Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and members of his Cabinet met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Sunday, October 7.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader elaborated on some aphorisms and wise sayings of His Holiness Imam Ali ibn Abitaleb (greetings be upon him) from the book Nahj-ul-Balaghah. He emphasized the need for further promotion of moral virtues in society and called for greater efforts on the part of relevant government officials to deepen and institutionalize moral values through extensive cultural activities.
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the advice given by Imam Ali ibn Abitaleb (greetings be upon him) to his magnanimous son Imam Hassan Mojtaba (greetings be upon him).
"His Holiness Imam Ali ibn Abitaleb (greetings be upon him) considers the greatest wealth of men to be wisdom and their most abject destitution to be deviation from the path of wisdom. Besides, the Imam (greetings be upon him) also underlines the necessity of abstaining from self-conceit and self-admiration and refraining from forming a friendship with ignorant and miserly and sinful and untruthful individuals," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
The Leader further hinted at the advice given by the Commander of the Faithful (greetings be upon him) on the fostering and promotion of moral virtues in society.
"In addition to good behavior, moral virtues also include praiseworthy qualities such as patience, forgiveness, thankfulness to Almighty Allah, beneficence and generosity, benevolence toward the general public, taking pity on weaker people and valor and resistance in the face of deviations and aberrations, and these qualities should be promoted among the general public, especially among government officials," the Leader told the audience.
Ayatollah Khamenei also reminded the audience of the great significance of reliance on wisdom and prudence in dealing with the issues related to the country and nation. Describing avarice, sensuality, indignation and self-conceit as the enemies of wisdom, he called on government officials to be always careful not to be ensnared by these traps.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to the rising inclination displayed by the Iranian people, especially the Iranian youth, toward spirituality and Islamic values some 28 years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, describing it as an undeniable reality and one of the miracles of the revolution. He pointed out that the inclination on the part of the young generation toward worshipping and supplicating to Almighty Allah is a divine phenomenon and one of the outcomes of the Islamic Revolution.
Ayatollah Khamenei also stated that the deepening of spiritual and Islamic values is contingent upon the cultivation and promotion of moral virtues in society.
"Considering that a government is presently in office that is committed to Islamic values and revolutionary principles and in view of the fact that it is headed by a president who is devoted to Islam and the revolution, the ground is quite prepared for launching an extensive cultural campaign in the country," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
He added, "Therefore, all relevant government ministries and organizations, including the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the Islamic Propagation Organization, the Ministry of Sciences, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Training are expected to make earnest efforts in order to promote moral virtues and religious faith in society."
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic underlined the importance of not ignoring the enemy's plots and stratagems.
"One should not fear the enemy, but one should also never underestimate the enemy, since wisdom and prudence require that one should be on the lookout for the enemy's onslaught in economic and cultural and social spheres," the Leader remarked.
Ayatollah Khamenei further noted that all state organs are responsible in this regard and should carry out their duties, but he added that it is the government headed by the president that, according to the law, is responsible for coordination between state organs.
At the beginning of the meeting, President Ahmadinejad referred to the high morale and increasing enthusiasm and spirituality of the Iranian people, in particular of the Iranian youth, and he described the Iranian nation as a model for other nations of the world.
The Iranian president further presented a report about the government's cultural plans and the measures that have been taken to give impetus to cultural activities in society.
At the end of the meeting, the participants said their evening and night prayers, which were led by Ayatollah Khamenei. Afterwards, President Ahmadinejad and members of his Cabinet broke their fast in the presence of the Leader of the Islamic Republic.