Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with Outstanding Students and Representatives of Various Student Organizations

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

The characteristic of this student meeting we have in the month of Ramadan is, firstly, the purity and freshness of the atmosphere of this session; a group of young people, with pure hearts, gather here in the sacred atmosphere of the blessed month of Ramadan and present topics — the characteristics of which I will refer to later — that are heartfelt and untainted by personal and political objectives and the like. In my opinion, this year, as this session has somewhat fallen towards the end of the month, you have fasted for twenty-three days, and God willing, your fasting and spending the blessed nights of 'Qadr' and reciting the Quran have illuminated your hearts and souls, and this illumination is reflected in this session.

The second characteristic is the freshness of youth and studenthood present in this session, which for someone like me, apart from the benefit I may occasionally derive from the topics discussed in this session, has the benefit that spiritually, the freshness of the company of the young can also invigorate an old and weary person like me, and God willing, we draw strength from your energy. Therefore, I consider this session valuable and sincerely thank all the friends who have spoken in this session, those who managed the session, and those who previously prepared and arranged for this meeting.

The topics discussed in this session, which are usually expressed in youth and student gatherings, have several characteristics that we appreciate and favor in this session and its statements. One is that in your expressions and mental outpourings, there are new elements, and the freshness of innovative thinking exists in the statements of the group of young people speaking in this session, and this is valuable. This point and the next two or three points I will mention are not just to describe the session; rather, they are to draw your attention to the fact that these characteristics are among the prominent and attractive features of the student environment and must be preserved. Thus, the first characteristic is this new perspective on issues and occasionally new and fresh mental outpourings that exist, which we appreciate and need.

The second characteristic is the idealistic outlook and expectations. I must tell you, some of the things you raised, if subjected to the wheel and scrutiny of analysis, would leave nothing behind; however, since the outlook and expectations are idealistic, this is desirable. It may not be possible to achieve an ideal, but abandoning that ideal is also not permissible. Therefore, your idealistic outlook and the expectations arising from this outlook are desirable for us; we want this to exist.

The third characteristic is a critical and demanding language; let no one think that if this critical language is even a bit bitter, I, sitting here, will be upset; no; in fact, this critical language itself arises from the same idealistic outlook and expectations; dissatisfaction with what we have means a desire and inclination to reach what we do not have, and this is precisely what we want.

Therefore, have both "new thinking," "idealistic outlook and expectations," and "a language that arises from that outlook"; these are good things. And if these characteristics are preserved, then the student youth will play the role of the engine in a train; they will be the movers, the drivers, and the guides. Otherwise, if the youth are also content and satisfied with the status quo — that is, what exists — then no progress can be envisioned; they must always strive to reach the points they have not attained.

There were two or three points in your statements that I need to mention; that is, it is truly necessary to defend fairness to say this. To say that no work has been done in the fight against corruption or the implementation of Article 44 is not true; this is not the case. Many works have been done and are being done. I am not satisfied with what has been done; I constantly ask the high-ranking officials of the country and demand from them. However, this does not mean that they are not moving in this direction; no; truly, work is being done, and there have been good advancements, especially in this past year, many good works have been accomplished. Of course, you should demand; do not say that no work has been done, but truly demand and insist; this is what we desire.

Another point I observed in your statements is that it seems there is a perception that the expert background of the ninth government is weak or that such a background does not exist at all! I review about sixteen or seventeen newspapers daily with various inclinations from different currents in the country, and I see that this is precisely one of the points emphasized by the opposing currents against this government. We thought that such statements and rumors would have little impact, but now we see that they have not been without effect! That is, you, who are students and part of the elite class, truly think that the government lacks an expert background! Such a judgment cannot be made; it is not the case. Or, for example, in your statements, it was mentioned that changes occurring in the government create changes down to the depths of the executive body! This is not the case. Well, I have dealt with multiple successive governments and have worked with them; I have seen their type of work, their type of movement, their actions, and their changes; this criticism, which is almost one of the main points of the opponents — whether political opponents or otherwise — against this government, I do not endorse at all; it is not the case. Of course, changes and transformations have occurred in all governments; in some governments more and in others less. And this ninth government is not among those that have had more changes. We have had much broader and deeper changes. Do not give much weight to these newspaper rumors.

Now, a fundamental point arises here that I always emphasize when facing students; and that is "finding the power to analyze important issues and currents in the country." Politics in universities — which I have always emphasized — means this. We have two types of political work: politicization and political games; this is one type of work. I do not endorse this at all; neither in universities nor outside of them; especially in universities. One is political engagement; that is, truly understanding and gaining political analytical power; which is one of the duties of student organizations. I emphasize that student organizations — whose main representatives are present here — should plan and work in such a way that students gain political analytical power; they should not easily accept every statement and should not easily allow or reject every possibility in their minds; this political analytical power is very important. We have often suffered from this; not just us, but other nations have also faced significant problems due to errors and mistakes in their political understanding. This is an important issue.

Another point exists, and that is "deepening religious knowledge" among students. I insist on this and have mentioned it many times; however, the student body is a changing body, and we must also tell you. It is not enough that we have an emotional and sentimental interest in religion and religious manifestations or show interest; at times when it is time to utilize religious education and knowledge, we must not remain unable to identify our duty or derive a foundation for action from that faith; this is not enough. Deep intellectual work must be done.

Dear youth! What has happened today is not that a government with specific positions has come to power in a country, as every government or country has specific political positions; our issue and the issue of the Islamic Republic is not that; it is a phenomenon that is immense and gradually developing and taking root in a significant part of the world; the formation of a system in which spirituality is considered part of its core fabric. This is a very important phenomenon and necessary for humanity, which has been welcomed and will be more so. A system that comes to power based on Islamic thought and knowledge is one that will consider human spiritual issues as part of its main elements. The characteristic of this system is not that it will not pay attention to material issues and will only set its goal on spirituality; no; this is a fallacy and a sign of misleading; which is indicated in global propaganda against us. It is not at all like that; rather, the meaning of forming such a system is that the lost element from humanity, namely the element of "spirituality" — which is under the powerful grip of the world's powerful — returns to human life. Just as humans need bread, air, food, industry, science, progress, and the pleasures of life, they also need faith, piety, purity, chastity, and the illumination of the heart and being captivated by divine knowledge; they also need good morals and ethical virtues. This second part has gradually been removed from humanity by the powerful materialists of the world; a hundred years ago, it was not like today; two hundred years ago, it was even better. This is the characteristic of a special system in the current state of the world. This existing order of the world — which has gained strength over the past hundred, hundred and fifty, two hundred years — has necessitated that the realm of spirituality gradually be removed from the human living space, and this has been detrimental to humanity. Humanity needs scientific progress, continuous discoveries — just as today humanity is engaged in these discoveries and has astonishing advancements — but alongside spirituality. Well, the Islamic system is the one that wants to bring back this lost element of civilization and human life to the human living environment. This is easy to express, but in practice, it is both a difficult task and has very formidable opponents. All those whose interests in the world are accompanied by creating wars oppose this; all those whose businesses in the world are promoted by the propagation of sex oppose this; all those who want to seize the vital wealth of nations oppose this; all those for whom power-seeking is the main goal — in both small and large governments around the world — oppose this. That is, it has formidable opponents.

Well, now this system has begun its work in Iran; its foundation has been laid, its initial teachings have been established like the initial materials of construction, and in a way, its construction and building have also begun. Firstly, a system is not dead like a building; it is like a living human being; it develops shortcomings and can compensate for these shortcomings; if it neglects, it will not compensate; if it pays attention and strives, it will compensate sooner and better; that is, it is like a dynamic and progressive entity. A human system is like this. Therefore, we are moving forward with challenges. And of course, my judgment is that we have significantly advanced in the direction of the goals and ideals of this Islamic system. One of the reasons is that today the third and fourth generations of the revolution are familiar with and interested in Islamic ideals, and their inclination towards Islamic manifestations is strong, and they are ready to undertake difficult tasks if an experience arises in the country that requires such efforts from this generation, just like during the imposed war. That is, it should not be the case that some compare our current situation with the period of the imposed war; the period of the imposed war was a test and a practical furnace; if such a situation and test arise in any country, eager and ready souls come forth, and talents are activated. Today, such conditions do not exist; however, if they arise, the same situation will occur; what I observe is this.

We have made progress, and in this process of decline and growth that the Islamic system has, overall, our growth has been greater than our decline, and we have advanced; in addition to the fact that in various other fields — scientific fields and others that you mentioned and are aware of and have been stated — we have had significant advancements. However, work is still at its beginning; we are at the beginning of the path; we are at the beginning of the path. Firstly, we must complete the system in terms of its epistemological foundations. Secondly, we must build the system based on those epistemological foundations; that is, the Islamic system, the Islamic government, and the Islamic country are each dependent on one another; these are not all the same and one thing. Until the country becomes Islamic, we have a lot of work to do. Until the ethical virtues of Islam and the Islamic university — the very expectations you have and the lofty aspirations that rightly exist in our youth — are realized, we have a long way to go. The fact that I say we are at the beginning of our work is one of the signs of this.

On the other hand, this thought is not one that can be confined within the geographical boundaries of a country and remain; it must naturally spread and gain the emotional and intellectual backing of nations for itself. Of course, since the beginning of the revolution, we have seen and experienced multiple instances of this, and today it is the same; however, it requires that this backing continues as much as possible.

In order for us to reach these desirable futures, we need a young generation that is motivated, committed, and capable. One of the main conditions is to be faithful and pious; when we say that Islamic organizations and student environments should deepen Islamic knowledge and understanding within themselves, it is so that they can bear this heavy burden and carry it to its destination; otherwise, it cannot be done. This is our main point and message to student organizations.

Of course, we should also add that student organizations — which have an Islamic foundation and epistemological basis — should not engage in actions within the university that lead to rivalries or opposition under the guise of competition that weaken the forces of these committed organizations. These organizations should support each other. I do not say that everyone should think the same way or have the same taste; this is neither possible nor necessary; however, they should seriously refrain from opposing and weakening one another. Today, this is clear to you. It may not have been clear ten or fifteen years ago for the student environment of that day, and it had to be repeatedly stated; but today you know this. The enemy specifically invests in student currents to be able to infiltrate and penetrate student environments and prepare soldiers for themselves there. This work is being done under various names. Today, the intelligence services of the United States and Israel even have no qualms about providing financial assistance to organizations in Iranian universities that, on the surface, are affiliated with former Tudeh members. This exists in your universities. The organizations and groups of students that form and nourish these are the same Tudeh members from a few years ago — who at one time appeared on television, repented, and cried, asking for forgiveness from the greats of the system — today, after the Marxist camp has completely collapsed and the falsity of those words, ideas, and thoughts has become apparent and evident to all, and the existence of this leftist current has no meaning; however, we see that they maintain and preserve these because they need them; that is, to oppose the original and healthy student current — which is the Islamic current and proud of its Iranian identity — they are willing to activate students under any name, under the name of Tudeh, monarchists, and various names. You must be aware. Your responsibility is heavy; you must both study, understand your political environment, influence your political environment, and prepare yourselves intellectually and spiritually for a future in which undoubtedly the weight of this system based on spirituality — that is, the Islamic Republic — in international global equations will be ten times what it is today. Rest assured that we have such a day ahead of us, and you young people today will witness that day. Ordinarily, we may not be there on that day; however, you will be there and will see that day when the weight and significance of the Islamic Republic in global equations — whether politically, scientifically, or in expressing constructive thoughts — will be ten times what it is today. You must prepare yourselves, God willing, for that day.

We ask the Almighty God to protect all of you and make you valuable reserves for the future and grant you increasing growth, and God willing, may God forgive you to your parents.

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