Statements of His Eminence during the Visit to the Command Headquarters of the IRGC Ground Forces

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

Infinite thanks and praise to the grandeur of the Lord, who granted some of the best children of the revolution the success to fulfill a critical duty in defending the highest divine truth in contemporary times. The greatest blessing of God upon us is that He created and placed us in a time where we can strive and struggle for the great Islamic ideals, hopeful and even assured of success.

There was a time when sincere believers wished to defend the path of God, but they could not; the paths were closed to them, the atmosphere filled with the dark clouds of tyranny and the rule of tyrants, and the possibility of any intellectual, scientific, physical, and spiritual investment in the path of Islamic ideals was nonexistent; they lived in anguish and departed this world in anguish. Today, the paths are open to us and the children of this era, and the atmosphere is clear; the future is promising, and the opportunity to defend the oppressed divine and Islamic values is within our reach. This is a great divine blessing; we must appreciate it and consider every moment of life in this era equivalent to years of the wasted lives of some heedless people in all times.

The Quran explicitly promises that 'He may make it prevail over all religion' (Quran 9:33). The Quran has stated in various languages that this truth and this series of values in human history will prevail over all pseudo-values and anti-values. The Quran explicitly states that 'the final outcome is for the pious' (Quran 7:128); the end belongs to the believers and the God-conscious. How is it possible for Islam, while in isolation and seclusion, to prevail over the hollow and imposed thoughts and anti-values imposed on oppressed humanity?

For years, Islam existed, but not in the arena of fundamental global activities. For a long period, Islam was isolated in the apparatus of Muslim-named governments unaware of Islam. During the extensive reigns of Iran, the Ottoman Empire, and India, which were apparently Muslim, Islam in its true sense was not present in their apparatus; Islam was isolated. Later, from two or three centuries ago, with the advent of Western and European progress and material values dominating the world in various forms, Islam and being Muslim fell into complete alienation and seclusion; they even tried to consign the name of Islam to oblivion; they tried to separate Muslim countries from Islam with secular and non-Islamic thoughts. Saying 'In the Name of God' at the beginning of speeches was a disgrace. Praying was a disgrace. Living as a true Muslim was impossible. Islamic demonstrations were mostly ceremonial. There was no news of Islamic spirituality, Islamic jihad, and the superiority of Islam over material rivals. In those conditions, how could the promise of 'He may make it prevail over all religion' (Quran 9:33) be fulfilled?

For the promise of God—that is, the victory of Islam over all disbelief and atheism, the victory of divine values over all short-sighted materialism—to be realized, Islam had to present itself in the arena of life. God Almighty decreed that this task be accomplished by one of His most worthy and superior servants, and it was. That righteous servant, that rightful successor of the prophets and saints, that person detached from materialism in existence and life and thought, that person absorbed in Islam and annihilated in God, received this success and this great blessing and grace from God Almighty to be the vanguard and herald of this path and the powerful hand of Islam and the Quran in this era of alienation and seclusion.

Islam came to the forefront and was presented in the world. At first, they did not take it seriously; but after realizing its danger, they began conspiracies with utmost intensity; one of those conspiracies was the eight-year war. But the determination of this faithful nation, these students trained in the school of religion, these users of the warm breath of that righteous servant and servant annihilated in God, and your determination, faithful youth and lovers of the path of God, enabled you to emerge safely from these experiences and make your revolution and Islam shine brighter.

In these difficult years of trial, it was achieved that Islam—which is supposed to come to the forefront to overcome anti-divine and anti-humanity values—came more to the forefront; it presented itself in the world and showed its value, power, and depth of existence. Today, after the end of the dual global arrogance camps, and the apparent unification and alignment of material and arrogant powers, eyes are on this fourteen-hundred-year-old hero—that is, the flag of Islam and its great standard-bearer, the great nation of Iran—which today has risen, shaken off the dust of time, come to the forefront, announced its responsibility to the world, and stands with all its might against all material powers.

Everyone is watching you; both the plundering powers of the world and the world-devourers, and the oppressed of the world, and those who are waiting on the scene to see which side will tip the balance. Today, the eyes of the Palestinian nation are on you. The oppressed nations and Muslim intellectuals are looking towards you. Even those who have not recognized Islam have a spark of hope in their hearts from you. This is the platform from which the Muslim nation of Iran, and subsequently other nations, must leap and move towards 'He may make it prevail over all religion' (Quran 9:33). This is a great task. This task requires the power of faith, the strength of will, reliance on God, and spiritual and material readiness.

Today, the burden of trust on the shoulders of us, the Iranian nation, is heavier than ever in history. Today, the world's eyes are on us and focused on us. God Almighty has placed this responsibility before us. If, God forbid, we fail to fulfill this responsibility, the burden of God's responsibility will not remain on the ground, and God Almighty will choose others who are better and more deserving than us to carry this burden of trust. But our nation, with all these martyrs, with all this successful effort, with all this sincerity and purity in fulfilling its promise to God and the saints of God, is the most deserving to carry this heavy burden.

Today, despite America's apparent victories on the global political scene and in the unequal war with the defeated and humiliated Iraqi regime—which these imaginary victories have made America arrogant—there is intense fear and anxiety in the hearts of the leaders of global arrogance; and that is only from the direction of Islam. They do not want to admit this issue; they do not want to magnify Islam and the revolution and the Islamic movement and uprising in their words; but despite their will, what is in their hearts becomes apparent and known, that they are severely afraid of the deep Islamic movement.

The betrayal being committed today against the sacred land of Palestine and in favor of the usurping Israeli regime is, in fact, a movement and plan to counter the Islamic uprising in the region. They want to secure their foothold in the region with this haste, to be able to prevent the Islamic uprising of nations. Will they be able to? It is possible that they may hold meetings and gatherings regarding the issue of Palestine; but it is impossible for the enemies of the Islamic nation and the great Islamic community to be able to impose this great conspiracy against the will of the Muslim nations. The issue of Palestine will not be solved this way. The struggle and jihad will remain with even more fervor.

You should know that from the early years of the revolution until today, conspiracies have been directed towards the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic and will continue to be directed. They fear the revolution, they fear you; and this necessitates that we be prepared.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has demonstrated a very great test in defending the revolution and the Quran; this is your source of pride. The IRGC Ground Forces have created the most beautiful scenes in the bloody battlefields and have gathered the brightest pages in their record. You dear and faithful young people, you commanders and leaders, you who spent the best years of your youth in the most difficult experience of sacred and bloody defense, must increase your readiness day by day. Do not think that because there is apparently no war, there is no conspiracy of the enemy. Not a moment of negligence is permissible.

Strengthen the spiritual foundation of the IRGC. Do not forget faith, piety, attention to God, tears of joy and love in the prayer niche, supplication, remembrance, and seeking forgiveness; this is the life of our hearts; this is the source of our true victories. Give more importance to discipline and order, which is the main condition for the capability of any military organization—and today, thanks be to God, I have observed very interesting signs of it and see it before my eyes. Consider military training and exercises, various maneuvers, superiority and advancement of military knowledge, and the solidity of organization at all levels and in all ranks. Manage and strengthen the IRGC in this way.

Try to ensure that this blessed organization—the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—remains revolutionary as it was born revolutionary, and moves towards the goals of the revolution. Maintain the unity of the armed forces. Move with the army and the law enforcement forces in ultimate sincerity and brotherhood. Each has a task, a job, a responsibility, and a path towards their own perfection; all must traverse this path.

Proceed with God's help and be assured that God Almighty will assist you; 'Indeed, Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might' (Quran 22:40). May the sacred spirit of the Imam of the nation be pleased with you, and may the pure supplications of the Guardian of Allah, the Greatest (may our souls be sacrificed for him), be upon you.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings