The following is the full text of the speech delivered by Ayatollah Khamenei on February 21, 2011 in a meeting with a group of government officials. The meeting was held on the occasion of the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) birthday anniversary.
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
I would like to congratulate you dear audience, the entire Iranian nation, the great Islamic Ummah and all the people who fight for freedom and justice throughout the world on the auspicious birthday anniversaries of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.), Muhammad ibn Abdullah, and his honorable descendant, Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (a.s.).
The birth of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) was the beginning of a brilliant dawn in the life of humanity. His birth made the people of his time see the divine warnings with their own eyes. The castles of oppressive kings collapsed. The fire temples went out. Divine power put an end to superstitious beliefs in different parts of the world. The birth of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) was a prelude to his be'that [being appointed as prophet]. And this be'that was a blessing for all people throughout the world. As the Holy Quran says, "And We have not sent you but as a mercy to the Worlds." [The Holy Quran, 21: 107] The entire world has benefited from his holy existence, and it will do so in the future as well. The advances made by humanity, the scientific advances, the different areas of knowledge and the great discoveries that have been made in the world are all because of the emergence of the light of Islam in that amazing historical era. And this blessing was made available to people. If humanity had more knowledge, if humanity enjoyed a deeper understanding, if humanity knew the Prophet (s.w.a.), if humanity was familiar with Islam, if humanity knew the message of Islam, today the scene of history would be a different scene. The ignorance of human beings and their short-sightedness have made them fall behind. Definitely the more time passes and the more human beings increase their capacity for understanding, the more this brilliant sun will reveal itself. Then human beings will benefit more from this light of life. And today we can see the signs.
Today the world is frustrated at the heavy impositions of materialistic civilization, and it is looking for a way out. Today the wave of Islamic Awakening that you see in certain Islamic countries, such as Egypt and Tunisia, is a sign that humanity is frustrated. When demons dominate the life of people - human demons are more dangerous than jinn demons - and when the arrogant powers of the world mislead the people of the world by interfering in the personal life of people, their economy, their understanding and their ideologies, life enters a dark void. This darkness goes against the nature of human beings, and it awakens the human nature of people. This is what is happening in the world. The western world, which is enslaved by the hegemony of material power, is frustrated today. If we Muslims could present Islam appropriately and if we could adjust our behavior according to Islam, the entire world would definitely turn to Islam. The problem is with us. We are the first people addressed by the Holy Quran and the message of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). We should reform ourselves. We should improve ourselves.
Thanks to Islam, nations have awakened today. One can see this awakening throughout the world of Islam. The first effect of this awakening is the expression of hatred toward the presence of the arrogant powers in the region. The Americans are trying to keep away from the great popular movement which can be seen today in certain Islamic countries. But this is not possible. The primary purpose of these movements is to oppose the hegemony of the arrogant powers over this region. It is the hegemony of the arrogant powers that has humiliated the nations of the region. It is the machinations and interference of the arrogant powers in the region that have prevented Muslim nations from extending a hand of brotherhood towards each other, from understanding each other, from pooling their resources, from establishing a genuine Islamic Ummah. It is necessary to put an end to this state of affairs. Nations should get rid of the interference and hegemony of the arrogant powers. This is the key to resolving the problems of the region. The problems of the regional peoples and movements - governments which have moved away from their people - are due to the presence of the arrogant powers, especially America, in the region. The solution to the problems of the region is that the peoples and governments should wake up to the reality and prevent the great Satan from dominating and interfering in the destiny of their nations.
America's Middle Eastern policies have turned the peoples of the region against their governments. These policies have created a chasm between the peoples and governments of the region. If the people of a country join their government, no foreign power will be able to dominate that country. No foreign power can resist the power of the people. What we see today in certain Islamic countries is the presence of the people on the scene. When the people are present on the scene, the sword of the superpowers becomes blunt. Then the superpowers cannot bully the people. The superpowers help their friends and mercenaries dominate the people - bully the people. When the people step into the arena, their governments receive support, providing that their governments join their people. This is the solution to the problems of this region.
Today the fake Zionist regime is like a cancerous tumor in the region, a tumor that has plagued the region. The arrogant powers have focused all their efforts on safeguarding this cancerous tumor in the region. The existence of this cancerous tumor in the region has caused war, discord and wrong policies in the region. They are doing everything in their power in order to safeguard this tumor and preserve their stronghold in the region. Today we are witness to the signs and consequences of these efforts: the reaction of the peoples of the region. When the people awaken, they do not tolerate such conditions.
I believe that the movements which we see today in certain Islamic countries are the reaction of the peoples to the long-standing humiliation that the arrogant powers have imposed on them. Today they have found an opportunity, and they have stepped into the arena.
Religious scholars and political, scientific and academic figures have a very heavy responsibility to shoulder. Today the people of these countries are in need of the guidance of these prominent figures - political figures, scientific figures, academic figures, religious figures. They have a heavy responsibility. They must not let the system of arrogance use the different tools they enjoy and hijack this great popular movement. They must not let the system of arrogance steal this popular movement. They must be vigilant. They should guide people towards the goals and ideals which are lofty for all countries. If this happens, the region will have a bright future - the future of the Islamic Ummah will be bright.
There are about 1.5 billion Muslims in the world. In terms of our strategic position and our natural resources, we Muslims enjoy a very sensitive position in the world. But it is others who are ruling us. It is others who determine our destiny. They make decisions about our oil and our governments. This state of affairs must be transformed, and there is no doubt that it will be so. The signs of this transformation are clearly visible today, and Islamic Awakening is one of these signs.
Islam tells its followers: "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him are firm of heart against the unbelievers, compassionate among themselves. You will see them bowing down, prostrating themselves, seeking grace from Allah and pleasure. Their marks are in their faces because of the effect of prostration." [The Holy Quran, 48: 29] These are the characteristics of the Islamic Ummah. Reliance on God, remembrance of God, engaging in dhikr, humility before God - these are the signs of the spirituality that members of the Islamic Ummah enjoy. Islam educates such people. Its followers are humble before God and kind towards their religious brothers, but they stand firm like a mountain against oppressors and arrogant people. "That is their description in the Torah and their description in the Gospel - like as sown corn that sends forth its shoot and strengthens it and rises firm upon its stalk, delighting the sowers." [The Holy Quran, 48: 29] These are the developmental stages of the Islamic Ummah. It rises from under the ground, grows, thrives and becomes strong, "delighting the sowers". Even those who prepared the ground for its growth are surprised. It is the hand of divine power that helps human beings grow like this. "That He may enrage the disbelievers with (the sight of) them." [The Holy Quran, 48: 29] When the arrogant enemy looks at the faithful individual educated by Islam in this way, he is understandably enraged. This is how we should act. We should reform ourselves. We should adjust our life according to the Holy Quran. We should adjust our behavior towards friends, enemies and arrogant powers according to the Quranic plan. Allah the Exalted has promised that He will reward those who act like this, and this reward will be offered both in this world and in the hereafter. In this world the reward includes glory and the divine beauties and blessings which have been made available to human beings. And paradise is the reward in the hereafter.
This is the path that you dear people of Iran are treading. By Allah's favor, you will continue treading this path. Fortunately we see that today Muslim nations from different parts of the world of Islam are gradually moving towards this path. Allah the Exalted says: "And the end is for the God-fearing." [The Holy Quran, 7: 128] If we practice fear of God as a principle in our actions, there is no doubt that ultimate victory will belong to the Islamic Ummah. And by Allah's favor, this future is not far away.
I hope Allah the Exalted will enable all Muslim nations and the Islamic Ummah - particularly the elites and influential figures of the Islamic Ummah - to benefit most from the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) and the Holy Quran. I pray to Allah the Exalted to bestow His bountiful blessings on our magnanimous Imam who opened up this path in front of us and on our dear martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this path.
Greetings be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings