Speech at the Allegiance Ceremony of Clergy, Officials, and Various Segments of People from Across the Country

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

In return, I sincerely offer my condolences to all of you, dear brothers and beloved ones, who with unparalleled sincerity and devotion, traveled from afar and honored us with your presence here.

Our dear Imam — that wise heart and aware spirit — had often spoken about the Iranian nation and your loyalty, sincerity, and devotion, and had expressed clear and decisive testimonies. Perhaps for a nation, there is no greater honor than having an Imam and leader like our great Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), express satisfaction and pleasure with them and speak in praise and commendation.

You, who in this hot weather, traveled long distances on foot, have brought your love and purity towards the revolution and the Imam to its peak, silenced the tongues of the enemies, strengthened the hearts of friends, and blossomed hope in the hearts of Muslims worldwide.

Truly, what the great Iranian nation has demonstrated in these forty days will be recorded in history as an everlasting lesson. I find it necessary to express my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to you, dear brothers and beloved ones. Among you are the dear families of martyrs, the disabled, prisoners, and missing persons, as well as the warriors and defenders of the borders of the Islamic Republic, the esteemed scholars, Friday prayer leaders, and respected clergy, and other various segments. This group, who out of love for Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the revolution, have come from different parts of the country on foot, and others who have traveled these paths with the same spirit, are undoubtedly favored by divine grace and the satisfaction of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for his advent) and are a source of honor for Islam and the revolution.

The important point is that whenever Islam, in any era over the past fourteen hundred years, has manifested its true face in the world, severe hostilities, deep grudges, and strange and bizarre malice have lined up against it; and whenever Islam has deviated from its true face and concealed its brilliance, sharpness, and great claims, hostilities and alignments have diminished.

You see how Islam in Mecca faced what hostilities and malice. All the wicked and beastly and savage people lined up against the Prophet (peace be upon him) and Islam. When that great one came to Medina, bloody and malicious hostilities continued from the wicked and vile people. In the Quran, there is a chapter named 'Al-Ahzab' which reflects these events. The Ahzab were various factions that lined up against Islam and its great leader. Among them were the polytheists of Quraysh and Thaqif, the people of the Book who had strayed from the Book, the Jews, the Christians, and the hypocrites, all of whom united to crush Islam.

During the long reigns of the Umayyad and Abbasid sultans, those who spoke of true and Muhammadan (peace be upon him) Islam were under various pressures, tortures, and oppressions and faced various conspiracies. The life of Musa ibn Ja'far (peace be upon him) and other Imams, and the life of great scholars and narrators who were beaten, whipped, and imprisoned by the tyrant caliphs and were killed, faced these same problems.

Therefore, wherever pure and true Islam appeared, groups of evil and corruption lined up against it and fought it with all their might; but Islam, which was emptied of its main slogans and spirit, did not confront oppression, became associated with various moral corruptions, overlooked its principles, and sufficed with some rituals, was not fought by the powers, and the wicked did not line up against it. This subject has a broad and detailed chapter in history that you can read in books and see similar examples in the dark and corrupt reign of the previous regime and other regimes that ruled Iran.

Today, too, in the world, there is Islam that stands against oppression and tyranny and condemns plundering and corruption. This Islam must expect the enmity of superpowers, America, Zionists, global plundering companies, corrupt kings, and today's corrupt leaders.

The day we stood behind our dear Imam and the standard-bearer of pure Islam, raising the slogans of true Islam, we knew that enemies, powers, and superpowers would line up against us. It was the same in the early days of Islam. The day when the Jews, hypocrites, infidels, and polytheists surrounded the Prophet's Medina and created the Battle of Ahzab and the Trench, the true believers said: 'This is what God and His Messenger promised us'; this is nothing new. God and His Messenger had told us that the wicked, the evil, and the corrupt would unite against you. Therefore, when they saw the truth of God's promise, their faith was strengthened.

Wherever true Islam appeared, although wicked and vile powers lined up against it, pure people, pure hearts, and untainted souls supported it with all their might and existence. Why did ten million mourners gather around the pure body of that great one during the days of Imam Khomeini's (may his soul be sanctified) passing and beat their chests and heads in such a manner? Why did hundreds of millions of Muslims worldwide mourn and grieve for the passing of one man? What was the reason for our Imam's popularity? The answer is one word: because of Islam. That great one taught us this point and made us understand and emphasized that because of Islam, God turned hearts towards the revolution, the leader, and the Iranian nation.

What gave strength to your feet and hearts, enabling you to travel long distances and come here, was pure Islam, the defender of the oppressed and incompatible with the oppressor. This Islam is what attracts and gathers hearts and creates a great and invincible force. The main secret is this point, which we must understand correctly and always remember.

The Islamic Revolution, as long as it moves accurately in the line of pure Islam — the line of the Imam — and you people prefer religion and Islam over everything else and keep the spirit of defending Islam and Islamic values alive and pay attention to the powerful slogans arising from the essence of Islam, neither America nor the East and West nor reactionaries nor any other power will be able to stop you and the country and the Islamic Republic system from moving towards your goals.

All the Iranian nation should remember this profound and concise lesson from our dear Imam and not forget the unity of word around Islam; 'And hold firmly to the rope of God all together.' Cling to the divine rope and unite around Islam. This unity is the cure for all pains and the crusher of all enemies. The greatest elixir for the victory of the Iranian nation is this one point: unity of word based on Islam.

Of course, do not interpret Islam in multiple ways. The Islam we mean is the same Islam that our dear Imam spoke of throughout his life and invested all his being in during the last ten brilliant years of his life; the Islam he taught us and moved in its path. Everyone should be united, harmonious, and kind around the axis of Islam and the line of the Imam and cooperate with each other so that no problem remains in our path.

We have many tasks to accomplish. Global arrogance engaged us in an eight-year imposed war. Before those eight years, there was also war; however, it was undeclared. We must move at a speed that compensates for those eight years. We must work for the welfare of the country, ensure social justice, establish Islamic values, deepen revolutionary motivations, and meet the material needs of this nation.

These are important tasks. These important tasks are not accomplished solely by the officials. The officials, with the cooperation of the nation and by holding firmly to the rope of God and unity and agreement around Islam and the line of the Imam, will advance the tasks. Be assured that God's hand has been and will be with this nation, and the prayer of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) has helped this nation and, God willing, will continue to do so.

Once again, I sincerely thank all of you who endured the hardship and traveled on foot, bearing the heat, discomfort, and thirst; although I am too small to be able to thank all this purity and sincerity. God willing, divine gratitude and thanks will be upon you.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings