source of Islam; to put the laws of Islam into practice for themselves; to create the possibility of acting upon these laws; to contemplate Islam and benefit from it; to delve into the depths of Islamic knowledge and become familiar with the Quran. Today, thanks be to God, in our country, the youth, with the same spiritual capital, radiance, and purity that they possess, have taken significant steps. Today, the Quran is not a neglected matter in our society. Youth and adolescents become acquainted with the Quran; various classes of people become familiar with the Quran, establish a connection with it, and utilize the teachings of the Quran; many of the laws of Islam are also implemented in the country. Of course, we have progressed to the extent of our capacity and ability and according to our own efforts; but this is not the end of the road; this is not the full capacity of Islam. If a nation strives and the compassionate individuals of this nation dedicate themselves to the public movement of this nation towards Islamic knowledge and truths, what they will achieve will be so brilliant that it exceeds the horizon of human imagination. Under the shadow of Islam, there is an open field for progress; both scientific progress, practical progress, moral progress, political progress, as well as civil dignity and elevation, freedom, justice, and great human ideals. In an Islamic environment and under the shadow of Islam, there is no veil or limit for humanity. It is our lack of effort and insufficient endeavor that prevents them from benefiting from Islam. In an Islamic environment, returning to Islam and benefiting from Islamic knowledge is a great task that if intellectuals, thinkers, scholars, and those of knowledge and understanding in any of the Islamic countries engage in, they will be able to reap great benefits. Islam must be understood as it is correctly comprehended by humanity and in the authentic Islamic texts; it must be known and utilized with Quranic guidance. The Quran itself is "a clarification for everything"; it is a guide, a statement, a line. In Islamic societies, they instruct the intellectuals - and this instruction is a continuation of the same intellectual dominance of the West and Western culture that fears the dominance of Islamic thought - that Islam must be understood with the tools and understanding of Western knowledge! This is not the case. Of course, all knowledge enlightens humanity and equips them for better understanding; but Islam must be taken from Islam itself; the truths of Islam must be derived from Islamic texts; the truths of Islam must be understood and acted upon with the terminology of Islam itself. Islam is the guiding light for the thoughts and minds of humanity and the guide for humanity. The Quran is the book of guidance and the book of light. Those who refer to the Quran and contemplate it and create the necessary conditions and capacities within themselves to benefit from the teachings of the Quran can benefit from it. One should not consider that what we understand from Islam, in the judgment of those who have no affinity with Islam, who do not like Islam and see it as an obstacle to themselves - whether in economic or political matters - has any effect; do they like it, do they accept our understanding of Islam or not? Islam, as a guide for humanity, entered a world that was filled with denial and rejection from all sides. The Prophet was accused with various slanders. You can observe the Quran; the expressions that the enemies of the Prophet used against him are such that they belittle any weak individual, break them, and destroy their courage and audacity to express their intentions; however, the Prophet paid no attention and conveyed the words of God that were revealed to him and inspired in his heart, and the radiance of the divine word did its work. In our time, it was the same. Our great Imam, when he entered the field of action, at a time when it became clear to the world that this great human had a serious intention to act according to Islam and establish an Islamic government, the same propaganda apparatus that had previously perhaps used flattering expressions about the Imam began to express derogatory, slanderous, and humiliating remarks about the Imam, his message, the Islamic community, and the very essence of the Islamic system. But the Imam paid no attention, and our Islamic community, our youth, our thinkers, and our officials boldly and courageously followed this path and succeeded. Today, the Islamic system and government is among the most cherished governments in the world. This geographical and political area is one of the most prominent political regions in the world today. Our nation is dear and proud. Our government is dear and proud. The flow of affairs is correct, smooth, and without major problems. These are very significant; these are due to the blessings of Islam. Those pressures, those slanders, those humiliations, those accusations of fanaticism, those accusations of extremism and radicalism did not have an effect, and the nation continued its path; today it is the same. I do not believe that everyone should absolutize their understanding of Islam; no. Understanding Islam and understanding the Quran, like all other interpretations and understandings, requires prerequisites; it requires effort; it requires having a certain level of capacity and is incompatible with narrow-mindedness, rigidity, and fanaticism - just as it is incompatible with laxity - but the point is that what is understood from Islam, what is accepted from Islam, what is presented as Islamic guidance before us, must be embraced with strength, courage, faith, hope, and optimism for the future. The path must be traversed, and the movement must continue, and this is what the Iranian nation is doing today. Today, the government and the Iranian nation are moving along the path of pure Islam, the Islam they became acquainted with thanks to the revolution. Of course, they accuse us; sometimes they say we are fanatical, sometimes they say we are reactionary, sometimes they say we are extremists, sometimes they say we are radicals. Well; let them say it. There is no expectation from the enemy. We have recognized Islam; we have faith in Islam; we love the Prophet of Islam; we believe in the path we are taking; we have experienced this path, and we will continue on it. The Iranian nation will continue on this path. All the efforts of the enemies of Islam and the enemies of this system are aimed at discrediting this nation regarding its past; that same brilliant and shining past of twenty years; that ten-year radiant life of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified); that period when that divine, spiritual, and truly unparalleled man in history was alive among us, spoke to us, guided us, dazzled our eyes, left his enemies in awe and admiration, and skillfully led this great nation through the most difficult historical junctures; that period which became a foundation for this nation to move forward. They want to negate these and take them away from this nation. They want to condemn these in the minds of this nation and introduce them as needing reform! Today, those who are in power in this country - the officials of this country, the President of this country, the government of this country, the legislative and judicial branches of this country - as well as all the people of this country, all honor and cherish the Imam, the path of the Imam, and the peaks of glory during the time of the Imam and will not disregard them. This is the invaluable experience of the twenty years following our revolution. We began our movement thanks to Islam; we progressed thanks to Islam; we illuminated the horizons of the future before us thanks to Islam; we disheartened the enemy thanks to Islam; we escaped many of the traps of the enemy thanks to Islam; we began and continue on the path towards the material and spiritual prosperity of this country, and we have made significant progress. These are all due to the blessings of Islam. What we have is from Islam. What we have is from the Quran. What we have is from the guidance of that great man. We know that continuing this path is what will bring happiness to this nation and will quench its thirst from both material and spiritual sources. Our problems will be solved thanks to our adherence to Islam and independence on this path; thanks be to God, today all the officials of the country work, strive, and endeavor with complete faith in this truth. As the world’s Muslims draw closer to Islam, they will taste the flavor of dignity better; and the more united they are with one another, the more they will be able to benefit from Islam. Today, Muslims must transcend minor disagreements, tribal disputes, historical differences, and sectarian conflicts and extend hands of unity and solidarity to one another. God willing, this great Ummah in all Islamic countries will overcome great obstacles, and God willing, the future of the Islamic Ummah will be far better than its past. We hope, God willing, that all the dear nation of Iran and the Muslim nations will benefit from Islamic and Quranic blessings and be included in the attentions of the Awaited Savior, may our souls be sacrificed for him, and may God bestow His grace, mercy, and blessings upon all Muslims. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.