The staffers of the headquarters in charge of holding the memorial ceremony marking the 18th departure anniversary of Imam Khomeini met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Saturday, May 26.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader stated that steady and firm movement on the right path of religion was a great lesson taught by Imam Khomeini to the Iranian government officials and general public and intellectuals and political groups and factions.
"Whoever is desirous of accomplishing the revolutionary objectives and the country's progress and the nation's honor and dignity should place Imam Khomeini's piety, honesty, valor, trust in Almighty Allah and adherence to sacred religious tenets high on his agenda," the Leader told the audience.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the great influence of Imam Khomeini on human communities as a wonderful spiritual and divine phenomenon.
"The influence of natural events decreases and comes to an end with the passage of time; but as for divine phenomena, the passage of time will increase the extent and depth and permanence of their influence. Indeed, the phenomenon of our magnanimous Imam's influence was among such phenomena," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
The Leader referred to the dissemination and promotion of the ideals and teachings of Imam Khomeini among Muslim nations as a sign of the divine nature of Imam Khomeini's movement.
"The return to the Islamic identity and values and the expression of aversion to bullying powers and hatred for the great idol, namely the United States and Zionism, are among the teachings of the late Imam Khomeini that have spread in the Islamic world and indicate the rising influence of this magnanimous personality," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic described as ‘wonderful' the devotion expressed by the young generation of the Islamic world to Imam Khomeini.
"Today, a young generation has emerged in various Islamic countries, including Lebanon and Palestine, that does not even remember the lifetime of the late Imam Khomeini, but owing to the attraction of his teachings and guidelines, this generation has raised the banner of Islam in the face of the enemies of Allah and is proud of doing this," the Leader noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the secret of this divine attraction was the striving in the way of Allah. He added that the late Imam Khomeini during all his blessed lifetime was only trying to attain divine contentment.
"This reality provides a great lesson to our nation and government officials and all the intellectuals and elites who are active in political and social and cultural and economic spheres both today and tomorrow," Ayatollah Khamenei added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic expressed his gratitude to the staffers of the headquarters in charge of holding the memorial ceremony marking the 18th departure anniversary of Imam Khomeini.
"While holding the memorial ceremony, due attention should also be paid to the tenets and principles that were introduced by Imam Khomeini as practical criteria for all areas, since commemorating Imam Khomeini and disregarding his principles is tantamount to doing an injustice to our late magnanimous Imam," the Leader observed.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the principles and criteria characterizing Imam Khomeini's movement were quite clear. He added that firm adherence to the religious law was one of the main features characterizing Imam Khomeini's line.
"Some are trying to interpret the Islamic principles and revolutionary objectives like religious democracy and human rights in Islam in such a way that they may be matched with the failed and fruitless Western liberalism with the intention that they may be accepted by the Westerners. But this action is a deviation from Imam Khomeini's line and runs counter to the principles and views of Imam Khomeini. Therefore, you should watch out for this deviation and give warnings about it," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
The Leader further stated that while Imam Khomeini firmly adhered to religious tenets and principles, he also strongly opposed reactionaryism and dogmatism.
"The late Imam was indeed seriously opposed to reactionaryism and dogmatism and narrow-mindedness and was himself characterized by open-mindedness and intellectual enlightenment, but his views were within the framework of the Islamic precepts. Unfortunately, some do not observe this framework, and they tamper with the revolutionary principles as they wish, and by doing so they act in opposition to Imam Khomeini's line," the Leader remarked.
In conclusion, Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience that striving and perseverance is the main prerequisite for the promotion and dissemination of truth and justice.
"In order to promote and disseminate the views of the late magnanimous Imam, incessant and tireless efforts should be made both in words and deeds in line with his criteria and principles, so that his great movement may proceed in full swing," Ayatollah Khamenei stated.
At the beginning of the meeting, the headquarters' director Mohammad-Ali Ansari presented a report about the headquarters' activities. He said that more than 1.5 million pilgrims from the Iranian provinces and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from the capital Tehran will renew their allegiance to the Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Imam Khomeini on behalf of the faithful Iranian nation on the 18th anniversary of his departure.
Ansari further noted that hundreds of foreign scholars and thinkers also will attend the memorial ceremony and some conferences marking the 18th departure anniversary of Imam Khomeini.