Statements in Meeting with Officials of the Foundation for the Oppressed and Disabled of the Islamic Revolution

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

Let me present a few points to the gentlemen: The first point is that although economic work in this vast organization is truly fundamental—there should be no doubt about this (as it is said: as long as the root is in water, there is hope for fruit)—and without economic income, it is not possible to help the poor, the deprived, and the oppressed, and above all, the disabled. Therefore, economic work must be strong and carried out with the correct economic perspective. However, a few points must be considered in economic work:

One is integrity; that is, economic work must be clean, neat, and healthy. Where is the difference between your work and that of a wealthy person who, for example, has one-tenth of your capital? In any case, he is a capitalist and works with the intention of increasing his capital. One-tenth of your capital is a huge amount, and not everyone has it. Where is the real difference between you and him? Do you have a difference or not? You must have a difference; there is definitely a difference. The difference is precisely in this. A capitalist, at most, will adhere to rules and laws; he does not consider anything beyond the law as his duty to observe. He does not consider ethics as his duty, nor does he consider some sacrifices necessary to ensure the work is done correctly; whereas in your economic work, this is not the case; because you do not do it for yourself, but for God. The work must be clean and neat and free from any contamination.

Of course, you are good, and there is no doubt about the gentlemen. When Mr. Rafighdoost is at the helm, meaning when one sees him responsible for a collection, the confidence level really increases. Besides, now that he is there, each of you gentlemen is also good. Some of you we know closely or from afar; for others, whom we have not had much opportunity to know, the trust and endorsement of friends compensate. You are good; however, in an economic organization that beats like a pulse to the last particle—meaning it is active—your goodness is not enough; the whole collection must be good. Suppose the industrial, agricultural, construction, and tourism departments, each must have their components, all complete with trustworthiness, piety, honesty, broad-mindedness, and indifference to worldly adornments—including the money at their disposal. If any corner has a problem, it harms the collection and does not serve the oppressed.

If someone says that the Foundation, for example, takes care of the situation of four poor people, do not believe it; such a thing is not possible at all. The money that comes from those ways and is the product of the dirty methods of the existing capitalist world cannot serve human goals at all. If they help a poor person—these foundations have such things—if you go to its depth, you will see that it is consumed improperly; like water that pours into a sewage well! Therefore, the money must be correct and clean to be useful in filling the void that exists in the Islamic society. This is our issue.

Before the revolution, the situation was not like this. Those who had money filled a corner or a void and had nothing to do with the good or bad of society, and the purpose was, for example, that this poor person should be fed, or the children of this school or that orphanage should be clothed; but now our issue is not just this. Our issue is to lead an Islamic system that has promised people for fourteen hundred years, and now we want to fulfill those promises.

Some imagine that our promise is the same as the promises the government makes to the people. No, whether the government promises or not, we have promised. We have sold the past for fourteen hundred years. The people of religion have sold the past to the religious. Where is the Islamic society and that heavenly paradise? We must create this. The government is one part; meaning it is responsible and accountable. With the facilities that the Foundation has, you also have a major part in hand. This must be the goal. So, pay attention to this point that economic work must be done with the same economic strength; cleverly, diligently, wisely, and commercially—in its good sense, meaning calculate profit and loss and do not fall short.

But on the other side of the issue, consider the value aspect of the matter one hundred percent. That is, in the Foundation for the Oppressed, value is not just that a lot of money is obtained and spent in a certain way. No, it must be obtained correctly; as you yourselves believe and presumably act in your private lives. There should be no contamination in the Foundation's collection. Now, if someone makes a mistake, as soon as the Foundation becomes aware, it should take action; otherwise, not everyone is an angel. Wherever it is found that a certain point has a state of decay, there should be action. Usually, these corrupt activities also have a stench. A sharp sense can understand this. You can understand this well. As soon as such a thing is felt, take immediate action.

The second point is that the works you mentioned in your report are all very valuable, and one cannot overlook the truth; including making the disabled shareholders, as Mr. Zare said, which is being done and is very good to be done. What is better than this? Of course, it must be done in a reasonable way so that the shares are not wasted, ruined, and the factory is not destroyed. You must consider its aspects, which seems to me, as you say, to be the best way. These are very useful and necessary works; however, in addition to this, I once told you at the beginning that we now have villages in this country that if twenty million tomans are spent on them, they will be developed. Of course, a hundred villages are very few for you. With other money that is nothing compared to this money, I considered a hundred villages in my mind; you must gradually develop ten thousand villages in this country. You must move in this direction. There are really villages that lack nothing but a road, and there is no one to build it; sometimes you quietly announce that we have developed two hundred or five hundred villages. Do not say we will do it; say we have done it and announce their names. If this happens, then the Foundation for the Oppressed and Disabled will be and will have the same name you have, with meaning.

The third point is a repetition of the words I told Mr. Rafighdoost; that is, the cultural point. Do not forget that the cultural issue is very important. All these works are on one side, and culture is on the other side. If we help a person, but as we help him, we say: take it and poison yourself! Will he become our friend or enemy? He may first say: Sir, thank you very much, I am your servant; but in his heart, he says: may the undertaker take your shape, poison yourself! There is also a time when you go and say, let me sacrifice myself for you, I could not serve you, I am ashamed of you, what can I do? God willing, God will help both of us. Will he become your friend or enemy? I am not saying you should work verbally. No, you must work practically. The Foundation must work practically; but liken cultural work in this way.

For example, suppose if in Kurdistan, as much as construction and military work has been done now, alongside these works, one-third of it had been cultural work, a better result would have been achieved. Many of you are from the military and know these words. Our economic and material work is a body whose soul and spirit is cultural work. If we do it wrong, it is like having a body with a bad spirit. If we create and raise a human being, but with a satanic spirit and mind, what benefit does it have? Of course, the disabled themselves are very good. They are those who went to the battlefield before us—one of them is yourself—and gave themselves, their bodies, and their health for Islam. This is why they are better than us—there is no doubt about this—but we should not be unaware that among them are those who gradually fall. You know anyone who is not charged gradually becomes empty. God willing, may God grant all of us success and may you be successful and supported.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings