Speech at the Turban Ceremony and Award Presentation to Exemplary Seminary Students on the Anniversary of Imam Mahdi's Birth

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

May God bless this sacred attire and the crowning with the angels' diadems for you dear ones. Dear brothers who have donned the turban, from this moment, your responsibilities officially double. In the Islamic system, everyone is responsible; "All of you are shepherds, and all of you are responsible for your flocks"; however, some social positions carry additional responsibilities, and our attire is among those positions that have multiple responsibilities: Firstly, because it is the attire of knowledge, and a scholar is more responsible than others; especially religious knowledge, as the dissemination of religious knowledge and the expression of divine truths is the job of the great prophets of the Lord; secondly, because people believe that those who wear this attire possess spirituality, piety, and devotion. People who approach their material and spiritual affairs with caution feel trust when they encounter a cleric. Wherever you are with this attire, people will respect and greet you; when it is time for prayer, if they want to appoint someone from among themselves to lead, they will appoint you; these indicate the people's religious trust in this attire; this itself adds an additional responsibility on our shoulders. We must ensure that we are not subject to those narrations that say whoever's inner self is less than their outward appearance, "is cursed."

The third responsibility is that today, in the country's political system, the clergy has a role - because the system is a religious one - and this role is observed in various forms; from presence in an institution to lead congregational prayers or explain religious rulings, to governing society. Religious duties and responsibilities that depend on religious knowledge; even many of those that do not depend on religious knowledge are assigned to the clergy; these are your responsibilities. Even if you were not wearing a turban, you would have responsibilities. If someone is a religious scholar and not wearing a turban, they still have responsibilities; but if they are wearing a turban, this responsibility is doubled; be attentive.

Every job and position has its requirements; a person must accept those requirements. Commitment to something entails commitment to its necessities. With this attire, one must forgo certain things. Of course, in exchange for whatever a person forgoes in this world, God Almighty has something that "brings joy to the eyes"; God gives something better. If a young person your age, for instance, walks down the street, jokes with friends, laughs loudly, and chases each other, no one says why; but you who wear a turban cannot do these things. Now, this was a small example; there are things like this that when a person enters a particular circle, they must adhere to its requirements and commitments; observe these.

Value this turban. If we adhere to the requirements of this turban, it is a very noble thing. This attire is something that the enemy has not been able to conquer. Some who wore this attire became corrupt, and throughout history, their corruption has caused severe harm and great damage to Islam and Muslims; but the enemy has not been able to conquer this stronghold. They have fought a lot with those who wear this attire; they have hit them a lot; they have set many traps for them; these were in the years we remember, or close to our time; like the time of Reza Khan, which I do not remember, but I have heard its stories in general. They created places and attractions to draw students who were caught in hardships away from study and seminary to those places and sweeten their mouths with a candy; to detach them from this direction. Of course, some weak-willed individuals and those who lacked the necessary character development went and were attracted; but they were unable to conquer this fortress.

This Fayzieh School that you see today, thanks be to God, is the symbol and emblem of the seminary's grandeur and is known worldwide as a proud banner and symbol of the Islamic Revolution, has seen various and difficult periods. In this school, great scholars, authorities, students, elders, and youths were beaten, and the students' rooms were looted; these are things we remember; before these, in this school, there were hunger, hardships, and insults. Enduring those difficulties led to the emergence of a personality like Imam in this school and its environment - the school is bricks and walls; what is meant is the human force and the breath that is drawn in this school - who transformed the world. The transformation that Imam created is not limited to Iran - of course, what has been done in Iran is like a miracle - he created a storm in the world; all of this is related to perseverance and steadfastness.

You must study. Wearing this attire and not studying is meaningless; it is like usurping something. This attire - as it is commonly said - is a uniform and a distinctive attire; it belongs to a specific group; who are they? Religious scholars. Therefore, this title of scholars must apply to a person; otherwise, if it does not apply, it is pointless.

You know that knowledge alone is not enough. If there is knowledge and no piety, a hundred mercies to the place where there is no knowledge! Knowledge without piety is very dangerous.

Today, even if you are a scholar, very pious, but do not know your time, then you will be vulnerable, prone to error, and of little benefit; in a way that is another story altogether; "The scholar who knows his time is not attacked by ambiguities." We have seen people who were scholars, not irreligious, but in times when they could have been beneficial to Islam and Muslims, they were not beneficial; some even caused scratches and harm! So, it is knowledge, piety, and political and social awareness; this awareness is a weapon at your disposal. With these three characteristics, you must also be frontline soldiers. Yes, if a student with these characteristics is truly a frontline soldier of the revolution and Islam, their value rises significantly and becomes very eloquent.

May God grant all of you success and support, and bless this attire upon you and enable you to fulfill the rights of this attire and turban.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings