Full Text of the Friday Prayer Sermon in Tehran Led by Ayatollah Khamenei

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. Thanks be to God for all His praises upon all His blessings. Thanks be to God for His forbearance after His knowledge. And thanks be to God for His forgiveness after His power. And thanks be to God for His long patience in His anger while He is capable of what He desires. We praise Him, seek His assistance, seek His guidance, believe in Him, rely upon Him, and send blessings and peace upon His beloved, His chosen, and the best of His creation, our master and prophet, our beloved Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure and chosen progeny, especially the Remaining One of God on earth. And send blessings upon the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers. I advise you, O servants of God, to have piety towards God. God, the Exalted, has said: "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you."

We ask the Almighty God to bless this month, which is the month of divine hospitality, for all the Islamic nation, especially for the dear nation of Iran and particularly for you dear worshippers.

In the noble verse I recited, the issue of fasting and that this divine obligation was also imposed on the nations before the Islamic nation is discussed. Among the obligations and duties that humanity has needed throughout various eras, one of them is fasting; just as prayer and divine remembrance are. In all eras, in all conditions, in all civilizations, and in all periods of human life, in whatever state humanity finds itself, due to its human nature, it needs some of these acts and obligations, one of which is fasting. Today in the first sermon, we will discuss a few sentences about fasting, and in the second sermon, God willing, we will address some current issues of our country and society.

Fasting, which we refer to as a divine duty, is in fact a divine honor; it is a blessing from God; it is a very precious opportunity for those who succeed in fasting; of course, it also has hardships. All blessed and useful works are not free from difficulties. Humanity does not reach anywhere without enduring hardships. The amount of hardship involved in fasting is small compared to what one gains from fasting, which is a little investment for a great profit. Three stages of fasting have been mentioned; all three stages are beneficial for those who are capable of them. One stage is the general stage of fasting; that is, abstaining from eating, drinking, and other prohibitions. If the only content of our fasting is this abstention, it has many benefits. It tests us and teaches us; it is both a lesson and a test for life. It is training and exercise; there is a very important exercise in this work that is more significant than physical exercise. Narrations from the Imams (peace be upon them) have been transmitted that focus on this stage of fasting. One narration from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) states: "So that the rich and the poor may be equal." The Almighty God has made fasting obligatory so that during these hours and days, the poor and the rich become equal. A person who is destitute and poor cannot buy and eat whatever he desires throughout the day; however, wealthy people can have whatever they want throughout the day. The rich do not understand the state of the poor and the hunger of the poor; but on the day they fast, they are all equal and, by their own choice, are deprived of their desires. Another narration from Imam Reza (peace be upon him) refers to another point. He says: "So that they may know the pain of hunger and thirst and be reminded of the poverty of the Hereafter." This narration refers to the poverty and hunger and thirst on the Day of Resurrection. On the Day of Resurrection, one of the trials of humanity is thirst and hunger, at which point a person will face divine questioning and accountability. A person must pay attention to the hunger and thirst of the month of Ramadan and be reminded of that very difficult moment on the Day of Resurrection.

Another narration from Imam Reza (peace be upon him) addresses another aspect of fasting in this stage of experiencing hunger and thirst. It states: "Patiently enduring what befalls him from hunger and thirst." The ability to be patient is given to a person so that he can endure hunger and thirst. Pampered individuals—those who have not tasted and understood the meaning of hunger and thirst—lack the power of patience and endurance; in many fields, they quickly fall apart, and the various trials of life crush and break them. A person who has tasted hunger and thirst knows their meaning and has the endurance to face the difficulties that may arise from this path. Ramadan gives this endurance and patience to everyone. I will mention another narration in this regard, which is also from Imam Reza (peace be upon him); although perhaps these two instances are parts of one hadith. "And it is a training for them to perform what they have been commanded." That is, enduring hunger and thirst and avoiding the desires of the soul during the month of Ramadan is a type of training that enables a person to fulfill various duties in life. Of course, this refers to legal training, divine training, and voluntary training. One of the things that empowers a person and enables him to traverse the difficult paths of life is training, which many resort to. This is a legal training. Therefore, in these few hadiths that have been read, you see that this stage of fasting—namely, the stage of enduring hunger and thirst—creates a sense of equality with the poor among the rich; it conveys the feeling of hunger on the Day of Resurrection to a person; it grants patience and endurance in the face of hardships; it bestows patience in fulfilling duties as a divine training upon a person; that is, all these benefits are in this stage. In addition to the stomach being empty of food and avoiding actions that are normally permissible for a person, it also gives a luminosity, purity, and delicacy to a person that is very valuable.

The second stage of fasting is abstaining from sin; that is, guarding the ears, eyes, tongue, and heart—even according to some narrations—guarding the skin and hair of a person from sin. It has been narrated from Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) that "Fasting is avoiding the prohibited just as a man abstains from food and drink." Just as you abstain from food and drink and the desires of the soul, abstain from sin as well. This is a higher stage of fasting. This opportunity of the month of Ramadan is a valuable opportunity for a person to practice abstaining from sin. Some young people, in their visits, repeatedly ask me to pray that they may be able to avoid sin. Of course, praying is good and necessary, and we do pray; but avoiding sin requires human will. You must decide not to sin, and once you decide, this task will become very easy. Avoiding sin appears to be like a mountain in the eyes of a person; however, with determination, it becomes like a flat land. In the month of Ramadan, it is the best opportunity for everyone to practice this. Another narration from Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her) has been transmitted, in which she said: "What benefit does the fasting person gain from his fast if he does not guard his tongue, hearing, sight, and limbs from sin?" In one narration, it is mentioned that a woman insulted her servant. Apparently, they were either neighbors of the Prophet or traveled with him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had food in his hand and offered it to her, saying: "Eat from this." The woman said, "I am fasting." It is narrated that the Prophet said to her: "How can you be fasting while you have insulted your servant?" "Fasting is not just abstaining from food and drink." "Rather, God has made that a veil from other immoralities of action and speech." God wanted the fasting person not to approach sins and impurities; and among these sins are the sins of the tongue; slander and insult to others. Among these sins are the sins of the heart; harboring enmity and hatred towards others. Some sins are in the legal sense; some sins are moral; they have various degrees. Thus, the second stage of fasting is for a person to be able to separate himself from sins, and especially you dear young people should take advantage of this opportunity. You are young. The young have both power and ability, and the purity of heart and luminosity of heart is an opportunity for them. Throughout the month of Ramadan, take advantage of this opportunity and practice abstaining from sins, which is the second stage of fasting.

The third stage of fasting is abstaining from anything that distracts the mind and conscience from the remembrance of God. This is the higher stage of fasting, which in the hadith is mentioned as the Prophet (peace be upon him) says to the Lord (Exalted be His Majesty): "O Lord, what is the inheritance of fasting?" What is the outcome of fasting? The Blessed Lord said: "Fasting bequeaths wisdom, and wisdom bequeaths knowledge, and knowledge bequeaths certainty; when a servant has certainty, he does not care how he wakes up, whether in hardship or ease." Fasting brings forth the springs of wisdom in the heart. When wisdom dominates the heart, that luminous and clear knowledge comes into existence. When knowledge comes into existence, the certainty arises that Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) requested from the Almighty God, and in the supplications of this month, it is repeatedly requested. When someone possesses certainty, all the difficulties of life become easy for him, and he becomes invincible against events. See how important this is! This person who wants to traverse a path of elevation and perfection throughout his years of life becomes invincible against the problems and events of life and obstacles in the way. Certainty gives such a state to a person. These are the results of fasting. When fasting revives the remembrance of God in the heart and brings forth the light of the knowledge of God in the heart and illuminates the heart, these follow. Anything that distracts a person from the remembrance of God is harmful to fasting for this stage. Blessed are those who can reach this stage. Of course, we must hope and ask God and strive to reach this stage.

O Lord! Through Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, make us among the true fasters. O Lord! Grant us the success to reach the high ranks of fasting and make us aware of all these blessings that have been mentioned for this divine obligation.

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent."

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds. And blessings and peace be upon our master and prophet, our beloved Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad and upon his pure and chosen progeny, especially upon Amir al-Mu'minin and the pure and chaste lady, the Mistress of the Women of the Worlds. And upon Hasan and Husayn, the masters of the youth of Paradise, and upon Ali ibn Husayn, Muhammad ibn Ali, Ja'far ibn Muhammad, Musa ibn Ja'far, Ali ibn Musa, Muhammad ibn Ali, Ali ibn Muhammad, Hasan ibn Ali, and the Awaited Mahdi, the proof of God upon His servants and His trusted ones in His lands. And send blessings upon the leaders of the Muslims, the protectors of the oppressed, and the guides of the believers. And I seek forgiveness from God for myself and for you. I advise you and myself to have piety towards God.

I recommend all dear brothers and sisters who are worshippers to observe piety and God-consciousness, for the most prominent effect of fasting this month is piety.

The issues that can be raised are numerous. I will mention one occasion of the day, which is the martyrdom of the great martyr, the late Ayatollah Muftah, and then I will address a topic that I believe is of great importance in these days and in the current conditions of the country:

The late martyr Muftah, in addition to being a prominent, devoted, and enlightened cleric who was aware of the needs of the time, had a characteristic that was seen in very few scholars of that time. That was the ability to connect with the youth and students and those who wished to hear the message of religion in contemporary language from a cleric and a religious scholar. Therefore, both before the revolution and after the victory of the revolution, the field of work of this great cleric was often among the youth—especially students—both in the mosques where he attended and in the speeches he delivered in his ordinary work environment. It is not coincidental that the day of the unity of students and clerics, or the seminary and university, is marked by his martyrdom; because he was indeed a connecting link that corresponded with such a characteristic. The Almighty God rewarded this dear martyr with martyrdom, which is a great reward and a tremendous reward, and the Almighty God did not deprive His righteous servants—from among this righteous servant—from this reward. We hope that his ranks will be elevated day by day.

As for the matter that I believe is needed by public opinion in the current situation of the country and is appropriate to mention, it is that a living nation and a nation that is progressive must, alongside construction, alongside scientific advancement, and alongside great works, certainly not neglect the understanding of the enemy's objectives at every stage. This is the characteristic of being alive. One cannot imagine a nation that has great ideals and wants to do great things but has no enemy. Yes; there are nations that have retreated to a corner, have no concern for their destiny, and foreigners dominate them; they graze like sheep, and foreigners, like treacherous shepherds, use them as they wish! Of course, if they want to live that way, there is no need for them to think about these matters; because they have no future. Today, such nations are very rare in the world. If they exist, they are very few. After all, nations have awakened. In any case, a nation like the Iranian nation that rose against foreign interference, cut off the hands of foreigners, and ended foreign intervention in its country—these are not small tasks—has an enemy. The Iranian nation has put an end to the plundering of foreigners from its oil resources and various material resources and has uprooted the government apparatus that worked in favor of foreigners. This nation, with these characteristics, certainly has an enemy and will not be without an enemy.

Today, the Iranian nation is an idealistic nation and opposes oppression, bullying, imposition, and discrimination. All those who are oppressors, all those who are discriminatory, all those who are bullies, and all those who are plunderers naturally do not have a good relationship with this nation. Of course, some say and promote that we are deluding ourselves that there is a conspiracy against us and that there is enmity! Very well; those who wish to close their eyes and say, "God willing, it is a cat," let them; but reality does not change. The existence of an enemy does not disappear with my and your slumber. If the enemy is lying in wait and waiting for an opportunity to strike, whether we know it or not; if we pretend to be unaware, the enemy will still act as an enemy, because he is an enemy. By our ignorance or pretending to be ignorant, the enemy does not cease to be an enemy. Some individuals wish to prove that no, the Iranian nation has no enemy! Sit next to your house and occupy yourself with your own affairs; be assured that everything is safe and sound! No; these words are not true. A living nation cannot think this way. Even we have some nations and governments that, at a time when their enemies were not so dangerous, or their enemies were not so close, pretended that the enemy was at their doorstep; in order to be able to defend themselves properly! During the long years of the Cold War between East and West, this was often the case in Western countries, especially in America. They even created imaginary enemies; enemies that perhaps were not so close. But they portrayed the enemy to their public opinion as if it were very close, so they could carry out their large-scale actions and plans! This pertains to those whose enemies are not even that close to them. Then, in a country like Iran, with these open enmities and conspiracies, with what we see happening inside the country, with what is constantly being conspired and acted against us from all sides, it is not wise to say: "No, we have no enemy. Our enemy is not an enemy and is not thinking of conspiracy." This statement is not worthy of consideration. Therefore, those who do not want to fool themselves into saying that we have no enemy must recognize the objectives of their enemy at every stage and know what the enemy is thinking.

In the battlefield, a good commander is one who can understand from where the enemy intends to attack and convey this to his forces. During the imposed war, the youth who were in the battlefield at that time know this point very well. If you can understand what the enemy is thinking at any point where you are, you will certainly prevent a large portion of the enemy's attack and secure yourself and carry out the necessary actions. Of course, we do not want to introduce the enemy now. The Iranian nation generally knows its international and global enemies. But what are the enemy's objectives at this stage? If I were to be asked, I could name two or three objectives as the stage objectives of the enemy at this moment for our country and our nation. Of course, contrary to the propaganda of the same enemies' radios, we do not claim that what we understand is the absolute truth and that there is no flaw in it and that we are infallible in understanding; no. This is my understanding; this is what I feel and comprehend as a servant who, despite the insignificance of this humble servant, has been entrusted with a heavy responsibility by the Almighty God, and I feel that I must clarify these matters to the public. Of course, if someone has more information and a better understanding of the issues and understands them differently, his understanding is valid for him; but what I understand is this.

The enemy pursues three stage and temporary objectives. The first is to destroy national unity; to break and destroy the integrity of the Iranian nation. The second is to destroy the faith and effective beliefs in the hearts of the people; that is, to destroy the beliefs and convictions that transformed this nation from a backward, oppressed nation into a progressive, courageous, and leading nation in the world. This movement was carried out with beliefs; without these beliefs, a person would not act, and this nation would not advance. The enemy wants to destroy these beliefs in the minds of our nation. The third is to destroy the spirit of hope and the future in the minds of the people. Thus, three destructions are the enemy's aim: the destruction of national unity, the destruction of effective and resistance-based beliefs, and the destruction of the spirit of hope. They even label these destructions as "reform!" I have no concern for these friends and the oblivious ones; my discussion is about the enemy, whose leadership of this movement is related to outside these borders. Within the borders, those who are at the core of this work are among the enemies; like the Qasitin front that I spoke about last year regarding Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him). Against the Alawi government, there were three fronts: the Qasitin, the Marqin, and the Nakithin. The Marqin and Nakithin were the internal front and the self-front; however, they were self-deceived and trapped—either trapped by the desire for wealth and power or by their ignorance and foolishness and their prejudices—but the Qasitin front was the enemy front; it was an irreconcilable front; it could not reconcile with Ali. They came to Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) and said: "O Amir al-Mu'minin! Let the gentleman Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan remain at the head of the government for a while." But the Imam said: "No; if I am the ruler, he cannot be the governor of this government; he must be removed." They criticized Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) and said he acted foolishly! Some writers even say to this day that Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) acted foolishly! But they themselves are foolish; Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) acted very wisely; because Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan was not like Talhah and Zubair, who would remain silent if they were given the privilege they wanted; no. That front was the Qasitin front; it was a front that could not reconcile with the Alawi front; under no circumstances could it reconcile. The more he retreated, the more they advanced, and they had no point of convergence except in the battlefield. Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) knew this, and thus, as long as he was in power, the Qasitin front could not do anything and always failed; but when Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) was martyred—his martyrdom also at the hands of those semi-selfish, prejudiced, ignorant, and deceived groups, not by a foreign enemy—those foreigners—the Qasitin—took over the government, and after a few years, they showed what their ideal in governance was! The government of Hajjaj ibn Yusuf was established in this Kufa; the government of Yusuf ibn Umar al-Thaqafi was established; the government of Yazid ibn Muawiyah was established! It became clear that that movement was not one that could converge with the Alawi movement at any point.

Today, it is exactly the same. The enemy front is different from that oblivious person who is also a self; however, this unfortunate person is caught in oblivion and error; due to an incident, he develops a grudge and stands against the system; he stands against the word of truth; he stands against the Imam and the path of the Imam. This is not the main enemy; this is a deceived person; this is a person deserving of pity! The main enemy is the one who stands behind this but does not show himself. Within the country, he does not show himself; outside the country, yes; in the global front, in the international front, as a loyal member of the CIA of America or the Mossad of the Zionists, he shows his face clearly; he speaks, he states the truths; he expresses the motives he has for fighting against Islam and Muslims; but that tail of his that is inside the country does not place itself at the foot of the power of the government. He knows that this government is a powerful government; it is a government that relies on the votes of the people; it is reliant on the love of the people; it is reliant on the faith of the people. They fear this government and do not show themselves; they express their words through intermediaries, through two intermediaries, through three intermediaries, through the mouths of oblivious people. Sometimes you see that the person is a cleric, but oblivious and deceived and unaware; or he is a student, but has become a captive of emotions and has not thought; or he is an ordinary person, even revolutionary, but has not recognized the time, has not recognized the enemy, or has perhaps become afflicted with a grudge and hatred. The words come out of this person's mouth; but this unfortunate person’s words are not his own; they are the words of the enemy! Our enemy is the one who: "Hatred has appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater." Our enemy is the one who has not only not cared for this revolution but has even stood against this revolution at times; some of them stood against the revolution during the Pahlavi regime; some of them, after the Islamic system came to power, committed sabotage; some of them were afraid for a while, retreated, and hid; then when an opportunity arose, they crawled out of their shells! They think there is an opportunity:

He said, "This is a snake; when did it die? It is just waiting for an opportunity!"

These people were waiting for an opportunity; then the sun shone on them, and they think that now is a field where they can strike. They enter the field, but still snake-like! Their goal is to destroy national unity and take away this general unity of the nation. You know that the factors of disintegration within this great nation are not absent. In some cases, there are differences in language and geographical regions; however, the wise Iranian nation has preferred this unified integrity over all factors of division since before the revolution and throughout the revolution until today, and despite the enemy's will, it has managed to maintain its unity and integrity in all sensitive fields. As a result of this unity, our nation was victorious in the war. Our governments have done everything they could, and thanks be to God, every progress made in the fields of construction until today has been due to this unity of the people. The enemy cannot see this. For the enemy, it is a wish to be able to set the classes against each other. To separate the clerics from one side, the university students from another, the merchants from one side, the workers from one side, the farmers from one side, the young classes from one side, the middle-aged classes from another; to engage each with motivation and slogans; to make them suspicious of others; if there are safe points in society that all people trust and refer to in disputes and resolve their differences, to bombard these points as well. The enemy wants these.

Today, you see that the agents of the enemy in their propaganda—whether in foreign radios, or in the continuation of those radios inside and in some domestic media—constantly say things and do things that create the impression that there is a huge political tension; while the reality is not like this. Look at some of these domestic media! Of course, not all of them are foreign; but some are! Some belong to those enemies! Of course, you recognize them; they all shout that there is oppression. Now they do not realize that this very shout they are making is oppression; it exposes them more; because every day their lies and falsehoods and tension-creating statements are published; the authorities see this. As long as they have not committed a specific crime, no one bothers them; they express their words, and in reality, they disprove and deny themselves; but they exist and try to make the atmosphere appear chaotic, confused, tense, and unsettled. While there is nothing like that. A student looks in his university environment and sees that classes are ongoing, laboratories are busy, and exams are taking place. A merchant looks in his business environment, a worker in his factory, a cleric in his seminary, and sees that everything is in its place; when they look at the headline of a certain newspaper, it seems that there is tension here! Those foreign experts, poor souls, look at these headlines and fall into temptation and believe them! They are not close enough to see what is happening. Thus, this is one of the current objectives of the enemies that is pursued through these propaganda methods and the mercenary radios—American radio, which should be called the radio of the Zionists, the radio of the British, and the radio of the Zionists—and through their worthless followers inside. The second objective of the enemies is to destroy beliefs. See, my dear ones! All humans, at every stage they are engaged in activity, this physical movement and mental movement and their endeavor stem from beliefs. That soldier who is fighting the enemy in the battlefield is driven to this action by his beliefs and convictions. If they take these convictions away from him, he who until that time would have charged like a burning bullet into the enemy's chest would become a cold being and would fall into a corner. Beliefs and convictions are like this. Islamic beliefs, belief in divine reward, belief in the legitimacy of the Iranian nation against the aggressive enemies and against America, were the beliefs that drove this nation to action; they removed the very corrupt and tyrannical Pahlavi regime from their path and destroyed it; they brought the Islamic system to power and cut off the hands of the enemies. It has been these beliefs that have enabled this nation to resist against all the conspiracies of the enemy for twenty years. What is the enemy's goal? The enemy's goal is to take these beliefs away from the people; although this is not an easy task.

Of course, there are sorrows and griefs; but the divine glad tidings are much more, which I will mention at the end of my remarks. They are mistaken; they think they have succeeded or will succeed; no. This nation is the nation that, throughout centuries and among all other Muslim nations, has held the banner of Islamic knowledge, the banner of Islamic jurisprudence, the banner of Islamic hadith, the banner of Islamic philosophy, the banner of Islamic mysticism, and the banner of interpretation. This is the cultural reality and historical background of our nation. Our nation is the nation that the fifty years of organized anti-religion during the Pahlavi era could not separate it from religion. At the very time when they thought they had completely corrupted and ruined the youth of this nation, this very youth sought a religious authority, sought a speaking scholar, sought a pious and divine cleric, and changed all the circumstances against the enemies. They think they can do it; but they are making efforts. If you see that there is so much effort regarding the position of the Islamic Republic towards the Zionists, it is to deny a reality. Now, if I have the opportunity, I will speak in detail about the issue of Zionism and the Zionist enemy and our position, God willing; I will not abandon this issue. Do they think that if they come and write four words in four headlines of a semi-newspaper, the matter will be over? This nation will hold accountable those who are defenders of treason against the Palestinian nation and treason against Islam. The Americans have been speaking against this nation for twenty years, taking action, and working; they say that they are hostile to this system and this religion and this orientation because it threatens our interests in the region. What do our interests mean? It means that one day everything in this country was in our hands; but this Islamic system and these Muslim youths and these Muslim clerics and this Islamic order have cut off our hands from oil and natural resources and the army... they are fighting because of this. Is there any clearer and more evident enmity against a nation than this? Now, that gentleman picks up a worn-out, incomplete pen and wants to prove that no, America is not the enemy of the Iranian nation; it is not the enemy of the interests of the Iranian nation; it is not our enemy; we too should kneel before it like other governments or elements in the world that have submitted to American power and kissed the threshold of America! Do you think the Iranian nation will abandon these things? Is this thought that is currently prevailing over this nation a superficial thought?

Let all pay attention to this point; our enemies should also pay attention to this point. My address in this statement is more directed to our enemies around the world. That thought that a nation, like an ocean, becomes stormy based on it; struggles for nearly twenty years until it achieves victory; then based on that, it resists for twenty years, sacrificing hundreds of thousands of its youth in this path; this thought and ideology that is so deep for a nation, is it something that you can easily take away from this nation?! Are your intelligence experts so foolish, superficial, and naive?! Did you not see the day when you were in control of everything in this nation—when the university was in your hands; the government was in your hands; the Shah was in your grasp; the government and the prime minister and the ministers were all your puppets; in this country, whatever you wanted was written in the newspapers; whatever policy you wanted was adopted; a cleric did not dare to say a word against America in the corner of a mosque; if he spoke, he was imprisoned; of course, clerics dared to speak, and they pursued it; but the oppression was to that extent—at that time, this very clergy, this very religion, this very nation, this very believing youth managed to bring that historical calamity upon you Americans and break this great country free from your grasp! Today, when power belongs to this Islam, belongs to these youths—everything is in the hands of Islam—do you think you will be able to take this faith and this religion away from the people?! What a vain thought! What a misunderstanding in understanding and perception! Fortunately, our enemies have always suffered from their own mistakes; this time too, they will suffer from their own mistakes; however, you and I must be vigilant and not be negligent. The only advice I have is to avoid negligence. The youth should not be negligent of the enemy's conspiracies; the clerics should not be negligent; the elders should not be negligent; the young ones should not be negligent; various classes should not be negligent. If there is no negligence, the Almighty God will guide and illuminate the path; and the path is clear.

Now, what is the reality? I mentioned that there are also sorrows. I do not want to discuss sorrows and griefs at all. Thanks be to God, we have a consoler. The Almighty God and His saints are the best consoler. This has been the case at all stages of life; today is no different. But if I only want to make one reference, the great sorrow is that—as I mentioned earlier—some elements that have no benefit in the dominance of America over this country, out of negligence and misunderstanding and weaknesses and grudges, are working for the dominance of America over this country! Of course, there are different individuals; some have grudges; some have hatreds; some have grievances against someone; for the sake of a handkerchief, they burn the Qaisariyah; because of a personal enmity and a personal grudge and a deprivation from a certain responsibility they wished to be given and it did not happen, and due to a misunderstanding, you see that they say something, take action, take a position, and do something that harms everyone and serves the enemy! Know this; these foreign radios operate with millions of dollars. They have a goal in making these advertisements; they want to influence the public opinion of their target countries. They do not come for no reason to defend a person, a statement, or a movement! Any wise person, upon seeing that the enemy is applauding for him, should reflect and say, "What have I done wrong? What have I done that the enemy is applauding for me?!" He should come to himself. This is a source of sorrow that some people are pleased with the enemy's applause! If our attacking striker in the football field accidentally scores an own goal, who will applaud in that field? The supporters of the opposing team. Now, when you see that the enemy is applauding for you, you should understand that you have scored an own goal! See why you scored! See why you did it! See what mistake you made! See where your problem lies! Search for your problem and repent. In this month of Ramadan, I ask all those who have made this great mistake against the Iranian nation to repent before God and before Islam. Do not let it be thought that this mistake is against this humble servant; no. I am nobody; I have no importance; let them know this. I have no claims; I have no attachment to responsibility and power. Of course, it is an honor for anyone who can serve these people; but there is no attachment; those who should know, know. The heart of a person becomes sad and breaks because why do those who have eaten the bread of the revolution, eaten the bread of Islam, eaten the bread of the Imam of the Time, spoken of the Imam of the Time, spoken of the infallible Imams, now act in such a way that Israel and America and the CIA and anyone who is an enemy of Islam in any corner of the world applaud for them! This saddens a person. But let me tell you, the divine glad tidings are so abundant that they cleanse every sorrow from the heart. The divine glad tidings are very numerous. One should not think that if four people who have revolutionary backgrounds have left the caravan of the revolution, then the revolution is left alone. No, my friend, all revolutions, all thoughts, all social movements have both losses and gains; there are losses alongside gains.

Look at the early days of Islam; see who defended Amir al-Mu'minin during the period of the isolation of Islam and the isolation of Ali. These were not the veterans of Islam. The veterans of Islam were Talhah, Zubair, and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas and the like. Some of these left Ali alone; some stood against Ali. These were the losses. But what about the gains? The gains are Abdullah ibn Abbas; Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr; Malik al-Ashtar; Maytham al-Tammar. These are new gains. They were not present during the time of the Prophet; they grew during the very period of the isolation of Islam; they are new saplings. You see how influential a Malik al-Ashtar is throughout the history of Islam. Yes; it is possible that some people may experience losses, which is indeed regrettable. When the sword of Zubair was given to Amir al-Mu'minin, he cried. As I said, it is sorrowful. It is sorrowful that some people experience losses who once sat at the table of the revolution, at the table of Imam of the Time, at the table of Islam and the Quran; but alongside those losses, there are Malik al-Ashtars; there are Abdullah ibn Abbases. Whenever Amir al-Mu'minin needed a tongue in the battlefields, Abdullah ibn Abbas would go and assist Amir al-Mu'minin. Whenever he needed a sword, it was Malik al-Ashtar. Like Malik al-Ashtar, like Abdullah ibn Abbas, like Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr—like these men—there were not just one, not ten, not a thousand, but thousands of them. It is not that you should think that now four people who have returned and their strength has run out means that the strength of this great wheel has run out. No, my friend; some people run out of strength along the way. Yes; the weaker ones run out of supplies along the way. One person from Mashhad set out to go to Karbala with a caravan. When they reached Khwaja Abbasalt—those who have gone to Mashhad know where Khwaja Abbasalt is—he said, "We have run out of our supplies!" Some people run out of supplies at Khwaja Abbasalt; some run out of supplies along the way; some come two or three kilometers and then run out of supplies! This is the same regression and return. This is not an honor; this is a disgrace; this is cutting off; this is being left behind; but: "Have you not seen how God has struck a parable? A good word is like a good tree, its root is firmly planted and its branches are in the sky." The root is firm, and the branches increase day by day: "It yields its fruit at all times by permission of its Lord." There are new gains. It is worth discussing these losses and gains from sociological, psychological, and historical perspectives. These are very important discussions, and unfortunately, I do not have the opportunity for them.

Let me tell you that today the main vital forces of this country are in the hands of Islam and the revolution. The most fundamental pillars of power in this country—namely, the people—are devoted to Islam and the revolution and the path of the Imam and the divine and Islamic values. The youth are like this; the students are like this; the non-young classes are like this; the clerics are like this; the merchants and the middle classes are like this; the workers and the majority of various classes of people are like this; the governing apparatus of the country is like this; the heads of the country are like this. Thanks be to God, the heads of the country, the heads of the three branches, are in the service of Islam and for Islam. In reality, many things are unknown to some; the enemies also reflect the issues differently. It is good for all to know these things. Two years ago, on the second of Khordad and in the presidential election, the Iranian nation created a great epic. Thirty million people came to the polls. Before the election day, the foreign radios said everything they could against this election. They constantly said there would be fraud. They constantly said this would happen, that would happen; to discourage the people. Their goal was this. If you look at the collections and bulletins that broadcast the news of the foreign radios in those three or four months leading up to the second Khordad election, many of the truths will become clear. They spoke in such a way as to discourage the people from coming to the polling stations; but the people listened to their own well-wishers and came to the forefront, and with thirty million votes participated in the election. It was truly a very significant movement and a great success for the Iranian nation and for the Islamic Republic system. As soon as this election ended and it became clear that a large number of people had come and the elected president was determined, the foreign radios changed their tones as if they had initiated the second Khordad; as if the second Khordad belonged to them! They have not let go of this until now; even now, nearly two and a half years later, they continue to act in the same way! They have propagated and spoken about our esteemed president and have made statements.

I want to share this memory: In the early days, the second or third day after the election, Mr. Khatami—our dear president—requested a meeting with me and came to meet me. I told him, "I do not know if you have had the opportunity to listen to these radios in these few days that you have been busy with election issues; but I have listened. These radios portray the second Khordad movement as a movement against the revolution, against the Imam, and against Islam! This is their method of propaganda; they act this way. I wish that in your very first speech, you would hit them in the face and show that no, the matter is not like this; the path is the path of the Imam; the path is the path of the revolution." After three or four days, he had a press conference. After he met with me again, he said, "In that press conference, I had prepared some things in my mind to say; but I forgot all of them. The only thing I remembered was your words that you said to hit them in the face." In that press conference, he hit them in the face. Until today, thanks be to God, the president, the speaker of the parliament, the head of the judiciary, and the officials of the country repeat the position of the revolution, the position of the Imam, the position of Islam, and adherence to Islamic values every day. This is a source of pride; this itself is one of the factors that can bring hearts together at the national level. This is why I repeatedly say that hearts must become familiar with each other, must reach consensus, and movements must come closer together.

Elections are approaching. Now, God willing, I will speak in detail about the elections. The only thing I will say about the elections now is that these elections must be a source of pride and honor for this nation, just like the elections of the second Khordad. The presence of the people at the polling stations must break the enemies' conspiracies. Thanks be to God for His grace, His favor, His mercy, and His support for these people. Just as we have said, the officials of this country, the masses of this people, the Party of God nation, these believing youths, these Basijis, and all the various classes are all in the service of Islam and are ready for the moment of need for Islam and Muslims; they are ready for the moment of need and will be in the field. Thanks be to God, today the power of Islam and the Islamic system is naturally greater than ever before and is based on the affections of the people, the support of the people, the thoughts of the people, and the votes of the people, and may the Almighty God continue this grace and mercy over this nation.

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful When the victory of God has come and the conquest, and you see the people entering into the religion of God in multitudes, then glorify the praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him; indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.

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