Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution on the occasion of the anniversary of the seventeenth of Rabi' al-Awwal

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

I congratulate the birth of the savior of humanity and the divine gift for the history of mankind, the esteemed Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad ibn Abdullah (peace be upon him and his progeny), as well as the birth of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) to the great Islamic Ummah, to the dear nation of Iran, and to you, esteemed attendees, especially the honored guests who are present here from various Islamic countries, and also to the ambassadors of Islamic countries who are here.

This birth was the dawn of divine mercy for the history of humanity. In the Quran, the existence of the Prophet is described as "a mercy to the worlds." This mercy is not limited; it includes the upbringing, purification, education, and guidance of humans to the straight path and the advancement of humans in their material and spiritual lives. It is not specific to the people of that time; it belongs to the entire course of history: "and others among them who have not yet joined them." The way to reach that goal is to act upon the teachings and laws of Islam that have been specified for humanity.

The great Islamic Ummah has faced challenges and deviations over centuries. We distanced ourselves from Islam and became preoccupied with things that Islam warned us against. Throughout this long history, we became engrossed in internal wars; we were distracted by tyrannical powers. The result was that the great Islamic Ummah, for centuries after the early centuries of Islam, could not reach the goal and aim that the Prophet of Islam and the dear Islam had envisioned for it. Although the Almighty God has stored many material resources in Islamic countries that could have been a means for our advancement, we became one of the backward sections of the world in science, industry, and many indicators of progress. This was not what Islam had destined for us; it was the result of our bad actions, behavior, and negligence: "Whatever strikes you of misfortune is from yourself"; it was we who, due to our negligence over time, brought ourselves to this situation.

Today, the situation in the Islamic world has changed; Islamic awakening is felt throughout the Islamic world; a great movement and uprising can be observed at various stages across the entire Islamic world; the desire to return to Islamic principles and foundations, which are the source of dignity, progress, and advancement, is evident. Intellectuals, scholars, and politicians in the Islamic world must strengthen this movement. It is a mistake for anyone in the Islamic world to think that the Islamic awakening movement among the youth is detrimental to Islamic governments; no, Islamic governments can regain the dignity that the arrogant powers have taken from them thanks to the Islamic awakening. One example is our country, revolution, and Imam. After centuries of enduring despotism and two full centuries of foreign domination, we awakened, and the esteemed Imam was able to restore dignity to our people. The British, Russians, and Americans successively exercised true sovereignty and rule in this country. Even if they were not visibly at the head of the government, everything was in their hands, and everything in the country was under their control. Our people were deprived of their rights, resources, dignity, and the true taste of their religion.

Our esteemed Imam was able to reduce the long-term domination of despotism and colonialism by returning to Islam and adhering to Islam, granting us dignity; he gave our people a sense of Islamic identity so that they could feel they could stand on their own feet; they could make decisions and choices for themselves; they could say "no" and "yes" in crucial matters. Our people had not tasted such a thing for centuries; Islam gave this to them. In every corner of the world where the Islamic awakening movement is strengthened and takes root, and where the people and youth of that country feel they are getting closer to Islam, this renewal of identity and dignity will come into existence.

Of course, the enemies of Islam do not want this. It is said: "Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you, so take him as an enemy." Today, at the forefront of the enemies of Islam is America, which is the embodiment of evil and Satan. Today, the fundamental enemy of the Islamic world is global arrogance, with America at its head. This is part of the common teachings of our revolution and system. The Islamic Revolution has been proclaiming this for twenty-four years; however, today the people of the world and Muslim communities feel this and experience it themselves. The issues of Palestine and the atrocities that occur daily in Palestine with the support of America are before the eyes of the people. How can the Islamic Ummah close its eyes and not see these atrocities? What is happening in Iraq is before the eyes of the world; this is a historical and political laboratory in front of the eyes of the world, especially the Islamic Ummah. The Americans attacked Saddam's regime in the name of democracy and freedom; however, today they do not allow the people of Iraq to take their destiny into their own hands; they say we must be there!

They deprive a nation and an Islamic country of all the accepted rights and privileges of the world, under the pretext that you cannot, and we must be there; we must give you democracy! What kind of democracy and how democracy?! Is this democracy and popular sovereignty and the rights of the people? Especially after the massive slaughter that took place among the people of Iraq!

They said we came looking for weapons of mass destruction. For the Islamic Ummah, the question arose: who gave chemical and mass destruction weapons and tools of crime to Saddam? Was it not they themselves who provided these to Saddam?! They equipped Saddam to strike against Islam and the revolution. As long as they hoped for cooperation and assistance from him, they equipped him with everything they could; after they saw that he could no longer counter the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic awakening movement, they staged such a scene!

The Islamic Ummah sees these issues; this is a laboratory. How can the Islamic Ummah close its eyes? These are experiences. Today, the Islamic world has only one way to regain its dignity, existence, and identity, and that is to return to Islam; of course, true Islam, not a stagnant Islam mixed with superstitions that the enemies of Islam promote and say this is Islam—this kind of Islam is not effective—and not an Islam adapted to American principles and the views of the West, which is also not Islam; both of these are American Islam, against which our esteemed Imam created a confrontation and said: "American Islam" and "pure Muhammadan Islam." Pure and unadulterated Islam is the Islam of monotheism and unity among the Islamic Ummah, the Islam of "And Allah will never give the disbelievers a way over the believers," the Islam of "Islam will prevail and will not be overcome," the Islam that says: "And if the people of the towns had believed and been God-conscious, We would have opened up to them blessings from the heavens and the earth." Returning to this Islam is the only remedy and prescription for the Islamic Ummah, and this is possible. Today, the movement towards this Islam has spread from the East to the West of the Islamic world, and this is what has unsettled the enemies of Islam.

Do not pay attention to the uproar of the propaganda of arrogance and the commotion and show of force they make; they are afraid of Islam, and the great Islamic movement has unsettled them; thus, they are forced to resort to coercive power. Coercive power does not help them and does not remedy their situation. Coercive power can destroy governments and regimes, but it cannot eliminate the great Islamic and popular movement. The Islamic Ummah is awakening and rising; they have understood this issue. The future of the Islamic Ummah is a future that Islam has outlined. We, as intellectuals, as religious scholars, as government officials, and as political leaders, are obliged to outline this future and expedite and facilitate this progress. We hope, God willing, that this blessed holiday will be a source of awakening for all of us and that the Almighty God will bestow His blessings upon us and include us in the attentions of Hazrat Baqiyatullah (may our souls be sacrificed for him).

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