Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with the IRGC and Law Enforcement Forces on the Occasion of the Third of Sha'ban

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

I also extend my congratulations on this great birth and this celebration belonging to all truth-seekers and those who oppose oppression throughout history, to you and to the young people who are truly the spiritual and true heirs of Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him). I hope that Almighty God keeps all of you dear brothers and the true children of Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him) on this correct and straight path.

A very important issue regarding the event of the Master of Martyrs (peace be upon him) is raised, which seems appropriate to discuss in this intimate gathering where you dear guards have gathered. Although brothers and sisters from other organizations and cities may also be present in this meeting, the session belongs to you, the guards.

This question is historical or human and its place is right here. In the life of Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him), there is a prominent point, like a peak that overshadows all the slopes, and that is Ashura. In the life of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), there are so many events, matters, history, sayings, and hadiths that even if the event of Karbala had not occurred, the life of that great figure would have been a source of wisdom, effects, narrations, and hadiths like the life of any other Imams. But the issue of Ashura is so important that you remember fewer other highlights from the life of that great figure. The issue of Ashura is so important that in the language of this ziyarat, which is prescribed today - the third day - or this prayer that is prescribed today, regarding Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him), it is stated that "the heavens and those in them and the earth and those on it wept for him before he set foot on it." Before he set foot in this world, the heavens and the earth wept for Hussein (peace be upon him). This issue is of such importance. That is, the event of Ashura and the great martyrdom that is unparalleled in history occurred on that day. This was an event that all eyes were on. Truly, what was this issue that was predestined? "The one promised with martyrdom before his birth and appearance." Before Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him) appeared, he was named and called with martyrdom. It seems that there is a secret here that is instructive for us.

Of course, much has been said about the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him) - good and correct words - and everyone has understood something from this event according to their understanding. Some limited him to seeking governance; some diminished him within other issues, and some recognized and spoke and wrote about his greater dimensions, which I do not wish to present. The point I want to raise is that the dangers that threaten Islam as a dear phenomenon have been foreseen by the Lord from before its emergence or from the beginning of its emergence, and the means to counter those dangers have been considered and embedded within Islam itself and within this collection. Like a healthy body, where God Almighty has placed its defensive power within itself, or like a healthy machine, where the engineer and creator have included its repair tool with it.

Islam is a phenomenon, and like all phenomena, it is threatened by dangers and requires means to counter them. God Almighty placed this means within Islam itself.

But what is that danger? Two major dangers threaten Islam: one is the danger of external enemies, and the other is the danger of internal decay. The external enemy is someone who, from outside the borders, with various weapons, targets the existence of a system with its thought, foundational ideological apparatus, laws, and everything. You have seen this in the case of the Islamic Republic, and they said, "We want to destroy the Islamic Republic system." There were enemies from outside who decided to destroy this system. What does outside mean? Not outside the country. Outside the system; even if inside the country.

There are enemies who consider themselves alien to the system and oppose it. These are outsiders. These are strangers. They strive to destroy and eliminate a system. With swords, with fiery weapons, with the most modern material weapons, and with propaganda and money and whatever is at their disposal.

This is one type of enemy. The second enemy and affliction is the affliction of "internal decay." That is, within the system, which does not belong to outsiders; it belongs to insiders. Insiders may, within a system, due to fatigue, due to misunderstanding the correct path, due to being overwhelmed by carnal desires, and due to looking at material appearances and magnifying them, suddenly become afflicted from within. This, of course, is more dangerous than the first danger. These two types of enemies - external affliction and internal affliction - exist for any system, for any organization, and for any phenomenon. Islam has prescribed a remedy for both afflictions and has established jihad. Jihad is not specific to external enemies. "Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites." The hypocrite places himself within the system. Therefore, jihad must be waged against all of them. Jihad is for the enemy who wants to attack the system out of disbelief and enmity. Also, to counter that internal disintegration and decay, there are very valuable moral teachings that truly introduce the world to man and make him understand that "Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement and adornment and boasting among you and rivalry in wealth and children." That is, these adornments, these appearances, and these worldly pleasures, although necessary for you; although you are compelled to benefit from them; although your life is dependent on them and there is no doubt about it and you must provide them for yourselves; but know that absolutizing these and blindly pursuing these needs and forgetting the goals is very dangerous.

The Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) is the lion of the battlefield against the enemy, and when he speaks, one expects that more than half of his words are about jihad and war and heroism and bravery; but when we look at the narrations and sermons of Nahj al-Balagha, we see that most of his words and recommendations are about asceticism and piety and ethics and the negation and belittlement of the world and the honoring of spiritual and lofty human values. The event of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) is a combination of these two parts. That is, where both jihad against the enemy and jihad against the self manifested in their highest form, was the event of Ashura. That is, God Almighty knows that this event will occur and a supreme example must be presented, and that supreme example should be taken as a model. Like champions who are introduced in countries in a field, and the champion individual becomes an encourager for others in that field of sport. Of course, this is a small example to bring the idea closer to mind. The event of Ashura is a great movement of struggle on both fronts. Both on the front of fighting the external and foreign enemy; which was the corrupt caliphate apparatus and the worldly seekers attached to this power apparatus who wanted to use the power that the Prophet had employed for the salvation of humanity, to move in the opposite direction of Islam and the noble Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his family), and also on the internal front, where that day society was generally moving towards that internal corruption.

The second point, in my opinion, is more important. A period of time had passed. The initial hardships of the work had been overcome. Conquests had been made. Spoils had been obtained. The country's circle had expanded. External enemies had been suppressed here and there. Abundant spoils had flowed within the country. Some had become wealthy, and some had entered the aristocratic class. That is, after Islam had eradicated aristocracy, a new aristocratic class emerged in the Islamic world. Elements with the name of Islam, with Islamic positions and titles - the son of such and such a companion, the son of such and such a companion of the Prophet, the son of such and such a relative of the Prophet - entered into inappropriate and unworthy actions, some of whose names are recorded in history. People appeared who, for the dowry of their daughters, instead of the four hundred and eighty dirhams that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) and the early Muslims proposed, set a million dinars; a million pure gold coins! Who? The sons of the great companions, for example, Mus'ab ibn Zubayr and the like. When we say the corruption of the apparatus from within, this is what we mean. That is, individuals appear in society who gradually spread their contagious moral disease - worldliness and lustfulness - which is unfortunately deadly, to society. In such a situation, who would have the heart and courage or patience to go against the apparatus of Yazid ibn Muawiya? Would such a thing happen? Who would think of fighting the oppressive and corrupt apparatus of Yazid of that day? In such a context, the great uprising of Hussein occurred, which fought both the enemy and the spirit of comfort-seeking and corruption-prone decay among ordinary and common Muslims. This is important. That is, Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him) did something that awakened the conscience of the people. Therefore, you see that after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), Islamic uprisings emerged one after another. Of course, they were suppressed; but the important thing is not that a movement is suppressed by the enemy. Of course, it is bitter; but more bitter than that is for a society to reach a point where it does not react against the enemy. This is the great danger.

Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him) did something that in all the periods of tyrant rule, people emerged and, despite being further from the early days of Islam, their determination to fight the oppressive and corrupt apparatus was greater than in the time of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (peace be upon him). All were suppressed. Start from the uprising of the people of Medina, known as "Harrah," to the subsequent events and the events of the Tawwabin and Mukhtar, to the era of the Umayyads and Abbasids, continuously uprisings emerged within the nations. Who created these uprisings? Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him). If Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) had not risen, would the spirit of laziness and evasion of responsibility have turned into a spirit of resistance to oppression and responsibility-taking? Why do we say the spirit of responsibility-taking was dead? Because Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), from Medina, which was the center of the great figures of Islam, went to Mecca. The son of Abbas, the son of Zubayr, the son of Umar, the son of the early caliphs, all of them were gathered in Medina, and no one was willing to help Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) in that bloody and historical uprising.

So, before the start of Imam Hussein's (peace be upon him) uprising, even the elites were not willing to take a step. But after Imam Hussein's (peace be upon him) uprising, this spirit was revived. This is the great lesson that we must know in the event of Ashura, alongside other lessons. The greatness of this event is this. That "the one promised with martyrdom before his birth and appearance"; that before the birth of that great figure "the heavens and those in them and the earth and those on it wept for him"; that Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him) was honored in this great mourning and his mourning was honored and, as expressed in this prayer or ziyarat, they wept for him, is for this reason. Therefore, today when you look, you see Islam revived by Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him). You see him as the guardian of Islam. The term "guardian" is an appropriate term. Guardianship is when there is an enemy. These two enemies - the external enemy and the internal decay - exist today as well, and you are the guardians. Do not assume that the enemy is asleep! Do not assume that the enemy has given up enmity! Such a thing is not possible.

The enemy may one day be unable to be hostile; of course, that day will undoubtedly come for the Islamic Republic system. Just as in our own time, you observe and see that even now the enemies cannot do many of the hostilities. Of course, they commit malice; but God willing, a day will come when they will not even be able to commit these political, propaganda, and economic malices. For example, suppose they do not sell some necessities needed by the Islamic Republic to us; but the day the Islamic Republic itself provides those necessities or provides something in return that they need, the danger will be gone.

Today you see that dozens of televisions, radios, and news agencies are speaking against the Islamic Republic. But the day the voice of the Islamic Republic becomes so strong that it covers the corners of the world, these propagandas will have no effect, or they will not even occur. So, the enemy exists. Do not assume that there is no enemy or that it is asleep. The enemy is awake and waiting for us to be negligent to strike. Of course, the enemy uses both types of enmity: it wants to defeat us militarily, politically, economically, or propagandistically, and it wants to strike the second type of blow. If our will weakens and, God forbid, we become corrupt from within, we will be struck. Therefore, the enemy tries to weaken our will. I see today that many of the propagandas are to weaken the will of our young people. They saw your faithful young people's will in the battlefields and during the progress and revolutionary struggles and want to weaken it. You must be vigilant. Everyone must be vigilant. The officials must also be vigilant. The propaganda officials must also be vigilant. Writers and speakers must also be vigilant. It should not be that a writer, according to his taste and inclination, writes something that means the Islamic Republic has abandoned its ideals and today intends to compromise with the enemy! Why should such a thing be said, even if it is his personal taste and inclination, to be spoken or written? Someone's taste is this; let it be. However, the Islamic Republic system has a course and policy and movement. The general movement of the system is not subject to the taste of Zayd and Amr. This system is revolutionary and Islamic and decisively is always at odds with the enemies of Islam and the revolution and with the arrogant enemies and those who have struck the Islamic Republic throughout its life.

Some, out of poor taste, say something. Sometimes even in a small gathering, someone may say something; but it is spread by some people. Then what state does our young person, our faithful brother, and our sincere guard or Basiji, who has dedicated his entire life to the goals of the revolution, find himself in? There are young people who spent their opportunity to study on the battlefield; they spent their opportunity to trade on the battlefield; they spent their opportunity to socialize on the battlefield; they spent their opportunity for youthful pleasures - if they were inclined - on the battlefield and for eight years, nine years on the battlefield, they found neither time to study nor time to trade nor time to accumulate wealth. For the sake of God, for the protection of the revolution and the preservation of the ideals and slogans that Imam placed in the hands of the revolution, they spent their lives. Now, these same young people suddenly see that someone has risen from a corner, shakes a beard, and expresses an opinion that it is good for us to go and reconcile with such and such an arrogant power and with such and such an enemy - as Imam said, "with such and such a wolf" - and think about connections! What kind of talk is this?! Keep your opinion to yourself and leave the words of the system to those responsible for expressing the words of the system. I have said many times, and I say now that the Islamic Republic system will never reconcile with the enemies of the revolution. Do not say that today we need the technology of such and such a place or the science of such and such a place. I say that if the enemy is intent on enmity and striking, he will not give you technology and science by showing a friendly face and smiling. The enemy will give you what you need when you show within yourself that you can live independently of him. If you show this, the doors will open to you. But if you show that your eyes are on his hand, know that the doors will remain closed to you.

There was a time when they would not even sell us barbed wire! Many are unaware of the times we went through. There was a time when they would not sell us the lightest and least valuable weapons and ammunition, and we did not have them. The former Soviet government not only would not sell us weapons but also would not allow what we had bought from elsewhere and wanted to transit through Soviet territory to bring into our country! What? Nuclear weapons? Complex weapons? No! Something as simple as barbed wire! There was such a day. Another day, governments lined up behind each other to sell us such and such a weapon and such and such a complex weapon. At that time, we said: "We must choose. We do not buy from everyone!" We went through this day too. The day we did not have - and they knew we did not have - that was the situation. But the day our young people surged from within; talents were revived; workshops started, and everyone realized that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is not a group of individuals who have gathered somewhere with no place and taken up arms, the situation changed. They realized that our Guard, if it is a good fighter on the battlefield, is also a good experimenter, builder, and inventor in the field of science. When our Guard in one way, our army in another way, our Jihad of Construction in another way, and our other apparatuses in another way, started from the surroundings and moved in the field of their talents, then the world also took what it would not give us, held it in its hand, and came to us to find a customer! Our nation does not need to go to someone to beg and bribe to get something. We do not need this. Our nation must stand on its own feet with its talents, with its internal forces, and with its material and human capabilities, which, thanks be to God, it has done so far.

Thanks be to God, the country's officials have encouraged this state. The government, the president, our officials, and our commanders have all moved in this path and line and with this vision. What need do we have to say something to such and such a European or non-European government that pleases their heart or shows a gesture that pleases them to help us? We do not need their help; they need our help. They need oil; they need this sixty-million-strong nation; they need the friendship of a strong government in this sensitive region. Of course, the world is all about exchange: to take something, to give something. But these things must be done while preserving the dignity, honor, and nobility of this nation. Some individuals, without paying attention to these issues, weaken the spirits. This is the same internal disturbance. Islam fights against this too. You guards must fight against this too. You must fight and confront the termite and worm that attacks the Islamic system from within and weakens the spirit of the youth.

Brothers and dear nation! Global arrogance does not like certain characteristics of the Islamic Republic; it does not express them openly. Meanwhile, it brings up other issues as an excuse: the issue of supporting terrorism, or violating human rights, or claims of this kind, are empty words and false excuses. They themselves know. The main issue is something else. The main issue is that there are several important matters to which the Islamic Republic is committed. America and the spectrum of the world's arrogant powers oppose these: We are uncompromising on the issue of Palestine. We have said that Palestine belongs to the Palestinians and the Israeli government, which is an usurper, must be eliminated, and the government of the Palestinians must come to power.

This is a fundamental issue. Based on this issue, we oppose any movement that opposes this goal. We have said: Wherever in the world there is a group of Muslims, global arrogance sheds their blood and weakens them, it is a conspiracy against Islam, and we have exposed it. You see, today in the world, there are various forms of weakening Muslims and oppressing them. One example is in Bosnia and Herzegovina in that horrific and disgraceful form. Another example is in India; the issue of demolishing that historical and great mosque, which is among the Islamic relics, and they did this to destroy and wound the feelings of Muslims and ruin the spirit of Indian Muslims. It was in the news that in India, the Zionists are helping those ignorant fanatics and planning for them. This is also an example.

You see that the world remains silent in the face of a brutal movement that is followed by so much Muslim-killing. As if nothing has happened! As if nothing has happened! In what part of the world is such audacity possible against non-Islam and no uproar occurs? Even against false religions or sects that are not even religions. In the case of Islam, this uproar does not occur!

Another example is in Tajikistan. Some governments support and back the former communists to shed the blood of the Tajik Muslims - who are pure, faithful, and good Muslims - to displace them from their homes and ruin their lives. But no one in the world speaks. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and no one gives any importance, and no voice is raised from international forums! One example is in this Palestinian issue that you witness what they do with Muslims. There are numerous other examples happening around the world, which in summary is the weakening of the spirit of Muslims and suppressing them. We, as the Islamic Republic, may not be able to practically do anything in all these cases and may not be able to help; but in terms of faith, feelings, and political stance, we are everywhere alongside the oppressed Muslims and we declare our opinion with complete frankness and decisiveness everywhere. They are upset with this stance of the Islamic Republic, and they want to crush it. Of course, it is not in their interest to explicitly state "We are hostile to the Islamic Republic because it defends Muslims everywhere." They know that this benefits the Islamic Republic. Therefore, they do not explicitly express this.

Another issue is the rejection of bullying. We are against bullying; whether this bully is whoever it wants to be and its oppression is against whoever it wants to be. America sits on the other side of the world and says I am the leader of the world and I want to express my opinion on the world's issues! This is bullying. We say "You have no right to interfere in the affairs of other countries. Who are you? Go and solve your own problems." They themselves are immersed up to their necks in human and moral problems. In American society, there is no security. No one can put a few dollars in their pocket and walk in the streets an hour after nightfall. They have not been able to solve their own security problem; now they want to make the world prosperous and reformed! What is it to you! They say such and such a UN resolution has not been implemented; we must come and implement it! What is it to you! Who are you?! We are against this leadership that they claim for themselves in the world; against this bullying that they do and against their presence everywhere in the world. Wherever there is oil, they are present! Wherever there is a sensitive waterway or strait, they are present! Backed by advanced knowledge and technology - which also belongs to all humanity and everyone has contributed to its creation; but they have taken it over through bullying - they want to impose themselves on the whole world. We stand against them and are in no way willing to accept this bullying - neither against ourselves nor against any other nation. It is not specific to America either. Any other bully anywhere in the world who wants to bully will face the same reaction. We do not interfere in the affairs of countries; but we reject bullying. We do not accept that a country wants to bully the nations of the world. Above all these and the mother of all these, is adherence to Islam and Islamic regulations within the country. They are not willing to tolerate this. They are not willing to accept and see that a nation stands with all its being to implement the Quran and act on Islamic rulings.

These are the issues, brothers! These are the issues. The enmity is due to these. They themselves know that human rights are violated in many areas related to themselves more than anywhere else in the world. They themselves know that what they say about the Islamic Republic regarding human rights violations is a lie and slander. They themselves know that the accusation of supporting terrorism suits them more than the Islamic Republic. They themselves know that the proud nation of Iran deserves respect and honor. It is a nation that has proven its greatness and dignity in action, not in claims and expectations from others. They themselves know that the Islamic Republic system is the most popular system we know today in the corners of the world. The intimacy between the people and the system, the closeness of the system's officials to the feelings of the people - because they have risen from within them - and the indifference of the system's officials to worldly adornments - which is a normal matter for all the officials of the world's countries - are among the prominent points of our system. For which official, in which corner of the world, is indulgence and lust and enjoyment and worldliness considered a flaw, and he does not enjoy them? In the Islamic Republic, by the grace of the Lord - still, and it must always be this way - for the system's officials, engaging in personal and worldly matters is a flaw. We do not say that someone does not act contrary to this; but the one who does, understands that he is doing something wrong. This is a very important issue; and thanks be to God, the main officials of the system are also free from these issues.

They know these issues, but they make excuses. The excuse is also those cases that were mentioned. The real reason for enmity is also what was said: "And they resented them only because they believed in God, the Almighty, the Praiseworthy."

In a session where you dear guards are present, there are often many things I want to share. Therefore, the talk usually becomes lengthy. What I briefly say to you is that dear young people! In history, it is rare for a group of young people in a society to have such a great task placed on their shoulders. Today, this great task has been placed on your shoulders. Preserve your qualifications and consider your spiritual foundation more precious than anything. I do not say that you should have no request or desire regarding the needs of life; no. You are not angels. Humans have needs. But I say: where there is a confrontation, prioritize the ideals. Needs should not become all of life. Needs should not determine behavior. What should determine behavior is the struggle that is on your shoulders today. You do not say that "the young people of the battlefield in that period - those who were martyred - had an exceptional period and it passed. The war ended; that period also ended." The same thing exists in the era of the Islamic Republic. Today you are obliged and must preserve this system; that too, purified, healthy, in a pure form that can be handed over to the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him). This is your great duty, you faithful young people.

Of course, this duty is not specific to the guards. Both guards and non-guards have this duty. But the guards, throughout the difficult tests of past periods, have shown that they are the most sincere, steadfast, and ready in this path. Our faithful Basiji youth have shown that they can ascend to the heights in these great stages. You have left the battlefield behind you. You have left the days and nights, the pleasant spiritual states behind you. I say to you: O those who have ascended to the heights! Now that you have entered ordinary life, do not lose the achievements of that ascension! Do not forget what you felt there with this spiritual insight! God's proof is also complete upon you. Those spiritual scenes that you observed through the window of worship and remembrance and supplication in such a period, not everyone sees. Material eyes do not perceive and see these things; but you saw. The proof is complete upon you. Preserve yourselves. Preserve this path. Preserve this honor and dignity that, thanks be to God, you have earned yourselves and, through your struggles, have also given honor and pride to the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation. Keep these for yourselves and for Islam and for the Islamic Republic and for the Iranian nation and know that the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him and may God hasten his noble reappearance) is undoubtedly attentive and watching over your condition and prays for the good ones. The pure supplications of that great figure are worth more than a world for anyone. Let us act in a way that, God willing, we are included in the prayers of that great figure and the pure and holy spirit of our great Imam is pleased with us.

Once again, I thank all of you dear ones, especially those who have come from far away, particularly the dear guards and especially the dear disabled veterans present in the session, and I ask the Lord of the worlds for His grace and favor for you.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings