Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met Tuesday morning with hundreds of university professors, outstanding personalities and thinkers participating in the International Conference of Muslim University Professors and Islamic Awakening. Speaking at the meeting, His Eminence referred to the significance of Islamic Awakening and presented an in-depth analysis of the position of Islam, sharia, the conditions of the people in countries which have carried out a revolution and the dangers they face.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated that if professors, outstanding personalities and intellectuals want to play a crucial role in helping society achieve happiness and salvation, they should show purity, courage, wisdom and diligence and they should not be greedy. He added: "Islamic Awakening and its influence on the Islamic Ummah is a great event which has penetrated the whole world and which has resulted in a number of revolutions and regime change in certain countries."
Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that Islamic Awakening is a deep and widespread movement. He added that the enemies are afraid of the phrase ″Islamic Awakening″, further stating: "They are trying very hard not to let the phrase ″Islamic Awakening″ be used to refer to the current great movement in the region because the enemies are terrified of genuine Islam."
His Eminence stressed: "They do not fear the kind of Islam which is based on money, corruption, aristocracy and the kind of Islam which is not supported by the majority of people. But they tremble with fear when they see the kind of Islam which is supported by the majority of people and which is based on action, reliance on God and divine promises."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated: "We believe that the current great movement is a true example of Islamic Awakening. This movement will continue in the future and it will not easily deviate from its path."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the reasons why this movement is called an Islamic movement, further adding: "The people's Islamic slogans in the regional revolutions and the role of Muslim believers in organizing public demonstrations and overthrowing corrupt regimes are all proof that this movement is Islamic in essence."
His Eminence added that the people's votes in favor of Islamist parties in the elections which are held in these countries is another reason why this movement is Islamic and stressed: "Today if a free election is held in many Muslim countries and if Islamist leaders and politicians participate in this election, people will vote for Islamist politicians."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the need for identifying the problems of these movements and revolutions especially in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, and stated: "Besides identifying the problems, we should highlight the goals of these revolutions because if it is not clear what the goals are, there will be confusion."
Ayatollah Khamenei added that getting rid of global hegemony is one of the objectives of Islamic Awakening and stressed: "We should announce this openly because the notion that global arrogance - headed by America - may get along with Islamic movements is a mistake."
His Eminence added: "Wherever Islam and supporters of Islam prevail, America does its best to destroy them while putting on a friendly smile."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that the regional revolutions should distance themselves from global arrogance, further reiterating: "We do not say that they should go to war with global arrogance, but we say that if they do not distance themselves from global arrogance, they will be deceived."
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that global arrogance uses money, weapons and science to dominate the world. "Despite possessing these means, one of the current big problems of western countries is that they do not have any new idea to help humanity. This is while the world of Islam has new ideas and a roadmap to help humanity."
His Eminence said that Islam offers new ideas and a roadmap, adding: "This issue is one of the strong points of the world of Islam. If we delineate our goals on the basis of these ideas, then the money, science and weapons of the west will not be effective as they were in the past."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated that another important goal of Islamic Awakening is to make Islam and sharia the pivot of things. He added: "There is an all-out effort to claim that sharia is not compatible with progress, change and civilization. This is while Islam answers all the needs of human beings and it is for all eras and all centuries."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that it is a matter of deep regret that some dogmatic movements try to promote the idea that Islam is not compatible with progressiveness. He reiterated: "What is important is to promote the idea that Islam answers all the needs of humanity."
His Eminence stated that building a governing system is another goal of Islamic Awakening and referred to a number of past events in North Africa which failed to succeed due to a lack of a system. He added: "If a governing system is not built in countries which have carried out a revolution, they will face dangers."
He added that one important thing to do regarding the regional revolutions is to strengthen popular support and stressed: "The real power is in the hands of the people. Whenever the people unanimously support their leaders, America and even powers that are greater than America cannot do anything to harm them."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution highlighted the importance of keeping the people on the scene, further adding: "Intellectuals, authors, poets and especially religious scholars play a significant role in regional developments. They should help the people remain vigilant by specifying the goals and the problems and by warning them against their enemies."
Ayatollah Khamenei highlighted the need for unity among Muslim countries. He added: "The west and America are trying to create discord among Muslims under such pretexts as Shia and Sunny, ethnicity and nationality. Therefore, all of us should be vigilant and we should address and respond to this issue from this perspective and we should also adopt positions in this regard."
His Eminence stressed that despite the efforts and plots of global arrogance, the world of Islam is moving forward, further reiterating: "One of the examples of this progress is the 8-day war. On the one side, there were the Palestinian people who lived in a very small area - namely Gaza - and on the other side there was the Zionist regime which claims to have the strongest army in the world. But it was the Palestinian side that set conditions for a ceasefire."
He added: "Would anybody have believed this ten years ago?"
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution hailed the Palestinian people, Hamas and Islamic Jihad for their courage in the events of Gaza.
Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his gratitude to Palestinian soldiers for their sacrifices, their efforts and their patience.
His Eminence stated that the 8-day war in Gaza is an important lesson for the Palestinian people and for all Muslims. He stressed: "The war in Gaza showed that if all of us stay united and show patience when we face difficulties, God Almighty will fulfill his promise of bringing comfort after a hardship."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the issue of Bahrain and added: "Unfortunately, the world of Islam is silent about the issue of Bahrain. This silence is because of the wrong attitude towards this issue."
He reiterated: "Some people have a denominational bias in the issue of Bahrain. According to these people, you can help people who have risen up against their corrupt government unless these people are Shia like the people of Bahrain."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed: "If we want to adopt a comprehensive outlook on the regional developments, we should take the plots and machinations of the enemy into consideration."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that Iran's position on the issue of Syria is based on such an outlook. He added: "The Islamic Republic of Iran is against shedding even one drop of blood from any Muslim. But those who have dragged Syria into a civil war, destruction and fratricide are to blame for the current situation in Syria."
His Eminence reiterated: "The demands of all peoples should be met in conventional ways and without using violence."
Elsewhere in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that training young people and achieving scientific and technological progress are essential issues for Islamic countries, especially those countries which have carried out a revolution. He reiterated: "This is possible and the Islamic Republic of Iran is a living example in this regard."
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed: "Islamic countries should follow the example of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this regard and the world of Islam should reach a point where it can be an authoritative source of reference in scientific areas."