Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with Iranian and Foreign Clergy and Students at the 'Feyziyeh School Courtyard in Qom'

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Master of the Prophets and Messengers, the beloved of our hearts, Abul Qasim Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure, immaculate, chosen, and honored family, especially the remainder of God on earth.

Among the gatherings where people come together and we are witnesses, perhaps no gathering is as sweet and beautiful for this humble servant as this one. A group of young people, scholars, and students striving for the betterment of humanity and the pleasure of God have gathered. This assembly is a unique, beautiful, and magnificent combination of various values, and I have repeatedly stated that the most sincerity, spirituality, and truth are found collectively in the scholarly circles of the seminaries. God knows what hearts, spirits, sincerity, and valuable passions exist in these rooms and gatherings among the faithful, which anyone who has spent some time in the world of scholarship is not unaware of.

Today, the Qom seminary stands at the pinnacle of religious communities. Throughout history and across time, there has never been a seminary with such quantity and quality of work, with such great goals and bright hopes. In the past, students in the seminaries saw the horizon as dark and gloomy. Their propaganda targets were sometimes limited to a few dozen people. The seminaries did not think globally. They did not consider the lofty political, economic, and human bases around the world. Today, in the eyes of the young student, a village is not seen as a limited environment but as a vast world where politics, global arrogance, superpowers, and the ranks of falsehood exist, and the student, with determination, goes forth to revive and establish the truth in the world despite the enemy's wishes. If he goes to the village, he sees it as part of that great world. In that world, there are villages, cities, large cities, factories, universities, Islamic and non-Islamic environments, and even anti-Islamic ones. This is the hope and vision of today's student (when did we have such conditions?!) and the purity of scholarship is that serene, calm lake that materialistic storms have not disturbed its divine tranquility. The purity of scholarship is its spirituality, simple room, humility, and low expectations, or a house not much better than a room. For this reason, I hold this gathering in high regard and value it greatly, and I ask God to reflect what pleases Him and benefits this gathering and the seminaries, and naturally benefits the Islamic world, in this atmosphere and convey it to hearts and ears.

My dear ones! I have many thoughts and words about the seminary, the world, and the work of scholarship. Perhaps some of you dear ones have heard them. Let me also say that these words are not just the words of one person. They are not the words of this humble servant; rather, they are the words of a generation that envisions the past, present, and future of the clergy. All the concerned ones believe in these words. All the leaders and officials of the seminaries who are aware of the affairs know, recognize, wish for, and say such things.

Well, of course, we have expressed some of these words on certain occasions, and on other occasions, brothers, dear ones, and elders have said and will say them. But in this session, for certain reasons, I do not intend to present a detailed, studied topic of that kind.

Perhaps you are aware that a few nights ago, in a very important gathering of the pillars and dignitaries of the seminary, many words were spoken. Our words are the same. You too have either been informed or will be informed.

If we consider the main elements of the seminary to be four or five elements (teacher, student, educational environment, curriculum, and the like), perhaps it can be said that the most important of all is the student; because all these facilities are for him. If there is no student, the existence of an educational environment, textbooks, the teacher's knowledge, and his oratory skills become meaningless. And this is one side of the issue.

The other side is the future of the Islamic world, which is also in the hands of today's student. That is, the same student today who is the most important transmitter and medium is also the most important means and transmitter tomorrow. Therefore, in a sense, the student is the most important element in this regard. I consider myself indebted to this valuable element and certain things come to my mind that I think if I present them in this scholarly gathering, part of that debt may be paid. Therefore, I have considered a few points to present, each of which is an independent topic.

The first point is that the atmosphere of Qom and the seminary is a spiritual atmosphere. Now, we do not speak of the distant past; but from around the time of Mirza Qomi (may God be pleased with him), and a little before that, meaning the time of the late Mulla Sadra and Fayz until today, when Qom has once again become a prominent seminary, we speak. So many spiritual and soulful poles and pillars from the greats, scholars, ascetics, and people of knowledge and conduct have been present in this space where you breathe, walk, and live, that counting and describing them astonishes one. How much spirituality has been expressed in this space! What is happening in this Feyziyeh school, the sacred shrine, and this Sheikhhan cemetery and every corner of this dear and memorable city! You must value this atmosphere and align yourself with it. You carry a heavy burden and for bearing it, a strong spiritual foundation is necessary. 'Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word.' The Almighty addressed His Prophet, His beloved, and the best of humans throughout history, from the first to the last, saying to perform the night prayer. Rise at midnight, strengthen your connection and attachment; because you have a heavy task ahead. 'Indeed, We will cast upon you a heavy word.' Bearing this burden is difficult. Those who wavered, slipped, turned away, joined the enemy, or fell into other afflictions in the middle of this path full of enemies and devils, had a flaw in this part of their work - spirituality. Today's student must pay great attention to this aspect of his life. You are young; your hearts are radiant and your attachments are few; but you will not always remain this way. Prepare this capital today so that when troubles and attachments attack you from all sides, you can use your spiritual reserve.

I am certain that that radiant, spiritual, learned, ascetic, and mystic old man, through whose capable hands this revolution was built, planted, watered, and harvested, if he had not had those secrets and supplications, those worships, reflections, and devotions in his youth, and that faithful and radiant heart had not developed in him, these great works would not have been issued from him. The late Mr. Haj Mirza Javad Agha Tehrani, who was a very faithful, ascetic, and sincere scholar and was well known in Mashhad, told me nearly thirty years ago: 'In my youth, I went to Qom to study and at that time, I saw Imam in the holy shrine. I did not know who he was. I saw a young, radiant cleric standing in the shrine, with his turban thrown over his shoulder, praying and shedding tears and supplicating.' Haj Mirza Javad Agha Tehrani said: 'I was attracted to him without knowing him and asked some people who this radiant gentleman was. They said this is Mr. Ruhollah Khomeini. When Mr. Ruhollah, in his youth, created that capital and reserve, then at the age of eighty, he became the Imam and founder of the Islamic Republic government.'

Usually, old men retire much earlier than this age and do not even have the energy to manage their personal lives; but the Imam, at that age, created such a great and indescribable structure and stood against the enemy in such a way that one is astonished by his courage and steadfastness in the face of events and calamities.

In this very Qom, at the beginning of the revolution, on an occasion, we were in his presence. A conversation took place and he said something about Seyyed Ahmad Agha that I do not remember exactly and precisely. But its essence was that 'if they capture this Ahmad or torture him or kill him, I will not be shaken even in the depths of my heart. Not that I want to hold myself; pretend and endure.' This was his expression. The concept of 'not moved by storms, firm in crises' is this.

My dear ones! Now is the time. Use this spiritual atmosphere, the spiritual legacies and memories accumulated in this space. The late Seyyed Hossein Razavi, from this sacred shrine and one of the scholars of the early fourteenth century, is said to have recited the 'Abu Hamza' supplication from beginning to end in the qunut of the Witr prayer! Such worshippers and ascetics have been trained by this seminary. I ask the greats of the seminary to take the lesson of ethics and purification seriously for the young, bright, and radiant students - who are abundant in this seminary. So, the first point is to value this atmosphere, youth, leisure, and radiance that, thanks be to God, exists in you, and this opportunity is the foundation of everything.

The second point, which is also related to these characteristics and must be conveyed to you dear ones, is to seize the opportunity to acquire knowledge and equip yourself with intellectual weapons. Talents should not be wasted in this seminary. Of course, this issue has two parts: one part is related to the seminary system and the other part is related to the student himself. The seminary system plays a significant role in preventing the waste of the student's time. Good textbooks, a correct and logical educational system, appropriate educational opportunities, properly and logically placing lessons alongside each other - which is part of the educational system - reducing seminary holidays, and issues of this kind are related to the officials and administrators of the seminary.

Today, fortunately, the seminary management is actively present to implement important policies in it, and there is also the 'Supreme Council of the Seminary' for policymaking. But I must say: if others do not cooperate, management alone cannot perform miracles. Cooperation must exist. Students, teachers, scholars, mujtahids, and esteemed marjas - may God elevate their status - must cooperate for management to work. If there is no belief in cooperation, nothing will progress.

The second part that I mentioned and is related to you young scholars and students is to use every opportunity to learn and acquire knowledge. You are in a golden season. Those who start their scholarly journey from a young age (around sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen years old) have an unparalleled golden opportunity for about twenty years. If one wants to learn, he must learn during this period. These greats you observe, their most important research and fundamental thoughts and works were during this period, or they acquired the foundation during this period and used it later. This period is very important. If a person spends this period in idleness, laziness, inattention, and futility - in the study environment or outside it - he has suffered a great loss.

Of course, the issue of livelihood is somewhat important here, and I am not unaware of this point. Some truly have their time taken by the concern for livelihood, and they are right. We hope that God will help so that something can be done. The greats of the seminary must also take action in this regard. Anyone who can, should make an effort in this area so that this obstacle - which is not significant in essence but is very effective and damaging in practice - can be removed from the path of these outstanding and brilliant talents. Therefore, seize the opportunity.

As I said at the beginning of my remarks, today an exceptional opportunity has arisen. This opportunity has been given to us by the revolution. It is in the shadow of the revolution that the seminaries can train scholars and learned individuals without the interference of a tyrannical, oppressive, and malicious regime. In the past, it was not like this, and they engaged in various intrigues and mischiefs. The attack of the commandos and thugs of the oppressive Pahlavi regime on the Feyziyeh school, the shrine square, and the Eram street in the years forty-one and forty-two is an unforgettable event. They did things to make the student unable to find the opportunity and mind to study. They insulted the students and scholars and laid traps in the path of the young hearts of this community. But today, these things do not exist.

Today, the world and Muslim youth need you, and the world disillusioned with materialism is waiting for you. I once said in a speech that one of the prominent scholars of our time, who was fully familiar with the new culture and knew several languages and had taught or studied in various universities around the world for years, after a trip he took for a study opportunity to Europe and returned, wrote or said that today the mindset of the Western world is no longer after these glitters; rather, it is looking for 'Sheikh Ansari's and 'Akhund Mulla Sadra's! And this is no longer the words of me, a student. Today, these spiritual people shine from under the pile of accusations and attract people who are struggling in the darkness of materialism. Sheikh Ansari and Akhund Mulla Sadra - one a jurist and the other a wise mystic - both in the Western world, with the characteristic of asceticism and abundant worship, are memorable and historical.

Today, the peak of Western manifestations, such as sciences and technologies, corruption, glitters, and military and intelligence power, exists in the United States of America. There, suddenly a group of between one to two million black people, not all of whom are Muslims, rise and as a slogan, all shout 'Allahu Akbar!' From my and your perspective, this is an important and interpretable phenomenon and we must reflect on it. These people have thoughts and have come to the field with motivation. The precious commodity of religion is not something that someone sitting in American cities can learn as it is without education and training. Today, it has found motivation and must be taught. A few years ago, I went to the city of Sarajevo and some areas of the former Yugoslavia and observed the Muslims up close. Their apparent life was one hundred percent non-Islamic, but their motivations were Islamic. At that time, the communist government was still in power; but when they saw the president of an Islamic country had come there, because they were Muslims, they stood in the streets and shed tears of joy. They had gathered in their mosque and when they reached our companions, they kissed the clothes of the men or the chadors of the women of the Iranian delegation. This is motivation.

Well! This motivation will not become eternal unless a good preacher with a solid thought and logic goes there and makes it lasting. My dear ones! Who will do these tasks? Today the world is thirsty for you. Cities, villages, universities, and our nation are the same. The only thing that can meet this need is acquiring knowledge, scientific research, and thinking. This is also the second point that needed to be mentioned.

The third point is about the type of relationship between the seminary and the government of today's Islamic Iran, which is very sensitive and important. In the past, seminaries in relation to governments, in Shiite and non-Shiite environments, had three types of performance: one was that they were dependent on power structures and the clergy was governmental. This has been and is the case even in Christian environments. Even in non-Shiite environments, the clergy is part of the government structures. This is rejected from our perspective and we do not accept it and consider it harmful to the clergy. Government structures have fluctuations and their future is not precisely predictable. The clergy must always maintain the possibility of a powerful advisory or intervention presence for itself, otherwise, it cannot accomplish anything. This characteristic does not align with being part of the government or state. The seminary must be independent, and this is an assumption.

The second assumption is that the seminary is against and the opposite of the government. Like our seminaries before the revolution and in some distant pasts where the Shiite clergy stood against the ruling apparatus. The reason was that those apparatuses were oppressive, infidel, and corrupt, and the clergy opposed them. This assumption is also obviously not applicable today. The Islamic seminary today cannot oppose a government that has raised the flag of Islam, honored Islam, brought Sharia out of isolation, and placed it at the highest global peak in terms of credibility and prestige. Therefore, the second assumption is also rejected. Today, this government that exists is fundamentally and originally the offspring of the seminary itself. How can the seminary oppose it?! Of course, I am speaking of the seminary. I am not concerned with inherently or incidentally malicious and sick individuals. Sick and troubled people are not opposed to every political apparatus. They had very good relations with a government whose manager was SAVAK. Today, too, their opposition to the clerical apparatus is not out of combativeness, and they do not have the courage to fight. If they are rebuked, they will repent seven times for what they have done! Their enmity is out of baseness and malice. Because they see that the Islamic government behaves nobly, they stand ignobly against it. So, this group... (sound cuts off) groups of Shiism were oppressed and wronged and they wanted to strengthen this rival against it, for example. Or, for instance, the late Mirza Qomi, may God be pleased with him, can be cited as an example, who dealt with Fath Ali Shah with firmness and did not give him any tribute. Although Fath Ali Shah expressed much devotion to Mirza, Mirza did not pay much attention to him. However, he named his jihad treatise 'Abbas Mirza' because he was one of the commanders of that time and, in any case, the Iranian government had fought the invading Russian Tsarist government for a period, and he felt obliged to support the Iranians. He did not want to explicitly support the corrupt Shah himself; rather, he honored Abbas Mirza, who had fought on the battlefield.

In any case, the period of indifference to the government had to be left behind with correct political motives and appropriate actions.

This method is also not acceptable today. Today, if the clergy is indifferent and indifferent to the government, both it will be wasted and the Islamic government will be weakened. The Islamic government is the government of the Quran and the government of jurisprudence and the jurist, and the government of knowledge and justice. The government is for the expansion of Islamic ideals. The establishment of an Islamic government has been the aspiration of all the friends of God throughout history. Every faithful individual has a duty to support that political apparatus that promotes Islam and implements its rulings. Can a religious scholar remain indifferent to the Islamic government?! Infidels to Islam remain indifferent to the tyrannical government. 'Tyrant' means someone who sets up an apparatus against God: the rivals of God, the partners of God. Those who consider themselves obedient servants of God strive to achieve divine goals and bow their heads in submission to the Lord morning and evening, asking Him to grant them the success to serve His religion. If they take the reins of power in the country, everyone has a duty to support them as an act of worship.

In some corners, there may be individuals who think that this is a sign of their asceticism and knowledge that they withdraw from work and have nothing to do with the government. Is such a thing possible?! Of course, because we want to have a good opinion of matters, we say: 'This is a sign of their ignorance and negligence.' Otherwise, if it is not ignorance and negligence, it will be a sign of very bad things. So, this assumption is also rejected.

Today, there is a fourth assumption, which is the independent seminary from the government that collaborates with the government. It performs its work in the vast collection that is on everyone's shoulders today. It is not dependent on the state; but it helps and supports the state. It serves it, advises it, guides it, and introduces Islamic regulations to it. Today, the judiciary needs the seminaries in the jurisprudential field, and the executive and legislative bodies need them even more. Universities, the military, factories, and all segments of the nation need the seminaries. Also, this system requires someone at its head who is nurtured by these seminaries. This cooperation and alignment must be in the correct form. Some, today, as soon as a reform proposal is presented for the seminaries, say: 'They want to make the seminary dependent on the state.' This is a great negligence. This statement may come from those who have no ill intentions. But you dear scholars and young students should know that this statement comes from those who neither believe in the seminary nor the state. They do not want either to exist. The seminary is always ready in the correct and strong way to help this Islamic government, which today, thanks be to God, has become a dear, lofty, and honorable power in the world.

Do not think that today the government of the Islamic Republic in the world is an ordinary government. Do not pay attention to the foreign radios that take money and execute the plans of the Zionists and constantly belittle the nation, government, and officials of the Islamic government. These are propaganda activities. We do not expect anything else from the enemy. The truth is different. The truth is that the greatest powers in the world today have genuine respect for the Islamic Republic system and its officials. The government of the Islamic Republic is dear in the world. The presence of representatives of the Islamic Republic in international forums demonstrates the dignity, independence in decision-making, and prudence of the Islamic Republic, and the world witnesses it.

A few years ago, in the Gulf crisis that was instigated by the ignorant Ba'athist government of Iraq and led by the corrupt American government, the Islamic Republic system adopted the most prudent approach. The Islamic Republic system thus gains the respect of all. Nations, intellectuals, scholars, university students, young people, and various segments of people in different countries have such a view of the Islamic Republic system and this noble government. Cooperation with this system in the path of the dignity of Islam is a source of pride for everyone. Every step that enhances the dignity of the Islamic Republic system is in the path of strengthening Islam and for Islam. Those who take steps to enhance the dignity of this system and its officials should know that they are doing a good deed and working for God, and this is worship. Some should not think that if their hearts are bleeding because of the dignity of the officials of the Islamic Republic, this distress has a reward with God; no! These are the losers in this world and the hereafter. Their world is wasted in the grief caused by bad character or envy, and their hereafter is not a good hereafter. Today, for the dignity of Islam, these officials must be helped.

Today, anyone who enters the seminary for education and training must have this in mind that I will become a learned student, a renowned teacher, a marja, or one of the pillars of the seminary to help the Islamic Republic system and its officials to the extent of my capacity and ability. The student must keep this course and path in mind from the beginning to the end. This must become a culture in the seminary.

The last point is that the Qom seminary is a precious gem that, in terms of the accumulated values within it, has no equal in history, or if we assume that there was something comparable in some respects, it was very rare. But this precious gem is not being used to its full value. A precious ruby or diamond can be made the crown jewel to shine and sparkle, or its value can be used to save a nation from a predicament for a time, or instead of all these, this precious gem can be used as a counterweight! This is also a use; but it is not optimal use.

Today, of course, great works and excellent propaganda are being carried out in the seminary with a very wide scope and in all fields, and it is not comparable to the past. But still, this precious gem has more value than this and can be used more. It will be optimally used if the problems, disorders, and deficiencies that exist are corrected. Some, when it is said that 'reform the seminary,' say: 'Sir! This seminary cannot be reformed' and they make a reason for it. For example, they say: because these people are opposed, or they do not take action; and similar excuses. No sir! Why do you say these things?! Which scientific community has leaders as good, pure, and virtuous, or greats as sacred and pious as this?! Where are young people with this motivation, asceticism, low expectations, and with this enthusiasm and passion?! Why should we be hopeless?! This seminary can organize its disorders itself and must start the reform from within the seminary itself. These disorders have various types and kinds; such as content, form, organization, educational system, textbooks, and the like. I have presented these topics in detail there. Anyone who wants can refer to them.

There are many greats in the seminary who want to take good actions. You young people must support and help them. You must ask and expect from them. You are like the children of the greats of the seminary. A child also approaches his father and insists until he does something for him. Ultimately, it must be done and there is no other way.

Of course, the reform movement has started for a long time and it is very good; like this management structure. These correct actions must be carried out in other sectors as well. My hope is in you young people. You must keep these aspirations alive in your hearts and increase your motivation day by day. This thought must be spread within the seminary. When this thought spreads and prevails, it will approach action and, by the grace of God, will be realized. Of course, pray and ask God. Also, ask for help from the Master of the Age, the leader and manager of all our affairs, and the one who holds the reins of our work; God willing, it will be done.

Fortunately, today, this seminary, in addition to Iranian students and scholars, has also gathered a group of lovers of knowledge and spirituality from other countries, who must be given special attention and care; they must be equipped and prepared and return to their countries to become sources of great services there.