Statements at the Meeting with Participants in the Quran Competitions

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and may God’s blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure family.

I am very happy that, thanks be to God, the Almighty has granted us the opportunity to live another year and to once again experience this desirable and sweet Quranic gathering. We enjoyed the recitations made by our dear brothers. We ask the Almighty God to associate all of these dear ones, all of you, and all of us with the Quran; may we live with the Quran, breathe with the Quran in this world, and may the Quran be our intercessor in the Hereafter, not complain about us. This is our wish.

What is presented in these international competitions is that the Quran is a source of gathering, a source of unity. We Muslims have many factors of unity, one of which, and perhaps the most important, is the Quran. All Muslims, all Muslim nations are submissive before the Quran; they seek to learn from the Quran; they want to draw closer to the Quran. This is a very important opportunity. The enemies of Islam and the enemies of the Quran have tried to create distance among Muslim nations, to separate them from one another, and sometimes even to set them against each other and make them appear as enemies. This arises from neglecting the Quran. When Muslim nations all accept this heavenly book, this heavenly message, this great divine gift, what could be better than this means of gathering and unity? Let us all sit at this spiritual table; let us all benefit from this source of Islamic and divine dignity and power.

We have two forms of neglect: one is neglecting that the Quran is the means of gathering for us Muslims. The second is neglecting the belief in Quranic concepts and acknowledging what the Almighty God has promised us in the Holy Quran. We must also believe in divine promises. If we believe in divine promises, then the path to dignity, to unity, to power in the face of the Islamic Ummah will be opened, and the Islamic Ummah will be saved from backwardness. The very verses that this esteemed Egyptian scholar recited just now: "If God helps you, no one can overcome you"; if God supports you, no power will prevail over you. "And if He forsakes you, who is there that can help you after Him?" This is a brilliant line. Nations should write this down, raise it as a flag, put it before their eyes, above their heads. "If God helps you, no one can overcome you"; if God supports you, no power will prevail over you. What should we do to receive God's support? This is one issue. What should we do to have God's assistance? The Quran has also told us this: "If you help God, He will help you"; "And God will surely help those who help Him"; you should support God, support God's religion, rise for God, and God will help you. Wherever nations rose for God's religion, brought their strength to the forefront, the Almighty God supported them. And when God supported them, no one could overcome them. We have seen this example in ourselves. We have tested it, experienced that "Indeed, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves." We, the Iranian nation, have tested this; we have experienced it in practice. We made a change in ourselves, and the Almighty God changed our circumstances. It is remarkable that if we take one step, God takes ten steps. We made a slight change in ourselves, and God helped us significantly, changed our circumstances.

Today, we are witnessing this in the world. Look at the Egyptian nation now. It is the same "Allahu Akbar" and the same congregational prayers and the same Islamic slogans; they came into the square, and God granted them victory. Did America want these events to happen in Egypt? Did the wicked Zionist front, which has influence in all Western powers, want this to happen? Did their political affiliates in the region want to allow such an idea to take root? But it happened. Why? Because "If God helps you, no one can overcome you." When God grants support, all powers become futile. This is how nations should regain their dignity. "And to God belongs the might and to His Messenger and to the believers"; dignity belongs to God. "He honors whom He wills and humiliates whom He wills"; He grants dignity. Seek dignity from God.

Well, one must become familiar with the Quran. One must believe in the Quran with all their being, with all their heart; superficial belief is not enough. One must believe in the Quran and the divine promises with all their heart. Today, believing is easier than yesterday. Today, in this era in which we are living, there are so many divine verses and glad tidings that make it easier for the heart; because one sees what was said by Prophet Abraham: "But to be at ease in my heart"; this assurance is found for a person. One sees it now; it is before our eyes. What was Iran? The Iran of tyranny, the Iran of America, the Iran continuously aligned with the usurping Zionists; what was it, and what is it now: a powerful pole of resistance against global arrogance and Zionism, a strong document for Muslim nations; we are witnessing these before our eyes. This is the miracle of the Quran's invitation and the news of the Quran and the awareness that the Quran gives us. We must preserve this.

What I specifically want to say to our dear Quranic individuals in this session is to move more towards memorizing the Quran. Memorization is a means, of course; it is a means. Memorization is not the goal. Memorizing the Quran is a means; it is a means for a person to read easily, to repeat easily, and to have the opportunity for contemplation. Young people should utilize their talents, their memories; bring children and young people towards memorizing the Quran. Of course, today is not comparable to our past; we have advanced significantly; however, it is still insufficient. What exists in our country now is little. They should move towards memorizing the Quran. When memorization is achieved, then the ability and opportunity for contemplation will increase, and it is this contemplation that is the key. The main key is this contemplation in the Quran and thinking about the Quran.

In any case, we welcome all our dear Quranic individuals in the country and also those who are guests of these sessions; we hope that, God willing, the Almighty God will bestow His blessings upon all of you in respect to the Quran and associate us with the Quran in this world and the Hereafter.

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