Statements of His Eminence in Meeting with Officials of the System and Ambassadors of Islamic Countries on the Anniversary of the Prophet's Ascension

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

I congratulate the great holiday of the Ascension to all Muslims around the world, to all freedom-seekers of the world, to all justice-seekers on earth, to the great and brave nation of Iran, and to you esteemed attendees - the officials and managers of various sectors of the country and guests from Islamic countries.

The Ascension is truly a holiday; a great celebration; both for Muslims in all eras and for all humanity, if they think correctly about the message of Islam.

The movement of the prophetic Ascension opened a new path for humanity; "He it is who sends blessings upon you, and His angels, that He may bring you out of darkness into light." The Ascension is meant to guide humanity out of darkness and into light. These darknesses encompass all the shadows that arise in the world, in the lives of people, and throughout history; the darkness of polytheism and disbelief, the darkness of ignorance and bewilderment, the darkness of oppression and injustice and discrimination, the darkness of distance from Islamic ethics and becoming mired in the filth of moral corruption, the darkness of fratricide, the darkness of misunderstanding and misinterpretation, and various forms of darkness. Islam guides humanity to exit these darknesses, and gradually, through learning, movement, determination, and recognizing obstacles, humanity will find this path.

Today, the world's capacity to understand the prophetic message is much greater than in the past. As human knowledge increases, the success of the message of Islam becomes more probable. The more the powerful of the world - wherever they may be - use animalistic and savage tools to suppress human feelings, to subjugate humanity - the clearer the oppression of powers against humanity becomes - the more room there will be for recognizing the light of Islam, and humanity will become more thirsty for it. Today, we feel the signs of humanity's thirst for the message of Islam - which is the message of monotheism, the message of spirituality, the message of justice, the message of human dignity - humanity is eager.

Of course, it is our duty as Muslims to present this message before the eyes of the world. Wherever believers in Islam within the Islamic community demonstrate a movement accompanied by virtue, Islam will appear more radiant and desirable in the eyes of the world. Wherever weaknesses, humiliations, and backwardness are visible among the members of the Islamic community, this will lead to a decline and diminishment of the dignity of Islam. Today, if the Islamic community and the powerful of the Islamic community - those who can take action - speak or act in a way that indicates decline, this will be seen by the world as an insult to Islam. Therefore, the duty of Muslim politicians is very heavy today; the duty of Islamic scholars is very heavy; the duty of intellectuals, artists, writers, and Muslim literati is very heavy; the duty of individuals who can make an impact in Islamic countries is very heavy. Today is a day when we can raise the message of Islam before the world, before oppressed humanity and bewildered individuals, and say: this is your path to salvation; these are the realities.

Today is a holiday for the Islamic community; however, this year's holiday of the Ascension is unfortunately mixed with the blood of the oppressed Palestinians. The Palestinian incident is a significant event. For more than half a century, the Islamic world has faced this great incident. Over these decades, there have been times when the leaders of the Islamic world and those who could make decisions, if they had made good decisions, perhaps this problem would have been resolved or at least made easier to resolve. Throughout these continuous years, many shortcomings have occurred. Today is one of those decisive moments. Today is one of those periods where the fate of the Palestinian nation can take a turn towards what is desirable for the Islamic world. Why? Because a generation in Palestine has awakened. A party can be suppressed, a group can be removed from the field, a number of people can be dissuaded from their struggle or from their bravery; but a generation that has recognized its path and has turned to it cannot be diverted at any cost. Today, this is the issue. This generation that has taken on the burden of the Palestinian issue has awakened and understood the truth. What is the truth? The truth is that the powerful, politicians, and wealthy of the world, at a certain point in time, decided to erase a nation from the face of the earth and to remove a country from the map of geography, thinking they could accomplish this task. They killed some, expelled some, and suppressed some; they thought the matter was settled; while a nation, especially a nation like the Palestinian nation; a nation with a brilliant history, with a rich and profound Islamic culture, with brilliant talents among its people - the Palestinians are an outstanding nation, and there are many talented individuals and great personalities among them - the powers of the world; Britain, America, the Zionists, and certain powerful global companies cannot erase them from existence; as they have not succeeded.

They were mistaken to think that the Palestinian nation and the country of Palestine were finished. Palestine remains; the Palestinian nation remains. Alongside the existence of the Palestinian nation, there is also a great usurpation. They gathered some from around the world, formed a fictitious and false nation, gave it a name, and equipped it with the tools of power; this stands in contrast to the reality of the Palestinian nation today; this truth has been fully understood by the Palestinian generation; the first step of awareness is this; they have gained this awareness and understood that this fictitious entity, despite all its global support, is not invincible; they have understood this correctly; thus, they have entered the field. Today, it is the duty of all Islamic governments and all Islamic nations to help them as much as they can. I do not claim that the Palestinian issue will be resolved in the short term; however, I claim that without a doubt, Palestine will return to the Palestinians. The time may be short or long; the price that is paid may be heavy or heavier; but this event will occur.

What influences this is the behavior of us, the officials of Islamic countries and we, the Muslim nations. If we behave well, this time will be shorter and this cost will be less. If we behave poorly, this time will be longer; this cost will be heavier, and this cost will not only fall on the Palestinian nation; it will burden the entire Islamic world. Those who are negligent, those who assist the oppressor, will themselves pay the cost of this action; they will bear the loss and taste its bitterness. Therefore, today all Muslims have a duty.

What is this duty? This duty is to help. How is help given? This, of course, has various forms; political assistance, financial assistance, international assistance; various types of help can be provided to them. This must be decided in the high councils of the Islamic world. This must be decided among the officials and the powerful of the Islamic world. If they do not make decisions, then the Muslim nations will feel that the direct responsibility falls upon them.

Certainly, in these crimes, the Zionist regime is not alone. Undoubtedly, the United States government is an accomplice in its crimes. Anyone who assists that oppressor today is complicit in its crime. There may not be an immediate effect from this today, but it will not be erased from the memory of nations and the memory of history.

Our dear nation has fully understood the Palestinian issue; it has felt the oppression that has been inflicted upon the Islamic world; it has understood the duty it has in this regard. The Islamic Republic government has always been at the forefront in this area; it has felt a sense of duty and has done what it could. Certainly, this will have great results, and we hope - we see signs of it - that gradually Islamic governments will touch upon some truths more; some will come closer to the essence of the matter and bring the path closer to what is the duty of the Islamic community.

We hope that God grants success to all officials of Islamic countries and to all Muslim nations who feel a sense of responsibility regarding this great issue that is currently unfolding and cannot be ignored. May He guide and assist us all on this path, and God willing, bring the problem of the Palestinian people - which is the problem of the Islamic world - closer to a final resolution with His great power, dignity, and strength.

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