Statements at the Grand Gathering of the People of Qom

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, the infallible guides, especially the remainder of God among the people of the earth.

I congratulate you on the blessed birth of the Eighth Imam (peace be upon him) and also on the decade of dignity and the birth of Lady Fatimah al-Masumah (peace be upon her). I am very grateful to the Almighty God for granting me the opportunity to meet with you, the dear people of Qom, once again in this memorable and magnificent city. Qom is the city of knowledge, the city of jihad, the city of insight. The insight of the people of Qom is one of the very important points that has always manifested itself over these thirty-some years. Interestingly, the emergence of the city of Qom was also due to a jihadist movement accompanied by insight. The Ash'ari family, who settled in this region, established it as a base for spreading the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them); they initiated a cultural jihad here. Before coming to Qom, the Ash'aris had also engaged in military jihad; their leader fought alongside Zayd ibn Ali (peace be upon them); thus, Hajjaj ibn Yusuf became angry with them, and they were forced to come and, with their efforts, insight, and knowledge, turn this region into a center of knowledge. This also led to Lady Fatimah al-Masumah (peace be upon her) expressing her desire to come to Qom when she arrived in this area, due to the presence of these great Ash'aris. They went to welcome her, brought her to this city, and this luminous shrine has been illuminating this city since that day and after the passing of this great lady. The people of Qom, who were the creators of this great cultural movement, established the base of the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt in this city and sent hundreds of scholars, narrators, interpreters, and explainers of Islamic and Quranic laws to the east and west of the Islamic world. From Qom, knowledge spread to the farthest reaches of Khorasan and the farthest reaches of Iraq and Sham. This was the insight of the people of Qom at that time; the emergence of Qom was based on jihad and insight.

In our contemporary era, the same issue occurred; that is, Qom became the base of the highest Islamic and divine teachings, and thanks to the jihad and insight and presence of great scholars, a spring of knowledge emerged in this point that the east and west of the Islamic world have benefited from.

I would like to remind you of two important periods in which the people of Qom truly played a role; the effective and lasting roles that the people of Qom created in these two periods: one is the period of Ashura in 42 and the 15th of Khordad, which was two days after Ashura. On the day of Ashura, the people of Qom gathered in this very Fayzieh School, heard the cries and shouts of the Imam, filled their souls, and two days later, when they heard the news of the arrest of our great Imam, they gathered in the holy courtyard. Their great movement caused the clergy's uprising, led by our great Imam, to not remain confined within the seminary but to enter society. The pioneers of this work were the people of Qom, and they accomplished this great task.

The other period is the year 56, when they understood the depth of the enemy's conspiracy against the great Imam; they realized what the issue was; it was not merely an insult to the great Imam. In the city of Qom, the first widespread popular demonstrations against that treacherous movement took place. The blood of the youth of Qom was shed on these streets, on this very Eram Street, on the Fourth Men Street; they gave their lives; with their blood, they proved the truth of their words. Throughout these thirty years after the victory of the revolution, these people have been those who, with sincerity, truthfulness, and exemplary insight, have entered the field. The enemy had plans for Qom; if the people of Qom had not been awake, had not been insightful, the enemy's plans regarding Qom would have been dangerous. The awakening of the people and the presence of the seminary in this city have made this city a base of insight.

Great authorities have been present in this city since the time of the late Ayatollah Haeri - the founder of the seminary - up to the recent authorities; the late Ayatollah Borujerdi, the late Ayatollah Golpaygani, the late Ayatollah Araki, the late Ayatollah Marashi, the late Ayatollah Bahjat. Today, thanks be to God, great authorities are present in this city; they are distinguished scholars; the seminary is a source of blessings, and this city, which is sincere and possesses insight and strives in the way of God, has shown that it values the seminary, values the clergy, and shows its presence when necessary. And this is the city that, due to the rise of that great man of the era, Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), is the base and hope of the revolution.

The time for us to speak in this great gathering is limited. Unfortunately, we were delayed on the way due to the affection of the people in the streets; thus, time has passed. I will only say a few short sentences.

First of all, Qom is the birthplace of the revolution. The most religious city in the country became the base and birthplace of the greatest revolution of contemporary times. What does this mean? This means that the whole world should know that this revolution is a religious and Islamic revolution; no interpretation based on opinion, no material interpretation of this revolution can be made; its birthplace is Qom; its leader is a jurist, a philosopher, a great scholar, a spiritual cleric. The identity of the revolution is recognized in this way throughout the world. This is one point.

The continuation of this point is that when the enemies of this revolution have sought to harm this revolution and this system over this period, what have been the targets of their attacks? The targets of the enemies' attacks are two fundamental points: one is religion, and the other is the people and their loyalty. They know that if this revolution were not a religious revolution, it would not have the power to resist; because it is religion that prevents its followers from submitting to oppression, encourages them to confront the oppressor; it proposes justice, freedom, spirituality, and progress to the lives of human beings. This is the characteristic of religion. Therefore, a system based on religion cannot submit to the pressure and force of the enemies and the arrogant powers. If the element of religion were not in this revolution, the officials of the revolution and the leaders of the revolution might have compromised with the enemy by obtaining some concessions and opened the way for the enemy's domination again; but since religion is the backbone of this revolution, such a thing has not happened so far and will not happen in the future.

The great lesson of our dear Imam to us and to the entire nation was this: have faith in your own power, strive to increase this power day by day, and trust in God and His divine promise; if you stand firm and move wisely, be assured that divine assistance will be with you. This is the characteristic of the religiousness of the people and the religious nature of this Islamic revolution and system.

Being a people’s revolution means that this revolution is supported loyally by the people; the Islamic system is fully endorsed, supported, and backed by the people. This has been secured throughout this period.

If the presence of the people were absent, if a distance were created between the people and the system, the system would not be able to resist against the enemies. It is this steadfast presence of the people that is the backing of the resilience of the officials. These are the two main points: religion and the people. Therefore, the enemy has targeted these; religion in one way, the loyalty and belief of the people in another way. You observe that since the 60s, from the blessed life of the Imam, both external enemies and their mercenaries or unpaid servants from within have cast doubt and denied religious sanctities, Islamic truths, and clear Islamic signs; this has not been a coincidence; they have focused on this. This issue began with the Salman Rushdie incident, continued with anti-Islamic Hollywood films, cartoons, Quran burnings, and various incidents against Islam that occurred here and there to diminish the people's faith in Islam and its sacred values. Inside the country, they have attempted through various means to undermine the faith of the people, especially the youth; from promoting immorality and licentiousness to propagating false mysticism - a counterfeit of true mysticism - to promoting Bahaism, to promoting home church networks; these are actions that are currently being carried out by the enemies of Islam with study, planning, and foresight; their goal is to weaken religion in society.

In terms of undermining the loyalty of the people to the system, they are also doing many things: they create rumors to dishearten the people from the officials of the country, from the heads of the branches. They sow seeds of distrust. Any valuable and worthy work done at the national level is questioned in various media. If there are weaknesses, they amplify them and do not show the strengths, to discourage the people, especially the youth. They present a dark and bleak future to the youth and the people to remove them from the scene. However, the fundamental point is that the enemies of the Iranian nation and the enemies of the Islamic system have, over these thirty-two years, invested all their efforts in these two areas; these have been costly investments, and they have achieved no results and have suffered a definitive defeat. They thought they could separate the people from the Islamic system. As time has passed, you see that the people's commitment to religious matters and spiritual values has increased. When in our country have so many youths participated in spiritual ceremonies; in the worship ceremonies of the month of Ramadan, on Eid al-Fitr? These massive gatherings, this political awareness of the people has no precedent. After the insult that occurred on Ashura in the year 88 by a group incited against Imam Hussein, it did not take two days for the people to come out into the streets on the 9th of Dey and publicly express their clear stance. The hands of the enemy and the enemy's propaganda have not only failed to push the people back from their religious sentiments, but day by day these sentiments have intensified and this understanding has deepened.

Without a doubt, the enemy has failed in separating the people from the Islamic system. Last year in the elections, forty million people of the country went to the ballot boxes. In fact, a forty-million referendum was held in favor of the Islamic Republic and in favor of the elections; this is what angered the enemy. They wanted to eliminate its effect with sedition, but they could not do that either. The people stood firm against the sedition. The sedition of the year 88 vaccinated the country; it equipped the people against the political and social microbes that could have an effect; it increased the insight of the people.

In past years, in some of the country's media, some individuals claiming understanding and knowledge wrote against religion, against Islamic principles; these had no effect on the people. Keep this in mind; the enemies pursue two fundamental points regarding religion; because they have seen how impactful these two points are in the lives of the people: one is the issue of Islam minus the clergy; because they have seen the profound impact of the clergy in Iranian society and on the movement of the people. Of course, they had been murmuring about this even before the revolution. The presence of clerics in the revolution and their leadership temporarily removed this meaning from the scene; but they started again. The other is Islam minus politics, the separation of religion from politics. These are among the things that they are currently promoting with great insistence in the media, in writings, and in internet resources. This issue is important to them. We must pay attention to this; whatever the enemy focuses on and the enemy's roadmap and overall plan is centered on, it can provide us with a general plan and roadmap as well. The very things they target should be our focus, and we must know that we must preserve them, we must rely on them: popular presence and religious and Islamic teachings.

Since 58 and 59, they started sanctions against our country; however, this intensification of sanctions is essentially to pressure the people and separate them from the Islamic system. Fortunately, both the officials and the people have declared, and it has been practically shown that these sanctions will not have a significant effect on the lives of the people, and the people who endured the hardships and difficulties of the 60s and the early revolution, today, with the tremendous advancements that have occurred, their confidence has increased and their hope for the future is brighter, and they stand against the enemy and thwart the enemy's plots.

In order not to harm the timely prayers of the believers, I will briefly present a few principles for our behavior - considering the enemy's plan.

One issue is the issue of national unity. This addresses both the elites and the general public. The issue of unity must be taken seriously. I have spoken a lot about the unity of the people; I have also mentioned some characteristics and indicators. It is not enough for someone to simply say that they support unity; it has its indicators, its signs.

Another issue is the increasing solidarity of the people and the elites with the three branches. Solidarity with the three branches of the country must increase day by day; they must be supported; especially the executive branch, which bears many burdens. Creating rumors and ignoring efforts is by no means in the interest of the country and its future.

The third point is to strengthen religious faith, to meet the intellectual needs and inquiries of the youth; this is mainly directed towards the clergy and the seminaries. They constantly cast doubts; we must continuously and timely respond to these doubts.

The fourth point is the proper and worthy introduction of the clergy; this is not only the duty of the clerics themselves. Intellectuals and informed individuals can show the role of the clergy in the country and demonstrate how, in critical moments, the clergy, especially the esteemed authorities and the great scholars of the seminaries, have been able to guide society through various challenges and difficult passages.

Another issue is the efforts of the youth to enhance their insight. The youth themselves must strive in this regard. They must recognize the enemy and the enemy's methods; this is a task that falls upon the youth themselves.

The next point that must be considered in our list of necessary actions today is the issue of scientific advancement and movement towards the comprehensive scientific map of the country; this work, which has fortunately made better progress over the past five or six years, has achieved good advancements. More effort must be made. God willing, this movement will accelerate. It is necessary for another accelerating movement to take place within the seminaries; in this regard, God willing, we will discuss with the friends and brothers and sisters who are members of the seminary.

Another important task - for which the responsibility lies with the government - is to address the factors causing dissatisfaction and problems for the people: the issue of livelihood, the issue of employment, the issue of administrative systems, the issue of appointees in the institutions - especially at higher levels - the issue of municipalities, the issue of law enforcement, which directly and immediately interacts with the people and can resolve many of the people's problems or, God forbid, create dissatisfaction. Therefore, the institutions must have diligence and coordination in various matters; there should be coordination and synergy; there should be no conflicts; this also pertains to the governmental institutions.

I would like to say a few words about the city of Qom. Qom is the birthplace of the revolution; the place of the birth of this great event and the significant phenomenon in the history of our country and the entire world. The international perspective on Qom is a special one; in addition to the fact that there are visits from various countries to this place. Those who, for various reasons, do not visit, also have a sensitivity towards this city; they have a special perspective, they follow the events of this city. This grand gathering of yours today is also of great interest. It may not be mentioned in the media, they may not say it; but those who are policymakers and actually produce policy see it, calculate it, and have an international perspective. The largest seminary of Islamic sciences in the Islamic world is in this city. No seminary is as great as the seminary of Qom. This is a center of pilgrimage and spirituality; here lies the shrine of Lady Masumah, this magnificent shrine; the Jamkaran Mosque is built here; the shrines of various Imams are located in this city; each of these Imams buried in the streets of Qom would become the center and axis of that city if they were in any other city. All of these are the national and international capacities and functions of this holy city.

Since Qom was despised by the regime during the time of tyranny, unfortunately, it has accumulated many backwardnesses. The respected officials must seriously and swiftly address these backwardnesses. Of course, many works have been done in the years following the revolution. Since the year 79, when the city became a province, more budgets have been allocated. As I have been informed, since the year 84, the peak of budget spending in this city has been reached. Therefore, many very good works have been done; however, all of these works must be completed, must be finalized, and this city must progress in terms of the needs of the people and the urban appearance, as befits the people of Qom. If these accumulated backwardnesses are to be addressed, hard work is required.

One of the most important needs of this city is the issue of water; this issue has been pursued seriously for several years, and very good works have been done. A significant part of the work has been completed, for which we must appreciate the stakeholders; however, we ask the respected officials to bring the water that comes from afar and from the sources of Dez to Qom as soon as possible. This fundamental and major need of the people of Qom must be fulfilled.

The issue of agriculture in Qom is also important. I heard that water is to be brought from Tehran to the region of Misseleh, and that agriculture in Qom, which was once very prominent in these areas, will hopefully flourish again.

The handicrafts of Qom, especially the famous Qom carpet, must be supported and endorsed, and God willing, we will emphasize this to the officials during this trip.

What I emphasize is the architecture and urban planning of Qom. Today, great works are being done in Qom, constructions are taking place; certainly, in these architectural works, they must ensure that the architecture is Islamic; the symbols of the revolution must be observed in the architecture; because this is the city of Islam and the city of the revolution.

The last point is that if the respected officials in this city have disagreements over something, they should not allow these disagreements to affect the lives of the people and cause problems for them. Various institutions have disagreements that may affect the lives of the people; I have noted these here, so I will not mention them again; but my general recommendation is that everyone should come together; government officials should cooperate and synergize to serve the people; and the people, with their massive support, which they have fortunately always shown, should be able to bring to fruition the work that has been done in this period in this country and show its benefits to the Islamic world.

O Lord! Bestow Your blessings upon this dear people and upon all the nation of Iran through Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. O Lord! Make us grateful for the struggles and efforts of those who have brought this great movement to this point. O Lord! By the right of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, make us true soldiers of Islam. Grant success and support to the dear officials and servants of the country. With Your grace and assistance, make it easy for them to help and serve the people in their programs. Please make the sacred heart of the Awaited One (may our souls be sacrificed for him) pleased with us. Make us among the companions of that great one in his presence and absence.

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