Tehran Friday Prayers Sermons

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

Thanks be to God, Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, seek His help, ask for His forgiveness, and rely on Him. We send blessings and peace upon His beloved, His chosen one, and the best of His creation, our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad, and upon his pure, chosen, and infallible family, especially the remaining proof of God on earth. God, the Wise, says in His Book: 'O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.' (Quran 2:183)

The beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan is indeed a great celebration for Muslims, and it is fitting for believers to congratulate each other on the arrival of this month and to encourage one another to make the most of it. Since it is the month of divine hospitality, only the believers and those who are worthy of entering this feast sit at the table of the Generous and Merciful Lord. This is different from the general table of divine grace from which all humans, indeed all creatures, benefit; this is the table of the elect and the special feast of the Lord.

Some important issues related to this month are mentioned in the noble verse of Surah Al-Baqarah and the verses following it, of which I will present a small portion in this sermon.

Firstly, it says: 'Decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you.' (Quran 2:183) We know that prayer and almsgiving were not exclusive to the Muslim community; rather, the prophets before the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) had prayer and almsgiving at the forefront of their commandments. 'And He has enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving as long as I live.' (Quran 19:31) This is from the words of Jesus (peace be upon him) to his audience, saying that God has enjoined upon him prayer and almsgiving. This meaning is also derived from other verses of the Quran. The first verse I recited states that fasting, like prayer and almsgiving, is not exclusive to the Muslim community; rather, previous nations and past prophets were also commanded to fast.

This indicates the truth that in the construction of the spiritual life of humans at all times, just as prayer is necessary and this prayer is the spiritual connection between man and God, and just as almsgiving is necessary and these points are the purification of one's wealth, fasting is also obligatory and essential, and it is one of the main pillars of human perfection and spiritual elevation; otherwise, over time and with the change of various religions, this line would not remain fixed and continuous.

Of course, fasting exists in different religions and at different times in various forms; however, the act of enduring hunger and keeping the stomach empty of food and closing the lips, tongue, and mouth to physical pleasures at certain hours is a characteristic that exists in the fasting of different religions. Thus, fasting is a fundamental pillar in spiritual elevation, mental development, and human guidance and education.

Then it says: 'That you may become righteous.' (Quran 2:183) This means that fasting is a step towards piety and a means to secure it in your being, heart, and soul. Piety is when a person is vigilant in all their actions and behaviors to see if this action aligns with God's pleasure and divine command or not. This state of vigilance, caution, and constant awareness is called piety.

The opposite of piety is heedlessness, inattention, and moving without insight. God does not approve of the believer's unawareness in matters of life. A believer must have open eyes and an awakened heart in all matters of life. This open eye and awakened heart and alertness in all matters of life have the effect and benefit for the believing person that they are aware that what they are doing is not contrary to God's will and the way and path of religion. When this vigilance arises in a person, that their speech, action, silence, standing, sitting, and every action and decision is according to the path that God Almighty has determined, this state of alertness, attention, and awareness in a person is called piety, which in Persian is translated as abstinence, and the purpose of abstinence is that the state of caution and being on guard is always alive in a person. The benefit of fasting is this.

If a nation or individual possesses piety, all the blessings of this world and the hereafter will be attracted to them. The benefit of piety is not only for gaining the pleasure of the Lord and attaining the divine paradise in the hereafter; the benefit of piety is also seen by the pious person in this world. A society that is pious, a society that carefully chooses the path of God and moves carefully in that path, also enjoys divine blessings in this world, gains worldly honor, and God grants them knowledge and understanding in worldly matters. A society that moves in the path of piety has a healthy and loving atmosphere of life, accompanied by cooperation and collaboration among the members of the society.

Piety is the key to worldly and otherworldly happiness. Misguided humanity, which laments from various personal and social hardships and sufferings, suffers from the lack of piety, heedlessness, and being immersed in the mire that its desires have prepared for it. The state of backward societies is known. Even the advanced societies of the world, although they have some aspects of happiness - which is also due to alertness and awareness in some matters of life - they suffer from deadly voids and deficiencies that their writers, speakers, and artists express today in a hundred languages.

Piety is the first and last advice of the prophets. In various chapters of the Quran, you read that the first thing the divine prophets said to the people was the recommendation to piety. If there is piety, there is also divine guidance; and if there is no piety, divine guidance does not fully reach the individual and society. This fasting is a prelude to piety.

God says in another verse of Surah Al-Hadid: 'O you who have believed, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk.' (Quran 57:28) Piety causes God Almighty to place a light in your heart, life, and path, so that you can move in the light of that light and find the path of life. Humanity cannot move with confusion. Without knowing the destination and goal, human movement is not possible. This light that can show us the goal, destination, and path is derived from piety and abstinence. The recommendation of all prophets and saints is to piety.

I advise you, brothers and sisters who are praying, to consider divine piety as obligatory and necessary in all matters and moments of your life; especially those who have more responsibility in society. Although in the Islamic society everyone is responsible, the greater the responsibility and the heavier the burden, the more the provision of piety is needed. Those who are responsible in society must increase their piety; they must know what they are doing and understand whether God's pleasure is in this word they are saying, in this action they are taking, and in this deed they are doing or not? This is the criterion and standard. If we adopt piety as our way, by God, even the strongest material powers will not be able to create the slightest deviation in this straight path we are following.

Consider the month of Ramadan as an opportunity. Spend these days with fasting and these nights with remembrance and supplication. The season of supplication is also this blessed month. Although a person should always be connected to God through the thread of supplication, the verse 'And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.' (Quran 2:186) in Surah Al-Baqarah is in the midst of these blessed verses related to fasting and the month of Ramadan. In the middle of the verses of fasting and the month of Ramadan, this verse 'And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near' (Quran 2:186) appears, which directs and invites all humans and all servants to supplication and attention.

The relationship of supplication is your heartfelt connection with God. Supplication means asking and calling upon God. Asking means hopefulness. Without hope, you do not ask God for anything. A hopeless person does not ask for anything. Therefore, supplication means hope, which is accompanied by hope for acceptance. This hope for acceptance ignites and keeps hearts illuminated. By the blessing of supplication, society becomes lively and active.

This month is also the spring of the Quran. Familiarity with the Quran strengthens and deepens Islamic knowledge in our minds. The misfortune of Islamic societies is due to their distance from the Quran and its truths and teachings. Those Muslims who do not understand the meanings of the Quran and are not familiar with it, their situation is known. Even those whose language is the language of the Quran and understand it, due to the lack of reflection on the verses of the Quran, do not become familiar with the truths of the Quran and do not become intimate with it. You see that the verse 'Allah will never allow the disbelievers to have a way over the believers.' (Quran 4:141) - meaning God has not placed the believers under the control and subjugation of the disbelievers - is recited in Arab countries and by Arabic-speaking people in the world, but it is not acted upon. In the verses of the Quran, there is no attention, awareness, or reflection; hence, Islamic countries have lagged behind.

Familiarity with the Quran means reading the Quran, rereading it, and reflecting on its concepts and understanding them. Persian speakers can use the translation of the Quran to approximately understand the Quranic words and grasp the contents of the Quranic verses and think and reflect on them.

If we reflect on the verses of the Quran, our will and perseverance will become stronger and more than this. It is these Quranic verses that were able to train people in a time to fight against the world of disbelief and darkness. It is these teachings that prompted and equipped our great nation to confront the modern oppressive world of ignorance - modern ignorance and the ignorance of the twentieth century. We hope that our nation will become closer to the Quran and its truths day by day.

O Lord! We beseech You by the right of Your saints to include all our nation in the blessings of this blessed month. O Lord! Make us among those who have made the most of these blessed days and nights. O Lord! Make us pious and God-conscious.

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

Say, 'He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.'

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

Thanks be to God, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad, and upon his pure, chosen family, especially Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, the pure and truthful Fatimah, the leader of the women of the worlds, Hasan and Husayn, the leaders of the youth of Paradise, Ali ibn Husayn, Muhammad ibn Ali, Ja'far ibn Muhammad, Musa ibn Ja'far, Ali ibn Musa, Muhammad ibn Ali, Ali ibn Muhammad, Hasan ibn Ali, and the remaining proof, the Mahdi, Your proofs over Your servants and Your trustees in Your lands. Bless the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers. I advise you, servants of God, to be God-conscious.

The matter I will present in the second sermon is a brief topic on the occasion of the approaching twelfth of Farvardin - the day of the Islamic Republic - when the world witnessed a government with this name and these characteristics.

The Islamic Republic, in terms of its literal meaning, is based on two pillars: one is the public, meaning the individuals and population of the country. They are the ones who determine the administration of the country and the state apparatus and management of the country. The other is Islamic, meaning this movement of the people is based on Islamic thought and Islamic law.

This is a natural matter. In a country where the overwhelming majority are Muslims, and that too, believing and practicing Muslims, who have proven and demonstrated their deep faith in Islam over time, in such a country, if a government is popular, then it is also Islamic.

The people want Islam. This was said from the beginning and has been experienced over many years. Today, the clearest truth in our system is that the individuals and masses of the people want the ruling system of the country to be Muslim and to act according to Islam and to realize Islam in society.

This government and this system were announced and established in the world with this name; the people also voted. As I mentioned, in reality, the people voted for Islam and considered the name of the Islamic Republic as indicative of Islam; therefore, they cast their votes in the name of the Islamic Republic.

The world did not know such a system and it had no precedent until then. Of course, before us, there were countries in the world with the name of the Islamic Republic. Both in Asia and in Africa, there are countries whose official title is the Islamic Republic. Perhaps some people in the world and even some people inside the country thought at the beginning that this Islamic Republic would be like those two Islamic Republics that were previously established and whose name is Islamic but in practice, there is no difference with non-Islamic countries; neither the parliament and legislative body are obliged to legislate laws based on Islamic law; nor are the leaders of these countries obliged to promote Islam, nor do the people expect the implementation of Islamic laws from these governments.

As far as we know, those Islamic Republics that had a precedent in two other countries, practically had no difference with non-Islamic and even anti-Islamic countries; it was only called the Islamic Republic. Perhaps some imagined that the Islamic Republic in Iran would be like them - meaning a name without content and a name without meaning - but with the passage of a short time and the drafting of the constitution of the Islamic Republic by Islamic scholars and those who had fought for Islam for years and some of whom were among the jurists and Islamic thinkers, it became clear that this Islamic Republic is truly Islamic and is intended to lead and manage society based on Islamic thought. This is where the alignments began.

Perhaps those who have closely followed the events remember that in the middle of the first Assembly of Experts - which was drafting the constitution - gradually, violent and confrontational murmurs against Islamic issues began to rise. Until then, no one showed sensitivity to the word Islam and the Islamic nature of the Islamic Republic; but from there, gradually, groups inside and perhaps loudspeakers outside began a propaganda confrontation with Islamic thought; because the Islamic nature of the Republic became known.

Until then, the world had experienced and accepted two types of government over many years; one was Western democracies, and the other was communist governments. In ancient times, there were kings who ruled with autocratic opinion; without any law existing for them; they themselves made the law and their will was the absolute ruler among the people. This is an outdated and ancient method of governance; although even today there are countries that are governed by this method, but with different forms and names, and before the revolution, our own country was governed by this method. After the progressive countries of the world managed to free themselves from such autocracies, they had experienced and knew two types of government: one was Western democracies, which were prevalent in Western countries and their satellites; the other was communist governments, which called themselves workers' governments; although at the head of these governments were nobles and aristocrats, not workers, and at the top of the pyramid of those powers, those who ruled and governed were no different from the kings and non-style leaders of their own!

These two camps, East and West, were both fiercely confronting each other and denying each other; but when the Islamic Republic - this new style of government - emerged, both camps stood in front of the Islamic Republic with astonishment and then with fear!

What was the reason? The reason was that the Islamic Republic had characteristics that denied both styles of government prevalent in those two camps and declared them wrong and harmful for human life. In other words, those two styles of government that were prevalent in the East and West had commonalities and the general culture in these countries was the same. That culture was to lead the masses of people to heedlessness and to let go of the reins of desires and carnal desires. This was something that existed and still exists in both styles of government. This is the common culture of East and West.

With these common characteristics, Islam was opposed and declared its opposition and said that the government of the Islamic Republic guarantees and ensures the complete independence of the nation under its jurisdiction. This complete independence includes political and economic independence and above all, cultural independence. That is, the Islamic Republic did not suffice to create a government independent of powers; this is the first step. Countries that achieve independence, their first step of independence is to create an independent political system; that is, to create a government independent of the influence of foreign powers. It did not suffice to move towards economic independence either. Economic independence is more difficult and harder to achieve than political independence. You see that it is not easy to cut the threads of economic influence and domination of foreign powers and governments. If a country wants to move towards economic independence, it needs efficient human resources, income-generating resources, abundant facilities, knowledge, expertise, international scientific and technical cooperation, and many other things. Revolutionary countries and countries that have recently achieved independence are in trouble and difficulty in obtaining all these prerequisites and tools of economic independence.

Our country moved towards economic independence from the first hour. It is true that before the revolution, the dominance of dependent governments had developed a completely dependent economy on the West and especially America in this country, and cutting these threads was very difficult; but these threads were cut and we were able to move towards economic independence.

Of course, we still have a distance to reach complete economic independence, and the people must work, the youth must study, the specialists must strive, and those who can help in this important national goal - in any way - must do so.

For a country, economic independence is a vital necessity. When the economic threads of a country are connected to foreigners, it means that the lifeline and nourishment of this body are connected elsewhere; therefore, the control will be in the hands of another.

Most revolutionary countries in the contemporary century were inclined towards the East. They used the governments and powers of the East. For example, when China had its revolution, for ten years or more, the Soviet Union - which was considered its big brother and a pioneer in the socialist revolution - provided economic and technical assistance to China and sent specialists and experts to that country. Other communist countries were the same. But the Islamic Republic, to cut the threads of its economic ties and dependencies, relied only on the strong will of its own nation and the brilliant talent of Iranians and still does. Therefore, in the path of economic independence, our nation advanced and continues to advance, and thanks be to God, the planning is moving in this direction and must continue to do so.

But more important than all of these was cultural independence. The Islamic Republic showed from the beginning that it would not submit to the decadent and corrupt Western culture. Let me say this point: the real domination of powers is cultural domination. That is, if a nation can penetrate its culture, beliefs, customs, and traditions, and at a higher level, its language and script into another nation, it is dominant over that nation, and its domination is a real domination; something that the French did with other countries in a period of these past two hundred years, and in another period the British did, and recently the Americans have done; that is, they exported their language, script, culture, and ways of life to any country they could. If a country is economically independent and not dependent on powers, but if foreign powers can penetrate their culture into this country, they are dominant over it.

Culture is like air and water. Culture means the customs and traditions that govern your and my life. Culture means our beliefs and convictions and the things that a society faces in personal and social life, inside the home, and in the business environment. The Islamic Republic rejected Western culture and said we have an independent Islamic culture.

Islam has determined the duties of Muslims in social interactions, in the quality of individual life, in eating and drinking, in dressing, in studying, in relations with the government, in relations with each other, and in their transactions. We do not want to learn these from Westerners and imitate them. The Islamic Republic showed this from the beginning.

In the West, the unrestrained relationship between men and women is a common practice, and the lack of hijab and barrier and distance between men and women in social interactions is a normal practice. We do not say that in Western countries, all men or women are corrupt. No, we do not make such a claim, we do not make such an accusation; it is not a reality either. Among them, there are certainly good and noble men and women; but sexual freedom is dominant in Western societies. This is a culture there. In Western culture, sexual desires are a permissible and unconditional matter.

Some Western countries have advanced a lot in these areas and have brought their lives to shameful forms and of course, they are regretful. This is something that thinkers, politicians, planners, and managers of Western countries are stuck in and it has really created problems for them.

The West exported this culture and this trait and habit to all other countries as well. In other countries, such corruption did not exist. In Islamic countries and even non-Islamic Eastern countries, such a thing did not exist; Westerners introduced it.

The Islamic Republic stood against these corruptions and from the beginning announced that it does not believe in unrestrained relations between men and women; it believes in the existence of hijab and Islamic relations between men and women, and it insisted on this issue. To some, this is a secondary and minor issue; while they are mistaken, this is a very important issue.

Here I should say that one of the most important reasons for the severe and hostile opposition of Western governments to the Islamic Republic is this issue. They are very sensitive to this issue. If the Islamic Republic had compromised a little on this one issue and allowed the unrestrained Western culture in the field of unhealthy relations between men and women to be realized in society, many of the oppositions that political and non-political circles in the West have with the Islamic Republic would have decreased or some would have disappeared.

You see that in our own country, one day they made the lack of hijab compulsory; but no one in the world objected to why you make the lack of hijab compulsory! In our neighboring country Turkey, they made the lack of hijab compulsory and until recently, even some Turkish governments continued this compulsion and obligation - examples of which have been seen in recent years - but no one in the world objected and does not object!

Moreover, in European countries that consider themselves advanced and in claims and propaganda, human rights issues and the opinions of people are important to them - such as France and England - they did not allow a few Muslim women or girls to go about with Islamic hijab and attend schools! Here they consider compulsion and obligation permissible and see no flaw in it; but the Islamic Republic, because it considers hijab obligatory in society, all these circles object to it! If obliging women to a form of dress and attire has a flaw, its flaw is greater than obliging to hijab; because this is closer to health. At least these two should be seen with the same view; but the West does not act this way.

The West criticizes the Islamic Republic as a country where the dress of women has a compulsory form, but it does not criticize those governments that make nudity and the absence of hijab between men and women compulsory! Why is this? It is because this is contrary to the accepted culture of the West. They are very sensitive to this issue.

The West is sensitive to the spread of alcoholic beverages and considers it a positive point in nations and in their customs and traditions. If in a country, alcoholic beverages are prohibited and consuming them is punishable, Westerners show sensitivity and consider this a regression; but if in a country alcoholic beverages are free and permissible and prevalent and the government shows no sensitivity to it, but rather promotes it, they consider it commendable!

Compulsion and obligation of people to various methods of life, as long as it does not conflict with Western culture, is permissible for Westerners and has no flaw. We have repeatedly said, the West has good relations with countries and governments that are deprived and far from the most basic methods of democracy! Now if you look at this region of the Persian Gulf, you see countries that do not have elections, do not have a legislative assembly, the head of the country is not elected by the people - it is chosen by inheritance; like the methods of the time of Decius! - the laws of the country are not enacted by parliament and representatives of the people, but by the emir and sultan; but neither Western governments nor the so-called human rights circles that are formed and work to defend freedoms and human rights show any sensitivity to these!

This is while the Islamic Republic of Iran has the most independent and strongest parliament and consultative assembly. In few countries, and perhaps I can say that in no country in the world, do you find a parliament as strong and independent as our Islamic Consultative Assembly. Parliaments that are run by parties, the individual representative is subject to the opinion of the party; but here there is no party involved, but there are political factions; but none of the factions have control over the vote of the parliament representative; he chooses freely and independently. Where in the world do we have such a parliament?

Free elections to determine the president of the country are rare in the world. The masses of people go to the polls; without party propaganda affecting their minds. They elect someone they know, understand, and have experienced for a period as president. Where in the world is there such a thing?

In some countries where presidential elections are held by parties, people do not even know the presidential candidate! The party introduces a candidate, and people, because they believe in this party, or like it, or accept it, or have other motivations, elect this candidate as president; but here it is not like that. So, the freest elections, the most independent parliament, the most popular government, are in the Islamic Republic.

Here, the individuals responsible for the country have a close and sincere relationship with the people, they consider themselves servants of the people, and the people are fond of them. The life of the country's officials is a popular and average life; it is not aristocratic and like the rest of the officials of countries in the world.

Such a popular country, such a popular government, such a country with free elections, because it opposes Western culture, even the West that believes in democracy is not willing to see these weaknesses(!) in the Islamic Republic! All this is because the Islamic Republic announced from the beginning that it would not accept foreign and Western culture.

The Islamic Republic with these characteristics announced its existence in the world on the twelfth of Farvardin 1358 and today it has been continuing its life and growth and development for eleven years. All anti-Islamic powers have opposed this Islamic Republic. We have always said in these few years that the help of the West and East in the imposed war to the regime and army of Iraq was due to fear of Islam and enmity with Islam. For years we have repeated this statement in this Friday prayer pulpit and other places. Perhaps it was difficult for some to accept this statement; but today global propaganda confirms this issue. Today newspapers and media agencies explicitly write this point. In the news of the past one or two weeks, journalists and media agencies have repeatedly said that the West helped Iraq because of enmity with Islam and fear of militant Islam, to prevent the Islamic Republic from achieving a decisive military victory in the war and removing Iraq from the scene. They acknowledge and admit this.

The Islamic Republic, in the face of all this hostility and enmity, stood with power and firmness, did not weaken, but became stronger and awakened Muslims outside of itself, and today we are witnessing the awakening of Muslims. We have always said, and we emphasize again that this era is the era of the progress, awakening, and victory of Islam and Muslims, and this is thanks to the Islamic Republic.

The factors that have made the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic successful in these eleven years are several things. Adherence to Islam, the unparalleled leadership of our great and noble departed Imam (may his soul be sanctified), the struggle and sacrifice of you people, the enemy's unfamiliarity with the secrets of Islamic beliefs, are among these factors. This unfamiliarity of the enemy still exists, this faith thanks be to God still exists, this sacrifice is still observed. With unity of word, continue this path; the world is waiting for you.

I wanted to present some points about some individuals and lines opposing the Islamic Republic inside and outside the country, which I will postpone to another opportunity due to the time passing; but once again I say to you, the masses of our nation and our fighting and believing people, that with your unity, courage, and faith in Islam and your fearlessness of the enemy, this torch of light that you hold - meaning Islam - will become brighter and more illuminated day by day and will attract the eyes of nations more to you. These are the strengths of the Islamic Republic that thanks be to God the Iranian nation has preserved during this period and will continue to preserve. With reliance and trust in God, you will continue this path.

Of course, we must build the country in the form of an Islamic model. This is what the enemy fears. All those who care about Islam and the Islamic Republic should know that from now on, we must be able to show the world in a tangible and concrete way what impact this struggle and sacrifice has had on the reality of life and in the text of life.

Of course, eight years of war have effects beyond eight years. The destruction, damage, and losses of the war take time to be compensated. It is not that as soon as the war ends, all the problems of the war also end. Moreover, the arrogant powers of the world are still intent on harming and striking the Islamic Republic; we must be vigilant.

But with all this, since our nation is a living nation, since the blessings and divine favors upon our country and nation are very great and immense and our capabilities are many, since thanks be to God our youth and people are very talented and intelligent and have great efficiency - which has been proven in the past and present in history - therefore we are hopeful that this nation, with the leadership and management of the country's officials, can build the structure of the Islamic Republic in such a way that it encourages, motivates, and reassures nations towards Islam. This must happen.

Everyone must move with unity of word and sacrifice behind the country's officials in this period of reconstruction of the country - which is a great struggle. The Islamic society, God willing, must be the standard-bearer of science, industry, progress, freedom, spirituality, divine servitude, religion, and religious beliefs throughout the world.

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

By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.