Statements of the Supreme Leader at the Grand Gathering of Pilgrims at Imam Khomeini's (may his soul be sanctified) Shrine

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

Thanks be to God, Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our Master and Prophet, Abul Qasim Muhammad, and his pure and chosen family, especially the remainder of God on earth.

The seventh anniversary of the painful passing of our great Imam, which renews a very bitter memory for the people of Iran and other Muslims worldwide, is an occasion for the Iranian nation to express their feelings towards that great Imam and their departed great leader. This ceremony, as it appears and is felt, is more passionate, grander, and more meaningful each year than the previous ones. This signifies that the Iranian nation, despite the enemies of the Imam and the revolution, has not abandoned the path of the Imam and the revolution, and the Imam, to the dismay of his enemies, was victorious.

Victory is twofold: one victory is the one that a person sees for themselves; this was the establishment of the government and the destruction of the enemies of the revolution, which the Imam witnessed with his blessed eyes. Another victory, which is more important and indeed a lasting victory, is the victory of thought, the victory of the path, and the claim. This is the same victory that the divine prophets, despite enduring so much hardship during their lifetimes, ultimately achieved. This victory is the victory of the thought, idea, and path of a great and thoughtful person. The Imam also achieved this victory. The continuation of the memory of that great figure and the annual enthusiasm of this ceremony signifies this.

Regarding the movement of our great Imam, I wish to present a point that carries a lesson for us. I request that those who possess thought, political insight, and contemplation on major issues reflect on this matter and delve deeper into it.

You know that the movement of the Imam has many similarities with the Hussaini movement and is almost modeled after the Hussaini movement. Although that movement—meaning the movement of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him)—ended in the martyrdom of that Imam and his companions, and this movement ended in the victory of the Imam, this does not create a distinction. Because a type of thought, a content, and a general plan governed both movements. The circumstances were different; hence the fate of that movement was the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), and the fate of this movement was the government of our great Imam. This is generally a clear and obvious matter.

Among the features that prominently exist in both movements is the subject of 'steadfastness.' The word steadfastness and its meaning should not be treated superficially and fleetingly because it is very important.

In the case of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), steadfastness was such that the government stood firm. The problems had not yet manifested themselves. After a while, that Imam decided not to submit to Yazid and his tyrannical government. The struggle began from here; not submitting to a corrupt authority that completely deviated from the path of religion. The Imam moved from Medina with this intention. Later, when he felt he had supporters in Mecca, he combined his intention with an uprising. Otherwise, the essence was protest and movement against a government that, according to Hussaini standards, was intolerable and unacceptable.

Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) initially faced problems in confronting that movement, which appeared one after another. The necessity of leaving Mecca, then the confrontation in Karbala, and the pressure that was exerted on Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) during the Karbala incident were among these problems. One of the factors that obstructs a person in great tasks is religious excuses. A person must perform a mandatory task, but when performing this task entails a major problem—suppose many people will be killed—they feel that they no longer have a duty. You see how many such religious excuses were there in front of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) that could have dissuaded any superficial person from continuing the path! They appeared one after another. First, the people's aversion in Kufa and the killing of Muslim occurred. Supposedly, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) should have said here: 'Now there is a religious excuse, and the duty has been lifted. We wanted not to pledge allegiance to Yazid, but apparently, in these circumstances, it is not possible. The people cannot bear it either. So, the duty is lifted. Therefore, out of compulsion and necessity, we pledge allegiance.'

The second stage is the Karbala incident and the occurrence of Ashura. Here, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) could have, in facing an issue, as a person who wants to solve great events with these logics, said: 'Women and children cannot endure in this scorching desert. So, the duty is lifted.' Meaning he would submit and accept something he had not accepted until then. Or after the enemy's attack began on the day of Ashura and many of Imam Hussein's (peace be upon him) companions were martyred—meaning the problems showed themselves more—that great figure could have said: 'Now it is clear that we cannot fight and cannot advance.' Then he would withdraw. Or when it became clear that Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) would be martyred and after his martyrdom, the family of God—the sanctuary of the Commander of the Faithful and the sanctuary of the Prophet (peace be upon them)—would be left alone in the desert and in the hands of unrelated men—here the issue of honor arises—as a zealous person, he could have said: 'Now the duty is lifted. What about the duty of the women? If we continue this path and are killed, the women of the Prophet's family and the daughters of the Commander of the Faithful (peace and blessings be upon him) and the purest and most virtuous women of the Islamic world will fall into the hands of enemies—men without honor who understand nothing of dignity and honor. So, the duty is lifted.'

Pay attention, brothers and sisters! It is important to examine the Karbala incident from this perspective that if Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) wanted to look at the very bitter and difficult events such as the martyrdom of Ali Asghar, the captivity of women, the thirst of children, the killing of all the youths, and many other events that can be counted in Karbala, with the view of an ordinary religious person and forget the greatness of his mission, he could have retreated step by step and said: 'We no longer have a duty. Now we pledge allegiance to Yazid. What can we do!? Necessities permit prohibitions.' But Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) did not do so. This shows the steadfastness of that Imam. This is what steadfastness means! Steadfastness does not always mean enduring difficulties. Enduring difficulties is easier for a great person than enduring issues that, according to standards—religious standards, conventional standards, simple rational standards—may seem contrary to expediency. Enduring these is more difficult than other difficulties.

Sometimes someone is told: 'Do not go this way; you may be tortured.' Well; a strong person says: 'Let me be tortured! What is the obstacle?! I will go the way.' Or they say: 'Do not go! You may be killed.' A great person says: 'Well; let me be killed! What does it matter?!' But sometimes it is not about being killed or tortured or suffering deprivation. They say: 'Do not go; a group of people may be killed because of your movement.' Here, the lives of others are at stake: 'Do not go; many women, men, and children may suffer because of your progress.' Here, those for whom being killed is not important, their feet tremble. The one whose feet do not tremble is the one who first has the highest level of insight and understands what great work they are doing. Secondly, they have the strength of character and do not become weak. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) demonstrated these two characteristics in Karbala. Therefore, the Karbala incident shone like a sun on the forehead of history; it still shines, and it will shine forever.

My point is that our great Imam completely followed Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) in this characteristic. Therefore, this characteristic of the Imam led the revolution to victory. Secondly, it guaranteed victory after his departure; both the victory of his thought and the victory of his path, which is manifested in this great gathering of you people and its broader manifestation at the global level, the inclination of nations towards Islam and the path of the Imam. Achieving these victories was due to his steadfastness.

One day they told the Imam: 'If you continue this movement, the seminary of Qom will be closed.' Here it was not about life that the Imam would say: 'Let them take my life. It does not matter.' Many are willing to give up their lives; but when they say 'with this action of yours, the seminary of Qom may be closed,' everyone's feet tremble. But the Imam did not tremble; he did not change the path and moved forward.

One day they told the Imam: 'If you continue this path, they may incite and provoke all the great scholars and authorities against you.' Meaning a division in the Islamic world may arise.' Many people's feet tremble here. But the Imam's feet did not tremble, and he continued the path until he reached the point of the revolution's victory. Many times it was said to the Imam: 'You encourage the Iranian nation to stand against the Pahlavi regime. Who will answer for the blood that is shed?' Meaning they placed the blood—the blood of the youth—in front of the Imam, may God be pleased with him. One of the great scholars, in the year 42 or 43, said this to me personally. He said: 'In the fifteenth of Khordad, when he—meaning the Imam—made this movement, many were killed who were our best youth. Who will answer for these?' These thoughts were there. These thoughts exerted pressure and could have dissuaded anyone from continuing the movement. But the Imam was steadfast. His spiritual greatness and the greatness of the insight that governed him were seen here.

In any case; all this pertains to the period of struggle against the oppressive regime. What is a lesson for us pertains to after the victory of the revolution. Everyone must pay attention to this point and, as I said, political thinkers, political thinkers, and analysts should work on this. It is truly important.

Well; the Islamic Republic was established. Before that, it was a struggle against the oppressive regime. From the time the Islamic Republic regime was established and the Islamic Republic system came into being, the scope of the struggle expanded. The form of the struggle changed; but the scope expanded. The struggle against the Islamic Republic began from global enemies. Who are the global enemies? They are those we call 'global arrogance.' Global arrogance includes all the world's bullies, all the arrogant powers, and all the insolent ones dominating nations. This is global arrogance. Why did they fight against the Islamic Republic? The answer to this question is lengthy and has been said many times. In short, it can be said: their interests were endangered. Their expansionism was endangered. The presence of the Islamic Republic among Muslim countries endangered their continued dominance over those countries and so on. In any case, they started a tough struggle. Every step of this struggle was a place where if a weak person were in the Imam's place, they would stop the movement and, due to the existence of an obstacle and an excuse, say: 'It is not possible to fight such a vast and extensive arrogance. There is no choice; therefore, we retreat.' But the Imam did not retreat.

Pay attention to these two or three stages to understand the importance of the matter: one attack from all sides on Iran was political. All the propaganda apparatuses attacked us politically at several points, which is paralyzing. Sometimes political attacks are very frightening for countries because they affect the minds of their people. Such an attack was launched against the Islamic Republic system from all sides. Of course, our nation was insightful and steadfast and did not waver. The Imam also did not say 'now that everyone is united against us, we should retreat.' He did not say 'it is possible to fight America alone; but how can we deal with America and the Soviet Union?' Because at that time, when the world was bipolar, both poles were united and allied against us. The Imam was steadfast; he did not retreat and did not turn back from his words and slogans and path. Not a single word of what the enemies wanted to come out of the Imam's mouth came out. This is Hussaini steadfastness. It is similar to the steadfastness of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) in today's scale and forms.

Or when the imposed war began. Imagine! A nation with all the destruction of the oppressive regime era and all the need for work and reconstruction is suddenly attacked by the enemy, and even what it has is rendered useless! They disabled the railways, disabled the refineries, disabled oil exports, disabled iron factories. Well; anyone would collapse in the face of such a movement. The other side was not just the Iraqi regime! Everyone knew that the Iraqi regime, plus the Soviet Union, plus France, plus NATO, plus American experts—all and all—were there. If the Imam were weak, he might have said here 'now the duty is lifted from us. They want us not to insist so much on Islamic laws; very well, we will not! They want us not to fight Israel; very well, we will not fight. Because the pressure is too much. What can we do?!' The Imam did not say such a thing and stood firm. The acceptance of the resolution by the Imam was not due to these pressures. The resolution was accepted by the Imam because of the list of problems that the economic officials of the country at that time placed in front of him and showed that the country could not bear and continue the war with all these costs. The Imam was forced and accepted the resolution. The acceptance of the resolution was not due to fear; it was not due to the enemy's attack; it was not because America might intervene in the war. Because America was already intervening in the war before that. Moreover; if the whole world intervened in the war, the Imam, may God be pleased with him, was not someone who would turn away. He would not turn away! That was an internal issue; it was another matter.

Throughout the blessed ten-year life of the Imam, may God be pleased with him, after the victory of the revolution, not a moment occurred where he doubted due to the heavy burden of the enemy's threat in any dimension. This means having the Hussaini spirit.

War has casualties. The life of a person was very dear to the Imam. The great Imam sometimes shed tears or tears gathered in his eyes for a person who was suffering! We had seen this state in the Imam many times. He was a compassionate and kind person, with a heart full of love and humanity. But this heart full of love did not tremble and did not slip in the face of the threat of aerial bombardment of cities. He did not turn back from the path and did not retreat. All the enemies of the revolution throughout these ten years understood and experienced that the Imam could not be frightened. This is a very great blessing that the enemy feels that an element like the Imam cannot be driven out of the field by fear and threat. The Imam, with his shining character and personality, made everyone in the world understand this point. They understood that this man cannot be driven out of the field; he cannot be threatened; he cannot be diverted from his path with pressure and practical threats. Therefore, they were forced to adapt themselves to the revolution.

What is the result of our discussion is two points—of course, this conclusion can be expanded and thought about—: First, one of the clear lines of the Ashura movement and indeed the hallmark of the Ashura movement is the steadfastness of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him. The second point is that our great Imam, may God be pleased with him, chose this Hussaini hallmark in his movement, in his behavior, and in his life, and therefore he was able to insure the Islamic Republic. He was able to dissuade the enemy from threats and pressure. Because he made the enemy understand that pressure has no effect. Threats have no effect. Attacks have no effect, and this movement and this leader are not something that will turn back from the path they are on with these words. These two points are the summary of what I have said.

And now, the conclusion! Well; we are followers of the path of the great Imam. I want to tell you, dear nation: Great nation of Iran! You have progressed day by day despite the threats and pressures of the enemy over these seventeen years since the beginning of the revolution. No one can deny that the serving hands and strong arms in various sectors of this country have advanced the country over these seventeen years. This country is not the Iran that, during the oppressive regime, with all its disorder, with all its deprivation, and with all its discrimination, existed. In this country, during these seventeen years of revolution, work, effort, and service have been done that was not done in all the life of that vile and corrupt regime. This is the first point.

The second point is that all these advancements have been made while our enemies—meaning America and America's allies in political and economic matters and so on—have continuously threatened us. They constantly said: 'You will be economically blockaded.' They constantly said: 'You will die of hunger.' They constantly said: 'The path of construction in this country will be closed.' And dozens of other threats. Thanks be to God, all these advancements that have been made have been made despite their threats, enmities, and pressures.

The third point is that my dear ones! My brothers and sisters! O great nation! Know that today the main goal of America and arrogance is to force the revolution, the Islamic Republic, and the Iranian nation to turn back from their words. To announce that they have turned back from their words and from the words of the Imam. All their efforts are focused on this. Why? Because they see that the message of the Imam has awakened Muslim nations. Look at the various nations of the world and mainly the Muslim nations! See how they are influenced by the message of the great Imam! Arrogance has understood that if it wants to silence the nations, divert them from the right path, and make them sit in their place, the only way is to make these nations see that Islamic Iran and the Iran of the Imam have turned back from their path; so that everyone becomes hopeless and turns back from their path. Arrogance has understood this and all its efforts are for this. Today, from around the world, they are pressuring the Islamic Republic government to back down in the case of Israel, to back down in Islamic matters, to back down in proclaiming Islamic slogans, and not to talk so much about Islam and the Quran—which are common among Islamic nations. All the pressures are for this.

I say: If the Iranian nation wants to continue the path of dignity and progress—as, thanks be to God, in these few years, with the blessing of the strong and serving arms that have worked and progressed in the Islamic Republic government and in various sectors—if it wants to continue the path of development, construction, and a comfortable life and achieve results, it must engage in steadfastness and resistance against the enemies and arrogance. The Iranian nation has had great achievements in these few years. Therefore, it has a duty to preserve these achievements. The nation and especially the officials of the Islamic Republic have a duty to prevent, with wise, prudent, and wise action, the achievements of the Iranian people from being lost, God forbid. Whether the achievements that have been directly given to this nation by the revolution—such as the people's government, the people's president, the people's representatives, and the like—or the achievements that belong to the revolution but have been indirectly given to this nation—such as construction movements; all of which are the work of the revolution and the art of the revolution and have been carried out by revolutionary elements in the government and various sectors. Such achievements must be preserved wisely and prudently by the Iranian nation and officials.

It is obvious that the way to preserve these achievements and create more achievements is for the Iranian nation and officials to continue the hallmark that the great Imam drew with his actions; meaning the hallmark of steadfastness and resistance against the expectations of the enemies and resistance against the nonsense and verbosity of those who express expectations towards this nation outside these borders. But what is repeatedly said 'the path of the Imam and the hallmark of the Imam,' what is meant? If we say 'the hallmark of the Imam is Islam and the revolution,' this is a general matter. It is clear that the hallmark of the Imam is the revolution and Islam! No one is against Islam and the revolution. The factor that can fulfill the intention of the great Imam—who is the father of this revolution and the architect of Islamic Iran—is the steadfastness that he demonstrated in his behavior. He did not back down in front of the enemy; he did not fear the enemy and was not afraid, and threats did not shake him. No one can accuse the great Imam of having done anything contrary to proper management. All the wise people of the world, if they pay attention, understand and analyze that the right path was the one that man took; the path towards his own goals. Whoever has that goal, their path is the same as that great figure took. This is my statement on the seventh anniversary of the great Imam.

All the Iranian nation, all the officials, and all the various sectors must take the steadfastness of the Imam in front of the expectations of the enemies as their model. Other nations, too, if they want to reach somewhere, the path is the same. The issue of Palestine, too, if it is to be resolved, the path is this steadfastness and resistance. The various issues of the interference of arrogance in our region, if they are to be resolved, the path is this steadfastness.

Iranian nation! Know that if your Imam had not shown steadfastness, you would not have the borders of great Iran today. The enemy would have broken these borders and its invading foot would have remained in your land, and it would have been a source of eternal disgrace for the Iranian nation. It was the steadfastness of this man that did not allow it. It was his resistance that did not permit it. Today, too, if you want Iran to become dear, Iran to become proud, and the goals of the great Imam—which are the goals of Islam and the revolution and the Islamic goals of the Iranian nation—to be realized, the path is resistance against the expectations of the enemy. Today, thanks be to God, the country's officials stand like a mountain. Today, the Islamic Republic government, the people's representatives, the judiciary, the armed forces, and all the people stand like 'Zubur al-Hadid' against the expectations of the enemies and are not shaken by their threats. This is the path of dignity. This is the path of health.

The Americans want to advance their work with threats; but they will not be able to. They cannot do it with interference either. The Iranian nation cannot ignore the right of the Palestinian nation. They say: ignore the Palestinian nation and sign the imposed compromise against that nation! It is clear that the Iranian nation strongly rejects such a statement and considers anyone who follows this path a traitor.

Know that, thanks be to God, the message of the Imam and your great and revolutionary nation has spread throughout the world. Although seven years have passed since the Imam's departure, the name and memory of the Imam have not become outdated in the world and will not become outdated. Of course, the propaganda of the enemies tries to pretend that the message of the revolution is an outdated message in the world. But this claim is false and contrary to reality. Today, in the farthest corners of the world—even in some places where there is no name or sign of Islam—the name and sign of your great revolution and the great movement of our nation and the great movement of the great Imam are evident among the people. This path is the path of Iran's dignity; the path of the country's pride; the path of the prosperity of our land and the path of the welfare, victory, and happiness of the Iranian nation. God willing, the Iranian nation will continue this path with strength, and the next generation and future generations will complete it by the grace of the Lord.

At the end of my speech, I once again honor the memory and name of the great Imam. Especially at this opportunity, I honor the memory of the Imam's dear son, the late Mr. 'Haj Ahmad' Agha, may God be pleased with him, who played a significant role in the Imam's movement and the path that the great Imam took—this prominent and sincere element. I hope God will bestow His mercy and forgiveness upon these great figures and grant the Imam's honorable family the grace and reward of the patient ones and keep the Iranian nation successful and supported.

I will make a few prayers; I would like all brothers and sisters to say 'Amen' from the heart and ask God for the acceptance of these prayers:

O Lord! By Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, grant a great reward to our great Imam.

O Lord! Gather him with Your prophets and saints.

O Lord! Grant victory to the Iranian nation; crush and defeat the enemies of the Iranian nation.

O Lord! Preserve the youth and hopeful elements of this nation for this nation.

O Lord! Gather our dear martyrs and sacrificers with Your saints.

O Lord! Include our dear disabled veterans and their families and the families of martyrs and our dear missing and prisoners and also their families in Your special grace and favor.

O Lord! Continue to make the path of Islam the path of this great nation.

O Lord! Grant success and victory to anyone who works for this nation and this country and Islam.

O Lord! Anyone who works to the detriment of this country, this nation, and this revolution, if they are not capable of guidance, erase and destroy their existence.

O Lord! By the right of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, convey the message of this nation, which is the message of freedom, happiness, and peace for humanity and the salvation of humanity from the evil of superpowers, to all aware hearts around the world.

O Lord! Please the sacred heart of our Imam of the time and our master of the age with us.

O Lord? Make us his soldiers; grant us the success to visit him.

O Lord! Do not make our death anything but martyrdom in Your path!

O Lord! Make what we said and heard for Yourself and in Your path and accept it from us.

May God have mercy on those who recite the Fatiha with prayers.