The students of Ferdowsi University in the holy city of Mashhad had an enthusiastic meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Tuesday, May 15.
In an address to the audience, the Leader elaborated on the differences between Western and Islamic viewpoints on mankind and on the individual and social responsibilities of human beings. He also underlined the need for reexamining the country's paradigm of development and model of progress.
"The country's progress is possible only based on an Islamic-Iranian paradigm. Thus, the most important duty of elites and intellectuals, including those at both universities and Islamic seminaries, is to draw up the comprehensive map of the country's progress based on Islamic principles," the Leader stated.
Ayatollah Khamenei also told the students that there are two wrong attitudes toward progress and development.
"The first attitude belongs to those who misuse the notions of development and progress and act treacherously and oppressively toward mankind under these nice slogans," Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out.
The Leader referred to the country's dependence on the West in the Qajar era on the pretext of progress, the conspiracy of the pro-British elements in the Constitutional Movement against the real leaders of the movement on the pretext of development, the dark dictatorship under Reza Khan and the despotic rule by Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi under the slogans of progress and reformation, the colonialization of other nations on the pretext of progress and the gift of insecurity and massacre given by the United States to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan under the slogans of progress and free world and democracy as the obvious instances of misusing the notions of progress and development.
As regards the second wrong attitude toward progress and development, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the second attitude belongs to those who are opposed to any kind of change and innovation. But he added that the present discussion about the country's paradigm of progress does not mean that the country's progress is just about to begin.
"The Iranian nation began to tread the path of progress many years ago when the Islamic movement was launched in this country, and the establishment of an Islamic system in Iran was the greatest and most wonderful development and progress in the Iranian history, since a coup regime and a dictatorial and hereditary rule was replaced by a real popular government," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic touched on the surprising achievements of the Iranian nation in the economic and political and social and scientific areas over the past 27 years and the ranking of the Islamic Republic among the most scientifically advanced countries in the world. He added that scientific progress is being made in the country at a fast pace, so much so that the young Iranian scientists are today designing the most sophisticated technologies.
"The Westerners are insinuating in their propaganda that progress and development may be attained only through Westernization, and unfortunately some government executives and intellectuals are also holding the view that the model of progress is merely the one introduced by the West. But this is a mistaken view which needs to be rectified," the Leader noted.
He further stated, "We can say with certainty that the Western paradigm of development is an unsuccessful model. The reason for this is that despite the Western countries' attainment of wealth and power, human and spiritual values have been destroyed in those societies."
Ayatollah Khamenei placed emphasis on the fact that the adopting of an Islamic-Iranian model as the paradigm for the country's progress is something quite essential.
"If this Islamic-Iranian model is adopted and followed, it will surely turn into a model for other countries, in the same manner that many of the deeds and achievements of our country and the Iranian nation have turned into models for other counties and nations," Ayatollah Khamenei told the students.
The Leader referred to the differences between Islamic and Western viewpoints on progress as the grounds for the unsuitability of the Western model of development for the Islamic system.
"From the Western viewpoint, progress is of a material kind, and it pivots on material gain. Therefore, from this viewpoint, morality and spirituality can be sacrificed for the sake of progress," the Leader observed.
Ayatollah Khamenei made it clear that from the Islamic viewpoint, material progress is not the ultimate goal, but that it is the vehicle for the growth and elevation of mankind.
"According to the Islamic worldview, wealth and power and scientific knowledge prepare the ground for the growth of mankind and pave the way for the administration of justice and the establishment of a just government," Ayatollah Khamenei added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic described the independence and national sovereignty of the Iranian nation as exemplary. He noted that this remarkable independence and sovereignty should be displayed in all arenas.
"Ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, especially since the Sacred Defense era, the Iranian people have been resisting the pressure exerted by the enemy's propaganda. Now under the present circumstances the enemy is talking about imposing sanctions on the Iranian nation, but the fact of the matter is that the issue of sanctions is not something new because the Iranian people have always been subjected to sanctions and at the same time have achieved remarkable scientific progress," the Leader told the students.
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out that the boosting of national self-confidence and perseverance and national unity will set the stage for the accomplishment of noble objectives.
In conclusion, the Leader called on students to express fair criticism and tolerate criticism in a humble manner and put up with various political currents in academic circles. He also underlined the need for the preservation of principles and adherence to ideals, avoiding conservatism, greater attention to research and scholarly studies, ideological and practical self-discipline and engaging in sports and taking physical exercise in a serious manner.