Semtemper 5th marks the International Day of Charity. On this occasion, Khamenei.ir published statements made by the Supreme Leader of Iran on the issue of charity:
We should promote the level of knowledge and try to boost the economy in the country. We should also contribute to all the political, social, and moral efforts made across the country. This is the only way through which the country could foil the arrogant powers' plots.
It is through people's determination that we could have an independent country. The investments that people make in different sectors are very valuable, especially the ones that they make in production sectors. And I consider making investments in production sectors to be the best of deeds and the best charity for those who are interested in rendering services to the people. This would create employment opportunities in the country, would help the country progress, and will uproot poverty in some important parts of the country.
Leader's Address to the People of Larestan; May 8, 2008.
At present, we should create a society that encompasses justice. In the establishment of a society, justice is the most important matter. Justice includes indiscrimination in applied rights, boundaries and laws. Justice consists of helping the poor and the weak. Justice calls for a country’s plans and their general movements to be aimed at provision for the poor. Justice means, those who have been deprived of their rights, beneath the heavy shadow of tyranny while under oppressive rule, be given their privileges. Justice signifies that a particular faction does not consider privileges for only themselves. Justice denotes that human, public and social rights, as well as divine restrictions be equally applied to all people. If those, who through deception and oppression, based on immoral actions like materialistic interests have strayed from spirituality and gained what they had no right to achieve; if they are prevented from continuing what they used to do, then justice has been served.
Undoubtedly, helping the poor and the deprived includes individual charity works; however the issue goes beyond that. The realization of justice is that the establishment and its different sections must progress towards helping the poor and the underprivileged. If we direct our life toward this and live such a life, the Almighty God will certainly assist us. The materialistically powerful cannot discourage our nation - through deception and treachery- in pursuing a prideful path by taking resistance away from us. By the will of God, the people’s resistance will grow stronger day by day.
Ayatollah Khamenei's statements made at a meeting with officials and different groups of people; March 13, 1990.
