Imam Khamenei

The martyrs are the role models of the youth: Imam Khamenei

The following is the full text of the speech delivered on December 16, 2019, by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with the officials of the Martyrs of Hormozgan Commemoration Congress.

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

First of all, I would like to say salaam to all the dear people of Hormozgan. I wish to express my gratitude to these dear people who have always shown their prominence throughout history. Also, I would like to say salaam and to show respect to the esteemed families of martyrs and the families of disabled war veterans.

You mentioned that the people of Hormozgan have been involved in the arena of battle and jihad since the beginning of the Revolution, but I want to say that the history of fighting and jihad in Hormozgan exceeds that. It dates back to an era long before that. The island of Hormoz which you mentioned, is a historical gift that has been preserved as a result of the jihad of the people of Hormozgan. The same is true of Bandar Abbas. This shows that the element of courage and defending the truth has been institutionalized in this province. This is very valuable.

The glories that you pointed to are all accurate. In other words, what you said about the formation of the navy and presence in the great fronts of defending the country, Islam and the Islamic Republic hold true for Hormozgan. In all these areas, Hormozgan has truly shown its prominence. I have no doubts about it and I am fully aware of it. Therefore, the endeavor that you have begun – commemorating the martyrs of Hormozgan – is a very good and necessary task and it is a responsibility that falls on everyone.

Why do we say that it is a responsibility? It is because there is a policy – a global and an international policy which has found some advocates inside the country as well – in order to consign revolutionary symbols to oblivion. One of these symbols, actually the loftiest one, is jihad and martyrdom in the way of God. Their goal is to consign to oblivion the names, memory and movement of the martyrs. Therefore, you are in fact moving in the opposite direction to this malicious current.

You mentioned that you have provided some people with accommodation and marriage assistance funds. These are very good and outstanding measures. Every martyr is a symbol no matter if they were literate, illiterate or young. The fact that someone becomes motivated enough to risk his life by going to the battlefield in order to defend the country is very valuable in itself. Allah the Exalted finds this very valuable: “Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their goods for theirs in return is the garden of Paradise: they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain” [The Holy Quran, 9: 111]. Notice that Allah the Exalted is an admirer of this motivation, determination and action because it is a very great and important endeavor. This was done by our martyrs and it does not matter if they were great personalities or not so outstanding and if they were knowledgeable, literate or illiterate.

Every martyr is a symbol. You should try to enlighten youth about these martyrs because they have every potential to become their role models. This endeavor should be developed in a way that youth will be able to find their role models from among the personalities who have been introduced to them. Then youth can get attached to them and pursue their path. In the present time, as you can witness, this has happened in the case of the martyrs who have become well-known and about whom, several books have been written.

For example, we can refer to Shahid Chitsazian, Shahid Ebrahim-e Hadi, Shahid Vazvayi. These are martyrs whom youth have become attached to because they have been introduced in detail. And when youth become attached to such personalities, they follow their path. This is the exact opposite of the movement that tries to make youth become attached to symbols of corruption, materialism and decadence. Notice that your movement is the opposite of that effort. Therefore, you should pursue it. I hope that God will help you as well.

You mentioned the Islands [The islands of Hormozgan]. Both you gentlemen and Mr. Governor pointed this out. The Islands are really important from a security, economic and historic point of view. In particular, I would like to stress the importance of the island of Hormoz. You should attend to that area. Both government officials and you, as revolutionary orientations, should move forward and attend to those areas. I hope that God will help all of you become successful.

Greetings be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings

 

Tags

  • Ideals of Martyrs
  • Iran
  • sacred defense
  • Spirituality

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