Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with Clergy and Preachers on the Occasion of the Arrival of the Blessed Month of Ramadan

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

First, I find it necessary to thank the honorable gentlemen, the respected scholars, preachers, speakers, and esteemed scholars present in the session; especially those who have come from outside Tehran and relatively distant paths.

Your gathering of respected scholars and clergy, manifestations of religion, piety, attention to God, and religious knowledge, especially with some prominent scholars of Tehran present, on the eve of the blessed month of Ramadan, is a good prelude for me, both in terms of the blessed days of the Fajr decade and the blessed days of Ramadan.

Firstly, the Fajr decade is dear to our nation. Perhaps there are still those who, due to being involved in the event itself, do not comprehend its importance. When one is inside an event, they do not correctly feel its greatness and dimensions. From outside, from afar, beyond the barriers of history, and even from distant geographical borders, one can better understand the magnitude of this event that occurred in these days. That the West, especially the arrogant American regime, would choose a place in the world as a base for its purposes, the advancement of corrupt Western culture, opposition to Islam, and everything that serves new and Islamic revolutionary ideas, and strengthen the government there for this purpose, consider it a safe haven, regard its resources as belonging to itself, consider its markets as its own property, control its army, exert ultimate power and domination over its administrative and political affairs, and make it a base for overseeing other countries in this region, spending money and pouring weapons; then, right at this point, a great storm arises that disrupts all those desires, ambitions, and treacherous plans, and a revolution occurs that revives Islam and, generally, spirituality throughout the world once again, is a strange subject.

Our revolution not only made Muslims think of Islam but also benefited Christianity. Countries that had been estranged from their religion, Christianity, for many years returned to spirituality and religion. This was a prelude to the collapse of the Eastern empire and the establishment of a Marxist government in the world. How strange is this event and what great dimensions it has! Exactly where the enemy had made a hideout for itself, God Almighty made it a sanctuary for religion and a place for the flourishing of the religious revolutionary sapling. See how great this matter is! Where is Tehran during the dependent and corrupt government, and where is Tehran during the Islamic era?! Where is the field of growth for corrupt Western values, and where is the garden of flourishing flowers and fruits of Islamic values?! Then that man, whom after the saints of God, we do not know anyone among ordinary humans as great as him, as powerful as him, as manifesting divine attributes in his being, with that greatness, enters the country from his place of exile, and upon entry, with a hand that has emerged from the sleeve of divine power, establishes the Islamic government in a world estranged from spiritual values! These events happened before our eyes. We saw the Imam and the revolution up close. But I want to say: most of us, myself included, did not feel the greatness of this phenomenon, the phenomenon of the Imam and the revolution. It is very great! I once told the Imam: If someone like you had existed two or three hundred years ago in history and a sign of him remained—a handwriting, a word of signature, a piece of cloth from his garment—and it reached us today, we would place it in museums and seek blessings from it. Now you, with your existence and all your truth, are before us. How can we comprehend and feel your greatness? This is a reality. The spread of this truth in our hearts, in our lives, and throughout the world, especially the Islamic world, must become more alive and tangible.

Ramadan, from another aspect, deserves a strong focus, about which I wanted to say a few words. Although these topics are not new to you. These are words that you yourselves tell the people and are clear to you. But as a reminder for anyone who hears, it is said. Ramadan each year is a piece of paradise that God brings into the burning hell of our material world and gives us the opportunity to enter paradise at this divine table in this month. Some enter paradise for those thirty days. Some, by the blessing of those thirty days, for the whole year, and some for their entire life. Some pass by it heedlessly, which is a cause for regret and loss. Now, for themselves, it is nothing, but anyone who sees this human being, with all this potential and ability for ascent and perfection, not using such a great table, has the right to be regretful. This is Ramadan. It is the month of divine hospitality. It is the month of Laylat al-Qadr.

We have repeated and heard and said these so much that they have become ordinary for us. A person finds the path to perfection who finds truths among these repetitive things. Material science is the same. Everyone in their lifetime has seen that when an apple separates from the tree, it falls to the ground. Is there anything more ordinary in the world than this? But one person noticed that this is a phenomenon: why does the apple fall down? Why doesn't it go up when it separates from the tree? Then the force of gravity was discovered. A new chapter in human knowledge was opened. All these ordinary things in our lives are of this kind. Consider the Quran: "Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?" (Quran 88:17) For the camel-riding Arab, is there anything more ordinary than a camel?! It draws attention to that camel. We must pay attention to these divine phenomena around us. One of them is this Ramadan. This divine hospitality is not a small thing. We have heard "divine hospitality" is a banquet! That too a banquet where the host is the great, knowledgeable, generous, powerful God, who holds all of creation in His grasp. "So they are commanded by Your will without Your word." (Mafatih al-Jinan: Dua al-Faraj) This is divine hospitality; and we are invited: "You are invited in it to the divine banquet." This must be utilized. How is it utilized? By these things that have been placed at our disposal: this fasting, this prayer, these supererogatory acts, this supplication, this remembrance, this attention, this humility, and this supplication. If we enter this field and we, the turbaned ones, strive to bring our audience into this field as well, this country will become a heavenly region. The world and the hereafter will be set right, for: "And if the people of the towns had believed and feared Allah, We would indeed have opened out to them blessings from the heaven and the earth." (Quran 7:96) These are divine promises. These are not exaggerations or hyperbole. God Almighty will open the blessings of the earth and the sky to the pious people. Piety is in this.

One of the greatest goals of fasting in Ramadan, or perhaps it can be said in one sense: "the entire goal" is piety. "That you may become pious." And this is in our hands. People must each reform themselves, and if they can, others. This is not exclusive to the turbaned ones. But scholars, clergy, preachers, and speakers are prepared. God Almighty has given them this expression, this ability, this mind, this social position, and this attire; and we must use it. Among the things that are ordinary in this Ramadan is this explicit phrase of God Almighty: "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn." (Quran 97:3-5) A night until morning is the manifestation of divine peace. That "Peace, a word from a Merciful Lord" (Quran 36:58) which is specific to the believers. Specific to the people of paradise. Specific to the sincere servants of God. This is in our hands to use. This is the word I want to say about Ramadan. This is the key to the reform of all affairs; and it starts from here. Just as the revolution itself started from here: from the mosque, religion, and piety.

If you look at the great Imam, it becomes more evident that the foundation and main base of this great movement was piety. The Imam was the manifestation of piety, attention, knowledge, action for God, and sincerity. If this were not the case, it would not have been possible. If the Imam were not so good and a person of meaning and knowledge, this work would not have reached here. This is a prelude to reform.

The problem that one feels the clergy have in the Islamic Republic system—of course, we have many problems—is that the Pahlavi government propagated against the clergy in this country for fifty years. Of course, this was not exclusive to the Pahlavi government. They did the worst; they did the most disgraceful. Otherwise, if one refers to the history of this recent century and around it, they will understand that the fight against the clergy started from the Qajar era, especially from the time of Nasser al-Din Shah. When they saw that the clergy opposed foreign concessions like the "Reuter" concession and the "Tobacco" concession; fought against the increasing immorality and despotism of the Qajar apparatus, especially Nasser al-Din Shah; fought against the unconditional entry of Europeans into Iran; both they themselves understood and the Europeans made them understand that if you want to live comfortably, you must remove this class. They could not remove the clergy. They could not exterminate all these souls of the clergy and scholars. Of course, sometimes, here and there, they did this. Just as they destroyed and eliminated the late Nouri, the late Sayyid Abdullah Behbahani, and many other greats here and there.

Today, too, you see that they intend to physically eliminate effective and beneficial clergy for the country, Islam, and Muslims. The latest was this incident they wanted to create on the twelfth day at the Imam's shrine and take away a prominent, beneficial, self-sacrificing figure for Islam, Muslims, and the Islamic Republic system from the Muslim nation. This man, who spent his youth and life, as far as we saw, understood, and knew, and those who know him know, in this path; that is, our beloved president, they wanted to take from us, but thanks be to God, the broken hand of the devils, in many cases, including this one, remained unsuccessful, and God willing, they will always remain unsuccessful in their treacheries and deceptions. When they could not physically eliminate and remove them from the scene, they started in other ways. Propaganda is the best way for them. They have made all kinds of propaganda against the scholars. We were busy with lessons and discussions in the corners of schools; we had nothing to do with anyone. We did not understand that the entire world of global arrogance, in a sense, had mobilized to completely eliminate this system and this religious clergy and this apparatus of religious knowledge and religious scholars through propaganda. Do not think they were unsuccessful. They did a lot of work. In the fifty years of the Pahlavi era, both Reza Khan and Reza Khan's son made extensive propaganda against the clergy. What was the result? The result was that they created distrust towards the clergy among a certain class. Of course, the masses, the general public, the majority of people, still have affection and devotion towards the scholars; they love the religious scientific community from the depths of their hearts; they are emotionally and intellectually attached to them. But they managed to make a class distrustful of the clergy. Truly, perhaps the religious scholars and students who have spent their entire lives in knowledge and have thought of nothing but religious knowledge cannot believe this.

During the Pahlavi regime, among some modernized classes, the propaganda was that the clergy were not educated at all! They were not people of knowledge at all! They did not know any science! Perhaps our scholars cannot believe this; because they have spent their entire lives in knowledge. They say, "How is it possible for someone to make such a mistake?!" Yes; it is possible. They did this. Today, there are still some remnants of the generation raised during Reza Khan's era, who had stone hearts and were not influenced by the clear truths revealed after the Islamic Republic, who are hostile to the Islamic Republic system; because at the head of this system is a cleric. Otherwise, they see that this system is a just system. They see that this system is far from corruption. Today, which country in the world exists—we challenge this—where the officials at the highest levels, as in the Islamic Republic, by the grace of the Lord and the divine favor, are so indifferent to the trappings and luxuries of the world and material pleasures?!

Of course, this is not without divine will. In this matter, we are not the doers. Whatever there is, is from God Almighty; from the will of the sacred divine essence. We are absolute incapacity. Not that we have done anything; no! There is no "we." Whatever there is, is Him. His will and power and desire are what soften hearts and incline souls to truths and shine the light of spirituality on some hearts. He makes some rejoice in the servitude of God Almighty, so that nothing else in the world has the pleasure of being a servant of God for them.

They see these; the piety, the pursuit of justice, the struggle against oppression, the people-centeredness, the being with the people and from the people of the officials of the Islamic Republic, and yet, they are enemies! Why are they enemies? Because in this country, there has been propaganda against the clergy for fifty years. An illiterate, ignorant, dependent, corrupt, addicted, unfortunate Cossack came and he and his son ruled this country for fifty years. Those gentlemen who supposedly considered themselves "enlightened" would bow to those illiterate, ignorant, irreligious people, who really had nothing—that is, the Pahlavi dynasty. Now, sometimes the predecessors had something of knowledge and understanding and rationality in them. But these poor ones—this father and son—were completely devoid of everything. They submitted and surrendered to them. But they do not accept the Islamic Republic system, which is based on knowledge, piety, and attention to God! Why? Because of the propaganda that has been made against the clergy.

I say this to you gentlemen, the scholars, because this is part of the challenges of your work. In the path of God, you must also endure this challenge. You gentlemen, although all or most are solely engaged in spiritual work; you are religious scholars, imams of congregations, teachers, and preachers; you are engaged in propagating religion and have nothing to do with the administration of the country; but because you are clergy, you are under the microscope of the enemy's suspicious eye and ill-willed heart. With this in mind, the clergy must strictly monitor their actions: in speech, in behavior, in personal conduct, in the conduct of family and children and relatives; of course, to the extent that is under your will and power. "God does not burden any soul beyond its capacity." (Quran 2:286) It is possible for someone to be related to someone and, despite that person not associating themselves with them and not being under their influence, still be a source of trouble for them. This is beyond anyone's control! To the extent that God Almighty, through the Prophet, addresses the believers in the Quran, it must be observed: "Protect yourselves and your families." (Quran 66:6)

The main focus of preaching should be to humble hearts before the divine will and submission to God Almighty. This is the most important task. Submission to God Almighty is the prelude to all goodness and blessings. When this exists, then a heart that is aware of the current events of the world determines the duty for its owner.

Today in the world, the people of disbelief, hypocrisy, global arrogance, and oppression have joined hands to save themselves from the harm of the wave of faith and piety that, thanks be to God, has emerged in the world. Today, disbelief, hypocrisy, oppression, and rebellion feel fear. Why? Because faith has risen.

The reason you see Muslims around the world—in Palestine, Bosnia, Lebanon, Algeria, Kashmir, and the Islamic Republic system—are the subject of intense enmity from the enemies of Islam is that oppression and rebellion are intensely fearful and terrified of the awakening of faith. Therefore, they react. The solution is for the great and dear nation of Iran; those who have repeatedly experienced divine grace and favor in their lives; this nation that has seen the Imam; this nation that has seen the revolution; this nation that has seen the eight-year war; this nation that has seen the astonishing and miraculous events after the war, to look with contemplation. See what great events have occurred in the world after the war from 1989 to today; that is, in these four years. What countries have disappeared?! What countries have emerged?! What governments have been destroyed?! What famous figures have perished, and how have alliances against Islam been shattered?! The attack of Iraq on Kuwait; those various events in the Persian Gulf region; those events in Europe; those events in Asia! All these have happened after the end of our war until today in these few years. All these are in the direction of the power display of the sacred essence of the Lord and indicate that God Almighty, despite oppression and rebellion and disbelief, increases His blessings on the faithful people day by day. Someone who has a heart and faith; someone whose heart is alive with the remembrance of God understands these well.

Revive the hearts of the people with the remembrance of God. Increase the remembrance of God in the atmosphere of society. Make Ramadan a month of supplication, pleading, and devotion before the Lord. We must start with ourselves first so that it affects the people. Then, in this spiritual atmosphere, the movement, struggle, perseverance, understanding, and appreciation of divine blessings for the Islamic Republic of Iran and the dear country of Iran will become apparent.

We hope that the pure supplications of the Guardian of the Age, may our souls be sacrificed for him and may God hasten his noble reappearance, in these days and in the blessed month of Ramadan, will include all of you and the dear nation of Iran, and God willing, we will see the weakness and efforts of the arrogant powers, and God willing, the foundations of the Islamic Republic and its roots will become stronger, more powerful, and more enduring day by day.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings