Statements of His Eminence in Meeting with a Large Group of Students on the Occasion of the Thirteenth of Aban

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

We congratulate all of you present in this session, the great nation of Iran, all Islamic nations, and all freedom-seekers of the world on the anniversary of the birth of the Master of the Pious and the Leader of the Free, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him). This great celebration coincides this year with the days related to the seizure of the American embassy, which is recognized among our people as "the Day of Struggle against Global Arrogance" and a national day.

If we wish to say a few brief words about the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) and set aside the details of discussing the character of this great and exceptional human being—who is beyond the capacity of books—we must first state that he is among the rare personalities who have been beloved not only among Shiites in the past and present but also among all Muslims and even among free-thinking non-Muslims. It is rare to find great figures, even divine prophets, who have received such admiration from people outside their own followers as has the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him). Of course, our understanding is limited, and our insight is deficient. His spiritual character is extraordinary. We cannot fully grasp all dimensions of the character of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him); especially his spiritual and divine aspects, which are difficult for many of God's friends to comprehend. However, the external dimensions of the character of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) are so attractive, striking, and interesting that even those who are unfamiliar with the spiritual matters and dimensions of human beings and saints can learn about this great man of history and love him.

The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) carried remarkable characteristics throughout different stages of his life, whether in his adolescence, meaning in the early days of the Prophet's mission, or in his youth, meaning at the time of the migration to Medina—when Ali (peace be upon him) was a young man of twenty-something years—or in the period after the Prophet's passing, during the trials and difficult tests, and in the last years of his life, meaning the five years when the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) accepted governance and leadership and took on responsibility. Throughout these nearly fifty years, he carried prominent traits. Everyone—especially the youth—can learn lessons from this.

Great historical figures often carry certain characteristics from their youth, or even from their adolescence, and they develop them within themselves. The prominence of distinguished and great individuals is usually based on a long-term effort, and we see this in the life of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him). In summarizing this tumultuous life, I observe and convey to you that the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) carried two qualities—"insight" and "patience"—awareness and perseverance—from his early adolescence until his death. He never fell into negligence, misunderstanding, or deviation in thought, nor did he misjudge realities. From the moment the banner of Islam was raised by the Prophet in the Cave of Hira and the Mountain of Light, and the phrase "There is no god but God" was uttered by that great man, and the movement of prophethood and mission began, Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) recognized this brilliant reality; he stood firm on this recognition and endured its difficulties; if effort was required, he made that effort; if struggle was necessary, he fought; if self-sacrifice was needed, he placed his life on the altar of sincerity and brought it to the battlefield; and if political work and governance were required, he fulfilled that as well. His insight and awareness never left him for a moment. Secondly, he exhibited patience and perseverance and remained steadfast on this straight path. This steadfastness, not becoming weary, not being overcome by desires and the whims of human nature—which call a person to laziness and abandonment of work—is a significant point.

Indeed, the infallibility of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) is not imitable. The character of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) cannot be compared to anyone else. Each of the great individuals we have observed in our environment or in our history, if they wish to be compared with the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), it is like comparing a particle with the sun—they cannot be compared. However, these two qualities in the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) are imitable and worthy of emulation. No one can say that if the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) had patience and insight—meaning awareness and perseverance—it was because he was the Commander of the Faithful. Everyone must strive to bring themselves closer to the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), to the extent of their ability and potential.

My dear ones! All the problems that arise for individuals or human societies stem from one of these two: either a lack of insight or a lack of patience. They either fall into negligence, fail to recognize realities, or, despite understanding realities, they become weary of standing firm. Thus, due to one of these two, or both, the history of humanity is filled with the great sufferings of nations; it is filled with the dominance of the oppressors of the world over weak and negligent nations. For decades—sometimes hundreds of years—a nation has been subjugated to the policies of a world tyrant and a great power. Why? Were they not human? Yes, they were human; however, they either lacked insight, or if they had insight, they lacked the necessary patience; that is, they either did not have awareness or did not have perseverance.

In the years leading up to the revolution, the further you go back, the more you see suffering, humiliation, misfortune, various pressures from the ruling classes and oppression, and humiliation from foreign powers in our country. In this country, for many years, the British, for many years, the Russians, for many years, both, and finally for many years, the Americans, did whatever they decided regarding this nation. Our nation was the same nation and had the same potentials—which today, thanks be to God, shine like stars and the sun in various fields—but due to corrupt governments and misguided education, its insight and patience were lacking. When at a certain point in time, enlightened individuals, the greats of society, and knowledgeable people like Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) emerged, they instilled insight in the people, urged them towards patience, and popularized "and they enjoined one another to the truth and enjoined one another to patience" in society, this roaring sea came into being and was able to cut off that history filled with humiliation and suffering and eliminate foreign domination over this country.

Today, when you look at the political horizon of the world, if there is a nation that has no foreign domination over it, that nation is the Iranian nation. If there are a number of nations and countries with this characteristic, Iran and the Iranian nation are at the forefront of those countries. Why? Because through these people, through the youth of this nation, through the officials of this nation, through the leaders and guides of this nation, insight and patience were learned from the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him). These two qualities are so important! Today, there are those who, at the head of the arrogant political powers and interveners, or at the head of economic companies, or at the head of cancerous advertising apparatuses and vast profit-seeking advertising networks, rule over nations and oppress them through one of these two qualities. They either try to keep nations in negligence and take away their insight from them—or if they cannot completely deprive them of insight, in a specific case that is important to them, they try to deprive the nations' awareness and insight in that society—or they cause them to become impatient. Sometimes a nation and a group of people become impatient on a correct path. This impatience is also a suggestive matter; it can be suggested to nations. Today, you should know that billions of dollars are spent in advertising networks to suggest these things to nations, to either divert them from correct discernment or from proper and complete patience. The reason that global arrogance, and at the head of the arrogant powers, the United States of America, opposes the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic is that the Islamic Republic and the Islamic Revolution have designed and facilitated a global awakening. You may have heard that analysts in the political sectors of today's America have stated in specialized seminars and special sessions that today the greatest problem for us is "the Islamic Revolution." Why is it the greatest problem? At most, it is that a nation has separated its path from that of this tyrannical government; but what makes it a problem? It is problematic because global arrogance takes advantage of the negligence of nations. When a point arose in the world that spread awareness globally, nations awakened, were guided to a path, and gained practical experience, that center becomes the enemy of the policies that want nations to remain asleep and negligent. Yes; this is the truth. The Iranian nation, the Islamic Revolution, and the Islamic Republic have caused other nations to awaken. At a time when this great revolution had not yet occurred and this nation had not entered the scene in such a liberated, free, and vigorous manner, many of the countries that today raise the cry of seeking Islam, raise the cry of enmity against America, and express their disdain for American interference in their countries were not like this; they had their heads down and lived! If at any time an intellectual or scholar emerged among them and said a word to them, they would say: "Sir, it cannot be done, it is of no use; can anyone free themselves from under American domination?" They would say it cannot be done; they were hopeless. The Islamic Revolution of Iran dispelled this great despair from the horizon of life and vision of nations; many nations became awakened and hopeful, and the youth turned towards Islam. When nations turn to Islam, what harm does it pose to global arrogance? It is clear; Islam opposes the domination of an arrogant power over a Muslim nation. Islam does not allow it; just as it is in Iran.

Dear youth, know this: in this country where you live, today there is no foreign domination, neither from America nor any other power over this country and its policies and government. Once upon a time in this country, the American and British ambassadors dictated whatever they wanted to the leaders of this country! Back then, if the American ambassador had an opinion on the most important global and domestic issues and conveyed that opinion to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was the Shah of Iran, or to his Prime Minister or any of his ministers; it was impossible for them to act contrary to that opinion! Even if it was against their personal interests, they had to act. They would make some efforts, flail about, but they were compelled to act. The foreign domination in this country was like this.

In this country, a few days remained until the oil contract between Iran and Britain was to expire. A few individuals during the reign of Reza Shah sat down and drafted a contract that somewhat respected Iran's interests. Reza Khan entered the cabinet meeting, took that document from in front of the relevant minister, and right there in front of their eyes, threw it into the heater and burned it! Why? Because previously, the British ambassador had come to him and held a private meeting with him for one or two hours, and in that private meeting, he had said what he needed to say to that person, and he came and threw away something that even slightly secured Iran's interests, which the enemy and foreigner could not tolerate, into the heater and burned it! My dear ones! The entire history of the Pahlavi era in this country has passed like this. The interests of the nation were first overshadowed by the interests of the British, and then in these thirty or forty years, overshadowed by the interests of America. If American interests were involved in something, in a deal, it was impossible for the officials of this country to act contrary to that; they acted according to their opinions. The revolution came, and this erroneous arrangement, this erroneous equation, and this very humiliating and disgraceful relationship were disrupted.

After the seizure of the American spy den, the Americans repeated, "Why did you do this? This was an insult; this was a violation of international boundaries." Some think that the den of spies that our students seized was truly like this; no. After the revolution, this nation and the Islamic Republic showed utmost restraint towards the Americans. At the beginning of the revolution, people, due to their animosity towards the Americans, went and captured elements from the embassy and brought them to the same Refah and Alavi school—where Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) resided—but Imam ordered that they be released and arrangements be made for them to leave the country safely, and they did. No one harmed them.

America was not willing to back down. In the very first months of the revolution, they plotted and acted against the revolution every day; they showed enmity towards this nation in various ways. The reaction to their enmity was that our youth seized the American embassy and held its agents for a while; then they sent them away, and it was over, and relations with America were severed. Therefore, the imperialist policy of America began its plots and enmities against this revolution from the very first day of the Islamic Revolution. Of course, they were certain that they would be able to eliminate the Islamic system and the revolution in a short time! They were confident they would do this; however, they misunderstood and did not recognize the nation, Islam, and the officials of the country and the revolution. Today, they still misunderstand. Today, the tone of American officials has seemingly softened and changed; however, the essence of the matter remains the same. They are not satisfied with anything less than domination over the political and economic resources of this country. They want the same arrangement as before the revolution to be repeated. Of course, at first, they do not say this; however, their goal is this. They oppose the very establishment of Islamic governance, which has led to the awakening and perseverance of the people. Anything that causes nations to awaken, any form of arrogance, and today the American arrogance, is primarily opposed to that; because they are against the awakening of nations. Anything that gives people perseverance and patience and steadfastness is detestable in their eyes.

Islam gives perseverance and steadfastness to the youth. This was tested during the eight-year war and during the revolution itself. They saw how love for Islam keeps the youth steadfast in the arena; it compels people to stand firm against the seemingly unbreakable steel wall of the enemy and brings that wall down. They saw this; hence, they are enemies of Islam, they oppose Islam. In their propaganda, they spread the notion that cutting relations between Iran and the American government is detrimental to the Iranian nation! No, it is entirely beneficial for the Iranian nation. This is an outdated tactic to suggest that if a nation has relations with America, all its problems will be solved economically and materially; no, some naive governments once thought this way. In our country, at the beginning of the revolution, some who had gained power and were at the head of affairs thought this way; however, experiences in various parts of the world have proven the opposite. In Algeria, the people faced economic problems—which has detailed stories—and they suggested that relations with America would open these knots! As a result, they moved in that direction; however, you see the outcome of their actions today: disconnected governments from the people, oppressive military rule, severe suppression of popular and Islamic movements, and the dominance of power factions that just a few months ago you read about in newspapers and heard from media, where every few days in one of the villages of Algeria, or in one of the towns around the capital, twenty, fifty, or a hundred people were massacred by unidentified agents(!).

Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) wrote in a letter to the former leader of the Soviet Union: "You who are establishing a new order in your country, be careful not to lean towards the West and America in such a way that they dominate your affairs!" This advice was not heeded, and today you see their situation. Relations with America, in terms of economics, yield the same results that you see today in Russia. Many countries that I do not wish to name, which have very good and excellent relations with America, are in a very bad economic situation, and their national currency is extremely devalued. These are lessons for the Iranian nation. If the Iranian nation wants to improve its material and economic situation—which undoubtedly it will—it requires determination, will, decision, the work of all classes, cooperation with the government, support for the officials of the country, courage in action, and not being influenced by foreign policies and not being swayed by foreign propaganda. These are what correct a country's situation; not relations with America, not submitting to tyrants whose experiences we have had for years in this country. The Iranian nation will not be deceived by the enemy's misleading propaganda.

Although you dear youth did not experience the era in which we lived and felt all the hardships and humiliations that were imposed on the Iranian nation, you can recognize it; you can know what was happening to the Iranian nation at that time. The Iranian nation had experienced friendly relations with America for many years—decades—in this country! This country had become a haven for Zionists and American capitalists to come and enjoy themselves; not to bring technology here, not to bring knowledge, not to elevate the level of the country's universities, not to educate the youth here with knowledge and education. In the global scientific arena, Iranians had no significant presence at that time; however, today it is the same Iranian youth who achieve high ranks in global scientific competitions. At that time, in the world, Iran was not considered a notable country. If Iran was mentioned, it was because of a certain product—in the circles of the elite, oil; in the circles of the common people, carpets!—but today, the youth of Iran, the warriors of Iran, the distinguished figures of Iran, the noble human beings of Iran, the talented and innovative youth of Iran, the creations of Iranian youth captivate the eyes of nations and friends of Iran. Your successes bring joy to hearts in the depths of the Islamic world. Why, when you win in a certain competition, do people in Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, and even in some Latin American countries rise up and celebrate? Because today, Iran is dear in the world. This dignity is due to steadfastness and due to saying "no" to global arrogance. Some of the enemies' advanced elements want to take this "no" from this nation; however, by the grace of God, they will not be able to.

I pray for you dear youth; I hope that God preserves and guides you, strengthens your steps, and enlightens your minds with ever greater insight, and may the sacred heart of the Awaited Imam be pleased with you and may the spirit of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the martyrs be pleased with you.

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