Speech at the Meeting with Officials of the Islamic Republic and Foreign Guests on the Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution

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

I extend my congratulations on this blessed and great Islamic festival to all Muslims worldwide, to the noble and faithful nation of Iran, and to you, the esteemed audience, especially the honored guests of the Islamic Revolution anniversary.

The great event of the Prophet's mission, despite the passage of successive centuries and the opinions of the world's thinkers and intellectuals, remains worthy of scrutiny and reflection from various aspects. The mission of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a great movement in human history, aimed at saving humanity, refining souls and spirits, and confronting the problems and calamities that humanity has faced throughout all ages and continues to face. All religions stand against evil and corruption and create a straight path towards lofty goals; however, the sacred religion of Islam has the characteristic of being an eternal prescription. This prescription is effective for all periods of human life.

When we read in the Holy Quran, 'He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His verses, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom,' (62:2) it does not mean that with the advent of the final religion and the final Messenger, all human souls will be purified, or have been purified; it does not mean that humanity, after the rise of the Quran, will no longer see oppression, discrimination, and the inadequacies of its path towards perfection. If we say that the Prophet and Islam came to establish justice, save the oppressed, and break the idols, it does not mean that after the rise of this radiant sun, people will no longer face oppression; there will be no tyrants, and no idol will rule over human life. Reality also shows that after the rise of Islam, in various parts of the world, even in the Islamic environment - albeit after several decades - idols emerged, tyrants appeared, and injustices were inflicted upon humanity, and the same failures that humanity has always grappled with reappeared.

Therefore, the meaning of the mission's ultimate goal of saving humanity is something else; it means that what the Prophet and Islam gave to the people is a healing prescription for all ages; a prescription against human ignorance; against the establishment of injustice; against discrimination; against the trampling of the weak by the strong; against all the pains that humanity has lamented since the beginning of creation. Like all other prescriptions, if acted upon, it will yield results; if neglected, misunderstood, or if there is no courage and boldness to act upon it, it will be as if it never existed. Even if the best doctors give you the most accurate prescriptions, but you cannot read them, or read them incorrectly, or do not act upon them, leaving them neglected, what effect will it have on the disease, and what fault lies with the skilled doctor?

Centuries passed, and Muslims forgot the Quran; the clear lines of the Quran faded from their lives; they either misunderstood it, deliberately distorted it, or understood it but lacked the courage and bravery to act; or they acted, achieved results, but did not sacrifice to defend and preserve those results. If in the early days of Islam, they did not understand the Prophet's words, or did not dare to act upon them and were afraid - as some such individuals are mentioned in the Quran: 'They say, 'Our houses are exposed,' while they are not exposed; they only wish to flee.' (33:13) - or if they did not sacrifice for what was achieved, it would not have remained.

The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) explicitly states: 'By my life, if we had done what you did, the pillar of religion would not have stood, nor would the branch of faith have turned green.' (Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 56) That is, if in the early days, alongside the Prophet, we had acted like you - those whom the great one addressed - not a branch of faith would have turned green, nor would a pillar of religion have been erected. Therefore, these things are necessary.

What is this prescription against? Against human ignorance. This human ignorance is not something that is countered by inventions and discoveries; rather, if humanity attains various sciences but does not recognize proper human relations, it is ignorant. If humanity reaches the pinnacle of knowledge but believes in two kinds of humans and two classes of humanity in terms of rights and laws, this humanity is ignorant. If humanity achieves material progress but the foundation of life is unjust; if tyranny rules over people's lives; if powerful forces trample the weak; if there is no light of knowledge and humanity in the world; if deception is prevalent in the world, it is still the same ignorance; these are the calamities that bring misery and darkness to humanity.

In Nahj al-Balagha, there are very eloquent words and sentences about the conditions of the emergence of Islam and the Prophet's mission; among them: 'And the world was darkened with its light and apparent with its deception,' (Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 89) or elsewhere: 'In trials that trampled them with their hooves and crushed them with their claws and stood on their tips.' (Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 2) Whenever people were subjected to trials, humanity was drowned in its primary problems, and its path was blocked; whenever humanity was not refined, oppression existed and ruled; whenever there was tyranny from great powers towards the weak, fratricide, and corrupt morals, that day is the day when the same prescription must be acted upon; it does not become obsolete.

Whenever an Islamic movement is seen in the world, some people start writing that Islam has become outdated, that the time for these words has passed. This is either due to ignorance of the truth and content of Islam or due to malice. For thirteen years, to crush the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic, the agents of global arrogance have been writing and speaking against Islam; about how this is antiquated and belongs to the past! No, these are not things of the past; these are remedies for humanity's chronic pains. As long as these pains exist, this prescription remains valid. Today, because people in North Africa and in Algeria have made an Islamic movement and shown an Islamic inclination, (6) once again the same pens have started and the same words and the same topics are being said; no, these words are misplaced. The mission is eternal. The prescription of Islam that came with the mission is eternal.

Most of the calamities that ignorance and fanaticism imposed on people's lives in the Arabian Peninsula at that time are ruling over the lives of Islamic nations today. Poverty, illiteracy, scientific backwardness, internal despotism, the domination of arrogant powers, and internal conflicts in Islamic countries exist. Today, more than a billion Muslims live in the world who can have a decisive opinion and say in world events and major global issues; but with this disunity, with these internal struggles, with these primary human and national problems, this great quantity - which includes scholars, scientists, and prominent figures among them - has become something ineffective! Why? What can cure these pains? Islam and the revival of the mission of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Islamic nations must return to Islam. Of course, the gates have been opened. The past century - that is, the thirteenth century AH - was the century of the cries of Islam's heralds. From the beginning of the century when Mirza Shirazi (7) - the great Islamic jurist - issued that decisive fatwa in dealing with the British company and moved a nation, to the constitutional event in Iran, to the Islamic movements in India, to the Islamic awakening in the western Islamic world - in the Middle East and in the North African region - and the great figures who spoke, and the likes of Sayyid Jamal al-Din and others, it was almost a century of cries and struggles, and the next century is the century of experience. This century in which we are today is the century of experience. The fourteenth century AH was the century of cries and awakening and declaration, and this fifteenth century - from its beginning and its opening - is the century of experience and action.

We see that Islamic nations have become experienced and are acting; one example is the Islamic Republic; and this was the first example. Because we were the first example, we went through many difficulties. Muslims must learn from this example. Those nations that today want to realize the Islamic movement in their countries can show a more comprehensive work than the Iranian nation and bring it to fruition; if God helps and if they strive.

Muslims have no way but to return to Islam; no way but to establish Islamic governance and realize and implement Islamic action. There should be no hope of cooperation from the long-standing and hostile enemies of Islam; not even hope for tolerance. Look at what they did, what they said, what they wrote, and how they treated the Iranian nation in these thirteen years since the victory of the Islamic Revolution - and we are celebrating the thirteenth anniversary and the beginning of the fourteenth year these days - this is an experience for Islamic nations.

There is no sweeter, more vivid, and more attractive experience than a nation that, over thirteen years, despite all the pressures from all sides, and the imposition of an eight-year war and various economic, political, and cultural pressures and military aggression, and despite the will of the enemy and the great powers and the superpowers of the world, has been able to remain and become stronger day by day; 'Their likeness in the Gospel is as a seed that sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick and stands firm on its stem, delighting the sowers, that He may enrage the disbelievers with them.' (48:29) Today, this is the state of the Iranian nation. Our nation has been able to stand on its own feet, move forward, neutralize conspiracies, overcome a war of such magnitude, and thwart the united enemies in this war; and all this has been by the blessing of Islam. There is no higher experience for Muslims than this.

Of course, they speak against us in the world; we do not expect them not to speak. The first-class platforms of the world are in the hands of the Zionists and Americans. If the Zionists do not speak against the Islamic Republic, one should be surprised. If the Americans and their affiliated propaganda do not slander us, one should be surprised; the opposite is not surprising, the opposite is surprising.

They have accused us of all kinds of slanders - let them - they have mobilized organizations affiliated with themselves in the world in the name of human rights and defense of such and such person and such and such group; to accuse the Islamic Republic of violating human rights! Truly, which of the world's wise people do not smile mockingly at these words?! Powers whose entire existence is essentially against the interests of humanity, America whose entire recent history - which we remember - is intertwined with crimes against humanity and nations, if they accuse us of violating human rights, what fear do we have and what importance do we give?

We say that human rights are secured under the shadow of Islam and Islamic governance; it is Islam that says: 'The command is for none but God. He has commanded that you worship none but Him.' (12:40) This command negates any tyrannical rule. No one has the right to rule over people; unless they possess accepted criteria and the people have accepted them.

Today, in the Islamic Republic, all officials who in any way interfere in people's affairs are directly or indirectly elected by the people themselves; even the leadership. That is, in the Islamic system, possessing criteria is not enough; rather, the people's choice is also a necessary condition and without the people's choice, it is impossible. Is this democracy, or what we see today in Western countries and Western democracies under the guise of false advertising; which they do not even believe in?

The recent events in Algeria showed that they have no belief in democracy! If democracy means the elections we observe around the world, then why did Western propaganda mobilize to crush Islam in Algeria?! Why are the powerful in the world not willing to understand the truth?! Unfortunately, some Algerian officials also do not want to understand the truth; why do they say Iran is interfering in our affairs? What interference?! Did you not see the great Algerian revolution yourselves? These are the same people; the same people who fought and struggled for Islam; they are Muslims. Why do you insult a nation and say that Iran has put Islam in their mouths?! Muslim nations are not waiting for someone to put Islam in their mouths; one example is these northern countries of ours that were dependent on the former Soviet Union. After decades of religion-eradication with utmost violence, you saw people, without anyone telling them, without anyone teaching them, they themselves raised their voices and spoke of Islam; it is the same everywhere. Nations want Islam; nations have recognized Islam.

A century of cries is showing its results in the mindset of the Islamic world. The victory of the Islamic Revolution and the successful experience of this self-sacrificing nation are showing their results and effects. Nations are inclined towards Islam and certainly, despite all the obstacles, ultimately the victorious will be the nations. Thanks be to God, we have the experience of Islam with pride and dignity. We have understood that as long as we cling to Islam, this firm handhold of God will help us in all slippery places; 'Whoever disbelieves in the false deities and believes in God has grasped the firmest handhold that never breaks.' (2:256) There is no breaking in this firm handhold of God. We must tighten our fists and firmly grasp this divine rope and handhold.

In economic matters, in war, in American aggression, in reconstruction, in extensive propaganda against the Islamic Republic, and in all other events, we have tested this; and our great Imam (may his soul be sanctified), who was the teacher of this nation and the instructor of this path to this nation and to other nations, recommended to us that as long as we cling to Islam, there is no defeat.

Of course, there are hardships that must be endured; but these hardships are the prelude to ease. Freedom, dignity, achieving victory, and the sweet fruits of Islamic governance and liberation from oppressive powers, of course, have hardships; these hardships must be endured. In the early days of Islam, they also endured these hardships for a period; the result was that for centuries Muslims became the sole power and authority in the world. Even though later corruption infiltrated the pillars of Islamic governments, that initial strong and solid foundation was able to carry this heavy burden for centuries. Let us endure the hardships. Muslim nations should sacrifice to overcome problems and pass through obstacles.

Thanks be to God, we see the horizon as bright. We consider this awakening a blessed awakening. We feel that the weapon of the superpowers is becoming blunter day by day; just as that superpower disintegrated and that vast geographical entity disappeared from the world and that superpower that ruled the world in such a way, today there is no trace of it; this shows us the behavior of the world.

The movement of the world and the movement of history is towards the elimination of oppressive powers and, God willing, the growth of values; of course, the condition is effort and struggle. Nothing will be achieved without struggle; 'And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it with the necessary effort while he is a believer.' (17:19) These are the conditions. Muslims must strive, must have faith, so that God Almighty, God willing, opens the doors of mercy to them. This is the path of the Iranian nation; this is the path of these faithful youth; the path of people who have struggled for Islam with sincerity until today. God willing, may God Almighty also help us and all Muslim nations, guide us, assist us, and God willing, may the holy heart of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) be pleased and satisfied with us.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings