Statements of the Supreme Leader at the Meeting with Various Segments of the People

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

I sincerely thank all the dear brothers and sisters, especially those who have come from distant places, and I hope that all of you will be under the grace and favor of the Almighty.

The assembly of brothers and sisters present in this gathering represents a unique composition in the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic country of Iran. The composition of the esteemed families of martyrs, the dear disabled veterans who are truly living martyrs, the dear freed captives, and the warriors who each spent periods of their pure and virtuous youth on the front lines, is the composition of our sincere gathering today.

You are an example of a great composition, with these characteristics, throughout the country. That is, today in this vast country and this population of nearly sixty million, we observe a large assembly of people among whom are the families of martyrs, freed captives of the imposed war, devoted disabled veterans, and Basiji and Hezbollah warriors, and the truth is that the overwhelming majority of our nation is from these groups.

This several-year war was a crucible of trial for our nation. It brought everyone—except for a few—into its crucible, melted and refined them, and the prepared souls benefited from those difficult and turbulent days. What I want to say is that all nations have gone through difficult trials in their lives. However, a nation becomes strong, stable, dear, and rich and progresses when it first emerges honorably from those trials and secondly preserves the results of those trials for itself. If, hypothetically, the Iranian nation had shown weakness in this past war, God forbid, what would have been the result? The result would have been the same as what happened approximately one hundred and fifty years ago in this very country. A war was imposed on us by the northern neighbor, and the result of that war and the weaknesses in it was that a significant part of this homeland was separated, and the disgraceful Treaty of Turkmenchay was signed. The country was the same country, and the nation was the same nation; but that day, this nation did not emerge honorably from that test. It showed weakness, and the result was that after the defeat in the incident of the Iran-Russia war—during the Qajar era—and the signing of the Treaty of Turkmenchay, for a long period, not only the Iranian nation but even Iranian personalities felt weak and defeated and lacked the power to show any personality. That historical defeat was not just a defeat for that stage, but a defeat for one hundred and fifty years of our history. That was a test. Now, what happened that day that the Iranian nation gave such a test? This itself has an analysis: that day, the rulers and political figures were bad, and the military commanders were incompetent; otherwise, the people were good people. It was necessary for someone to keep those people in the field, to have faith in their movement, to sacrifice, and to forgo their interests and pleasures. On that day, such individuals were not present. Kings ruled, and a country with such corrupt rulers at its head results in the same outcome. This very nation, in this war that happened in your and our time, attracted the attention of the whole world to itself; it made Iran proud and demonstrated the power of Islam. Despite the fact that it was not just one neighboring country attacking us; behind it was America, the Soviet Union of that day, and other armed powers of the world; yet, due to faith in God, the leadership of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified)—that extraordinary human—and the sacrifice of the youth and the forbearance of the families, it was able to carry out a movement accompanied by honor in this incident.

This is destiny-shaping for a nation. That is, passing through a test in a correct and good manner makes the nation dear, strong, self-reliant, and removes defeatism from it. These are the effects of that movement that you men and women showed throughout the country during the eight years of war. That movement was truly a great and magnificent movement. What I am saying is this: after that, due to those magnanimities and sacrifices, this result came to the Iranian nation, it must be preserved and strengthened, and it should not be abandoned. This is why the Noble Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him and his family, after returning from a difficult battlefield, said: 'This was the lesser jihad, and now it is time for the greater jihad.' The greater jihad means the jihad against the self. The jihad against the self should not be confined to a personal scope. Of course, fighting against desires, pleasure-seeking, comfort-seeking, greed, and inappropriate morals within oneself is a struggle against the self and is also important. That is, one must constantly fight against that inner devil and restrain it so that it cannot compel a person to do ugly deeds. However, the jihad against the self also has meaning in the vast social scope. That is, to preserve within ourselves those victory-creating spirits and feelings and thoughts that were able to bring that test to such an honorable conclusion and not let ourselves go. No one should think that when it is said that it is the era of reconstruction, it means that the era of heroism, enthusiasm, and revolutionary spirit is over. It is never like that. The enemy wants to propagate that the post-war and reconstruction era means an era in which there is no longer the enthusiasm and heroism of the revolution. That is, those heroics, that fervent faith, those sacrifices, and that firmness against the enemy were specific to the war era, and now that era is over. Now is the time to return to the way some oblivious people in some countries live!

Is this the meaning of the reconstruction era? It is never like that. Those who think so are mistaken. In an Islamic and revolutionary society, the spirit of revolution and faith is always alive and effective. The spirit of revolution and the spirit of revolutionary enthusiasm lead to victory in war during the war era and lead to victory in the struggle of reconstruction during the reconstruction era. Reconstruction is also a struggle. Short-sighted people should not think that the enemies of Islam have given up their enmity with the Islamic system and the Muslim nation. They show this enmity in various forms, in the form of malicious propaganda—which today has filled the world with propaganda against the Islamic system and Muslims and Islam. Of course, thanks be to God, their propaganda is ineffective or has little effect. They do their work; even if it has no effect. They show hostility towards us by nurturing treacherous elements who turned their backs on the revolution and the nation and the country and colluded with the enemies and became the enemy's mercenaries. They do these things after the war era, just as much as they did during the war era—and even more. The efforts of the enemies to divert thoughts and youth, to abandon faith and fervent Islamic and religious zeal, which has always been the guardian of a nation and a society in all critical times, continue. They want religious and Islamic zeal—which is fundamental—and national cultural zeal—which also stems from Islam—not to exist.

The enemy does not sit quietly! The enemy does not give up enmity! How will we defend this dear truth and this precious gem, namely the independence of the country and the great revolution, against this enemy? Except with the deep faith and clear understanding of the people? This is why our dear nation must be vigilant. It must recognize these raw and lulling whispers from the devils.

The nation, thanks be to God, is vigilant. We have felt this in various incidents. You see today when in the Islamic world, in the farthest corners of the world, an incident occurs that is an issue of Islam and Muslims, there our people show their religious zeal. In these very issues related to Bosnia and Herzegovina, or related to Palestine, or related to other regions where Muslims are under pressure, you saw how our people showed that religious zeal and fervor. That is, the people and the officials are committed to that revolutionary fervor.

We thank God that today the officials themselves are among the leading Hezbollah elements. The President of the country is himself a Hezbollah and fervent individual who has been tested. We thank God that there is no means for the enemy to be able to implant its sinister propaganda and whispers in minds and hearts. But nevertheless, the enemies do their propaganda. The strength of the country and the Islamic system and this hard-won independence is that you people and you youth maintain the same revolutionary fervor and feeling that existed during the war and at the beginning of the revolution with the same power. The same religious zeal, the same motivation, and the same feeling of the enemy's presence on the opposite front must be maintained. Just as, thanks be to God, the youth have maintained it.

We told the dear nation; and we said establish the enjoining of good and forbidding of evil, this divine obligation. Among the youth throughout the country, a fervor and uproar arose. So, it is clear that these youth are inclined towards enjoining good and forbidding evil. Therefore, it is our duty, the officials, the legislators, and the executors, to pave and prepare the way for the implementation of this divine obligation. Today, thanks be to God, the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the executors, the country's officials, and the judiciary are all from this nation. Let there not be, in any corner, or in the law enforcement or judiciary, those who block the way of the enjoiner of good and forbider of evil! Let there not be those who, if someone enjoins good and forbids evil, do not support him, but rather support the criminal! Of course, I hear news from various parts of the country, in some cases. Wherever I know and feel and find reliable news that the enjoiner of good and forbider of evil, God forbid, has been wronged by an officer or official, I will personally intervene in the matter. This is what will preserve the country's strength and independence. Otherwise, we have many enemies. Why has the enemy not been able to harm this nation and strike this country until today? Thanks be to God, Islamic Iran, with complete power and firmness, has stood against all of them and is standing. Why? Iran is the same Iran of one hundred and fifty years ago! This is due to your sense of duty, due to your presence, due to your Hezbollah spirit, and because the Muslim men and women are ready to defend their faith, Islam, and revolution to the fullest extent. These are what have preserved this country. How else can this country, with all these enemies and ill-wishers who have their eyes on its underground resources and markets, be preserved?! How can it be resisted against them without this spirit?! This is how the country is preserved; with enjoining good and forbidding evil. However, I give two reminders to you dear youth—wherever you are in the country. Firstly, enjoining good and forbidding evil is an obligation that does not tolerate hesitation and embarrassment. We said: if you see someone committing a wrongdoing, enjoin good and forbid evil. That is, say it with words. We did not say to use fists and weapons and force. These are not necessary. God Almighty, who has imposed this obligation on us Muslims, knows how the interest is. We also understand the divine rulings and interests to some extent. The greatest weapon against the sinner is saying and repeating. If one person says it but ten people sit quietly and watch, it will not work. If one becomes weak-willed, one becomes embarrassed, and one becomes afraid, that will not be forbidding evil. The sinner is not just the improperly dressed, which some have only clung to the issue of improper dress. This is one of the sins and is smaller than many sins. There are numerous wrongdoings by careless people in society: political wrongdoings, economic wrongdoings, wrongdoings in business, wrongdoings in administrative work, cultural wrongdoings. These are all wrongdoings. Someone backbites, someone lies, someone conspires, someone mocks, someone underperforms, someone creates dissatisfaction, someone steals people's property, someone ruins people's reputation. These are all evil. The deterrent factor against these evils is forbidding; forbidding evil. Say: 'Sir, don't.' This repetition of 'don't' is shattering for the opposite party. This is the first point; that forbidding evil requires will, determination, power, and courage, which, thanks be to God, exists in our people's classes and in our men and women. You must use it. Do not wait for the authorities to come and do something.

Some people called here, wrote letters, and recommended: 'Sir! You said forbid evil. A flood of support also took place. But practically nothing happened!' What did you want to happen practically? Is it necessary for the government to intervene here or for the judiciary to directly intervene? The people themselves must intervene. The people themselves must forbid. Of course, the government, the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the judiciary, and the law enforcement are obliged to support the forbider of evil. This is their duty. The main part of the matter is here. The young warrior, the family of the martyr, the sacrificing family, the family of charity, the believers who pray and fast and go to the mosque, the revolution's sympathizers, the intellectuals interested in Islamic and revolutionary concepts; all of these must be on the scene.

The second reminder is to be careful that no one misuses this divine obligation. Settling scores, reaching past grudges, exposing, disgracing, attacking the honor and property of this and that under the pretext of this divine obligation, these should not happen. People must be vigilant. People are always and in all matters sharp-witted. It is the sharp-wittedness of the people that often makes the authorities aware of various issues. In these very matters of the meanness and mischief of the counter-revolution and the groups from day one until today, it has often been the people who helped, intervened, were sharp-eyed, were careful, saw something, took action, and guided the officials. Here, too, it is the same. The people themselves, with sharp-wittedness, should not let this divine obligation and this great duty remain unfulfilled, or God forbid, be misused.

Today, the arrogant powers make a gesture, and with their gesture, through a government, a decision is made somewhere in the world. The American ambassador, the British ambassador, or the ambassador of some other powerful country sits with the foreign minister, the finance minister, and even the president of a certain country, talks, conveys the gesture of his government, and that poor government makes a decision! That president or that foreign minister submits, makes a decision! Today, the powers rule and show power in third-world countries in this way. Those same big and bully powers that get their work done with a gesture in African and Asian countries and even some European countries, are afraid of the fighting and revolutionary nation of Iran and are scared. They have no hope of being able to penetrate this nation and rule over it. Sometimes they enter through deception. They smile and say, 'We love the Iranian nation! We want to establish relations!' But they lie. Past experiences have shown that they lie. They have a dagger hidden behind and a hand extended for plunder! We have recognized them.

This power of the Iranian nation, which, thanks be to God, is recognized by politicians and officials and world powers throughout the political horizons of the world, is due to what? It is due to this very faith. It is due to this very motivation. It is due to this very vigilance and awareness and this very unity of word. Preserve these. My recommendation, especially to you youth, warriors, martyr-givers, disabled veterans, and freed captives, is to sense and understand the enemy's plot. Where it wants to create division; where it wants to separate the nation and the government; where it wants to break the value of the government and the hardworking and serving officials in the eyes of the people and belittle them and their efforts, know that it is plotting and this is the wicked hand and tongue of the enemy speaking. Our great Imam, may God's mercy be upon him, emphasized this vigilance and awareness throughout this period and until the end of his life and tried to keep us, the Iranian nation, vigilant. Do not let this vigilance be slightly tarnished! Do not let vague and blind feelings prevail over some and make something small big and ignore the system and the revolution and the serving apparatuses and the Islamic Republic government and all of these! Be careful not to make such a mistake that will please the enemy.

The Iranian nation has opened a clear path. You, the nation, broke a deadlock that was the same global arrogance and global tyranny over nations. You broke this. Nations follow you, and we have a duty to defend the nations that move, and we will defend them. I consider it my religious duty to defend the nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I will defend it. As far as we can support this oppressed nation, we will support it. They are on the front line, and the enemy has brought all its force and power upon them. With courtesies and verbal support, they want to end the matter. Of course, our path is unfortunately closed. It is not possible to provide complete assistance. But we do not accept this global decision that 'their enemies become more equipped day by day through various means.' Some have said 'their enemies are supported by the usurping Israel.' The Iranian nation considers supporting that oppressed nation the path of Islam, and this duty an Islamic duty.

We hope that God Almighty will enlighten our hearts, open our eyes, increase our insight, strengthen our faith, and make this unity that exists among our nation more and more solid. May He increase the love between the officials of the country and this dear nation day by day. May He increase the strength of this nation day by day. May He make the officials more successful in serving this nation and especially the oppressed and the sacrificers. May He make us more familiar with our duty. May He make our actions and behavior pleasing to the Imam of the Age, may our souls be sacrificed for his advent, and may He make the sacred spirit of the Imam happy with us.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings