The participants in the Conference on the Week of Venerating Mosques met the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Sunday, August 21.
In an address to the audience, the Leader described mosques as the places where human beings seek proximity to Almighty Allah. He also noted that mosques are among the places where social and political decisions are made in Islamic societies.
"Efforts should be made to further raise the spiritual status of mosques through appropriate planning and by utilizing cultural and artistic means and to use the revitalizing and exhilarating potential of mosques in attracting the people from all social strata and promulgating Islamic knowledge and exalted concepts," the Leader told the gathering.
Ayatollah Khamenei also underlined the sensitivity of the present juncture for the Islamic world and stressed the need to establish relations among mosques in various Islamic countries.
Referring to the anniversary of setting fire to the Al-Aqsa Mosque as the basis for designating the Week of Venerating Mosques, the Leader stated, "The incident of setting fire to the Al-Aqsa Mosque displayed the permanent stance of arrogant powers against the manifestations and signs of Islamic identity. Thus, the memory of this incident should be kept alive by Muslim nations."
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized the fact that the attempts made by the United States and Zionists to undermine the attraction of Islam and its power of influence on nations have all faced defeat and failure.
"The enemies of Islam have really been rendered powerless in the face of the course of action stemming from the Islamic faith of nations in the region. If this course of action is continued with further motivation, belief and initiative of Muslim nations, surely increased divine assistance and victory will be bestowed on Muslims," the Leader of the Islamic Republic told the audience.