Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution in a Meeting with Various Groups of People from Qom

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Welcome, dear brothers and sisters! On this cold and snowy day, you have once again commemorated and honored the historic day of the 19th of Dey with your actions and presence. This is indeed fitting. These moments of great historical events are, in fact, the factors that advance the history of nations. Ashura lasted no more than half a day; it shook and transformed history. Sometimes, an event occurs so profoundly, wisely, and appropriately in the life of a nation that its effects remain for many years, sometimes for centuries. Certainly, the 19th of Dey was one of these events for the Iranian nation. The capacity for the people's presence and their sacred and revolutionary anger had been overflowing over the years of oppression by the tyrannical regime and foreign interference; a wise and appropriate movement was necessary. A wise and appropriate movement was necessary. This movement was carried out by you, the people of Qom, on the 19th of Dey, and this wheel began to turn. What the tyrannical regime brought upon this country and this nation during its long and disgraceful rule is truly one of the bitter chapters of our history. One of these catastrophic activities was the events of the 17th of Dey that occurred during the reign of Reza Shah. According to the enemies of Islam and Iran, with the help of the intellectuals connected to the Pahlavi court, they decided to remove Iranian women from their circle of chastity and hijab and to destroy this immense faith-based force that, thanks to chastity, has always existed in Muslim societies. One of the great crimes of the tyrannical regime was this issue of the 17th of Dey. The unveiling was about eliminating the barrier and distance that Islam has placed between the two genders - which is for the health of women and men; for the health of society - so that the same calamity that befell women in Western societies would befall Muslim Iranian women. This action was carried out with a club by Reza Khan within the country. The Western woman, entering the quagmire of corruption, achieved the destruction of the family. It was not the case that women advanced in the fields of science, politics, or social activities by removing their hijab; all of this was possible while maintaining hijab and chastity, and we experienced this in the Islamic system. Removing the hijab was a prelude to removing chastity; to removing modesty in the Islamic society; to distracting people with a very strong and powerful sexual factor; so that they would be left behind in all other matters; and for a while, they succeeded, but the deep faith of the Iranian nation did not allow it. Our Muslim women, despite the strictures over time, resisted against this oppressive pressure; after Reza Khan's departure, in a way, during his time, and throughout the rest of the tyrannical regime. Therefore, on the same Dey of 1356, the 17th of Dey in Mashhad, a massive gathering, a demonstration of Muslim women with the slogan "Preserve Hijab" took place. At that time, we were in exile; we heard the news that faithful and courageous Muslim women initiated such a movement. This is a glimpse of the atrocities of the tyrannical regime; destroying religious ideals, moral values, economic advancements, international dignity, and ultimately squandering the assets of a nation were among the actions that that tyrannical and wicked regime carried out. The Iranian nation awakened in time and responded to the call of their great leader and entered the field. The 19th of Dey is such a sensitive historical juncture; these must be kept alive. Efforts have been made and will continue to be made to erase the feelings of the people and these sensitive junctures from memory. The people of Qom showed that they are loyal and committed. Throughout these times, some also appeared who, as the Quran says, "So whoever breaks his oath, he only breaks it to the detriment of himself"; they broke this allegiance with the revolution and with Islam and with Imam, but this breaking of allegiance was to their own detriment: "He breaks it to his own detriment." Some showed loyalty; "And whoever fulfills what he has promised Allah, He will give him a great reward"; they showed commitment; they showed loyalty, which was the vast majority of our nation; they stood by their words, and the Almighty God granted them a great reward; He granted them victory in war; He granted them victory in all fields against the superpowers; He granted this nation national growth and various advancements in different arenas. The Iranian nation moved towards its ideals and took significant steps. Today, it continues to move; today, it has significant steps. This is one matter regarding the issues of the 19th of Dey.

One sentence regarding Muharram and Ashura: Muharram is one of these historical junctures. The Shiites have preserved Ashura with all their being. You see that throughout the years, throughout the centuries, the memory of Imam Hussein, the name of Imam Hussein, the soil of Imam Hussein, the mourning for Imam Hussein has never left the people who follow the Ahl al-Bayt and believe in the Ahl al-Bayt; they have not abandoned it, even though much effort has been made. Now you have heard the story of Mutawakkil and the closing of the way. These were the actions of the horsemen, the apparent oppositions. Many oppositions throughout time have been carried out in seemingly scientific forms, in emotional forms, in experiential forms, but the Shiites have preserved it and must continue to preserve it. They say, why do you promote mourning and tears among the people? This mourning and tears are not for mourning and tears; they are for values. What lies behind these mourning rituals, these acts of striking the head and chest, these tears, are the dearest things that may exist in the treasure of humanity; they are the divine spiritual values. They want to preserve these because Hussein ibn Ali was the embodiment of these values. It is their memory; it is keeping them alive.

If the Islamic nation keeps the name of Hussein and the memory of Hussein alive and makes it a model for itself, it will overcome all obstacles and problems. Therefore, in the Islamic revolution, in the Islamic Republic system, from top to bottom, all - the people, the officials, the elders, our great Imam - have relied on the issue of Imam Hussein and the issue of Ashura and these popular mourning rituals, and it is appropriate. These mourning rituals have a symbolic aspect, and they also have a real aspect; they bring hearts closer, they clarify knowledge. Of course, speakers, preachers, mourners, poets, all must pay attention that this is a precious truth; it should not be played with; the truths of the Ashura incident should not be made a plaything. If anyone adds something to it, connects a superstition to it, or performs unreasonable actions in the name of mourning, these should not be; these do not support Imam Hussein. At one time, we spoke about the issue of the Qameh demonstrations, and some raised their voices that, "Sir! This is the mourning of Imam Hussein; do not oppose the mourning of Imam Hussein!" This is not opposition to mourning; it is opposition to the degradation of mourning. The mourning of Imam Hussein should not be degraded. The Hussaini pulpit, the Hussaini assembly, is the place for expressing religious truths, that is, the truths of Hussein. Poetry in this direction, movement in this direction, elegy and praise in this direction should be. You saw that in the Muharram of 57, our mourning processions in some cities like Yazd and Shiraz and other places began and then spread to the entire country; they were beating their chests and expressing the truths of the day in their elegies; by connecting and relating these to the Ashura incident, which is indeed correct. The late martyr Motahhari shouted years before the revolution in this Hosseiniyeh of Irshad that: "By God - close to this meaning - know that Shimmer, today - he mentions the name of the Prime Minister of Israel (Zionist) - he is. The reality of the matter is the same. We curse Shimmer to root out the Shimmer-like behavior in the world; we curse Yazid and Ubaydullah to confront the tyrannical regime, the Yazidi regime, the regime of indulgence, the regime of oppression against the believers in the world. Hussein ibn Ali's uprising was to trample the tyrannies against Islamic, human, and divine values into the dust and to destroy them; and Imam Hussein did just that with his uprising. Our assemblies; Hussaini assemblies, mean assemblies against oppression, assemblies against domination, assemblies against the Shimmers and Yazids and Ibn Ziyads of the present time, this is the meaning. This is the continuation of the story of Imam Hussein. And today the world is full of oppression and injustice. You see what they do; what they do in Palestine, what they do in Iraq, what they do in various countries, what they do with the nations of the world, what they do with the poor, what they do with the national wealth of countries. The vast dimensions of the movement of Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him) encompass all these wide fields. Imam Hussein is not only a lesson for the Shiites, not only for Muslims, but for the free people of the world.

The leader of the liberation movement in India, sixty or seventy years ago, mentioned the name of Hussein ibn Ali; he said I learned from him; while he was a Hindu; he was not a Muslim at all. Among Muslims, it is the same. The story of Imam Hussein is this. You are the treasure holders of such precious jewels that all of humanity can benefit from and utilize. The direction of mourning for Imam Hussein should be as follows: expanding explanation, expression, awareness, strengthening the faith of the people, spreading the spirit of religiosity among the people, increasing the spirit of courage and religious zeal among the people, removing the state of indifference and stupor from the people; these are the meanings of the Hussaini uprising and the commemoration of the mourning of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) in our time. Therefore, it is alive, and it will always be alive. Its emotional aspect also has an impact on the emotions and feelings of all people. Its deep and spiritual aspect enlightens and clarifies the minds of thinkers and those with insight. I have repeatedly mentioned this sentence of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) over the years, which he said: "Indeed, this knowledge is not carried except by those who possess insight and patience"; this flag - the flag of humanity, Islam, monotheism - can only be held high by those who possess these two qualities: "insight and patience"; insight and steadfastness. Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) is the embodiment of insight and steadfastness. The followers of Imam Hussein also demonstrated this, and after centuries, when a worthy leader emerged among them, they created this great movement. The great Islamic revolution is a tremendous event; it is a great story. We are in the midst of this matter; the vast dimensions of this incident are not very clear to us; future historians and those who are outside this collection today will see more of the dimensions and greatness of this movement than we do. In a world where all wealth, power, politics, and everything is directed against human and religious values, suddenly in a sensitive point of the world - a sensitive geographical point of the world - a system rises, a nation rises to take the flag of values; and to hold human values high, to proclaim monotheism, is a miracle; this is the miracle of our time. After being attacked from all sides; both great and small, the tyrants and their minions, with all their might, they descend upon him, and at the same time, he not only does not suffer defeat but defeats many of them; he pushes them back, which today you see the signs of the retreat of global arrogance. In this struggle, the Iranian nation was victorious.

Elections are also approaching. The issue of elections is very important. One of the examples of the greatness of this system is these elections. That is why the enemies deny the elections of the Iranian people - this phenomenon so clear. Democracy, this obvious thing that is dependent on popular elections - which in Iran has occurred on average once a year over the past twenty-eight years - the stubborn and obstinate enemies deny it. Why? Because they know that this is one of the important indicators of the victory of the Iranian nation. In various revolutions, at different times, those who were the leaders of the nations ultimately became helpless; they said, "Sir! We want full powers." Dr. Mossadegh ruled in this country for a little over two years, and for a significant portion of those two years, he dissolved the two assemblies of that day and took the powers of the assembly into his own hands; he said, "Without this, I cannot do it." Now, Mossadegh was a popular government, but he could not endure; he could not. Now, a popular revolution arises; a revolution with a population three times that of that day, with all the conspiracies against this nation and all the propaganda, but this revolution relies entirely on the votes of the people; it is confident and wants this election, which means the intervention of the people, the presence of the people, the decision-making of the people, to happen at any cost; it insists on this, that in the previous term - four years ago - a situation was created; it was a show; it was a game, and the goal was the same, to perhaps cancel the elections. God Almighty did not want and did not allow; the steadfastness of the faithful people did not allow these elections to be canceled.

The elections are approaching; these elections are very important. Not just this election, all elections are important, and this one is among the important ones. The people have responsibilities; officials and elites have responsibilities. First, efforts should be made to preserve the importance, value, and greatness of the elections; it should be clear. People should go to the polls with hope and trust. I see, unfortunately, in the statements of some - now God willing, it is not out of malice - they repeatedly emphasize: "Sir! There should be no fraud, Sir! There should be no fraud; Sir! There should be no tampering." What fraud?! For nearly thirty years, the executive bodies of this country have been conducting elections with complete integrity. Some have even shamelessly said that international observers should come to oversee these elections; foreigners, enemies who oppose the very principle of elections and the very principle of the Iranian nation; who oppose anything that is in favor of Iran, should come and be the judges! This is the greatest insult to the Iranian nation. No, they should not exaggerate. Of course, we have advised; we have repeatedly advised; we will continue to advise all those involved; both the Ministry of Interior and the esteemed Guardian Council, the observers and the executors: they should be vigilant, they should properly fulfill their responsibilities, their duties; the votes of the people are entrusted to them; they should not allow anyone to interfere; to infiltrate. We have always given this advice. They have observed it; they will continue to observe it by God's grace. This is the first matter. The dignity of the great elections of the people and this great work of the people should not be undermined by casting doubt that, yes, fraud is going to happen, yes, this is going to happen, do not break it.

Secondly, the same matter that I repeatedly mentioned in Yazd - a few days ago - I repeat again: they should behave with dignity in the elections; both those who become candidates, and those who support them, and those who oppose some candidates. Different factions of the country should absolutely not allow immorality, slander, insult, and accusation. This is one of those things that if it occurs, the enemy will be pleased. The third point is that they should be vigilant about the activities of the enemy. Now, the day before yesterday - two days ago - Bush, the President of the United States, said we support such and such a group in Iran. This is a disgrace for anyone whom America wants to take under its protection. First, those whom that savage enemy wants to support, and then the people should think, see why it wants to support them. What deficiency is there in them that has caused the enemy to want to support them? Within a family, two brothers, a brother and a sister may have a disagreement. If an enemy, a thief, a traitor who is outside the house, establishes a connection with one of them and says, "I am on your side," that person should come to their senses and say, "What did I do wrong? What mistake did I make that this family enemy wants to support me?" The people should also be vigilant; do not let the elections become a plaything in the hands of foreigners. The elections belong to the Iranian nation, belong to the Islamic Republic, belong to Islam; they should clarify and distinguish their borders with the enemy. I have repeatedly warned some political figures who have activities and sometimes make oppositional statements; I have advised them; I have said, be careful that the borders between you and the enemy do not become blurred; do not become erased. When the border becomes blurred, the likelihood that some will cross this border or that the enemy will cross this border and come over here or that a friend and ally will become oblivious and cross the border and go into the enemy's lap will increase. Clarify your borders; make them clear. This nation has been facing the conspiracy of America, the enmity of America, and all kinds of damage from America for twenty-eight years. They have done everything they could against this nation. Be careful to clarify your borders. There are those who are mercenaries of them; there are those who are their servants; there are those who are in their service. Clarify and specify your borders with these as well. The time of insight and patience is one of them; insight. The Iranian nation, when the elections approach, needs insight; it should look to see what position the enemy has taken regarding this great popular movement; it should be vigilant, make the right decision. This is also our duty as people that we must be vigilant. Of course, be assured, and I am assured that God Almighty will not withhold His favors from you due to your struggle and faith, and God Almighty has included His grace, help, guidance, and support for this people, and will continue to do so, and the ultimate victory will ultimately belong to the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic system. We hope that God Almighty grants you all success; may He please the pure souls of our martyrs; may He unite the pure spirit of the Imam with his saints and grant all of you goodness and reward, and may He make the sacred heart of the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him) happy and pleased with us. Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.