Speech in Meeting with a Large Group of Freed Prisoners

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

This meeting is highly memorable and significant in its meaning, with a special atmosphere prevailing over it. We, who are only distantly familiar with your moments of suffering and hours filled with patience and perseverance, and have very little knowledge of them, feel in visiting and meeting with you that a collection of divine blessings and God's grace upon His righteous servants, as well as a collection of the difficult trials of a faithful human being, can be observed in you. May the divine reward and the experience of God's kindness, compassion, and mercy, as well as those states and characteristics that only a faithful servant experiences throughout life, be pleasant for you.

Some of the noble verses of God, it seems, had not been truly interpreted over the centuries or understood by us and the ordinary generations of humanity. These verses were given meaning during our revolution and throughout these ten, eleven eventful and adventurous years. This is indeed the case. It is the specific events and conditions that can correctly interpret the divine truths encapsulated in words. For example, the verses revealed during the Battle of Uhud cannot be correctly understood in a life of ease and comfort. The verses revealed during the Prophet's (peace be upon him and his family) exile and the companions' hardships in the Valley of Abu Talib or on the way to Mecca cannot be correctly comprehended in ordinary life conditions, at home, in the market, and in a familiar family environment; something else is needed. Specific conditions are required for many verses to be understood, and if we want to give a correct opinion, we must say that the collection of divine verses, with the interpretations of the infallible Imams (peace be upon them), which were revealed during the revolution, the era of mission, migration, jihad, and martyrdom—the era of awakening and effort—are better understood than ever in history, or are capable of being understood.

One of the divine verses is that if you work for God, God will help you: "And God will surely aid those who aid Him." Another divine verse is that if you are patient and steadfast, you will find God with you: "Indeed, God is with the patient." These verses cannot be read and passed over just like that. Every word of these verses is a life experience and a lesson in wisdom. It is not just that we read and pass over them and think we have understood.

In the Holy Quran, it is stated that whoever strives in the way of God, whoever struggles for God, in fact, strives and struggles for himself: "And whoever strives, he only strives for himself." These are divine verses. We accepted all of these; however, accepting is one matter; experiencing is another. We now experience these verses. Throughout the period of the movement and revolution, after the victory of the revolution, during the eight years of war, in these two years after the war, in total, in these eleven, twelve years after the twenty-second of Bahman 57 until today, we experience and feel these one by one and understand them step by step; that is, our nation understands these.

So far, whatever divine promise there was, it was correct and fulfilled. Whatever analysis was based on the firm verses of the Quran, it turned out to be correct and realized. So far, we have clearly and evidently seen that a faithful and God-fearing nation, when the whole world stands against it, if it stands firm and is patient, will not be defeated; we have experienced this. We always said, before the revolution and at the beginning of the revolution, we said, throughout these ten years, we said it over and over again; but the events made this statement tangible and palpable for us.

For a long period of time, two superpowers and their allies and followers—those whose interests were aligned with them, those who were against them but feared them—meaning almost the whole world stood against us and supported and backed that despicable enemy. Today, they themselves admit that if we supported Iraq, it was because of enmity with Iran.

Our brothers in the government have recommended that all the confessions that official authorities, news agencies, speakers, and spokespersons around the world have and express, be collected. If this is done, it will become a thick book. Perhaps it has already been done. Everyone says we did not accept the Iraqi regime, we saw their crimes, we knew their wrongdoings; but for the sake of the Islamic Republic of Iran, for the sake of preventing Islam from rising, we helped that regime! On that day, the whole world stood against the Islamic Republic.

Today, look at the world. Today, look around you, at the global public opinion, at the world press, at the governments lined up to establish friendly relations with the Islamic Republic, at those who apologize for the past with a hundred tongues, look and see in what situation the Islamic Republic is; "And God will surely aid those who aid Him." The Almighty God certainly and assuredly helps and supports those who helped Him.

Some of you suffered for ten years, some for eight years, some for seven years, some for five years, and some for two years. Even one day of captivity is too much. One hour of captivity in the hands of a ruthless, tyrannical, godless enemy who has abandoned humanity is also difficult. This was also one of the displays of Islam. We also kept prisoners, we also had condemned prisoners among them whom we tried and, for example, sentenced to prison. Today, the prisoners who go from Iran, whether they want to or not, whether their leaders allow it or not, the image of Islam and Islamic compassion and ethics in their minds is the image we want; not what the enemy wanted.

Prisoners who had used up their last bullet and then raised their hands, from the first hour, our young boys on the front gave them their own canteen water. Later, when they came here and settled in the barracks and camps, food, games, recreation, learning work, mourning, and their sessions were established, and they did many things that most of you are unaware of. If you ever watch television—which has repeatedly broadcast these films here—and compare the two situations, you will be very surprised. If they also know your situation, they will understand some truths.

Islam told us the truth. Islam fulfilled the promises it made to us. You returned with honor and dignity. Among you are individuals whose relatives and friends did not believe that their eyes would ever be brightened by seeing their loved ones again; but God willed it and it happened. Of course, our nation is a remarkable nation. You saw how they welcomed you. Especially in the early days, you saw how this nation became one with excitement and enthusiasm. Those moments of people's reception are unforgettable moments. People were in a completely different world. Even though we were aware of the situation and knew the events and expected it beforehand, in those days when you started coming, our state was indescribable and still is. We saw the divine promise being fulfilled before us. Thanks be to God, you returned with honor and dignity, families were happy, and the nation celebrated.

On the anniversary of the imposed war, every year we had a week called the Sacred Defense Week, and this year we will also have it. This week will almost be another expression of a victory celebration for our nation. We will hold this week this year as well, so that our nation, while commemorating the memory of our dear missing and our precious martyrs and your comrades who were martyred and gave their blood and lives in the way of God and in fact guaranteed the victories, will mourn for them, and in other days of the Sacred Defense Week, God willing, will celebrate victory. This was the divine promise that was fulfilled; but this is halfway. My main point is this.

My dear ones! On the day when the Almighty God returned Moses, who was a one-day-old or a few-hour-old child and whose mother had cast him into the water and entrusted him to God, to her, He fulfilled His promise: "Indeed, We will return him to you." The Almighty God made two promises to the mother of Moses here: one promise was "Indeed, We will return him to you"; we will return him to you. The mother was more attached to this first promise; after all, he was her child. She had placed her few-hour-old child in a box and given him to the water, and God had said that we will return him to you. The second promise was also there, which was not very believable for the mother of Moses, and that was: "And We will make him one of the messengers." Not only will we return him to you, but we will also make him our sent prophet. The first was understandable for the mother of Moses; someone goes into the water and takes Moses and returns him to his mother—although it was very difficult—but to make this child "one of the messengers"?! The Quranic verse says: "So We returned him to his mother": We returned him to his mother, "that her eye might be comforted": so that her eye might be comforted, "and that she might know that the promise of God is true": so that she might know that the promise of God is true; meaning that the second promise will also be fulfilled. Did you see how quickly the first promise was fulfilled? Did you see how quickly the child you had given in the way of God was returned to you? That promise will also be fulfilled with the same sweetness.

My dear ones, the freed ones, the warriors, the families, those who have endured separation, those devoted to Islam and the revolution and the global rule of Islam, and the entire nation! Eleven years have passed. That is, in the scale of history, it is a blink of an eye; it is no more. If you look at history and read it, you will see that ten years, eleven years, fifteen years, and twenty years are nothing in the course of history; it is a blink of an eye. In a blink of an eye, the first divine promise was fulfilled. What was it? It was that we will help you and make you victorious. We have become victorious. Is there any victory better than this? For a nation that is revolutionary and like us, there is no victory as great, as complete, and as sweet as this.

The whole world came against you to push you back one step from your borders. They spent billions, brought the most equipped military equipment, the most powerful powers joined forces, took help from the East and the West, brought in propaganda tools with all their might, fought for eight years, bargained for two years afterward, and in the end, it did not happen.

Which country and nation can have a higher sign of power and victory than this? The wars of the world are two-day, five-day, ten-day. The world wars are four-year and five-year. Yet, the entire geographical map of the world changes and transforms in world wars. In that part of the Persian Gulf, a few hours of skirmish occurred, the geographical map of the world has now changed, and the whole world has marched to the Persian Gulf. Compare these with eight years of all-out war with our country. After they exerted all their strength, the Iranian nation is more vibrant, more lively, the country is more intact, and the military forces are more organized.

Now you go to the army and the Revolutionary Guards and see that today's army and Revolutionary Guards are not comparable to the army and Revolutionary Guards of ten years ago when you left. Today's army is an organized, strong, disciplined army with excellent equipment. Today's Revolutionary Guards is a unique organization and a vibrant revolutionary force. You also see what kind of nation it is. Victory means this. That enemy, which had become the bargaining chip of the powers' minor accounts with us, now you see in what day and what situation it is. The world also treats all of us with utmost respect, reverence, and honor. This was the first promise; "And God will surely aid those who aid Him": whoever helps God, God helps him. You helped. On the battlefield, you helped God. In the cell, with your patience, you helped. In the camp, with your steadfastness, you helped. In your return, with your good spirit, you helped. Your nation also, with that extraordinary patience and presence in all fields of danger, helped.

You are unaware of what has happened in this decade. Now, gradually, God willing, it will be told to you. This very city of Tehran was repeatedly attacked by long-range missiles, one of which lasted two months. For two months, day and night, midnight, morning, Tehran was hit by missiles. Every day and night, ten, fifteen missiles hit the city of Tehran, and people lived. One day under these missiles, our people commemorated Quds Day. A massive gathering took place in Tehran and all the cities of the country, which we must say, especially for you, they should show the films of those days, so you can see what has happened in this country. Cities like Dezful and other cities in Khuzestan and many cities—perhaps fifty, sixty cities—were constantly under enemy missile attacks for several years. Was enduring four, five years a joke?

Meanwhile, the great Imam of this nation—that version of the prophets (I do not say the complete version; the Imam was their student and he himself said I am the dust of the feet of the saints and prophets. If one wants to understand a little of the face, method, and moral influence of the prophets, one should look at the life of the Imam)—with a gesture, this nation would pour out "from every deep ravine" and form armies and crowds. The army in one way, the Revolutionary Guards in another, the Basij in another, the law enforcement forces in another, those who had not taken up arms, in another way, would pour out and go to the fronts. These are divine assistance; "And God will surely aid those who aid Him."

God fulfilled this first divine promise because of the assistance; but the second promise is still remaining. The second promise is: "And We have already written in the Psalms after the mention that the land will be inherited by My righteous servants." In another verse: "Indeed, the earth belongs to God; He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants." In another verse: "That He may make it prevail over all religion, although those who associate others with God dislike it." This means that the banner of monotheism and Islam and faith, this banner of standing against oppression and tyranny from anyone and anywhere in the world, this banner of the independence of nations against the oppressive powers of the world, must be raised throughout the world and as the center of hope for all the oppressed of the world.

Nations have placed their hopes and have awakened. Muslims today take pride in their Islam and feel honored. Today, the fear of the powerful and tyrants of the world is only from Islam and the Quran and true Muslims. Today, the fear of the reactionaries and followers and standard-bearers of American Islam is from pure Muhammadan Islam (peace be upon him and his family). Everyone understood and knew that Islam has risen and started the movement and has opened its arms and gives hope to Muslims and promises to the oppressed; and this will also happen. If there are problems due to the influence of superpowers, they will be resolved.

Our society, which is the mother of Islamic lands and the center of global Islamic attention, God willing, according to the divine promise, in the same way that Islam wanted, in a complete form—which we are still far from that complete form—will be built and we will reach there. These are divine promises. When this first promise was fulfilled, you must strengthen your hearts and complete your certainties that the subsequent and greater promises—which are the content of the noble verses of the Quran—will also be fulfilled. The way is that we do not lose the struggle. Not all jihad is going to the front. Wherever you are, you can be a struggler in the way of God.

You have returned with a valuable treasure and have gained experiences, awareness, and abilities. These experiences must be used in the service of building the country. You in the army, you in the Revolutionary Guards, you in the Basij are everywhere in the country, and these experiences and awareness must be utilized. Consider yourselves as those whom the Almighty God has favored, kept alive, returned to the embrace of your nation with various experiences and spirits resulting from the period of captivity and the patience and perseverance and forbearance that is the result of that period and those days. You must strive, work, and be in the forefront.

If we did not have unity of word, we would not have achieved any of these victories. Our late great Imam, during his blessed ten, eleven years of life, made the most recommendations about the unity of word among the classes of the nation. Today we have this unity of word; we must preserve it. Do not let factionalism, partisanship, organizationalism, factionalism, love of selves, pull individuals to this side or that side. Of course, the main body of our noble nation has been and is firm, solid, united, and intact. There may be someone in the corners who says something and speaks; it should be lost in the roaring waves of the nation's feelings and hope. Do not let division, discord, and factionalism destroy this unity. Trust in God. Whatever you have and we have is from God. Whatever we say belongs to God and, God willing, is for God. This path must be the path of God, and God must always be in our minds and views, and He will, God willing, help us.

I hope the holy existence of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) will include us and this dear nation in their pure prayers, and the pure soul of our dear Imam will also ask God for your successes.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings