Over the course of millions of years, an object of no value can become a diamond, only if it has that potential. Thus, years of captivity were like several centuries compressed, molding talented humans into sparkling diamonds, into liberated prisoners of war. Today's assembly makes me happy, and at the same time I feel immense sorrow since there have been few opportunities to meet with you--former prisoners of war--during such gatherings. Through you, dear people, who have attended this spiritual, friendly and brotherly meeting, I salute all our former prisoners of war--around forty thousand--whom are all valuable individuals trained through long sufferings and hardships.
According to what I have heard, a member of the Red Cross told our former prisoners of war that when they go to POW camps in other countries, they witness desperation, self-inflicted wounds, suicide and other similar experiences. He had asked, "How come there are no such behavioral reactions among you?" It was a reasonable question and the answer is clear: when one's heart is not familiar with spirituality and God, those are the results [suicide and self-harm] that can be expected. According to statements by the amazing people who have attended this meeting and the memoirs that have been published, when one's heart is familiar with God, when there is a bond between one's heart and God, when there is a sense of trust, when one does not feel that he is alone, when one witnesses paradise within the walls of a small torturous prison cell there is no longer any room for depression, there is no longer any room for desperation, suicide becomes meaningless. This is one aspect of the issue, and we should become more familiar with every bit of this deep and vast sea, the lives of our former prisoners of war.
Another aspect is the issue of divine lessons and laws; after all, we constantly face challenges throughout our short lives on earth. Challenges are not always caused by America and supremacists powers. There are different kinds of challenges: the Islamic Revolution is faced with challenges from within--such as battling Satan; as well as challenges with the hegemonies, monopolists, gluttonous individuals and the arrogant powers. We need to reflect on divine law and learn from it. It might appear that there was no ray of hope for Iranian prisoners of war-- who had been captured during the imposed war--for young faithful Iranians who were living under extreme conditions in Iraqi POW camps, for Iranian prisoners who were being severely tortured in their prison cells. Maybe Iranian prisoners thought their sufferings would continue for many more years or that nothing but death awaited them. Take a look at the realities today and notice what has happened; notice where they stand and where you are; there is a lesson in this; this is evidence of the truthfulness in divine promises.
We must have faith in divine promises; moreover, we must develop a deep faith in divine promises. We should understand the meaning behind Allah the Exalted's revelation, "And surely Allah will help him who helps His cause. Most surely Allah is Strong, Mighty." [The Holy Quran 22: 40] At that time, you were face to face with torturers, corrupt wardens and Ba'ath agents; today the Iranian nation is faced with challenges against America [USA]--these challenges are the same, in essence. "And surely Allah will help him who helps His cause. Most surely Allah is Strong, Mighty." Divine promises are real, and those who do not have faith in divine promises are rejected by Allah the Exalted. Allah the Exalted curses them and deprives them of His grace. Today, the Iranian nation is faced with a similar issue: and, if we act according to the conditions that have been determined by Allah the Exalted--and you observed His conditions during your captivity--the Iranian nation will definitely achieve victory. This is one great lesson.
Those who said that you would remain in prisons forever or that you would be executed have been thrown into the garbage bin of history; for it was they who were executed; it was they who were annihilated. Thankfully, you are living in the Islamic Republic with pride and honor today. This is another great lesson that we have been taught previously; some of us did not have faith in this lesson. There was a tremendous amount of pressure during the era of suppression, during the time of taghut. There were some people that said, "You are faced with fists and bayonets. Your resistance is pointless." Yet, there were others saying, "Of the believers are men who are true to the covenant which they made with Allah, so of them is he who accomplished his vow, and of them is he who yet waits, and they have not changed in the least," [The Holy Quran, 33: 23]. Allah the Exalted gave rise to an event that nobody in the world could believe; it was not just that no one in Iran could believe what had happened; but, nobody throughout this planet could believe it. Nobody could believe that what was once considered the island of stability by the Americans would be struck by a fierce storm, a storm that would result in the isolation of the arrogant powers: America [USA], England, and their agents and mercenaries. Present conditions are very much the same.
Take a look at current conditions in the world. Certain signs are visible. I have, repeatedly, said that the world is going through a phase, entering a new situation, a new state. Our behavior, our intentions, and our actions play a determining role in shaping this new situation. In order to make our hearts firm, in order to not lose sight of our path, your lives, lives of former prisoners of war can be a guiding star for us all.
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