Meeting of the People of Qom on the Occasion of the Nineteenth of Dey Uprising

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

First, I express my condolences on the martyrdom of the greatest martyr in the history of humanity, Hazrat Aba Abdillah al-Husayn, and the creator of the unforgettable and awakening epic of the Islamic Ummah throughout history. Secondly, I welcome you dear brothers and sisters who have come from that city on the anniversary of the awakening of the vigilant and aware people of Qom, and have formed this gathering filled with sincerity and warmth.

The issue of the Nineteenth of Dey is not merely a transient historical event. The significance of this event lies in the fact that a part of the Iranian nation - the dear people of Qom - sensed an event before its occurrence. The sense of awakening and awareness of these people helped them to initiate a great movement in the country. The incident of the insult to the Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) in a newspaper by the pen of a mercenary of the tyrannical court did not seem significant to many superficial and appearance-oriented people at that time; they did not perceive the depth of this issue and the hidden aspects of this conspiracy; they did not understand. When a person does not sense a conspiracy, naturally, they do not show any reaction against it. The people of Qom, the youth of Qom, felt it; they understood; they comprehended the importance of the incident. This is the most important aspect of this event that occurred in the history of our revolution. If you, the people of Qom, had not attained that understanding on that day, you would not have come to the streets, you would not have defended, you would not have given martyrs, and you would not have created that unparalleled disgrace for the tyrannical regime. It is uncertain whether the course of the struggles would have unfolded in the way it did and continued. The starting point is very important. And the starting point is not a coincidence; it arises from understanding and comprehending an event that has many hidden dimensions; it is concealed from the eyes. This was the art of the Nineteenth of Dey incident in Qom, which demonstrated that it had this correct understanding of the issue that had arisen; it understood the conspiracy; it knew what events should occur and would occur behind this article that was published against the Imam (may God’s peace be upon him) in the newspaper. Because it understood the conspiracy, it was compelled to react.

Today, the lesson is the same. The human intuition and depth of a nation must sense events before they occur and understand what is happening, and show a reaction. Throughout the history of Islam, when we look back, the lack of this understanding and correct political intuition has kept nations in a state of slumber and has allowed the enemies of nations to do whatever they want to them, remaining safe and secure from their reactions.

With this perspective, look at the event of Karbala. Many Muslims during the late sixty years after the event of Hijrah - that is, fifty years after the passing of the noble Prophet - did not have a correct analysis of the events that were unfolding. Because they lacked analysis, they had no reaction. Thus, the field was open for those who wanted to create any deviation in the path of the Islamic Ummah; no one stood in their way. It reached a point where a notorious, wicked, and disreputable individual - a youth who had none of the conditions of Islamic governance and the caliphate of the Prophet within him, and whose actions were the opposite of the Prophet's path - became the leader of the Islamic Ummah and the successor of the Prophet! See how strange this event seems to you today? At that time, this event did not seem strange to the people of that era. The elites did not sense danger. Some who may have sensed danger did not allow their personal interests, comfort, and ease to let them show a reaction. The Prophet brought Islam to guide people towards monotheism, purity, justice, moral integrity, and the public welfare of human society. Today, someone sits in the place of the Prophet who is entirely corrupt, who has no belief in the existence of God and His oneness. Fifty years after the passing of the Prophet, such a person comes to power! This seems very strange to you today; it did not seem strange to many of those people at that time. Amazing! Yazid became the caliph, and harsh and cruel officials were placed around the Islamic world to extract allegiance from the people. People went in groups to pledge allegiance; scholars pledged allegiance, ascetics pledged allegiance, elites pledged allegiance, politicians pledged allegiance.

In such a situation where such negligence prevails in the Islamic world that they do not perceive and sense the danger, what should be done? Someone like Husayn ibn Ali, who is the embodiment of Islam, who is the unchanged version of the noble Prophet of Islam - "Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn" - what should he do in these circumstances? He must do something to awaken the Islamic world - not just on that day, but throughout the centuries that followed - to make them aware; to shake them. This awakening began with the uprising of Imam Husayn. Now, the fact that Imam Husayn was invited to govern in Kufa and moved towards Kufa, these are the outward appearances and excuses for the action. Even if Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) had not been invited, this uprising would have taken place. Imam Husayn had to carry out this movement to show what the agenda is for Muslims in such circumstances. He presented a version to all Muslims of future centuries. It was a practical version, not a version of rhetoric and empty talk, or "give orders and sit back"; it was a practical version. He himself moved and showed that this is the way. He narrates from the Prophet that when you see that Islam is set aside; the oppressors govern over the people; they alter the religion of God; they behave with corruption and immorality towards the people; whoever does not stand up and rise against this situation, "it is incumbent upon God to admit him to the same place"; the Almighty God will treat this silent and indifferent person just like the one who "makes lawful the sanctities of God". This is the version. The uprising of Imam Husayn is this. In the path of this uprising, the pure and precious soul of Imam Husayn, which is the greatest soul in the world, if sacrificed, is not considered a high price by Imam Husayn. The lives of the best of people who were the companions of Imam Husayn, if sacrificed, are not considered a heavy price for Imam Husayn. The captivity of the family of God, the sanctuary of the Prophet, a personality like Zainab being captured by strangers - Husayn ibn Ali knew that when he was killed in this desert, they would capture these women and children - this captivity and paying this heavy price was not heavy for Imam Husayn for this purpose. The price we pay must be considered in light of what is achieved for Islam, for Muslims, for the Islamic Ummah, and for society. Sometimes spending one hundred tomans is wasteful; sometimes spending one hundred billion is not wasteful. It must be seen what we gain in return.

The Islamic Revolution was an act of adhering to this version. Our great Imam acted according to this version. Some superficial and appearance-oriented people - of course, they were good people, not bad people; we knew them - at that time said that he brought these youths into the field and our best youths are being killed; their blood is being shed. They thought that the Imam did not know that the lives of these youths were in danger. Their concern for him stemmed from a lack of proper calculation. Yes, in the imposed war, we lost so many martyrs, so many disabled veterans, so many grieving families. This is a great price; but in return, what? In return, we preserved the independence of the country, the flag of Islam, the Islamic identity of Iran against that great storm. That storm was not created by Saddam. Saddam was the soldier at the front of the enemy. Behind Saddam stood all the apparatus and the world of disbelief and global arrogance. If we assume they were not involved in this conspiracy from the beginning, it was clear and evident in the continuation; everyone came behind Saddam. America came, the Soviet Union of that day came, NATO came, the reactionary countries dependent on global arrogance came; they provided money, information, plans, and propaganda. This great front came to completely crush great Iran, brave Iran, and faithful Iran, to turn it into a subordinate region for global arrogance, first by defeating a despicable and small element like Saddam and then keeping it in the grip of America. The calamity that they brought upon our country over two hundred years and created so many problems for this nation, they would continue this calamity for another hundred years, two hundred years. Our nation stood firm, our great Imam stood firm. Of course, we sacrificed precious lives, we gave great martyrs, we sacrificed beloved youths; but this was not a heavy price compared to that achievement.

Today, the issue of Palestine is the same. The issue of Gaza that you observe is just part of the surface of the matter; the essence of the matter is that the system of global arrogance, which is indifferent to all human principles, desires to take control of this sensitive Middle Eastern region, which is full of wealth and various geographical and economic sensitivities; to seize it. Its means is the usurping Israel; the Zionists dominating occupied Palestine. This is the issue. All the movements that have taken place in this region over the past few years - from the issues of Lebanon to the issues of Iraq to the issues of Palestine - can be interpreted and understood with this perspective. The issue is that this region must be in the hands of America and global arrogance - global arrogance includes America. Of course, its main manifestation is the Great Satan, the American government. Global arrogance wants to have this region in its control; to hold it tightly. Global arrogance needs this region, and its agent is Israel. All these stories and events of these past few years can be analyzed with this perspective. You saw in the thirty-three-day war, the American Secretary of State said: "This is the pain of childbirth for the new Middle East!" That is, from this incident, a new entity will be born, which is the Middle East that America is seeking. Of course, this troubled dream was realized in the form that befell them. The courage, awakening, sacrifice, and jihad of the faithful youth in Lebanon struck not only Israel but also America and all their supporters and followers in the face. The issue of Gaza is of the same kind.

They want no element of resistance to exist in this region. The Islamic Republic is considered the main element of resistance. Of course, they have understood this correctly. This is the center of resistance. This is the place where, even if we do nothing, say nothing, the very existence of the Islamic Republic inspires the nations of the region. An entity, an identity that has grown in this region despite all the arrogant powers and in defiance of their eyes, is becoming more rooted day by day; it is becoming stronger day by day. The very existence of this magnificent and glorious body is a thorn in the side of global arrogance and a source of hope for the nations. Yes, this is the center of resistance; there is no doubt about it. Others have drawn inspiration from here, but in order to crush this resistance, they first targeted the weak link; the elected popular government of Hamas in Gaza. They have trapped it as a victim; they are pounding it. Anyone in the Islamic world who today considers the issue of Gaza as a regional, personal, or local issue is suffering from the same slumber that has kept the fathers of nations asleep until now. No, the issue of Gaza is not just the issue of Gaza; it is a regional issue. For now, that place is the weaker point; they started the attack from there, and if they succeed, they will not leave the region alone. The governments of the Muslim countries surrounding that region, and the help they should provide and can provide, are making mistakes; they are making mistakes. The more the Israeli nail is driven into this region, the more the dominance of global arrogance increases, the more the misfortune of these governments and their weakness and humiliation will increase. Why are they not aware? And the governments drag the nations along with them into humiliation. A humiliated and submissive government makes a nation submissive and humiliated. This is why nations must awaken.

Our nation has shown both its awakening and readiness in this issue. I must thank all the people who demonstrated their position and determination in the rallies and protests; especially the faithful and passionate youths who went to the airports - in Tehran and some other places - saying: "Send us there." Well, our hands are tied; our hands are tied. If we could have been present there, it was necessary to be present, and we would have done so; we would not have considered anyone's opinion; however, it is impossible; everyone should know this. The government of the Islamic Republic and the officials of the Islamic Republic will do everything possible to help that oppressed nation; they have done so until now and will continue to do so. However, our youths are passionate youths. This generation of today's youths has shown with their actions that they are like the same generation of Karbala 5 - which these days are the days of remembrance of Karbala 5 - and the generation of Valfajr 4 and the operations of Khaybar and Badr. Today's youths are also ready for the field like those youths twenty-five years ago, thirty years ago.

The money that the espionage and colonial apparatus of the enemies gave to some of their internal traitorous elements to dissuade our youths, to write analyses, and to portray this readiness as contrary to wisdom and interest was wasted. Our youths are moving in the direction that the revolution, Islam, and Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) have outlined. This is the situation of our country. However, in the Islamic world, nations must clearly show their presence and determination. They must demand from their governments. Some Muslim governments have made good efforts; however, it is not enough. Political pressures, popular pressures must force the enemy to retreat. Today, you see the catastrophe that is occurring in this region at the hands of the Zionists; it is an unprecedented catastrophe. When a person falls in a corner of the world due to an incident, a clamor rises from the human rights apparatus; they falsely, hypocritically, and deceitfully claim to support human rights, while innocent children and helpless women like autumn leaves fall on the ground in Gaza, and no breath is heard from them. The Almighty God has exposed these claims of support for human rights; both in the United Nations and in the so-called human rights organizations and in the governments that claim these. Those European governments have made the phrase "human rights" a mere lip service! What human rights?! You do not believe in human rights. You lie; you hypocritically mention human rights. Otherwise, how could a certain European head of state see these events and not attack Israel if you believe in human rights? Worse than them are some intellectuals of the Islamic world. Unfortunately, the corruption of the press and news agencies and intellectualism in the Islamic world is a very regrettable corruption. In newspapers, in the press, they write analyses against the current legal government of Palestine to justify the crimes of the Zionists! The Almighty God will not forgive them. Now, unfortunately, there are some of these things inside as well. Of course, in the country, the decisive public opinion of the nation, the support of the nation and the government in this direction does not allow some to pursue the same wrong line of deception and betrayal; otherwise, perhaps some would have expressed more than this in this regard; the decisive presence of the people and their slogans and the support of the government do not allow them. However, in other countries, unfortunately, this is happening. What is the product and result of these events? In one word, without a doubt, it is the victory of truth over falsehood.

If the enemy, God forbid, could destroy each of the Palestinian fighters who are currently defending valiantly and fighting with determination and resolve, the issue of Palestine will not disappear with these atrocities. Undoubtedly, based on past experience, it will rise again much stronger and will strike back at them and will be victorious over them. Our Muslim nation must keep this resolute determination in their minds and hearts; they must cherish this insight; they must cherish this awareness and awakening that has been bestowed upon this nation and maintain their presence; they must clearly show their positions and announce to the world that the Islamic Republic stands firm on its anti-oppression positions and will resist and sacrifice for it, and certainly what it will achieve will be far more precious and valuable than what it will lose. And certainly, the pure spirit of our dear martyrs and the pure spirit of our great Imam will support the Iranian nation and support these struggles and valiant defenses, and God willing, all the Muslim nations will celebrate victory in the not-too-distant future.

May God include the prayer of Hazrat Baqiyatullah (may our souls be sacrificed for him) upon all of us and count us among the true followers of Husayn ibn Ali (peace be upon him).

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