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

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

First, I extend a warm welcome to all you brothers and sisters who have traveled from the city of Qom despite the weather and difficult roads. I hope that Almighty God will bestow His mercy, grace, guidance, and assistance upon you vigilant and revolutionary youth and all the dear people of Qom.

This memorable day, which this year coincides with the martyrdom or passing of Zainab al-Kubra (peace be upon her), should be considered from several perspectives: First, such a day in contemporary history truly marks the beginning of an important era in the history of the revolution. The fact that the people of Qom, both clerics and non-clerics, youth, and all segments of the population, stepped onto the bloody stage of the revolution and began a bloody struggle is no small matter, and it was this very process that led the revolution to victory. Secondly, because the city of Qom has truly been the center of uprising and the focal point of the revolutionary fervor of the people, and God willing, it must always remain so. This city, whether due to its seminary or its passionate youth and self-sacrificing and revolutionary people, is the main center and focal point.

The struggle, whether during the movement in 1963 or in this period, began from Qom. This is another aspect. However, the aspect that deserves more attention and which I wish to briefly address and emphasize is the connection of the revolution with religion, Islamic teachings, Islamic clergy, and the center of religious sciences. This is a significant phenomenon.

If our revolution were not a religious revolution and religious scholars were not at its helm, it would not have succeeded. Just as various uprisings and movements have occurred in this country, but where they were not intertwined with religion and religious scholars, they did not reach anywhere. Even when the revolution succeeded, if it had not been connected with religion and religious scholars, it would have been defeated after victory, and the enemies would have overcome it. You saw that after the victory of the revolution, whenever an incident was created by the enemy in any corner of the country, by the order of our great leader and Imam (may his soul be sanctified) and the influence of the clergy and religious knowledge, the people immediately rose and extinguished the flames of those disturbances. Even if this problem was as significant as an eight-year war, the people essentially resolved it. If the people had not been in this war and had not stood behind the sacred defense, it would not have ended with such pride and victory. Therefore, because the revolution is a religious revolution and is led by religious scholars and religious leadership, the enemy could not defeat it even after victory.

Another point is that because the revolution is religious and the leadership of religious scholars has played an important role in this revolution, it has not deviated. If it were otherwise and we were optimistic that the enemy would not defeat it and no incident would occur for the body and appearance of the revolution, it would ultimately have deviated from within. For example, it would have compromised with superpowers, made deals with this and that, and rotted from within, and its slogans would have disappeared. What prevented such problems from arising for the Islamic Revolution? Certainly, the religious nature of the revolution and the leadership of religious scholars and religious leadership prevented the revolution from deviating from its correct path; just as in some other countries, revolutions occurred but gradually deviated.

For example, previously in our own country, there was the Constitutional Revolution. But after victory, when the scholars were sidelined, it deviated from its path, and the constitutionalism reached a point where Reza Khan the bully, a person who was against all the ideals of constitutionalism, came to power. If our Islamic Revolution had not been under religious leadership, it would have met the same fate as the Constitutional Revolution. Any intelligent person, when considering that firstly the start of this movement and its victory, secondly the survival of the Islamic Republic and its non-dissolution, and thirdly the straight path of the Islamic Republic and its non-deviation, are due to the blessing of religion and religious leadership, understands another point behind it, and that point is that the enemies of the Islamic Revolution, both outside and inside, are trying to take religion and religious leadership away from this revolution. This is an inevitable matter. If a young, capable defender defends a fortress or a wall valiantly, the enemy of that fortress and wall sees the way to undermine that young person by digging a hole and pit beneath him and eliminating him.

The enemy is always trying to destroy and eliminate the defending force of the opposite side. Since the advancing and defending force of this revolution has been the element of religion and religious leadership, the enemy tries to eliminate it. You see how much they spoke against the presence of religious leadership in the revolution after the victory of the revolution! These words are not specific to the time after the Imam's era. No one should think that those who oppose religious leadership emerged after the passing of the Imam (may his soul be sanctified). Absolutely not! From the very beginning of the revolution's victory, all those who were aggrieved by this revolution opposed the religious leadership and guidance of this revolution. Why? To bring down the revolution. This is the target that the enemy has aimed at and continues to aim at.

The goal of global enemies - including global arrogance, led by America, and other minor enemies - in opposing our revolution is to fight against "Islam." They oppose Islam because they see Islam as the cause of shortening the hands of plunderers. They oppose Islam because they see Islam as the reason for cutting off the feet of stray dogs that had attacked the treasures of this country. They oppose Islam and portray it as anti-human rights. Their goal is to discredit Islam. This is while Islam is the flagbearer of human rights. What does human rights mean? Are the Palestinians who have been displaced from their homes by the vile Zionists in this winter cold not human? Do they not have rights? Are human rights not applicable to them? Isn't the most prominent article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - which these gentlemen talk about - that everyone is free in their own home and has the right to choose their residence? Then why did they enter their homes and expel the owners from their own homes?! Isn't Palestine the home of the Palestinians? Is this human rights? Are Palestinians not human? Are these faithful young people, whose crime is supporting Islam, not human? Are these Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who are defending their lives, homes, homeland, and independence and are under such pressure, not human? Do they not have rights? Who today cannot recognize and understand the deceitful and malicious lies of the claimants of human rights?

They say, "Do not send weapons to Bosnia and Herzegovina because the fire of war will ignite!" These people are oppressed, and day and night, fire is poured upon them. Now that global powers do not defend them, should they not be able to defend themselves?! A group of claimants of authority and lordship of the world, in the guise of the heads of several countries, sat together and decided that "we should not send weapons to the Bosnia and Herzegovina region"! This is a meaningless, illogical, and wrong statement. Why should weapons not be sent there? The oppressed should be given weapons to defend themselves. When they made this wrong decision, suddenly the news agencies announced that "some countries are giving weapons to the opposing Serbs and the murderers of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina to massacre the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina!" So why do you ignore such an issue and do not confront it? Injustice and tyranny to this extent? If they want to give a few weapons to the oppressed people of Bosnia and Herzegovina so that the oppressed Muslims can defend themselves, they shout that "do not fill the region with weapons! Do not let the war continue!" But on the other hand, they send all kinds of weapons and facilities to the Serbs, and even experts go to the Serbs and help them. Do Muslims still not have the right to be certain that today's arrogant world policies are against Islam and fight against Islam?

Regarding the Islamic Republic, they have the same view. They oppose Islam; they are against Islam and the people's beliefs; they are against the liberating faith of the people; and the reason for their opposition is clear. If Islam did not govern this country, today this country would still be in the hands of the Americans. They would exploit, take, and consume, and in return, they would introduce corruption to the people. They would take the country's blessings and plunder its wealth; just as they plundered and took for decades. For a while, the British plundered, and then the Americans entered. Islam is an obstacle to plundering; therefore, they oppose Islam. The clergy are their opponents; therefore, they oppose the clergy as well. Religious leadership can mobilize the people to confront the chaotic situation; therefore, they oppose it as well. We, the people of the Islamic Republic, must be vigilant and understand.

The definite and certain point is that America, Europe, and all are unable to take a step or take action against this country contrary to the will of the Muslim people of Iran. You are dominant; you are powerful; you are the ones who, despite the enemy's wishes, were able to preserve and defend Islam and the Islamic Republic. You were able to crush the conspiracies; therefore, you are stronger than them. This is a definite and certain point. If you want your power to remain, you must be vigilant; just as vigilance has benefited these people until today and has saved them. Recognize those who act against religion and religious teachings and the true teachers of religion and scholars and great figures of religion, who speak, plot, and try to undermine their values. The enemy must be recognized in any guise. Muslim youth, like you young people of Qom and other parts of the country, who, thanks be to God, are the embodiment of Islamic fervor and slogans accompanied by understanding and logic, have this recognition, and we thank God for this. Strengthen and solidify your unity and agreement. The Islamic Revolution is a great achievement and the greatest value for the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation. The bond between the people and the officials; the bond between all segments of the population; respect for the servants of religion; respect for the servants of the country and efforts to deepen Islamic teachings are factors that discourage the enemy. These factors and characteristics are what pave the way for progress. Our country, thanks be to God, is full of potential capabilities that must be realized. For years, our enemies tried to destroy these capabilities or use them for their own benefit. For years, they tried to kill talents. Therefore, it will also take years to revive all of these again.

God willing, a bright and good future - both materially and spiritually - awaits our great nation. The light of hope must always be kept alive in hearts. With the light of hope and effort, God willing, you will reach your destination. Of course, in this path, attention, supplication, and connection with God - especially by the youth - should not be forgotten. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with that celestial power, was constantly in supplication and attention and supplication with Almighty God. Supplication to the greatest guardian of God (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and a heartfelt connection with that noble being is among our duties. Let us value these blessed days and nights. We are now in the month of Rajab; a month with blessed days. Utilizing these days, strengthening spirituality, establishing a connection with God, and giving importance to remembrance, supplication, and supplication are duties. Strengthening your connection with God; striving in worldly matters - including acquiring knowledge and striving for construction - being aware of political and economic issues, and most importantly, maintaining that hope, are factors and characteristics that, God willing, in the future - a not too distant future - will illuminate the entire earth with the light of the Islamic Republic and will bestow the blessings of Islam upon humanity and will place the Iranian nation - as Almighty God has promised Muslims - as witnesses of unity and unity of humanity on earth. May God grant you success, preserve you, and may your efforts be accepted in the sacred presence of the Lord.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings