Speech at the Allegiance Ceremony of Various People from Ilam and Fars Provinces and a Group of Pakistani Students

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

I extend my condolences to all the brothers and sisters who have come from afar for this great loss and heavy grief. I hope the pure soul of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the luminous essence of that man of God will assist all the people of Iran and other Muslims worldwide, so they can, God willing, continue on the glorious path pleasing to the Lord.

Our revolution had two dimensions: internal and external. Internally, the self-sacrificing people of Iran transformed a life crafted by Western culture and tainted by the corruption of the arrogant powers into an Islamic life, which was the aspiration of all the people of Iran. In this dimension, significant progress has been made. Today, the spirit and realities of the life of the Iranian nation are vastly different from what existed before the victory of the revolution, which had been manipulated by colonial hands. Of course, we do not claim that our life today is completely Islamic; but we believe that compared to the past, we have come much closer to an Islamic life, and we must strive to get even closer.

Islamic life and pure existence mean worldly happiness and prosperity, material comfort, and spiritual elevation. Our revolution initiated this movement in the country, and the powerful divine hand of the leader and Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) advanced it, and from this perspective, today, thanks be to God, we are an exemplary nation in the world.

The importance of the external dimension of the revolution is no less than its internal one. Externally, our revolution was able to acquaint Muslim nations with each other and foster compassion and interest among them. For many years, colonialism worked among Islamic countries to separate them or set them against each other: Persians against Arabs, both against Turks, all three against the Pakistani nation, and all against other Muslim nations. Colonialism intended to create geographical, racial, and national borders between countries and governments. Today, when you see some colonial puppet kings and leaders shouting nationalism and ethnicism in the world, they are essentially following the same colonial lines and methods.

Our revolution brought nations closer together. Today, countries and Islamic nations, by the blessing of the Iranian revolution, feel that the spirit of Islam has been revived within them. Arab nations, before they take pride in being Arab—if their conscience and faith are free—take pride in their Islam. The Muslim nations of the Indian subcontinent, Africa, and other Muslim nations in Asia also take pride in their Islam.

Islam, by the blessing of the revolution, became a value, and Muslims, with the feeling of Islam, came closer to each other; and on the other hand, the global enemies of Islam—namely, global arrogance, the aggressive East and West, and the aggressive and plundering America—who are deeply opposed to Islam, have become terrified of Islamic unity and the acquaintance of Muslim nations with each other.

We who are mourning Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) today must pay utmost attention to these two dimensions; otherwise, if, God forbid, the path and testament of the Imam are forgotten—which, God willing, will never be forgotten—the results of that great man's long efforts will be lost.

Today, both dimensions of the revolution are of great importance to us. Internally, all segments of the nation, officials, scholars, teachers, speakers, writers, builders, planners, and policymakers must strive to further advance society towards Islamic life and bring us closer to our ideals. Externally, all Muslim nations—especially scholars, intellectuals, and those whose words influence people's minds—must strive to preserve and strengthen the unity and familiarity that has been created.

In the Hajj ceremony, where unfortunately the hands of the colonial puppet mercenaries have deprived our nation of visiting the House of God and the holy shrine of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for the past two years, the return to Islam and the closeness of the Islamic Ummah to each other must be emphasized. Muslims in Islamic countries and also Muslims who are minorities in non-Islamic countries must know that our nation will never forget its divine and Islamic bond with other Muslim nations and will give it importance. This is the testament of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified).

I advise you, dear brothers and sisters who have come from afar, and also the honorable Pakistani brothers, never to forget the feeling of work and effort to build a complete Islamic society internally and the strong bond of brotherhood and Islam externally. These are the two fundamental pillars and two sides of our revolution.

I hope the Almighty God helps all the Muslims of the world to strive for the global victory of Islam, and especially grants the great nation of Iran the success to continue the glorious and honorable path that our great Imam led and guided us on.

Upon returning to your cities, convey my greetings to all your dear fellow citizens. May God, God willing, support you and may the sacred spirit of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) be pleased with all of us, and may the prayers of His Holiness the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him) be upon us.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings