Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in the Friday Prayer Sermon of the 21st of Ramadan

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, seek His help, ask for His forgiveness, rely on Him, and send blessings and peace upon His beloved, His chosen one, our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, especially the Awaited One of God among the inhabitants of the earth, and send blessings upon the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers. God, the Exalted, has said in His clear Book: "And among the people is he who sells himself, seeking the pleasure of God. And God is Merciful to the servants."

Today is the day of the martyrdom of the Commander of the Faithful and a day to remember the greatness of the position of that leader of the pious and the God-conscious. At the outset, I invite both myself and all of you, dear listeners and worshippers, to observe piety. If we want the Commander of the Faithful to be our Imam, we must be believers and God-conscious. He is the Imam of the God-conscious and the Commander of the Faithful.

What is unforgettable about that great man are the practical and behavioral distinctions that appeared during the short government of the Commander of the Faithful in that vast Islamic realm and remained in history. The spiritual ranks and unique personal behavioral traits of that great man are noteworthy in their own right - if you refer to the books, you will find many chapters detailing the distinctions of the Commander of the Faithful; his knowledge, his piety, his courage, his precedence in Islam, his asceticism, and the like, which truly surpass the limits of ordinary counting, and all of these are magnificent and astonishing, each shining like a radiant sun - but in my opinion, what is above all is his conduct in governance. The fundamental test is here. Power is in the hands of the Commander of the Faithful; that too in that vast realm of governance. This remarkably unparalleled and astonishing behavior should be our model. The fact that all those who recognize the Commander of the Faithful in the context of this governmental behavior lament the brevity of his rule is because if this method had continued for many years, perhaps the course of world history would have changed. If this model had continued and been available to the people for several years, perhaps the fate of humanity would have changed, and those powers reliant on corruption, wealth, lust, bullying, and injustice - which have been observed throughout history and have marked the fate of humanity with darkness and despair - would not have emerged. Currently, this model is before us. What I am most concerned about is that today in the Islamic Republic system, we must strive to approach this model. If this happens, our Iranian society and consequently the entire Islamic world and all of humanity will benefit from our governance. Our entire effort and endeavor should be to bring ourselves closer to those models.

The governance of the Commander of the Faithful in establishing justice, supporting the oppressed, confronting the oppressor, and advocating for the truth in all circumstances is a model that must be followed. This is not outdated and can serve as a model for the happiness and well-being of humanity in all various scientific and social conditions of the world. We do not want to imitate the administrative methods of that era and say that these are subject to temporal transformation and, for example, new methods emerge day by day. We want to follow the direction of that governance, which is eternally alive. Defending the oppressed is always a shining point. Not compromising with the oppressor, refusing bribes from the powerful and the wealthy, and standing firm on the truth are values that never become outdated in the world. In various conditions and circumstances, these characteristics are always valuable. We must pursue these; these are their principles. When we say a principled government, we mean one that adheres to such enduring values that are never subject to obsolescence. Ironically, the bullies and tyrants of the world are upset by this adherence. They are also angered by the fact that why the Islamic government in Iran supports the oppressed of Palestine or supports the people of Afghanistan or does not compromise with such a tyrannical and oppressive government in the world. The fact that you see fundamentalism and principledness being used as a curse in the hands and mouths of the enemies of this nation is due to this. These principles are precisely what the bullies and tyrants of the world are harmed by and oppose. They fought against the Commander of the Faithful for these very things. Our effort as a government should be this.

Of course, someone may ask why you share these with the people; go and issue directives so that the officials of the government behave this way; or go and advise the officials. Firstly, not all or most of these matters are directive or prescriptive. These are issues that can only be realized through faith, belief, and attachment to a truth, and with the iron will stemming from faith. Of course, those things that are directive, we will issue directives for; those things that are prescriptive, we will also instruct the officials; but directives and orders do not solve everything. We also advise the officials, but this is not enough. These truths must become customary in society and form the demands of society. In the Islamic Republic system, the people must demand that their officials confront oppression and the oppressor and the corrupt. Their criteria for accepting a ruler and a high and noble official of the system must be these: fighting against oppression, not compromising with the oppressor, not submitting to bullying, preserving human dignity and humanity, and striving to realize the truth in all its forms and fields. Therefore, I present these matters in the presence of the general public; just as the Commander of the Faithful also conveyed these statements to the people. Although his letters were addressed to individuals, everyone was informed. The sermons were also presented before the eyes of the people. Consider some examples:

At the beginning of his rule, the Commander of the Faithful established equality among all people in the distribution of public funds; because before the Commander of the Faithful, it had been customary in Islam for nearly twenty years to prefer certain individuals over others due to their precedence in Islam and being among the emigrants and helpers, etc. The money that was collected in the public treasury - which came from the spoils of wars or perhaps from alms - when distributed, was given per capita to individuals. The financial custom of that time was such; it was not like the customs of today's government offices. It had become customary to give more to some. The Commander of the Faithful came and said no; whoever is more religious and more faithful, their reward is with God. Whoever has more ability, strives in life, and if they seek wealth, they earn wealth; but I will distribute the public treasury equally. Some individuals came and advised him, saying, "O Commander of the Faithful! This action will defeat you and will compel some to stand against you." The Imam said: "Do you command me to seek victory through injustice against those whom I govern from among the people of Islam? By God, I will not do so as long as the nightingale sings and the stars shine." You want me to achieve victory in my governance through oppression?! Yes; I will be victorious and some will not oppose; but I do not want this victory. If it is to be that the Commander of the Faithful is supported because of oppression and injustice, the Commander of the Faithful does not want it. He said: "By God, I will never do such a thing."

In another place, in that famous letter to Uthman ibn Hunayf, he says: "Indeed, every follower has an Imam to follow and to be illuminated by the light of his knowledge." Then he said: "Indeed, your Imam has contented himself with two garments and with two loaves of bread for his food." The Commander of the Faithful mentioned his food and clothing, which were similar to the poorest people of that time, and said: I, who am your Imam, live this way. He told Uthman ibn Hunayf: You cannot live like me; that is, this expectation does not exist; "But assist me with piety and diligence"; but avoid sin and strive to reach this point. This is the same message that today the Commander of the Faithful conveys to us. Avoid what is contrary to the truth and sin, and strive to get closer; whatever you achieve and whatever you can.

It is unacceptable for us to choose a direction that is opposite to that of the Commander of the Faithful. He moved towards self-discipline; now, is the goal of our high-ranking government official in accepting responsibility and mission to develop and cultivate their own world? This does not align and is not possible. Last year, I also stated at such times that it is unacceptable for a high-ranking official of the Islamic Republic to consider their responsibility like other businesses, to account for their responsibilities as a business. High responsibilities in the Islamic Republic are not a business or investment that one pursues to manage their own world. An official of the Islamic Republic has no right to look at the wealthy and the elite and compare their life with them; they have no right to compare themselves with their counterparts and similar figures in tyrannical governments. Yes; in tyrannical systems, a minister, a director general, and a president enjoy such lifestyles; should we come today and compare ourselves with them and say we are also ministers and directors!? No; it is not like that in the Islamic system. In the Islamic system, this mission is not a prey; it is a responsibility and a service and a duty upon a person. The Commander of the Faithful teaches this.

In one place, he wrote to Ibn Abbas: "Let not your share in your governance be something you do not benefit from and do not quench your anger with." The benefit you seek from your governance and governorship in that area to which we have sent you should not be to acquire wealth or to suppress an anger - for example, to use power against a certain person or group or class with whom you have a grudge. Such a thing is not permissible - "But your benefit from this governance should be to eliminate falsehood and to revive the truth."

Someone came to the Commander of the Faithful and asked him for money; the Imam said: "This money does not belong to me nor to you; this public treasury belongs to the people. And it is a bounty for the Muslims and a reward for their swords if you participate with them in their wars." If you participate in Islamic conquests, you have your share. "You would have a share like theirs; otherwise, the fruits of their labor do not belong to anyone but their mouths." What the people have earned with their own hands belongs to them. This is the logic of the Commander of the Faithful in dealing with such requests.

For the Commander of the Faithful, executing justice and defending the oppressed and being resolute against the oppressor - whoever they may be - was important. The Commander of the Faithful did not set the condition of Islam for defending the oppressed. That Commander of the Faithful, who adhered to Islam, that first-rate believer, the greatest commander of Islamic conquests, did not set the condition of being Muslim for defending the oppressed. In the case of "Anbar" - which is a city in Iraq - some from the government of Sham went and killed the governor appointed by the Commander of the Faithful in this city, attacked the people, looted their homes, killed some, and returned. The Commander of the Faithful, in a sermon he delivered on this occasion - which is one of the most stirring sermons in Nahj al-Balagha, this sermon of jihad; "For jihad is a door among the doors of paradise"; he wants to motivate the people to move against this great oppression - says: "Indeed, I have been informed that the men among them would enter upon the Muslim women and the others who are under covenant." I have been informed that the marauding men of that group would enter houses where Muslim women or Jewish and Christian women - the covenant - were present. For the Commander of the Faithful, it does not matter whether the woman being attacked is a person of the Book - whether she is Jewish, Christian, or Zoroastrian - or a Muslim woman. He refers to all of them in one voice. "They would seize their jewelry and their hearts and their necklaces and their anklets"; the marauder would come and take the earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and gold of the women; "They would have no means of defense except for pleading and begging"; that is, this Muslim or non-Muslim woman had no means of defense against this marauder except for begging. The Commander of the Faithful then says: "If a Muslim dies out of grief after this, he should not be blamed"; "Rather, it is worthy of every honorable person to be distressed and die from such events!"

To Malik al-Ashtar, in that famous letter, he writes: Be such with the people, be such, and do not pounce on them like a ravenous wolf. He follows this by saying: "Indeed, they are of two types"; "Either a brother in religion or a counterpart in creation"; that is, they are either your religious brothers or your equals in humanity; that is, they are human beings like you. Therefore, for the Commander of the Faithful, in defending the oppressed and in realizing human rights, Islam is not the issue; both Muslims and non-Muslims have this right. See what a lofty logic and what a flag of dignity the Commander of the Faithful has raised in history! Now, some in the world mention human rights; pure lies, pure hypocrisy; they do not even observe human rights in their own countries, let alone across the world! The true meaning of human rights was expressed and acted upon by the Commander of the Faithful in this way.

Today, we have a duty in the year that has been named "the Year of Alavi Behavior" to follow the behavior of the Commander of the Faithful. Today, if the slogan of fighting against financial and economic corruption is raised, everyone who is a follower of the Commander of the Faithful must adhere to this slogan. Anyone who is genuinely seeking righteousness and reform must move towards this work. The responsible institutions - whether the judiciary, the executive, or the legislative - must consider themselves obliged to realize this slogan and not allow it to remain at the level of a hollow slogan and mere rhetoric. Fighting against corruption is one of the main foundations of the Islamic government and system. This is the method of the Commander of the Faithful. The Commander of the Faithful did not consider the people; he did not even consider those who had expectations from him. Wherever he saw corruption, he fought against it. We cannot act like the Commander of the Faithful; we do not even claim to do so. We are not worthy of it - I speak for myself - to want to follow the Commander of the Faithful, but we must make our efforts. Everyone must consider this their duty; not that if an institution confronts a corrupt person, the same pressure mechanisms come into play and create uproar and commotion and shake the hands and feet of those who move in this direction. Of course, no one’s hands and feet should shake. They must move decisively in this path; God will help, and the people will support.

What I have understood is that nothing makes the people as happy as the Islamic Republic confronting the bullies, the corrupt, the greedy, and the parasites in the path of realizing the public rights. The parliament, the government, and the judiciary also have duties and must all move in this direction and get started. Today, fortunately, one observes actions; however, in various corners, there are those who should cooperate but sometimes fall short, and we hope this shortcoming does not continue.

When we honor the name of the Commander of the Faithful, it must be for our actions. We cannot keep telling the people to act like the Commander of the Faithful. We, who are responsible today in the Islamic Republic, bear the greatest responsibility and the heaviest obligations. I hope the officials of the Islamic Republic will find this success and follow that path, in accordance with the sign of the finger of that great man. Of course, the Commander of the Faithful endured many hardships on this path. Today is the day of his martyrdom. Perhaps during the lifetime of that great man, no one heard his main complaints from his blessed tongue. Of course, the Commander of the Faithful often lamented and reproached the people from the pulpit; but his complaints were not only about telling the people why they do not present themselves in the battlefield of jihad. The heart of the Commander of the Faithful was full of pain. In the famous supplication of Kumayl - which is authored by him - he addresses the Lord of the worlds with the following words: "O my God, my Master, my Lord, and the Owner of my neck." Among these, this address to my ears and mind was very sensitive: "O You to whom I complain my conditions"; he complained to God; the heart of that man was full of pain. The concern of the Commander of the Faithful was both the condition of society and the people and the status of the path of religion and the religious orientation in the newly established Islamic system of that day, as well as his own heavy sense of responsibility. Of course, the Commander of the Faithful did not lessen even a thousandth of this responsibility.

When the sword fell upon the blessed head of the Commander of the Faithful in the place of worship, the phrase that was heard from him - as narrated in the books - was: "In the Name of God, for God, and upon the religion of the Messenger of God, I have triumphed, by the Lord of the Kaaba"; in the name of God, for God, in the way of God; and by the Lord of the Kaaba, I have triumphed and succeeded. That great night, which became a day of mourning and calamity for all Muslims, became a night of victory and joy and success for the Commander of the Faithful. The Imam himself was also waiting for it. Apparently, that night was a Friday night. Of course, in some narrations, it is mentioned that the night of the nineteenth was a Friday night; but in some other narrations, it is mentioned that the night of the twenty-first was a Friday night. That night, in the house of Umm Kulthum, that great man broke his fast in the same manner you have heard, breaking his fast with bread and salt - meaning, in fact, plain bread - he removed the milk from the table and broke his fast with plain bread. He spent the night in worship until dawn. Before the dawn call to prayer, he entered the mosque and woke the people who were scattered and sleeping in various corners of the mosque; he called the adhan and entered the place of worship. In the middle of the prayer, suddenly the voice of the herald rose: "By God, the pillars of guidance have collapsed"; the foundations of guidance have been destroyed. Surely, the people of that time understood what the collapse of the pillars of guidance meant; but as it is narrated, the herald clarified the meaning of that phrase; he cried out and raised the alarm that: "Ali al-Murtada has been killed". Blessings of God be upon you, O Commander of the Faithful.

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Say, "He is God, One. God, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent."

O Lord! We beseech You by Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, to send the best blessings, mercy, and grace upon the pure soul of the Commander of the Faithful. O Lord! Make us among the followers of that great man. O Lord! Grant success and victory to the followers of the Commander of the Faithful wherever they are in the world and in every direction. O Lord! Draw the lovers of the Commander of the Faithful closer to him day by day, no matter where they are in the world and in whatever clothing and under whatever name. O Lord! Honor Islam and the Muslims. Remove the enemies of Islam and Muslims and the enemies of the path of the Commander of the Faithful from the path of the friends of the Commander of the Faithful. Nullify their schemes and what they plot against the world of Islam. O Lord! Honor and exalt our dear nation. O Lord! Remove the problems and knots from the affairs of these faithful and devoted people. O Lord! Include in Your mercy, grace, help, and support everyone who serves these people and in the path of Islam and Muslims. O Lord! Draw the hearts of the people closer to one another day by day.

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. And blessings and peace be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, especially upon the Commander of the Faithful and the pure lady, the Mistress of the Women of the Worlds, and upon Hasan and Husayn, the grandsons of mercy and the Imams of guidance, and upon Ali ibn Husayn, Zain al-Abidin, and Muhammad ibn Ali, the Baqir of the knowledge of the prophets, and Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq, and Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kazim, and Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, and Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad, and Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi, and Hasan ibn Ali al-Zaki al-Askari, and al-Hujjah ibn al-Hasan al-Qaim al-Mahdi, may blessings of God be upon them all, and send blessings upon the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers. I advise you, O servants of God, to observe piety.

I recommend all dear worshippers to observe piety and to benefit from the blessings of these days and the remaining days of this blessed month - which is a mine of grace and favor from the Lord - I hope that we can all attract God's pleasure and forgiveness in the remaining days of this month.

In the fundamental issues of the Islamic world, two matters are the most important, both of which are closely related to the Iranian nation and the interests of our country: one is the issue of Afghanistan, and the other is the issue of Palestine. In both places, an aggression against the Muslim people is observed. The issue of Afghanistan has progressed towards a solution in some way. We hope that what is good and beneficial for the Muslim people of Afghanistan will come to them as soon as possible; however, in the month of Ramadan, these two oppressed nations have been attacked. At the beginning of the month of Ramadan, the bombings by America and England against the people of Afghanistan continued with cruelty and intensity. They showed no mercy to the fasting mouths of the people, to children, women, and the elderly; they attacked civilians; in some cases, they committed acts that are unforgettable war crimes, and these will be recorded; such as the attack on the prison where several hundred were killed and the attack on civilians in various places. On the other hand, in recent days, such an aggression has been launched by the accomplice of America - that is, the usurping Zionist government - in the cities of Palestine against the Muslim people of this land, attacking the defenseless homes of the people, civilians, children, schools, and hospitals with tanks, airplanes, helicopters, and warships. The situation is strange! The Islamic Ummah must quickly deduce and awaken from this negligence. Every corner of the Islamic world is under attack. The gentlemen also give the good news that we will not stop here; we will attack some other countries too! They mention Iraq and Somalia. The Islamic world is to be attacked by those who, in the name of fighting terrorism, enter various fields to secure their interests and do not only fight against the greatest terrorist apparatus in the world - that is, the Zionist government - but also support it. If attacking with tanks the homes of people is not terrorism, then what is terrorism?! If bombarding the homes of people by F-16 aircraft and military helicopters is not terrorism, then what is terrorism?! In any case, these two issues are very important, and I will say a few sentences about each.

Regarding Afghanistan: Firstly, we are happy that it seems a government agreed upon by the groups, tribes, and factions of Afghanistan is about to be formed and peace and stability will be established in Afghanistan. The fact that the oppressed people of Afghanistan will be relieved from the bloody and devastating conflicts of the past twenty-some years is a very great good news for us; both because they are a Muslim people and their sorrow is our sorrow; and also because they are our neighbors, and the situation and stability and security of Afghanistan are closely related to the stability and security of our country. In every respect, we are pleased that they will be at ease. However, attention must be paid to certain points:

Firstly, America should not write off the fall of the Taliban government as a political victory and a powerful and glorious conquest. If the people of Afghanistan and the various Afghan forces who were in different corners had not entered the field, the bombings could not have toppled a government. In reality, the people of Afghanistan played a role; their role was a very significant one; otherwise, if they had not entered the field, America would have had to consume bombs and missiles for weeks and months, committing crimes, but to no avail.

The next point is this: It is true that apparently, God willing, a government of consensus is to come to power in Afghanistan, but this does not mean that the crimes of America in Afghanistan will be forgotten. This will remain; this is not only related to the people of Afghanistan; all human beings and all those who judge the behavior of governments and have opinions about them and act upon those opinions will condemn this act, and this will remain and will not be forgotten.

The third point is that we will not interfere in the affairs of Afghanistan - regarding who comes, who does not come; who is at the head of affairs, who is not - but we support the people of Afghanistan; just as in the past twenty-some years, the government and people of Iran have not spared any effort in regard to the Muslim people of Afghanistan. The aid that was provided last week truly deserves thanks and appreciation from our dear nation, and I consider it my duty to sincerely thank all those who gifted this aid to the people of Afghanistan; those who were involved and those who brought this idea forward and presented it. For the past twenty-two years, it has been the same. The Afghans - whether the people of Afghanistan within their country or those who were here - have been supported by the government and people of Iran. We support the people of Afghanistan. The government of that country must be accepted by the people of Afghanistan.

Let me also say this; any government in Afghanistan that wants to gain the support of these people - who carry the burden of twenty-five years of struggle - must pay attention to two things: Islam and independence. The people of Afghanistan are Muslims and adhere to Islamic principles. Therefore, Islamic principles are very important to them. Any government that seeks to diminish Islam and Islamic identity for the sake of pleasing the West and Americans should know that it will fall out of favor with the people of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan want Islam and independence. These people are those who do not accept foreign intervention. The blow that the Soviets received in Afghanistan was not from Eastern European countries. In Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, a similar situation occurred - that is, the Soviets entered militarily - but none of those nations that the former Soviet Union entered and occupied militarily suffered such a blow as the Afghans did. Recently, you have also observed that the Afghans dealt decisively and well with the infiltrators and interventions of some other meddling countries and showed that they do not like foreign intervention. Those who will be at the head of the government and are to take charge of Afghanistan - regardless of who they are and how they will govern their country - must observe Islam and independence in Afghanistan to be able to restore stability and security to this country.

Another point I want to make is that the ethnic groups of Afghanistan - the Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Heratis, Uzbeks, Qizilbash, and the small groups and tribes - must unite and set aside their various tribal, ethnic, and religious differences and live together and tolerate one another so that they can repair and build the country that the enemies have turned into ruins, and internal prejudices and power struggles have exacerbated this meaning. They must help one another and cooperate together.

Of course, the Americans, the British, and the Westerners should know that they cannot have the kind of long-term military presence in Afghanistan that their goals and ambitions require. If they want to have a long-term military presence under any title and name, they should know that they will face the people of Afghanistan, and these people will fight against them and strike them. We absolutely do not accept and endorse the intervention of predatory and aggressive powers in Afghanistan. Of course, for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, global aid must be deposited; however, this aid should not carry with it policies and influences.

Regarding the issue of Palestine, what should draw the attention of the Islamic world greatly is that after the events of September 11 and the attacks on American centers in New York and Washington, and after the people's attention to those events and the subsequent events in Afghanistan, the negligence that occurred regarding the issue of Palestine allowed the Zionist regime to take maximum advantage of this negligence and inattention. The Zionist regime, after severe crackdowns and continuous crimes in recent months, has reached the point where it enters Palestinian cities with military equipment and tanks and commits crimes without restraint. The Zionists have taken maximum advantage of those events. The Islamic world must become aware and feel responsible.

Of course, no one can deny the involvement of the American government in the responsibility for these crimes. The Americans attacked the Afghan nation under the slogan of fighting terrorism. In Afghanistan, they identified a few as terrorists; however, with the terrorization of the Palestinian people and the savage attacks against them, they not only did not oppose it but also endorsed it! It is truly a source of great admonition for the people and public opinion of the world. What do they say? How can they shamelessly speak of human rights and freedom and the rights of nations?! To behave in such a cruel, savage, and ruthless manner with a nation in its own home; yet not only is there no opposition, but there is also support! Unfortunately, both the American government and the British government have performed very poorly in front of public opinion. In my opinion, the American officials have embarrassed the American nation in history. The British officials have rendered the British nation passive, embarrassed, and ashamed in history. These people are at the head of governments and nations and with all these claims, they do not even remain indifferent to this great human crime; rather, they support it!

Unfortunately, today the British government has taken on the role of a facilitator and political broker for America. This decrepit colonial regime, which has no other government in our region with such disgraceful records - in the Indian subcontinent, in Afghanistan, in our own country, in Iraq, in Palestine, and in all these areas, the footprints of British colonialism and its crimes have been evident for the past one hundred and fifty years and will not be erased from the historical memory of these nations - now that it has fallen from the peak of political credibility that belonged to its colonial era, it has turned into a small servant and political follower of America, and whatever America says, it immediately supports. The American government and the British government are complicit in these crimes and bear responsibility for them; because they practically encourage the criminal government.

Of course, these efforts will not resolve the problems of the Zionists; let it be clear. Today, the Zionist government is so mired and confused in its affairs that it does not know what to do. Usurpation, oppression, and bullying do not have a happy ending. These very things should have happened to the usurping Zionist government; worse days are ahead. What angers them is this intifada. All the efforts, endeavors, contacts, and movements of the Zionists and the American government and their policies are aimed at suppressing the intifada. What does intifada mean? It means the uprising of a nation to realize its rights; a nation whose land has been taken, whose home has been taken, whose property has been taken, whose farms have been taken, and which has been humiliated, treated like a minority in its own country. This nation has made a brief pause; but today its youth have entered the field. In the arena of struggle, these youths have become emboldened and have confronted a fully armed army with stones; at the same time, they have rendered them helpless. The Zionist regime has truly been at a loss in its actions during this past year and a few months since the beginning of the Al-Aqsa Intifada. All their efforts are aimed at extinguishing this sacred flame and this rightful uprising. Therefore, they exert pressure on the people. In these past few days, they have imposed various pressures on the unfortunate people of Palestine and the schools of children.

Everyone has a duty; first and foremost, the Islamic governments, and above all, the Arab governments have a duty. Apparently, a conference of the Arab League is to be held in a few days. We support the holding of these conferences. Both the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League must sit down and think about these issues. The way to confront this is to use the strength, wealth, population, and resources of the Islamic world and its voting power in international forums to defend the Palestinian people. They should not settle for just one resolution and a few words; rather, they should threaten America with cutting various relations and taking decisive positions and demand that the European regimes enter the field.

Today is also a great day of testing for the Europeans and Westerners. They must prove themselves in defending human rights and freedom - which they claim so much. How can one not defend a nation with this level of oppression?! Of course, some European governments have said a few words, but these are not enough. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Islamic governments have duties.

And I say to you: My dear ones! Dear nation of Iran! And I say to all Muslim nations: The factor that can be decisive in this regard - as in all other areas - is the decision of the nations and public opinion. It is the nations that can compel their governments to move with the pressure of their demands and expectations. The Day of Quds is approaching. This year, on the Day of Quds, the Muslim nations must show that they are angry with the Zionist regime and its supporters, and anyone who is indifferent in this regard and any policy that is in that direction will be met with anger and will be treated with anger. Of course, the scholars of Islam throughout the Islamic world and also the intellectuals of the Islamic world have special responsibilities. Just because the Americans are dissatisfied with a movement, it should not compel a certain scholar or a certain cleric in a certain Arab or Islamic country to take an anti-Islamic position; unfortunately, in the recent case, one or two such instances have been observed in the Islamic world. The scholars of Islam, the scholars of Islamic countries, the intellectuals of the Islamic world, poets, speakers, writers, artists, and the student class throughout the Islamic world must all play a role today in supporting the Palestinian people - it is their duty - and these roles are effective and can assist this oppressed nation. Words and speeches are not enough. The decisive positions of the people are more significant than many forms of assistance and have a greater impact. This is a duty, and we hope that God Almighty grants success to all to fulfill this duty.

I am confident that, God willing, this year too, the blessed Day of Quds, which is an unforgettable legacy of our great Imam, will be held with more fervor and wider participation than ever - just as last year was held with more fervor than previous years - and the Islamic world will clarify its position against the usurping Zionism, and the Zionists will find their breaths numbered day by day. These displays of power do not indicate true strength. The usurping government is gradually approaching the end of its life, which is rooted in tyranny and oppression, and God willing, the Islamic world will witness a day when Palestine is governed by the Palestinian nation.

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful When the victory of God and the conquest comes, and you see the people entering the religion of God in multitudes, then glorify the praise of your Lord and ask for His forgiveness; indeed, He is the Accepting of Repentance.

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