Statements in Meeting with Representatives of the Fourth Islamic Consultative Assembly

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

First of all, I thank the dear brothers and sisters for giving this opportunity to discuss the topic of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and its critical duties and related issues at the beginning of your entry into the Assembly. Welcome. May God grant you all success and support.

Representation in the Assembly has two dimensions. It can be viewed from two perspectives. One perspective is to see representation and presence in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, having access to the country's officials and a free platform, as a privilege; a personal and titular privilege. Of course, in the material world, this is often the case. They strive, they exert effort, they spend money, they make various efforts to attain this privilege. It is a clear material calculation; a kind of trade and a kind of opportunity acquisition! But in our Islamic system and in our revolutionary republic; among our people from whom you have emerged and many of you have had honorable experiences of sacrifice in this path - you have been on the fronts; you have been in the prisons of the enemies; you have been in captivity; you have worked and served for years - this perspective is rejected. If we want to make a general rule, we must say that "among our representatives, not even one person views representation from this perspective." This is the rule.

The second perspective is to view representation of the people in the Islamic Consultative Assembly as a responsibility, a duty, and an effective scene for service. If there is enthusiasm for becoming a representative, it should be for this reason. If there is effort in introducing oneself and expressing matters about oneself and striving to reach this field, it should be for this purpose. Like that Basiji who, when he came to the base to be dispatched and they said "we will not dispatch you," would turn away with tears flowing from his eyes (Quran 9:92); just like what was in the early days of Islam. He would return with a broken heart because he was not taken to the front. He would strive to go and struggle in the field of jihad. This is also a perspective for going to the Islamic Consultative Assembly, where someone strives to serve Islam, to serve the people, and to put their talents to the test in this divine and public arena.

The intention is that we consider the second perspective as the dominant or at least the prevalent perspective regarding the representative brothers and sisters in the Islamic system. The truth is that human life finds meaning when it is spent for a sacred purpose. A life that does not pursue a sacred and divine goal and this life and capital, in the short time that is in our hands, is spent just to enjoy, is a wasted life. I once gave an example that in such lives and efforts, a person lives to eat, to live again, and that life also has no purpose other than eating! Of course, eating is mentioned as a symbol. There are other material goals that are like eating. Enjoying, commanding, showing arrogance, selling pride, ordering and forbidding, and sitting in higher places; we must seek refuge in God from becoming attached to these. In another example, it is like taking a car to a gas station; filling its tank with gasoline and setting the car on the road with the goal of reaching the next gas station, to fill the tank again to move and reach another gas station! In summary, the entire life of this car is spent going from this gas station to that gas station, to start moving and to reach another gas station; without making a journey with it; without making a goal the focus of effort; without wanting to cross a dangerous desert with it and without wanting to serve someone with it!

How much loss is there for a person whose goal in life is these material things; to obtain a more comfortable life and spend a few days with an imaginary honor! The imaginary nature of this honor can be seen by a person from its destruction, nullification, and meaninglessness in millions of cases, in front of their eyes in the world. Many people have sat on these chairs. One day they are there, one day they are not. In the whole world, various positions - governmental and quasi-governmental positions - one day are in the hands of Zayd, one day in the hands of Amr. When Amr comes, there is no news of Zayd. There is no greater lesson than this. Only someone who has done something during that period can rely on it; has created a reserve for themselves. Otherwise, "they are in loss"; their capital is burnt.

The goal must be God. If for the representative, the goal is God, the goal is to serve the country, to serve the revolution, even their breathing is a good deed. Every step they take from home to the Assembly, every moment they sit on that chair, every word they speak, every effort they make, every nerve they expend, all of these are good deeds, charity, a means of drawing closer to God; when the goal is God, when the goal is to serve the people, when the goal is to advance the work of the revolution, and when the goal is to achieve the goals of the revolution.

We need effort; comprehensive and great effort, a part of which is the responsibility of the legislative power and mainly the Islamic Consultative Assembly. In any case, our view of you is this. The people's view is this. Our people are religious, devoted, and interested in Islam, and if they trust someone, from top to bottom, it is for this reason. Let's put aside a few individuals; those elites whom the Commander of the Faithful warns Malik Ashtar against inclining towards in his letter. We have nothing to do with such opportunists, or capitalists, or whatnot. The discussion is not about them. The discussion is about the general public. The discussion is about those on whom the country and the revolution rely. In the revolution, they relied on them. In the war, they relied on them. Today, if an issue arises for this country, they rely on them. In economic efforts, they rely on them again. The discussion is about them. They are connected with religion. They want a religious representative. They want a representative in the service of truth. They want a representative in the service of Islam. God must grant us all success, and we must strive ourselves.

As for the duties of representation. As I have understood from the totality of the constitution and the concepts and knowledge in our revolution and all the things that help us in this regard, the main duty in representation is "legislation." Of course, oversight of implementation and such things are also there. They are also very important. But the thing that is the pillar of running the country is the enactment of laws. The reason representatives are elected from all corners of the country is so that the interests of the entire country are reflected in "law." That is, the representative's role is to pass a law that can manage a country with poor and remote areas and areas with various requirements.

Everyone is aware of all the situations. The fact that a representative must think about their electoral district means this. Otherwise, if we assume that the representative's duty is to come and stand there and express the problems of their electoral district as a duty of representation, no. This is not the duty of representation. Expressing the problems of the electoral district is, of course, a good thing and if done correctly, it is useful. But to think that being a representative of a certain city and electoral district means coming and saying "there is no asphalt there," or "there is no water," or "there is no university" or whatnot, this is not the duty of representation. You must pass a law that can take care of the affairs of the entire country, including your electoral district; so that your electoral district is not excluded from a law that is not comprehensive due to its nature. This is the issue. In this work, dear brothers and sisters; you must enter with sincerity and devotion.

The statement I have always had - from before the start of the elections until now - regarding the Assembly is that "one must work sincerely and wholeheartedly." And this is what is effective and what the people like and pay attention to. It is a mistake if a representative comes to stand at the open platform of the Assembly; without considering financial and budgetary constraints, without considering priorities, without considering the programs that the Assembly should approve, to throw a stone saying "Sir, come and do this work for my electoral district." Their intention is to tell the people there "See! I am working for you!" It is a mistake to think that this work will have an effect in attracting the people's affection towards them. And you saw that it did not.

What can attract the people's hearts towards us - if attracting the people's hearts is necessary; which of course it is - is sincerity for God. This is the secret of the matter. One of the Quranic wisdoms and one of the Islamic wisdoms is this. This itself is wisdom. Wisdom means "whoever rectifies what is between them and God, God will rectify what is between them and the people." That is, if you and I correct our relationship with God, God will correct our relationship with the people. There is no other way. This is wisdom! It is a truth beyond material and petty calculations; that "what connection is there between us sincerely voting for this bill or not voting sincerely? Or sincerely saying this word? Or sincerely refraining from saying this word? Signing this or not signing this? What connection does this have with the people becoming interested in us?" According to material and apparent calculations, sometimes these have no connection with each other. But beyond these very petty and short-sighted material calculations, there are true calculations in the world of existence, which are the wise calculations of God.

If you work for God and take steps in the path of God, God will solve your problem with the people. This is the way. That is, if a person even intends to attract souls, the way is to act sincerely. But our intention must be higher than this. We must fulfill our duty. Imam taught us this. Imam repeatedly repeated this lesson. Brothers and sisters! We are in special circumstances today. A system called Islam has been raised and has reached the sky. This system has stood against the arrogant, infidel, and despotic movement of the great powers and has become a stumbling block for them. If the Islamic system did not exist, today the great powers would have taken more successful steps towards their illegitimate desires and goals. It was the Islamic system that awakened the Islamic feeling in the nations in this way. It was the Islamic system that instilled the feeling of self-reliance in the people of the world and the weak nations. It was the Islamic system that made the superpowers understand: it is not such that whatever they want will be done and realized!

This system has become a very bright model and a towering structure in the world. Maintaining this system requires sincere effort. This sincere effort is different for everyone. A part of this sincere effort, which is very important, is related to the legislative power. It must be entered with sincerity and this part must be secured. Today, this burden is on your shoulders. Yesterday it was on others' shoulders. Tomorrow it will be on others' shoulders. Today, at this moment, you are addressed. See how you will act. Consider the interests of society. Consider the priorities. Make maximum use of the Assembly's time.

I must thank you, brothers and sisters. I told Mr. Nateq that if possible, this Assembly should start working soon. Thanks be to God, we see that this has been done. This has such an effect on the people's spirit that they see the issue of credentials and the formation of commissions and preliminaries, which sometimes took weeks, have quickly passed and the Assembly has entered the main subject! There are many issues today that we must address and not say that the government should do them. You are the ones who can put a path in front of the government and say "walk"; and the government is obliged to go that way. If you put the law in front of the government, the government will go. This government is one whose entire existence and thought and concern is to serve this country and people. The President is among the best, and the ministers and officials of the country are among the experienced and tested and interested in work. They are waiting for you to say "the path we approve is this. Go this way"; and they will go.

You are the ones who must find the priorities and discuss them. Take mature and measured opinions. Take the opinions of experts. Of course, the expert must be known. Not every expert is trustworthy. There are many experts who have misled high officials! We have seen these in the past few years. These are among our experiences; that an expert puts a path in front of a representative of the Assembly or an official that through it, a reality is introduced to them in a distorted and wrong way. It is not such that you can trust every expert. The expert must be known; must be trustworthy; must have confidence in their Islamic and revolutionary and national motivation, and not be ill-willed. By using such experts, with reflection and thought and study on plans and bills, and correct and real consultation - which the Assembly scene and commissions are places for real consultation - you must find and approve the best laws and tell the government to follow this best path. When people see this, they will be pleased. Speeches before the agenda can soften the atmosphere of society; can perfume the atmosphere of society.

I do not forget in the middle of 1981, when the enemies and groups and remnants of the counter-revolution and global arrogance had created those great crimes and atrocities in this country - the martyrdom of 72 people, the martyrdom of the Prime Minister and the President - I was in the hospital. The Friday prayer sermons in Tehran, in my belief, on that day, carried the most burden of the revolution. Every Friday that came, from this center of Friday prayer, light was spread throughout the country. Truths were explained to the people and the people understood what was happening in this country and what the enemy was doing. Free platforms are like this. The Assembly should have such a status. Where there is ambiguity for the people, where the enemy raises questions; sows seeds of doubt and spreads them in society, there it is your duty to uproot this seed of doubt and clarify the truths. Do you think the enemy is idle!? The enemy is not idle for a moment. Whenever, however, they can, they act. These recent events that happened - the events of Mashhad and the like - are the work of the enemy. The enemy has activated its thinking apparatus to see when it can strike. Just like a battlefield! As the Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, said: "And the brother of war is sleepless, and whoever sleeps, his enemy does not sleep about him." If you fall asleep in the trench, it does not mean that the trench-sitter opposite you has also fallen asleep. If you become heedless, you should expect to be struck immediately! The enemy is sitting alert. They spend millions of dollars, perhaps if it is not an exaggeration, billions of dollars, to be able to deliver a decisive blow to this revolution. They are not reconciled with this revolution. They are always trying to strike in some way.

From the events of Mashhad, unfortunately, some newspapers made incorrect analyses. They accused the people. I must apologize to the people of Mashhad for some of the analyses that were made. These noble and pure people who, like all the people of our country, have sacrificed so much for the revolution and its goals, how can someone write or say something and accuse them?! The matter is completely clear: the counter-revolution enters the scene. However, it uses corrupt backgrounds and rotten swamps. These thugs and hooligans that were mentioned, some should not be surprised. Such individuals exist: a vile thug minority, and the security forces must deal with them. Like weeds, they must be uprooted and mowed and thrown away. The remnants of global arrogance go to them; with a morsel, with a plunder, with an ugly riotous act, they tempt and guide them. Go here, do this, do that, attack the propaganda organization, do this ... they are there. The guidance is by the few, hidden, and masked counter-revolutionaries who hide behind vile and hooligan groups and the work is done by such individuals. Of course, they may find the excuse one day in dealing with the municipality, another day in a traffic jam on a certain street, and another day in some other trivial thing. Every day they may create and create an excuse. When they want to do something, they do it. Of course, the agencies must be careful. I warn our agencies that they should not give excuses to enemies and ill-wishers. Our security forces must act responsibly in these matters. But these have nothing to do with analyzing the issues. The analysis of the issue is this: who is more grieved by these calamities, who has more motivation, and who is more ready? The people. Those whose revolution belongs to them. Those who have borne the revolution on their shoulders for thirteen years. Those who endure all the problems to reach high goals. Those remnants and defeated ones of the battles of Badr and Hunayn who today raise their heads from this corner and that corner and take the field and also use thugs and hooligans. So, the enemy is awake. If these kinds of incidents have no benefit other than telling us "the enemy is awake," we must thank God for these incidents as well.

The Hezbollah youth of the country and the faithful and sincere forces and those who managed the war scenes and the Basijis who have carried heavy loads over these many years and the families of the martyrs and the like, these are the ones who must be in the front ranks; and they are. In such circumstances, everyone must see where they stand? What responsibility is on their shoulders? What major work is their duty? One must not neglect this work for a moment and must not be negligent about it. This is our duty. This is what is on our shoulders and such an Assembly that has its legislation; its speech before the agenda; its way of dealing with issues and matters; its internal debates in the Assembly between representatives; who debate, talk, exchange views, and reach the truth; that selflessness and impartiality that exists in the representatives. The sum of these is what will please and satisfy the people. This is a response to this response of the people; that when it was said "come," meaning the revolution and the system told them "come to the polls," you saw how they came and disappointed the enemy! The response to this movement of the people is that we have such an Assembly.

We hope that Almighty God grants you success. Of course, the Assembly floor, the internal transactions of the Assembly with each other; that is, talking, discussions, debates, as Imam once told the representatives of the Assembly "seminary debate," there is no problem. Say and hear seminary-style: this one says, that one refutes; this one argues, that one responds. There is no problem with these. Just as standing by the responsibility of the oath you took in dealing with the government, in presenting laws, in demanding answers from the government; these are very good; but they must be sincere; they must be free from noise; they must be free from methods that indicate insincerity and lack of sincerity.

Let me also mention another point: one of the criticisms that may be made of Assemblies is that representatives, relying on representation, may seek to make improper use of government facilities, God forbid. This is not something that remains hidden from the people's eyes.

Of course, we do not have such a suspicion of the representatives. Neither of the representatives of this term nor of the representatives of previous terms. A Muslim representative is not like this. A representative who has come with an Islamic goal, it is impossible for such a thing to be true about them. However, one must be vigilant. Recommending this, recommending that, obtaining principal approval for this, taking action for that, negotiating and understanding with such and such a capitalist, being deceived by such and such a person ... in short, these things are things that have no relation to the dignity and reputation of representation.

We hope that Almighty God helps you dear brothers and sisters. May He grant you success and guide all of us so that we can fulfill our heavy duty in this era and make the sacred soul of our great Imam happy. That is, his recommendations remain alive in our society; because acting on his recommendations is what will make his pure soul and the sacred souls of the martyrs happy.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings