Statements of His Eminence in Meeting with Scholars, Clergy, and Various People of the Holy City of Qom on the Anniversary of 19th of Dey

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

Dear brothers and sisters of Qom, welcome. By your presence—this annual tradition—you have kept this great day and unforgettable memory alive and vibrant. Such memories deserve to remain alive forever.

There are many events in the lives of nations, but events that lead to blessings, like the blessings that followed the uprising of the people of Qom on the 19th of Dey, are rare in the world. We must appreciate them and keep them alive in our minds, actions, and words. We hope God will include the dear martyrs of this day and other blessed days of Qom, and all the martyrs of the faithful, revolutionary, and martyr-nurturing people of Qom and other parts of the country, in His grace and mercy.

I would like to briefly mention the issue of mosques, which also relates to matters I will discuss later in the month of Ramadan. The mosque, not only in our time and not only in our beloved Islamic country, but in various parts of the world and throughout history, has been the source of great effects and major Islamic movements. For example, the uprisings of the people of North African countries, which are Muslim—such as Algeria and other countries that were under the military domination of French colonialism for years—began in mosques, leading to victory and independence for these countries. Revolutions in these countries also faced defeat and nations lost their independence again when they severed their ties with mosques and the faith and beliefs of the mosques.

In the early days of Islam, during the time of the Noble Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) and also during the blessed governance of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), the mosque was the center of all important decisions and major actions. We do not want to compare the mosque of today with the mosque of Kufa during the time of the Commander of the Faithful, as the circumstances of each era are different. In general, the mosque, as a base of religion, servitude, and knowledge, can be the source and starting point of great movements and lasting blessings for Islamic societies.

One of the reasons for the victory of this blessed revolution in Islamic Iran—or at least the ease of this victory—was that people turned to mosques; young people filled the mosques, and the learned scholars used mosques as centers for teaching, education, enlightening thoughts and minds, and the mosque became a center for movement, awareness, uprising, and exposing the secrets of the corrupt and self-sold rulers of the tyrannical regime. This was also the case during the Constitutional period and to some extent during the nationalization of the oil industry; during the revolution, this issue reached its peak.

The Iranian nation must cherish mosques and consider them as bases of knowledge, insight, enlightenment, and national steadfastness. If someone thinks that in a mosque, only a few units of prayer are performed and then they leave, and what impact does this have, they are mistaken. It is not so. Firstly, if those few units of prayer are viewed with insight, the prayer itself, which in the language of the sacred legislator of prayer and adhan is the best of deeds and success, becomes a source of many blessings. Prayer prompts a nation to rise for God. Prayer keeps people away from corruption and brings them closer to sincerity and sacrifice.

Moreover, the mosque is not just for prayer; there are various acts of worship in the mosque. Among these acts of worship is contemplation, which is said to be better than a year of worship, or in some narrations, better than forty years or seventy years—of course, correct thinking. People who frequent mosques acquire this thought by listening to the words of religious scholars and jurists.

Therefore, the mosque is both a school and a university, a center of thought and reflection, a center of spiritual purification, a center of sincerity, and a center of connection between the servant and God. It is the connection between earth and heaven. It is a place where a person connects themselves to the inexhaustible source of grace and power. In the mosque, a person connects themselves to God.

Therefore, mosques must be valued. One must be present in mosques. Thanks be to God, due to the blessings of the revolution in recent years, this has increased and improved in quality. You all heard that this year during the days of i'tikaf in the blessed month of Rajab, in many mosques across the country, our youth, men and women from various classes and ages, went and stayed in the mosque; they fasted for three days and became intimate with God. After that, they bid farewell to the mosque with tears and sighs, to prepare for the next year.

My dear ones, this is a good sign for a society. "Those who, if We establish them in the land, establish prayer," is a sign of a divine government, a sign of a correct movement with a correct orientation. Take this seriously and strengthen it.

Thanks be to God, the issue of cleaning, purifying, and dusting and perfuming mosques—activities that are being carried out these days—are all good deeds that, thanks be to God, are being done and it is good that you do them.

And now the main point I want to discuss with you, the dear people of Qom: Qom is the dome of Islam, the center of Islam, the center of spirituality and religion, and has been a very important center for our revolution—both during the revolution, during the war, and during the struggle against the groups. The blessed seminary of Qom, which is truly a good word and a good tree—"its roots are firm and its branches are in the sky, yielding its fruit every season by the permission of its Lord"—is very great. The people, youth, and faithful and revolutionary forces of Qom have their own place.

Truly, Qom is a very important center in the Islamic world and among the cities of our country. This point must also be shared with you, the people of Qom, that you are truly "the foremost, the first." It is known that the survival of anything is ensured by the same factors that ensured its occurrence. To some extent, this statement is correct. That is, if, for example, we are looking for a factor for the continuation and survival of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, we must look and see with what factors this revolution began and occurred. If we provide those factors in society, the revolution will continue. A movement that began with a specific factor and power; the continuation of that movement is also with that specific factor.

What were the factors of the occurrence of the revolution? There were many and various factors. The occurrence of the revolution did not have one factor. This requires a scientific, sociological, historical, and precise look to see. Of course, it has been looked at; these issues have been repeatedly discussed.

The revolution had various factors, and recognizing those factors is itself a long, scientific, and detailed discussion; but what one can introduce and point to as the spirit and essence present in all these factors is attention to God, fulfilling divine duty, and rising for God—for God. It is true that there may have been various motivations in the minds of some individuals—suppose fighting the dictatorship of the tyrannical regime and fighting corruption—all of these are correct.

These motivations were in everyone's mind and were among the influences of this revolution; however, the reason for the effectiveness of these factors and influences was that they were accompanied by a religious spirit and a sense of duty. Because fighting tyranny, corruption, dependency, backwardness, and poverty, and striving to improve human life and alleviate poverty from the lives of the poor and oppressed, are things that are pleasing to God. God Almighty has commanded people to these things.

If there is a religious spirit, these factors will arise comprehensively among all classes of people, and that too deeply. Therefore, this revolution was not and is not something that could be finished. If there is no religious factor, a movement may occur for a few days, a certain number of people and a specific class may do something; then they get tired. Some reach their worldly desires; some reach power and position; some compromise with the powerful; some get scared; some get used to a comfortable life, and some become hopeless, and the matter ends and disappears! Just as in many movements in the world, because there was no mention of God, no remembrance of God, and no spirit of devotion and sincerity; because there was no divine and spiritual leader like that great one, that great human being, the great departed Imam, even ordinary talents for movement in the fight against corruption, tyranny, and other miseries of a nation did not flourish.

But here, all the people; men, women, old men, people who had never been involved in social issues in their lifetime, and those who had never taken a step in any harmful and dangerous work for their material life, rose up and fearlessly came to the streets. A general uproar arose, becoming a movement and revolution; a revolution that did something that in the history of Islam—from the first government until our time—had not been done; neither here nor anywhere else. What was that? That was the rule of the Quran, the rule of Islamic jurisprudence and religious laws. That the laws and administration of the country's affairs be based on Islam. This had no precedent; nowhere has it had a precedent.

Today, some people are truly ungrateful. Some belittle God's blessing. Suppose a court somewhere has made a ruling, or a district governor or governor has said something in a corner of the country, or a government official has acted in a way that they consider inappropriate, you see that suddenly everything is questioned! The revolution, the government, the Islamic Republic, and the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist, and this great movement are completely forgotten! They do not understand what has happened!

My dear ones, intelligent Muslims and outstanding people from all over the world, now that nearly eighteen years have passed since the victory of the revolution, sometimes come and meet with us and tell us that you who are in the revolution do not really know what has happened in Iran! This event is an indescribable event!

In a country that was a haven for global arrogance and a base for America, its leaders were obedient servants of global powers, its wealth was divided among ruling families, religion was decreasing day by day, people were being forcibly pushed towards immorality and moral and sexual corruption day by day, a person comes and establishes an independent, free, courageous, and popular government! The heads and officials of the country, the heads of the branches, are faithful people and scholars of God! The staff, the military, the army, the Revolutionary Guards, and its parliament representatives; all are faithful, devout, religious people, and some are even those who perform supererogatory prayers and night prayers! This country stands against a power like America's power; it is not afraid and does not hesitate; it does not give the country's interests to foreigners.

These are great and magnificent things. Now suppose there is a problem or a disorder in a corner—one, two, a hundred—isn't there disorder, wrongdoing, and immorality during the governance of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him)? Wasn't there a legal limit? Wasn't there theft? Of course, they deal with the thief. It is bad where they do not deal with the pain and the corrupt and the corrupter, and bad deeds and irreligion are encouraged!

The education of a society and a great nation is not feasible in a few short years. Others testify to this great event that has happened; whenever we think and pay attention, we will see that a very great movement has been made. The reason you see America, the Zionists, global companies, international plunderers, the world's notorious bullies, and the world's highway robbers are not willing to reconcile with this system at any cost is that the work is a great work; the movement is a great movement.

A nation created a revolution of such magnitude, that this people's uprising had such a great achievement and blessing and effect. Then do not be content with this; the work does not end here.

This system, during the early years of its birth, was engaged in fighting a calculated, comprehensive conspiracy by the world's top powers—then the Soviet Union and America. Thanks be to God, the Soviet Union disintegrated and disappeared, and this one is left with a thousand problems and troubles for itself, and other powers that were in the world and military and other complexes that manifested as the imposed war. This nation and this revolution were able to stand against all of them and thwart them.

Is it a joke?! Each of these that I mentioned can crush and destroy a system and a government regime; bring a nation to its knees! That economic blockade, those military confrontations, that long war, and that massive propaganda war! Yet they could not. They extended the war for eight years, but they could not occupy and hold an inch of this country's land. Whatever they had taken, this nation pulled from their grasp.

This was the art of this revolution and system; the art of this government. Then it started building. It said now that the war is over, we will start building the country. This is also construction! Today, wherever you go in the country, thanks be to God, there is work, effort, and construction. The nation, the government, the officials high and low, all are striving. This is the effect and art of the revolution and will continue. This construction will continue in the future as well. This movement towards worldly and otherworldly welfare and perfection, both material and spiritual, will continue in the future as well. This nation will not leave the field.

These are due to the blessing of religion. This is not the work of a revolution separate from religion; it is not the work of parties and ideologies and personalities; it is the work of the religious faith of these people. So this is the main factor. You must preserve this main factor. This nation must preserve it.

Of course, we must not overlook the truth. May God have mercy on this nation and increase His blessings upon this nation day by day. May God include all individuals of this nation in His grace and mercy. From the beginning of the revolution until today, people have made great progress in religious aspects. Look at any phenomenon, you will see that this is the case. Mosques have improved; Ramadan and mourning ceremonies have improved; people's enthusiasm for the holy shrines and ongoing charities has increased; religious funds and help for good deeds, mosque building, school building, and religious appearances have improved.

Despite the fact that when some see something in a corner, they immediately say why it has become like this; most cases have improved. If you look closely, you will see that these things have improved from fifteen years ago—from ten years ago. This is a movement forward. You must strengthen this in Ramadan.

Ramadan is the month of storing and the month of gaining strength. Ramadan is a month in which all people must connect themselves to the hidden and spiritual treasures of God and nourish themselves as much as they can; prepare themselves for progress. This is Ramadan.

The Night of Decree, which is in this Ramadan, and the Quran explicitly states: "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months," one night is better than a thousand thirty days—a thousand months—is very important. Why was so much virtue given to one night? Because the divine blessings are abundant on this night; the descent of angels is abundant on this night; this night is peace; "Peace it is until the emergence of dawn"; from the beginning to the end of this night, its moments are divine peace. "Peace, a word from a Merciful Lord." It is the mercy and grace of God that descends upon God's servants.

The Night of Decree is the night of Guardianship. It is both the night of the descent of the Quran and the night of the descent of angels upon the Imam of the Time. It is both the night of the Quran and the night of the Ahl al-Bayt. Therefore, the blessed Surah of Decree is also the Surah of Guardianship.

The Night of Decree is very valuable. All of Ramadan, its nights and days, have high value. Of course, the Night of Decree is much more splendid compared to the days and nights of Ramadan; but the nights and days of Ramadan are much more splendid compared to the days and nights of the rest of the year. You must appreciate it. In these days and nights, you are all present at the table of divine blessings. Use it.

In this month, whatever good deed you do, whatever true word you say, whatever word you teach to someone who needs teaching, whatever word you learn for God and use in the way of God; every unit of prayer, every verse of the Quran, every hour spent with a fasting mouth, and every avoidance of sin is valuable. Do not lie and do not backbite, as the ground for lying and backbiting is conducive. You abstain and refrain.

Every good deed you do, charity, feeding, helping someone, inquiring about the condition of the deserving, taking action for the deprived people, taking action for the Islamic society, doing something for the progress of people's lives; all of these are worship.

We have individual worship, social worship, and political worship; we have pure and sincere worship that is related to the middle of the night, during prayer and supplication, and during speaking with God and pleading. Each of these is a degree. Each of these makes you as strong as tempered steel; it strengthens these young people; it makes them invulnerable and resistant to the infiltration of Satan, the enemy, the factors of corruption, and resistant to cultural invasion.

In the face of these cultural deceptions that are used to attract the simple hearts of some individuals and the traps that are spread in the path of the youth, there are also attractions that no one but one's own soul spreads! Somewhere it is money, somewhere it is lust, somewhere it is position, somewhere it is a pleasure that God Almighty is not pleased with; here no one forces you, it is your soul that is your most hostile enemy. "The most hostile enemy is your soul which is between your sides." Fasting makes a person impervious and invulnerable to all of these. Appreciate this month.

In the days of oppression, too, when faithful elements wanted to resist the pressure of the ruling apparatus and the temptations and seductions of a comfortable life—which urged them to abandon the struggle—they turned to fasting. God's worship is like this. Being present before the Lord is like this. When you pray, you find peace. You are saved from anxiety and turmoil of the soul. When you supplicate and plead with God Almighty, you purify and cleanse your soul, you remove impurities from it. When you fast, you make yourself as strong and tempered as steel. It is like this.

What we gain through worship is very, very valuable; it is very much. We must thank God for bringing us prayer, fasting, and worship; for giving us the opportunity to provide these benefits for ourselves.

Respected gentlemen who go to different cities and speak with people! Turn to the youth; share religious truths openly with people; purify the spirits and souls of people. People need it; they are willing to listen, believe, and accept. Hearts are pure. Present the noble verses of the Quran and the luminous narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt with precision, reflection, contemplation, and with a clear and sufficient explanation. Recite to these hearts those things that contain moral advice and intellectual guidance and illuminate minds. Guide them.

Be careful that our pulpit, our talk, our advice, and our words do not cause anyone to fall into doubt; do not create a knot in a mind and distance them from God, prayer, the pulpit, the mihrab, and the like. The essence of religion, that which is in the firm narrations—of course, not the weak narrations—and the noble verses of the Quran, recite to these hearts and minds; they will welcome it; their hearts will become pure and clear.

We hope that in this blessed month of Ramadan, God will increase His grace and blessings upon you, the dear nation, who have been tested and steadfast in the path of God, more and more day by day.

O Lord, make this blessed month truly blessed for this nation and for all of us. O Lord, place the pure souls of the martyrs and the blessed soul of the great departed Imam in the highest heaven.

O Lord, make the holy heart of the Imam of the Age, for whom this month is his month and the Night of Decree is his night, pleased and satisfied with us.

O Lord, grant us the success to visit that great one, to strive in his path, and to achieve martyrdom before him.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings