Statements in Meeting with Members of the Union of Islamic Associations of Students and Educational Officials Nationwide

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

Today, our session is adorned by a passionate and affectionate gathering of dear youth whose hearts are filled with enlightened faith; both the esteemed educational officials and those responsible for the education of student youth in high schools, as well as the young members of the Islamic student associations; two very important points with a vast scope and a significant responsibility. The focus of both institutions - both the Islamic associations and the educational bodies - is the youth; particularly at the student level in high schools, which is of great importance.

The youth is a thriving sapling and the center of most goodness, brilliance, and illumination. This purity and affection observed in you dear youth originates from the pure and radiant heart of youth. I must tell you: my dear ones! This affection is mutual. As your elder father, my heart is filled with love for you young people.

In any society, the issue of youth is a very important matter. One of the major predicaments of Western countries - which they sometimes acknowledge and sometimes conceal - is their youth issue. Do not think that the youth issue - whether male or female - has been resolved in Western societies; it has not. Among a thousand young people there, it is rare to find even one who possesses such purity, radiance, and cleanliness. The nature of systems based on materialism, reliant on the value and importance of capital and the freedom of desires, is nothing other than what they are currently experiencing. The downfall of nations is not always sudden; it is a gradual process. This gradual decline is observed by the keen eyes of Western thinkers in America and Europe. In those societies, the youth is typically inclined towards debauchery, lacking modesty, and is raised to commit crimes and transgressions, drowning in moral corruption. Such a young generation, regardless of the level of knowledge and wealth, gnaws at and destroys the foundations of that society and system like a termite.

You can observe the opposite in our own country today; the enthusiasm of youth, the radiance of youth, the purity of youth, and the faith in the youth; a phenomenon that has continuously flowed like a clear and roaring river from the beginning of the revolution until today. The youth and adolescents of our country managed to preserve their purity during and after the war. Some statistics that claim the opposite are not real statistics. Not that I am unaware of the existence of harmful movements among the youth - no, I know what is happening - but beneath these layers of dirt and mud, I also observe the immense and roaring current of nobility, piety, authenticity, and radiance. This young generation is now your audience, the educational officials, and you dear members of the Islamic associations.

Regarding the youth, there are extreme tendencies observed. Some individuals have become accustomed to ignoring the character, will, understanding, and boundless abilities of the youth and accuse them of ignorance or anything they deem undesirable. This is a wrong habit. The youth is a symbol of dynamism, filled with talent and possessing a valuable reserve - that is, the vitality of youth, the power of youth, the talent of youth, and the patience of youth - which can create miracles. That indifference is a misguided and deviant behavior and perception.

Conversely, some try to make the youth a plaything for their own political ambitions and use them as tools; they do not tell them what is necessary for the youth - as it may upset them - but tell them what makes them optimistic and happy about them - even if it is not true - so that they can mobilize for political and party objectives, some of which are often unholy. This is also wrong, deviant, and a betrayal and squandering of a divine blessing.

The youth is a person full of talent and has numerous rights over parents, schools, governments, and officials of various sectors. They must provide the means for their growth and perfection and help them choose the right path. This assistance largely depends on behavior and action. Words and speeches do not always have an effect; sometimes they may be effective; however, sometimes actions contradict words. All those who interact with the youth - including you dear youth in the Islamic associations or those involved in educational matters - should strive to make their behavior wise, prudent, benevolent, constructive, sincere, and filled with love and purity. This can save the hearts of the youth - wherever and however they may be; even if we assume that a layer of error has settled on their pure feelings - from what they are exposed to.

I now address you dear youth: you hold a valuable reserve of life in your hands and before you. The youth is at the beginning of life. Imagine a farmer who has just harvested and his storehouse is full of produce; how will he act with this abundant and healthy produce? There are two possible ways to act: one way is that the wise, intelligent, and foresighted farmer tries to keep this produce safe; he does not neglect it; he does not allow it to spoil; he preserves it as much as necessary for his future needs; he consumes it as much as necessary and selects what is useful for seeds so that he can use the seeds in the coming years. Another person may come along who does not appreciate this full store and thinks it will always remain full; he makes no effort or struggle to preserve it, to plan its consumption, or to think about his future needs. This is unwise. Of course, there are also those whose store is running low - that is, the elderly; people who are at an advanced age - they do not realize that this store is running out. This is a great predicament of humanity, dear ones! They also do not think wisely; if they think wisely, behaviors will be corrected, errors will be compensated, and the right path will be chosen; but alas! They too sometimes do not think correctly. We have learned from the history of education and our own experiences that the youth can do more, want more, and act more. In the era of righteous governance, this is the case. The youth, in many cases, in addition to having more ability, also have better and greater determination and will than those who have lived long lives.

You are in your youth; this store is still full. Part of this store must be used as seeds; that part pertains to these years of your youth; this is the seed of the future. Plan your life correctly. There are things that will be beneficial for a person until the end of their life; there are things that will be beneficial for a person even after the end of their life - that is, in the period of the afterlife; there are things that will be beneficial for a person during significant events. You will live for decades in this world; therefore, equip yourselves with knowledge. Knowledge is among those things that will be beneficial for a person until the end of their life. If good and lasting actions are associated with this knowledge, it will also be beneficial after death. Studying is a fundamental obligation for you. For the youth, exercising is an investment. I believe that exercise is a general obligation for everyone. Of course, I do not mean professional sports. I do not reject professional sports either, but I do not recommend that all youth pursue professional sports; no. Exercise is for health and maintaining vitality. This is also an asset that will remain with you until the end of your life. Laziness and idleness are squandering that immense asset. There is another characteristic that, if present in you, will be beneficial both during your lifetime and for others, and also for the afterlife and the endless life after death. That is self-purification; purify yourselves. Our dear youth can achieve this with religious knowledge, divine knowledge, human knowledge, and correct religious practice. Today, the field of social issues is also the field of religious issues. Participation in the grand ceremonies that repeatedly occur in the Islamic Republic; from Friday prayers to the rallies of the 22nd of Bahman; all of these are religious acts. With these methods and actions, strengthen your souls - that pure heart and radiance - as much as possible.

Unlike those who feel that the youth cannot be addressed - who have no responsibility and do not value the essence of youth - I believe that today one of the heaviest burdens of responsibility rests on your shoulders, young people. Today, those who have been defeated by the revolution and those whose plundering was dismantled with the establishment of the Islamic Republic are focused on the youth. They have repeatedly stated that their work in Iran is cultural; it is not political. What does cultural work mean? It means they want to do something that will eliminate the same faith, enthusiasm, love, radiance, and purity that exists in you young people from the younger generation of Iran. That is their plan, and I firmly say they will not succeed.

Our youth is awake. Our sons and daughters are alert; our students, our university students, and our other youth in the seminaries are awake. This awareness has been given to this country and to the youth by Islam and the revolution. They try to infiltrate schools and universities. Their first action is to lead the youth towards debauchery and corruption and extinguish the light of modesty within them. You certainly know better than I do what they do with their ignorant and oblivious agents in schools. The aware, faithful, and religious youth of today are awake to these conspiracies, and wherever they see the signs of the enemy's presence, they trample and crush them underfoot.

To the brothers, sisters, and dear educational officials, I say: all your efforts should be to raise a Muslim, faithful, and aware youth. May God's mercy be upon Martyr Rajai and Martyr Bahonar, who planted this sapling in the soil of education. Fortunately, today education is under the management of a good and faithful person, and these issues are given importance. Of course, some engage in sabotage; we see this and are not unaware. Your primary effort, dear educational officials, should be to raise the youth to be faithful, aware, insightful in religious matters, and committed to Islamic knowledge and practice. The future of the country will be secured this way. Consider the enemies' temptations to create doubt in the beliefs of the youth as hostile whispers and do not allow them to succeed in their endeavors. Engaging the youth in things that the youth of the world became preoccupied with before our youth and are now paying the price for is not helping the younger generation of this country. Some try to lead the Iranian youth towards entertaining matters, harmful music, sexual distractions, and the like under various pretexts. This is the same filth that drowns Western, American, and European youth; this is not something to be imitated. Stand against this.

To you dear members of the Islamic associations, I also say: each of you is a force of Islam; maintain yourselves, build yourselves, and grow; prepare yourselves for entering universities or seminaries and then for entering the field of work and society in the Islamic Republic so that you can shine like a beacon. Each Islamic association in any part of this country is a stronghold. A high school student must be able to take a position in this stronghold to neutralize the enemy's emphasis and attack. This is a cultural and intellectual stronghold; the weapon in it is the weapon of faith, wisdom, knowledge, thought, and culture. If these strongholds are solid, the enemy will not achieve success in this country, neither in military attacks, nor in economic attacks, nor in political attacks, nor in the most dangerous of these attacks - that is, cultural attacks. Until today, the failures and defeats of the enemy have been due to the presence of these faithful and good youth in various arenas; after this, it will continue to be so, and it must expand day by day. Each of you and each student must decide to build yourselves in such a way that when you enter a university or seminary or are transferred to any point and center, you will be a light there to guide others. God Almighty says through the mouths of the believers: "And make us leaders for the God-conscious." Every person must create this capability within themselves so that wherever they are, others can follow them; not only in congregational prayers but also in action, thought, and behavior. Today, thanks be to God, the atmosphere is ready for this work. Despite the enmities and malice that occur in the cultural and political arenas in the country from both internal and external enemies, thanks be to God, the atmosphere is one of faith, revolution, and Islam; and this is due to the radiance of you youth.

I ask God Almighty to include all of you in the attentions of the Awaited Savior, may our souls be sacrificed for him. I have no doubt that many of you youth are under the gaze of the holy Imam of the Age. I know that your pure hearts are under the attention of that great one. God willing, that son of Fatimah and that righteous servant of God will pray for you, and his prayers for all will be answered. We hope, God willing, that God will make the pure spirit of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the pure souls of the martyrs pleased and satisfied with all of us.

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