Statements of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces at Imam Hussein University

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

We congratulate you on the arrival of the blessed month of Rajab, the birth of Imam Baqir, and the glorious anniversary of the third of Khordad; and we also congratulate you dear youth on your rank of soldier in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and receiving your epaulettes.

The Almighty God has bestowed upon us the great blessing of serving in the Islamic Republic, and we have the duty to express our gratitude for it. Today's field, which, thanks be to God, was filled with innovations and beautiful symbolic displays, encompassed the entire ceremony and programs, serving as a sample of the message of the Islamic Revolution to us, you, and all future generations. The Almighty God says in the Quran: "Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you are only pledging allegiance to God"; those who pledged allegiance to the Prophet in the way of Islam, in fact, pledged allegiance to God. "The hand of God is above their hands"; that hand which was placed upon theirs for allegiance - which was the hand of the Prophet - is, in fact, the hand of God. Pledging allegiance to Islam, pledging allegiance to the religion, pledging allegiance to the divine mission and responsibility, is such a pledge. A person pledges allegiance with God. Then it says: "So whoever breaks his pledge, breaks it only to his own detriment"; anyone who breaks this pledge has acted to his own harm. "And whoever fulfills what he has promised to God, We will give him a great reward"; but those who remain steadfast and loyal to this covenant will receive their great reward from the Almighty God. This reward is not only a reward in the Hereafter - although the reward of the Hereafter is so magnificent, profound, and meaningful that our worldly and material minds cannot comprehend it - this reward also exists in this world. The reward for those who move forward with divine allegiance in the way of God, who remain steadfast, is dignity, honor, freedom, and nobility.

Do you know how the Iranian nation rose from the depths of humiliation - which had been imposed upon it by the oppressive kings for centuries - to the peak of dignity today? Today, the Iranian nation is both honored, powerful, pioneering, and confident about its future, and the horizon of the future smiles upon it. Within themselves, our individuals, our youth, our elders, and our various classes feel their identity; they know what they are pursuing; their efforts are meaningful. All of this is valuable.

Nations become hollow due to disconnection from religion, spirituality, and God; they lose their identity; they fall into confusion and bewilderment. Nations fall into humiliation due to distance from God's commandments; just as the Islamic Ummah suffered humiliation for centuries. It was the steadfastness and loyalty of the Iranian nation that placed this firm and smooth path before the Iranian nation. Of course, a smooth path does not mean a path without effort. There are many hardships, but the grace, nobility, and courage of individuals emerge and manifest in difficult trials.

Dear youth! Appreciate the blessing of youth, the mental and physical abilities, and the pure and radiant hearts that the Almighty God has given you. Strive; this country belongs to you, the future is yours; you are the ones who must lead the Islamic Ummah and advance towards the elevation of the Islamic Ummah with intensity, speed, and ever-increasing momentum. The predecessors began this path, they struggled, they sacrificed.

We thank God that our armed forces, our Revolutionary Guards, our army of the Islamic Republic, and all the organizations of the armed forces have remained steadfast in this path, insisted, and left behind enduring experiences.

The path belongs to you; the work is your work. Do whatever you can to strive in this path. The Iranian nation is on the path to increasing dignity and elevation. Our progress, our advancement, the establishment of justice among us - which this decade is committed to - contributes to the advancement and development of justice in the Islamic world and ultimately in the entire world.

The front of oppression, global arrogance, and tyranny in the world is weakening. Their apparent clamor is not a sign of real power. Wherever the light of spirituality and faith shines, the darkness naturally fades and gradually disappears; this is happening in the world. Significant parts of this work are the responsibility of our dear youth, and one of the most sensitive parts of it is on you dear youth.

We ask the Almighty God to grant you success; to grant us success to appreciate you dear youth and, God willing, to read the glorious future of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Ummah in your radiant faces and high foreheads.

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