Khamenei.ir

Arrogance wants to impose its intended clichés on the people

Arrogance is trying to impose its intended clichés on the people throughout the world and on all nations ...With this imperialist attitude, they fabricate, distort and define certain concepts and they want everyone to understand and use them in their literature on the basis of their own definitions. For example, terrorism is a concept that arrogance uses in a specific sense. The same is true of human rights or democracy. From their perspective, bombarding Yemen and striking houses, hospitals and schools is not terrorism. Similarly, attacking Palestinian settlements in Gaza and other places over and over again and killing hundreds and thousands of innocent and defenseless children, women and men is not terrorism from their viewpoint. When the people of Bahrain say that each and every one of them inside that country should have a vote, this has nothing to do with human rights and it is not considered as a demand for human rights.

Book is the mother of civilizations

It is a fact that books are among the most valuable products made by man and is a reserve for the biggest human wealth which is knowledge and research. Thanks to books, Spirituality and human world, human body and soul, is being fed and nurtured and the process of human perfection will be realized through books. Book is the mother and an extract of civilizations, and man compiles the many lessons that he learned from the book of the first creation and propagates them in the human environment, and thus the reserve of human wealth gets more enriched on a daily basis. Ayatollah Khamenei, 9/12/1995

Not only husband and wife, but two friends

A lesson from Iranian mothers

It is mothers who knowingly or unknowingly pass to children a society’s culture, civilization and moral characters by means of their bodies, soul, temperament and manners. Ayatollah Khamenei, 07/27/2005

If Jesus were among us today...

If Christ were among us today, he would not spare even a single moment to fight the leaders of despotism and global arrogance; nor would he tolerate hunger and wandering of millions of people, degenerated by the hegemonic and colonialist powers into war, corruption, and violence. Leader's message to Christians and Muslims, on the anniversary of Christ's birth , December 27, 1991

Leader's speech in meeting with President and Cabinet

Leader's meeting with President and cabinet members

Photos of Leader's meeting with Hajj officials

Leader’s speech to Hajj officials

Certain Islamic groups that were provided with great opportunities in certain Islamic countries, did not have this experience and they made a mistake as a result. They made peace with the real enemy and worked against their friends. And they paid the price for this.

Photos of Leader's meeting with members of Ahlul Bayt World Assembly

Hajj is a place for exchanging experiences

The issue of unity is one of the social dimensions of hajj. Showing the greatness of the Islamic Ummah is another social dimension of hajj. The fact that several million Muslims gather in one place to attend a particular ceremony shows the greatness of the Islamic Ummah. From a country whose population is seventy, eighty million, around fifty, sixty, seventy thousand people come together and form a glorious gathering. This shows the greatness of the Islamic Ummah. Another dimension is the sharing of experiences among hajj pilgrims. Many Islamic countries have certain experiences. For example, the Iranian nation has certain experiences in confronting the enemy, in identifying the enemy, in refusing to trust the enemy, in distinguishing friends from enemies. We have experience in these areas. We did not make a mistake in distinguishing friends from enemies. From the beginning of the Revolution to this day, we have been aware that the real enemy, the aggressive, stubborn and persistent enemy is the world of global arrogance and Zionism. We have been aware of this. Sometimes this archenemy has spoken through other people. We must not make a mistake and think that those who are speaking for the enemy are the real enemy. No, as I stressed earlier, the real enemy is the arrogant powers.

Hajj is the manifestation of the formation of the Islamic Ummah

Hajj is the manifestation of Islamic unity. People with different skin colors, people from different nationalities, people with different identities, people from different Islamic denominations, people with different tendencies – all of them gather in one place as equals. They all perform Tawaf together. They all work together. They all stay in Arafat and Mash’ar. This unity is very important. Islamic solidarity is the true manifestation of harmony and unanimity during hajj, not just for the people of Iran, but also for all Muslims throughout the world, for the Islamic Ummah. God’s curse be upon those who sideline the truth of the Islamic Ummah, those who divert attention away from the importance of the Islamic Ummah, those who divide Muslims into different groups with different goals, those who magnify nationalities against the glory of the Islamic Ummah and those who create division within the Iranian nation. The Islamic Ummah is important. Glory belongs to the Islamic Ummah. Allah the Exalted will bestow His mercy and blessings on the Islamic Ummah. Hajj is a manifestation of the Islamic Ummah: it is the Islamic Ummah in microcosm. “Coming from every remote path” [The Holy Quran, 22: 27]. Muslims come together from different parts of the world and from remote places. And what a great opportunity for communicating with each other, for unity with one another, for listening to each other’s sufferings, for expressing sympathy. Apart from hajj, when do Muslims get such an opportunity?

Observe individual duties in Hajj

Hajj has two complementary aspects: an individual aspect and a social aspect. It is necessary to pay attention to both aspects. The individual aspect of hajj belongs to individual hajj pilgrims. Each hajj pilgrim should establish a relationship with Allah the Exalted during his pilgrimage and he should repent and take spiritual provisions for himself. In a holy ayah relating to hajj, piety has been advised. “Surely the provision is the guarding of oneself, and be careful (of your duty) to Me, O men of understanding” [The Holy Quran, 2: 197]. Each and every one of the honorable pilgrims who are blessed with this great opportunity should think of how to make the best of this provision. “And you that ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him” [The Holy Quran, 11: 3]. Hajj pilgrims should repent. They should pray. They should ask Allah the Exalted for whatever they need. They should make a covenant with Allah the Exalted to remain committed to their future, their lives and their activities. This is the individual aspect of hajj. As far as this individual aspect of hajj is concerned, every hajj pilgrim should try to move closer to Allah the Exalted on his pilgrimage. He should cleanse his heart. He should take provisions for the rest of his life. Spiritual blessings for individual pilgrims originate from this pilgrimage, from these rituals, from these days. Hajj pilgrims should appreciate the value of this opportunity. There are certain things that an individual can achieve only during hajj pilgrimage. Seeing Ka’bah is worship. Tawaf around Ka’bah is worship. Praying in Masjid ul-Haraam is worship. Visiting the shrine of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) is worship. Arafat is an arena for speaking to God. Mash’ar is an arena for attention to God. The same is true of Mina. Pilgrims should make use of each and every one of these elements to cleanse their hearts, to improve their spiritual status and to take provisions for the rest of their lives. This is the individual aspect of hajj.

We consider the use of WMDs as Haram

Leader's speech to members of Ahlul Bayt World Assembly and Islamic Radio and TV Union

"The Middle East" is a wrong name. This is West Asia. This is Asia - a large continent - and we are in West Asia. This region is a very sensitive region

There is no difference between Shia and Sunni when it comes to supporting oppressed

In supporting the oppressed, we do not look, have not looked and will not look at the other side's religion and denomination. This is our magnanimous Imam's (r.a.) guideline. Imam behaved towards Shia resistance in Lebanon in the same way that he behaved towards Sunni resistance in Palestine. He behaved towards them without any difference. We supported our brothers in Lebanon in the same way that we supported our brothers in Gaza without any difference. The former were Sunnis and the latter were Shias. The main issue for us is defending Islamic identity and supporting the oppressed. The main issue for us is the issue of Palestine which is the main issue for Muslims in the present time... We behave in the same way towards our enemies. Our magnanimous Imam (r.a.) fought against Mohammad Reza Pahlavi who was apparently a Shia. Likewise, he fought against Saddam who was apparently a Sunni. Of course, the former was not a true Shia and the latter was not a true Sunni either

Education, Ethical Edification and Sports

If I'm asked to answer in a few words what I'd advise a youth, I would say: Education, ethical edification and sports. Ayatollah Khamenei, 4/27/1988

Leader's speech in meeting with ambassadors of Islamic countries

The world of Islam has one single prescription today and that is unity. This prescription exists in all Islamic countries. Nations should be united. The Iranian nation should be united. No division and discord should emerge out of nuclear, non-nuclear and other such events.

Leader's sermons at Eid ul-Fitr prayers

Speech

Leader's speech in meeting with government officials and ambassadors of Islamic countries

The Zionist regime was planted in the region to create discord

They inject this discord into the world of Islam. Why do they do so? It is because the interests of superpowers lie in it. They do not want the Islamic Ummah to be united. They do not want this great power to arise in the horizons of global powers. They do not want this. If the Islamic Ummah were united and if it relied on its common points, it would undoubtedly become a unique power in the firmament of global politics. Considering its large population, underground resources and provisions, and natural and human sources of wealth and considering the countries that are located in this sensitive area of the world, if we became united, such a phenomenon would dominate the world. They do not want this to happen. They have planted the Zionist regime in the region so that they can create discord and busy regional countries with themselves.Nations resisted the Zionist regime and they did not surrender to them. You should pay attention to this point. During the 10 years when the Zionist regime increased its materialistic power on a daily basis with the assistance and support of England and later on America, some weak governments and vicious individuals in Muslim governments were drawn to the Zionists. Many Muslim governments and some politicians in the world of Islam - including the former sinister regime in our country and some others - established close relations with the Zionists. This was while the Zionists were usurpers, transgressors and murderers.

This discord is an imposed one

Today, the world of Islam is facing many problems. Islam has placed great emphasis on the unity, unanimity and brotherhood of Muslims. We can hold fast by the rope that Allah stretches out individually, but Islam does not advise this: "And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah stretches out for you" [The Holy Quran, 3: 103]. All of us should hold fast by this rope together. We should be together. Despite all this emphasis, today we Muslims do not unfortunately obey this command of Islam. And as you can witness, this is the result. I want to ask all Muslims - particularly ulama, intellectuals, officials, politicians and outstanding personalities in all Islamic countries - to see the treacherous hands of the enemies of the Islamic Ummah in this discord. This discord is not a natural one, rather it is imposed on and suggested to us. Muslims can naturally live together. Experience has shown that when the enemy's temptations, deception and malevolence do not enter the arena, they can live together. We have seen this in our own country. We have seen this in Iraq and other Islamic countries.

Photos of Eid ul-Fitr prayers in Iran

Leader's response to President Rouhani's letter on nuclear negotiations

The following is the full text of the letter written on July 15, 2015 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in response to President Rouhani's letter on the nuclear agreement between Iran and P5+1. In his letter, President Rouhani thanked the Leader for his valuable instructions and guidelines in the process of reaching the nuclear agreement. He stressed that the agreement was reached after world powers realized that the weapon of sanctions cannot prevent the people of Iran from making progress in different arenas. President Rouhani reiterated that the secret to reaching the final agreement was domestic unity and unanimity and the Leader's guidance.

Leader meets with President and Cabinet members

Leader Meets with Students

A large number of ISIS's suicide attacks are carried out by European youth

Depression means the effort of a European youth to become a member of ISIS. The reports that we have received show that a large number of ISIS's suicide attacks are carried out by European youth. Such youth want to commit suicide. They think that this kind of suicide is exciting and that it is better than drowning oneself in such and such a river in Europe. This is why they go there and seek excitement as a result of their depression.

Speech

Leader's speech in meeting with students

One of the ways to gain the power of attraction is to find new ideas: "Say novel things as there is a special sweetness in novelty" . You should put forward new ideas.

Leader's Speech in Meeting with University Professors

Those who claim to support human rights train terrorists themselves

The goal of the enemies of the Iranian nation is to prevent our country and people from achieving their true civilizational position. They felt that this movement has begun in the country and this is why they have imposed sanctions on us. I too believe that sanctions were not imposed because of the nuclear issue, the issue of human rights and the issue of terrorism. They [the Americans and westerners] themselves train terrorists. They themselves are opposed to human rights. Are they pressuring a country only for the sake of human rights? The issue is not this. There are more important calculations behind this issue. A people, a movement and an identity have come into being that pivot around principles opposed to those of global arrogance and the oppressor-oppressed system. They do not want this to develop. We are in such a condition. We are in such a position. Therefore, we should move forward and work hard.