Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with a Large Group of Workers, Teachers, and Educators

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

Dear brothers and sisters, teachers, workers, students, and officials of the cultural and labor sectors, welcome. We hope that each of you, dear ones, will be encompassed by divine grace and favor, and that today and in these days and weeks, the great nation of Iran will become more aware of the high value of these two groups - teachers and workers. This is one of the sweet occurrences in the Islamic Republic that Teacher's Day and Worker's Day coincide. You gather here together and honor the day that belongs to you.

The combination of knowledge and work is a beautiful combination. Perhaps this can be considered a symbolic movement; so that in the Islamic Republic, we can find our way better and more. That is, knowledge should proceed more realistically and closer to the work scene, and work should be more scholarly and benefit more from scientific experiences and knowledge. God willing, you will strive, and just as you have worked hard and struggled until today, you will continue to build society with faster and smoother movement; because this country belongs to you.

There is a point here, and that is that any work - whether limited work in the labor sector or work related to the field of education and training - can be done in two ways: one with direction and purpose, and one without purpose and direction. Suppose someone wants to choose a job. Sometimes it doesn't matter to them what the job is, and they just want to do something and have an income and simply perform an action. Other times, they search, choose a job, and assess what work is more necessary and beneficial today and what people need more. The latter becomes purposeful work. In the sacred law of Islam, special attention has been paid to the direction of work. Of course, my intention is not to say that anyone who wants to choose a job should go and see what work is more necessary. This is currently outside the scope of individual decision and choice in our discussion. We want to consider the overall direction for the country and society.

In Islam, a lot of attention is paid to the direction of work. For example, in acts of worship, they say: one must intend nearness to God. Intention of nearness means the same direction and that a person performs the work for God and in the direction of divine satisfaction. Perhaps the outward and material form of the work does not differ much. The spirit of the work differs. For example, in the sacred law, it is recommended and desirable for a person to perform the Friday bath. It comes to mind that the main legislation of the Friday bath is for cleanliness and for every person to wash their body at least once a week, thereby ensuring cleanliness, which is very important in Islam. But if you go into a pool or a bath on Friday and immerse yourself and move your limbs and even soap your body, but do not intend the Friday bath; you will not receive the reward that the sacred law has determined for the Friday bath. The form of the work is the same - that is, washing. The apparent goal in both cases - both in the Friday bath and in ordinary immersion - is cleanliness; but the Friday bath has something extra, which is the goal and direction. What is the direction? Doing the work for God.

Islam wants every action that Muslims do to be in the way of God and for God, so that they gain two benefits: one is the material benefit of that work, and the other is the spiritual and moral benefit that comes from the intention of nearness and does not come without it. When you eat food, for example, your intention is that I eat this food so that my body gains strength and I can fulfill the duties of life; because God has wanted this. Here, the food is the same food and the same nutrients reach your body and the same pleasure in taste; but in addition to these, the Almighty God also gives reward. Why? Because with this work, besides managing your body, you have also managed your heart and soul and determined a direction for it.

When such a spirit dominates everything for a Muslim, then unlawful work does not occur from them, they do not eat unlawful food, they do not bring food obtained through plunder and oppression close to their lips, their hand movement will not be oppressive, and their thought and idea movement will not be in a direction harmful to humanity and their Muslim brother. That is, this seemingly very small thing causes all the problems of human life - which are these crimes and sins and various human violations and lusts and greed and the like - to gradually distance themselves from humans. See how the wisdom of religion and religious laws start from a small place and a small point and suddenly cover a vast area! Therefore, the intention of nearness means directing the work.

Now look at a society with a broader view, which is also part of the intention of nearness. This too, which we are discussing, is not outside the intention of nearness and is one of its examples. In a society, there is work and effort and education and training; but what is the direction of these works? In which direction does this work or this education and training move?

Today, work is being done in the arsenals of America. There are workers there too; but what is this work that is being done - whether the work of a simple worker, the work of a skilled worker, the work of a foreman, the work of a section manager, the work of a factory manager, the work of the main designers and planners of this factory - in service of? In service of war-mongering; in service of helping the usurper - for example, Israel - and in service of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in the past. Even now, if America were not afraid of public opinion and its internal destruction, and in short, if the reins and restraints did not hold back the American government, it would be willing to drop an atomic bomb anywhere in the world it desired; because for them, killing people is not a difficult task!

Today, also in the intelligence or espionage science faculty in the CIA of America, there are teachers and students who are busy teaching and learning. Does that teacher also have the same high value that we attribute to teachers? There, the product of effort and the student's achievement is not to defend America's national interests. If it were, we would have no objection. Let the Americans go and manage themselves and their national interests within the framework of their country in a reasonable manner; we are not stingy or obstructive. But today, that education and training is in service of the darkest and most corrupt political hands and people in the world and against liberation movements and countries moving towards freedom and any other independent-seeking country and also in favor of reactionary regimes and against progressive regimes. That is their work direction.

I wanted you, my dear ones, and the labor and cultural community of the country to pay attention to this point that the essence and material of work is not determining; the spirit of work is determining. Just the fact that an arm moves and turns a wheel does not create value. Spiritual and moral value is important. We must see for what this wheel turns, for whom it turns, and in service of what it is? Just the fact that a class is formed and a teacher goes there and puts their heart and soul into it and weaves the student's education with their heart and soul and infuses their spirit with knowledge and information, is not enough to create value. We must see what the material being taught is, what the goal and direction are, and in which direction this education and training is carried out. My dear ones! This is important.

Today, in some parts of the world, science is taught to destroy human values. Today, there are those who learn science to help those who are lying in wait for satanic purposes behind the borders of foreign countries. This is not value. One day, in this very sacred land of ours, some learned science to lead Iranian society and the country of Iran towards more and better corruption. This has no value or credibility. The direction and spirit are important.

My dear ones! Workers and teachers of the country! Today, every scientific, cultural, and work movement that is in service of the Islamic Republic system and for the renovation and progress and development of this country is an act of worship. There is no difference between this factory and that factory and this school and that school. If today in Islamic Iran, a teacher teaches a word with the intention of serving this country - which today is the land of Islam and the arena of the greatness and brilliance of Islamic laws - and trains a student; this one word is a good deed that if it becomes a hundred words, it becomes a hundred good deeds. If it encompasses day and night, their day and night are filled with good deeds.

The worker who works in a factory, or designs and manages or makes any effort, so that Islamic Iran - which today is the arena of spiritual and divine manifestations - grows and progresses and develops and becomes independent of foreigners and is not worried about the economic sanctions of this power and that power and becomes self-sufficient, every moment of this worker's work is a good deed and an act of worship. Anyone who helps in this work is also a participant in this worship and it does not reduce the share of that worker. The one who helped them also becomes a participant. God's system is like this. Sometimes an action is performed, ten people participate, and ten good deeds are performed. Not that one good deed is divided; but each has a separate reward before the Almighty God. Today, it is like this. Today, your country has this characteristic.

There are few places in the world where the classroom and workshop hall and laboratory and university environment and even the rest time of the teacher and worker - who rests with the intention of being able to work tomorrow - are so encompassed by divine grace and satisfaction. What is Iran? The essence of the matter is this. My dear ones! Today, your Islamic Iran is the manifestation of the liberation and salvation of humanity. Why? We do not have such extensive connections and work with humanity. What do we want to do? This is the point.

Today, demonic and satanic powers - that is, what you call global arrogance and its manifestation is America - have risen against humanity and human values. For them, the lives of millions of people do not matter. You saw that Israel, in fifteen or sixteen days, killed and wounded and displaced and distressed tens of thousands of people and created griefs; but global arrogance did not bat an eye. These are the same ones who, when a cat falls into the well of a certain house, out of hypocrisy, mobilize their devices and spend money to save this cat, which is an animal, from the well! Or sometimes, they pretend to be humanitarians that even we, who know them well, sometimes really doubt whether all this expression of sympathy is true?! They are so hypocritical!

In front of these very eyes, this great tragedy occurred and they did not move their lips! It is not just this one place. In the seventeen years since the start of the Islamic Revolution, when the people of Iran have opened their eyes and see the world's events, if you calculate, you will find hundreds of such cases. The day when these very Americans and the Zionist apparatuses of the world and the lying powers of the world were supporters of Iraq, you saw that the Iraqi government chemically bombed the city of Halabja and in broad daylight, dropped chemical drugs on thousands of people with airplanes and threw them like dry wood and dead into the streets! It was such a strange incident that hearing it made one's body tremble. All the television cameras also saw and understood and filmed it; but they did not condemn Iraq and many global circles - let alone governments - did not acknowledge it! Of course, the Islamic Republic caused an uproar in the world and some were forced and saw that they had no choice in front of public opinion and for this reason, they said a few words, otherwise they would not have said it! But after two or three years, they remembered Iraq as a terrible monster and lined up against it; because that day, Iraq was fighting Islamic Iran!

My dear ones! The arrogant powers are like this. The issue of the danger of the dominance of arrogance over humanity is a serious issue. Until a few days ago, there were two powers, East and West, which still had some competition between them and through this, they controlled each other to some extent. Today, arrogance is absolute and the Americans have become so brazen that they have gone around the world and tell other countries to come and cut off relations with the Islamic Republic - which we are not good with! Such impudence?! Of course, the Europeans and the countries of the world slapped them in the mouth and did not pay attention to them; but their impudence is to this extent.

They want to dominate humanity more and sink their claws and bully and express opinions on important global issues and force everyone to listen to our opinion! The issue of Palestine in one way; the issue of Lebanon in another way; the issue of Bosnia in another way and in various issues and wherever there is an incident, they come there to express an opinion and wag a beard and then expect all governments to follow them! Weak, insignificant, worthless governments, contrary to the interests of their nations, engage in flattery and praise and make them bigger!

Who stands against such a situation? Which government and nation is it that has not frowned in the face of their increasing threats? Which system is it that, relying on the people and the strong wills of its dear and proud nation, has said 'no' to all their temptations and threats? Where is that place? Do you think that only we say this? Today, all countries - which are also involved in global issues and mostly know global and especially regional issues - admit that only the Islamic Republic system has the courage and power to stand against their increasing impositions and say 'no'.

This 'no' of the Iranian nation and government even sometimes strengthens and encourages governments to stand. If you have paid attention to the news, you will see examples of it in various issues and in the statements of some officials of the countries in the region, which I do not want to name. These examples are repeatedly observed in these issues of Lebanon and other issues. This steadfastness of yours also affects governments and nations become excited and encouraged and gain courage to throw away the spirit of fear that has been tried to be injected into their bodies. This steadfastness and growth and progress of our nation affects world public opinion in this way.

We do not listen to the judgment of foreign radios about our situation. It is clear that foreign radios are fed by a bunch of mercenaries who have taken money and sat down to write an article full of insults. Someone who insults someone, does he consider reality in giving this insult? Does someone who says you are the father of so-and-so, has he seen his father? For example, he is supposed to insult! They insult and curse the Islamic Republic, which has no value. We take judgment from realities. Today, the realities of the world are like this and the more this Islamic and independent country and this brave nation advance and its science and work and experience and university and school and factory and laboratory become better, the more this psychological factor will affect nations. Those who impose economic sanctions want the Islamic Republic not to be able to influence nations through industrial and technical and scientific growth. Thanks be to God, they cannot and day by day, we have moved forward and progressed.

We thank God that today, the Islamic Republic government and the serving government officials and our active dear president are striving with all their being. The people also truly help. This support of the people is very valuable. Everything is in this connection between officials and the people. These efforts bear fruit. Your work and science and culture and classroom and laboratory and university and labor environment and factory can influence the progress of this country day by day and give hope to nations and humiliate the enemy and make the world's tyrants and international dictators - whose manifestation is also the American government - move further away from their evil goals day by day. This is the direction of work. Today, in the Islamic Republic, the direction of work must be this.

We thank God that, thanks be to God, under the attention of His Holiness the Remaining Proof (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and despite the will of the enemies, the country's situation is progressing. Today's country is not comparable to the country before the revolution. The country's situation is progressing day by day, both in terms of human issues and in terms of education and training and in terms of renovation and progress and construction of the country. Everyone must strive and join hands so that, God willing, this path will be completed. You, the dear nation of Iran, will become a sun that will shine on all countries and give spirit and vitality to nations. You will bring about a transformation and cause nations to stand and make decisions in their life affairs. The Almighty God will also be your helper and supporter and will grant you success. God willing.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings