The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei received officials and executives of the Islamic Republic, including the heads of three government branches and the chairman of the Expediency Council, and a large group of the Iranian people from various social strata and walks of life on Saturday, August 11.
The meeting was held on the auspicious occasion of the Feast of Mab'ath, which marks the anniversary of the day when the Exalted Prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace be upon him and his immaculate household) was appointed as the Messenger of Allah.
Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by the ambassadors of Islamic countries posted to Tehran, the Leader felicitated the audience and the honorable Iranian nation and the great Muslim ummah as well as the entire human community on the auspicious occasion.
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the great love for and strong devotion to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his immaculate household) on the part of all Muslims. He called on all Muslim nations to strengthen their unity with the Holy Prophet as the pivot of their unity and try to foil the divisive plots that are being hatched by the enemies of Islam.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic further described knowledge and wisdom, self-purification and morality and also justice and equity as the three important messages that were conveyed by the appointment of the last Messenger of Allah. He also touched on the problems and sufferings that are currently besetting human societies.
"Today, human beings are in dire need of the teachings of divine prophets, and all these teachings are imparted by Islam and the Holy Qur'an in their entirety," the Leader observed.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the alienation of human societies from morality and spirituality is the root cause of many problems, including wars and insecurity, in the present world. He added that all nations, especially their government officials and elites, should heed Islam's call for moral purification and benevolence and fairness and equity.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic pointed out that justice and equity is the permanent need of mankind, and that the administration of justice was among the major objectives pursued by divine prophets. He also referred to the establishment of an Islamic community in Iran.
"The three important messages conveyed by the appointment of the last Messenger of Allah, namely knowledge and morality and justice, are the basic principles and fundamental values of the Iranian nation, and it is incumbent on everybody to make all efforts in order to realize these principles and values," the Leader told the audience.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the adherence to the above principles and the fulfillment of the Islamic duties have resulted in many achievements on the part of the Iranian nation over the past 28 years. He added that renouncing the Islamic principles, getting entrapped by various considerations and getting preoccupied with the prevalent material schools of thought in the world will definitely result in defeat and failure.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic further elaborated on the major maladies afflicting the human community today.
"Today, the human community is afflicted with two major maladies: the first one is the wrong path that is being presented to nations as the path to human salvation and prosperity; and the second is the dominance that is being exercised by the most corrupt individuals over the world," Ayatollah Khamenei remarked.
He also stated, "Today, the most corrupt individuals are carrying the banner of reforming the world, and the evil and arrogant power America, which is trying to impose its despotic rule on all human societies, is accusing Islam of terrorism and reactionaryism, but the fact of the matter is that America itself is the cause of injustice to Muslim nations and the source of terror and corruption and war and bloodshed in the world."
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic described the awakening of Muslim nations and their return to their Islamic identity as the only remedy for the maladies that are presently afflicting them. He stated that the Muslim ummah, which benefits from the Holy Qur'an and the enlightening Islamic teachings and precepts, will be able to resist the destructive waves targeting the foundations of the Islamic community by firmly adhering to the last divine religion.
Ayatollah Khamenei further expressed sorrow over the troubles and hardships that are besetting Muslims in Palestine and Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Today, the body of the Islamic world is wounded, and the corrupt enemies of Islam and of the entire Muslim ummah are trying to intensify sectarian differences like those existing between the Shia and the Sunni and set Muslims against one another, and unfortunately some tend to fall into the enemies' trap," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
In conclusion, the Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to unity and solidarity as the urgent requirement of the Muslim ummah at the present juncture. He stated that Muslim nations, considering the numerous resources that are at their disposal, will be able to stand up to the enemies of Islam through their unity and solidarity - with the Holy Prophet of Islam as the pivot of their unity - and tread the path to prosperity and progress and salvation.
At the beginning of the meeting, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad felicitated the audience on the auspicious occasion of the Feast of Mab'ath and the anniversary of the appointment of the last Messenger of Allah. He also said that, today, humanity is in dire need of justice and equity.