Speech in Meeting with a Group of Clergy, Imams of Congregational Prayers, and Preachers of the Country, on the Eve of the Blessed Month of Ramadan

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

First, it is necessary to extend a warm welcome to all the esteemed and dear gentlemen, the eminent scholars, the respected imams of congregational prayers, and the speakers, especially those dear ones who have traveled long distances to be present here, and to sincerely thank everyone. In our current gathering, we have valuable scientific personalities, high-ranking clergy, and devoted servants. We hope that Almighty God will increasingly bestow His blessings and bounties upon all of you and the servants of this sacred religion, and God willing, may the blessings of the great clergy, who have descended like a rain of mercy upon this nation in the most difficult moments of history, showing the way and assisting the souls of the people in traversing the path, remain continuous and enduring upon this nation and the Muslim nations.

In the meeting with the respected clergy and the esteemed scholars, a point must be reminded, and it is a duty that must be fulfilled. That point is the brief mention of the services that the clergy have rendered for the advancement of Islam and the objectives of the prophets over the centuries. The scholars preserved the religion, knowledge, and Islamic jurisprudence, kept distortions away from the realm of divine decrees, kindled and maintained the flame of faith in the hearts of the people, and directed and inspired the people's attention to the Quran and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). It was the scholars who, throughout history, fought against oppressors and became the refuge of the oppressed, the weak nations, and the faithful oppressed people. It was the scholars who utilized opportunities to spread Islamic knowledge and familiarize the entire Islamic lands with Islamic faith and religion, and in these regions, with the love of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and the conduct of those great ones. The scholars lived according to the conduct of the prophets and saints.

The sword did not spread religion across the Islamic countries. The sword cannot cultivate faith in hearts. What can make the flower of faith bloom in hearts is preaching and explaining divine decrees and knowledge. Today, thanks be to God, Islamic thought is alive everywhere in the Islamic world. In the past one or two centuries, when the sentiments of freedom awakened in nations, it was because, in various countries, the scholars became the vanguard and pioneers of successful movements. There were other movements in Islamic countries where the religious scholars were not in the forefront, and they mostly or generally did not succeed.

What was able to cut off the hand of colonialism from the people in the east of the Islamic world — that is, the Indian subcontinent — and in the west of the Islamic world — that is, Africa — and between these two, preserve Islamic culture and stand against the invasive and aggressive culture, was the influence of the scholars. In our own Iran, the Tobacco Movement, the struggle against the colonialism of foreign governments, awakening the people, and also the Constitutional Movement and the confrontation with Reza Khan's despotism, and the continuation of this struggle until the emergence of the great sacred Islamic movement, were led and pioneered by the scholars; otherwise, it would not have progressed. This is a precedent and a history; no one can deny it, except for a biased or ignorant person who wants to cover up a truth. This is recorded and preserved in the history of our nation and other Islamic nations.

The enemies tried to remove the scholars from the scenes, to confine them to the corners of mosques and isolate them there; to a large extent, they succeeded. During that period, too, the people were deprived of religious awareness and the great religious movement. This is a long chapter. The enemies also tried to attract elements from among the clergy to themselves, to deceive them, or to buy them and place them at the service of their malicious goals. That is another separate chapter.

However, the general movement of the Islamic scholars, especially in the world of Shi'ism and thanks to the culture of opposition and revolutionary Shi'ism, was in the service of the people and in opposition to despotism, colonialism, oppression, and the like, and it reached the point where, thanks be to God, the great movement of the Iranian nation achieved victory and a government based on religion was established. Muslims and the devout, after several hundred years of the humiliation of the religious, gained self-respect, felt pride, became alive, and Islamic sentiments, consciousness, and identity emerged in the Islamic world.

What you see today in some African countries, where Islamic groups have aspirations for governance, or Muslims are fighting against oppressive governments and chanting Allahu Akbar, or even those who are estranged from Islam but are forced to pretend to be Islamic, is something new. These are the results of this bright dawn that, thanks to the victory of the Islamic Revolution and this great movement, has emerged in the history of Muslim nations. This is due to the efforts of the great scholars and, above all, that great man who led and founded this movement with his capable hands, determined and faithful heart, endless reliance on God, and sincerity for God, and it became an event in history.

This revolution is truly an unparalleled event. A government was formed, the Islamic system was implemented, and day by day, thanks be to God, we are getting closer to Islamic decrees, and we must continue to do so. Muslim nations have awakened, and the movement towards the expansion of Islamic faith has begun. This is what has happened so far.

The clergy of Islam, especially Shi'ism, have many distinctions. Their love for knowledge, sincerity for God, compassion for the people, indifference to the world, fearlessness of powers and tyrants, independence from the masters of power, are numerous distinctions that exist, and these are our assets. However, in addition to what we have as the positives of the clergy, there are also obligations that must be paid attention to, so that this movement continues.

The fundamental point is that what has appeared today in the scene of the Islamic Republic through the clergy cannot be attributed to the clergy of our time and era and say that the clergy of this time have achieved this feat. It is not so. What the clergy of this time did was to make good use of the thousand-year-old treasure of the clergy's reputation. The Shi'a clergy, over a thousand years, through the passage of ages, created a great treasure of reputation, dignity, and weight, and in our era, that great man, that great Imam, and exceptional personality, and others who were in the garb of the clergy and moved in this path, made the best use of that treasure.

However, it is not the case that this treasure is inexhaustible. Firstly, this treasure must be preserved, and secondly, it must be added to. If, God forbid, due to negligence, inattention, lack of understanding of the times, lack of understanding of duties, and deviation from the usual line of the clergy over a thousand years, that thousand-year-old treasure is damaged; that precious diamond, which was created through the passage of centuries, ages, and periods, and through struggles and sincerity, is scratched or broken, it will take a long time to create such a treasure again. Therefore, in this era, the first obligation of us who are adorned with the garb of knowledge and clergy is to preserve that thousand-year-old reputation and dignity, which, thanks be to God, during the revolution, this reputation was multiplied, and the face of the Shi'a clergy, due to sacrifice and dedication, gained brilliance.

The fundamental duty of the clergy is to guide the people towards the goals that the Holy Quran and the prophets throughout the history of prophethood have outlined, and the means for this is warning. "So that it may be a warning to the worlds," "Warn your people," "Warn them of the Day of Regret"; warning and frightening. We, in the position of someone who wants to preserve the noble heritage of the religious scholars over this thousand years and continue the guidance of the people, must strive to transform hearts, enlighten minds, correct paths and directions, purify actions, and transform people internally into true believers with genuine Islamic morals. This is our main duty. This is the same warning. This great purpose is achieved through warning.

If people are transformed, the world will be transformed. If people undergo deep transformation, this movement will continue forever. If the morals of the people become Islamic and Quranic, all the promises of the Quran regarding this nation will be fulfilled. We want this path to continue and this movement to advance towards its ultimate and final goals. By what means? By faithful people.

Therefore, this faith and Islamic morals must be instilled deep into the souls of the people, and the real transformation that religion comes for — religion comes to create real transformation in human souls and to purify and cleanse these souls — must be accomplished. Our effort must be this. We must not neglect warning. We must not neglect frightening people of God's punishment and what Almighty God has promised for wrongdoers in this world and the hereafter; the same method and approach that in the past, our prophets, saints, and great ones used to make people believers and keep them believers.

In my opinion, today warning is more possible and practical. In the noble verse of the Quran, Almighty God tells the Prophet: "To warn those who are alive." It is possible to warn living people and living hearts. This life is the same thing that comes into existence in a society through revolution, movement, and jihad. Some commentators, under the noble verse "O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life," have said — perhaps there is a narration too — that "that which gives you life" means jihad. Today, thanks to the general jihad of the people, this life exists. Therefore, warning is more practical. If "that which gives you life" is also the Quran, today in our society, the Quran is prevalent, and people relatively have familiarity with the Quran. This warning is more practical.

We must warn people in mosques and pulpits, in Quranic gatherings, and in all religious gatherings that people have. Thanks be to God, the movement of political and social awareness and giving people a broad political vision started before the revolution; it exists today and will continue. Alongside this awareness, the spirit of spirituality must be awakened in the people. For this work, the month of Ramadan is the best opportunity.

Of course, dear brothers! We must start with ourselves. People look at our actions. A cleric will have effective speech when he practically shows that he is indifferent to the adornments of the world and that the greed that rules over the hearts of worldly people and worldly rulers does not rule over him. We must show this to the people. The clergy gained this reputation and dignity under the shadow of piety. This piety and indifference to the world and its adornments must be preserved.

Of course, indifference does not conflict with having a moderate standard of living. Running after the world, wanting everything that is a manifestation of a luxurious, comfortable, good, aristocratic, and ostentatious life, and striving for it — which worldly people spend every moment of their lives pursuing these things — is beneath the dignity of the people of knowledge and the clergy. People must see and feel this from us.

Dear brothers! Today, a great opportunity is available to the clergy. Throughout history, after the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) until today, such an opportunity has never been available to the callers of religion. When have the callers of religion had such a precious opportunity at their disposal? It is a great and dear opportunity. Today, as propagators of religion, we must be able to play an effective and lasting role. Almighty God will question us, and this is our duty, and we must prepare ourselves.

Today, nations need Islamic decrees. Today, even non-Muslim nations need Islamic decrees; let alone Muslim nations. These nations that you see are bent under the burden of great powers and are suffering because of their distance from Islam. Islamic awakening will save nations. That is why today the most intelligent people in various countries have turned to the path of Islam — the same path that the Quran shows them — because it is the path of dignity and salvation. Currently, the Islamic world, with all its being, needs the role that today the clergy, scholars, speakers, preachers, students of religious sciences, imams of congregational prayers, and all those adorned with the garb of preaching and invitation and religion can play.

Today, the world is being run by the most ruthless politicians and powerful people. Today, the world is being run by those who have combined ruthlessness with deceit, treachery, false propaganda, and even in some cases, claims of spirituality, claims of supporting human rights, and supporting nations! That oppressive and tyrannical power and that pretense of supporting humanity and humaneness have today enslaved and imprisoned nations.

Today, you observe the situation of the Iraqi nation. The Iraqi nation has unfortunately been suffering for years due to this vile policy that has been ruling their country. They were dragged into war with Iran, forced into difficult tasks and fratricide and unwanted war, and then the issue of the invasion of multinational forces was created; today, too, this situation and this pressure that you observe is being imposed on these oppressed and faithful people.

Islam will save them. If the Iraqi nation wants to be saved today, they must cling to Islam; they must defend Islam; they must sacrifice as Islam commands and move towards Islamic governance. Today, in the face of the pressure being imposed on this nation, those who claim to be human rights advocates have remained silent! They make noise for the smallest incident; but for an incident that has put a nation under pressure today, they remain silent! This silence stems from the same spirit of tyranny, exploitation, disregard for the rights of nations and people, and the same deceit that they have always had.

I would like to say a word about the Iraqi nation. We are truly saddened and distressed by what is happening to this nation. We are saddened by the way those who claim to govern Iraq are treating the Iraqi nation. They are killing the people of Iraq, according to some reports — which we do not yet know the accuracy of — they are targeting the people of Iraq with chemical gases and destroying their homes over their heads. The cities were once bombed by multinational forces, and now these forces are bombing them!

The Iraqi nation has become an oppressed nation. For the people of Iraq, it is a great test. Among the people of Iraq, fratricide has been instigated. This army that is now standing against the people is part of the same Iraqi nation. For the Iraqi army, shooting at the Iraqi people is forbidden.

What will be able to save that nation is perseverance and reliance on God. They should look at the fate of the Iranian nation and see what Almighty God gave to this nation in the shadow of resistance, and take it as a model and act in the same way.

In summary, my remarks to the dear brothers are to enrich this month of Ramadan by explaining the true divine knowledge to the people and warning them. Lead the people towards piety, action, and fear of God. Explain the Day of Judgment and divine punishment to the people. Read the narrations that exist in this regard to the people. Familiarize and acquaint the hearts of the people with God. Jihad, struggle, perseverance, and the construction of the country and the world and the hereafter are possible in the shadow of connection to God and the acquaintance of hearts with Him.

We hope that, thanks to the pure breaths of the esteemed gentlemen, our dear Muslim nation can learn Islamic and Quranic knowledge more than ever during this month of Ramadan and always.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings