Khamenei.ir

A clear indicator for the time of sedition

Clarifying the issues for those who were confused was the most important characteristic among the characteristics of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) ... During the time of that deception and fitna, the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) told his companions not to abandon the path of righteousness they were treading. He asked them to continue their path in a sincere manner. He told them not to let their beliefs be shaken by the words of those who had created that fitna. He told them they were treading the right path. As I have said on numerous occasions, one characteristic of fitna is that the situation becomes confusing. Prominent figures of society sometimes make mistakes in a fitna. In such a situation, the existence of a standard becomes necessary. The standard is the same truth, sincerity and irrefutable evidence that people have at their disposal. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) used to refer people to that standard.

Non-Muslims astonished by Nahjulbalaghah of Imam Ali (a.s.)

It is necessary to read and learn from Nahjul Balaghah. Recently, many non-Muslim intellectuals have become familiar with Nahjul Balaghah. They have read the words of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.). They have learned from the manifestations of wisdom in his words, and they have been astonished by the greatness of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) and his words. We should pay much more attention to Nahjul Balaghah. We should learn more from its teachings. We should benefit more from Imam Ali's (a.s.) sea of wisdom. Nahjul Balaghah clarified all aspects, and provides us with all the lessons that we need. Sunni scholars have made surprising comments about Nahjul Balaghah. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) does not just belong to Shia Muslims. All Muslims and all those who love Islam see Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) at the peak of scholarly, spiritual, moral, human and divine greatness.

According to the holy prophet of Islam, Imam Ali (a.s.) is the benchmark for recognizing the truth

The character of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) was exceptional from birth to martyrdom. He was born inside the Ka'bah - which was unparalleled before his birth and remained unparalleled thereafter. And he was martyred while he was praying in the mosque. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) spent all the time between these two points in jihad, patience for the sake of God, acquiring knowledge and insight, and moving on the path of divine satisfaction. Early in his childhood, the hand of divine acumen gave Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) to the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) was only six years old when the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) brought him to his own house from the house of Abi Talib. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) was educated by the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.)... since his childhood. He announced his faith in the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) when he was a child. He prayed with the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). He engaged in jihad alongside the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). He made sacrifices for the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). During his lifetime, he tried his utmost to administer justice, promote the religion of God and protect Islam before and after the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) passed away. From the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) perspective, the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) is the criterion for truth and justice. Shia and Sunni Muslims have quoted the Holy Prophet as saying, "Ali is with truth, and truth is with Ali. Truth revolves around him wherever he is." This was how the lifestyle of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) was.

Leader Meets People of Bushehr

Leader's Speech to People of Bushehr

Leader Calls for Unity

Leader’s Speech to Basiji Professors

The following is the full text of the speech delivered on June 23, 2010 by Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in a meeting with basiji professors from across the country. The meeting was held in Tehran.

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Participants of 27th International Quran Competition

Leader: US and European Influence on Global Issues in Decline

Leader’s Address to MPs

Imam Khomeini regarded the Revolution as belonging to all Muslims, even non-Muslim, nations

Another clear characteristic of the Imam's path is that his movement is global. He considered the movement to be global, and he used to say that the Revolution belongs to all Muslim nations as well as non-Muslim countries. He was not afraid of saying this. This has nothing to do with interfering in the internal affairs of other countries which is something that we will not do. This is different from exporting the Revolution the way yesterday's colonialists would, and we are not the kind of people to do such things. This means that the sweet aroma of this divine phenomenon should be spread all over the world. Nations across the world should know what their responsibility is. Muslim nations should know what their identity is and where it lies. One example of this global view of things is the Imam's position on the issue of Palestine. He explicitly said, "Israel is a cancerous tumor." What do they do with a cancerous tumor? Other than removing it, what else can be done to treat a cancerous tumor? The Imam did not take anyone's interests into consideration. That was the logic behind the Imam's actions. This is not just a slogan. It is logical. Palestine is an ancient country... Some powerful people are saying that Palestine and its people should be wiped out so that a fake country called Israel can be established in its place. These powers were initially led by England, and later on America and other western countries joined in. This is one position on the issue of Palestine. Another position is one that was adopted by the Imam. He rejected the first position and said that it is the fake and imposed geographical unit that should be wiped out. He argued that the fake and newly-established country should be removed and the original country and geographical unit should be re-established in its place... This is the most logical comment that can be made regarding the usurping Zionist regime and the issue of Palestine.

The significance of people’s role in the viewpoint of Imam Khomeini

Another important characteristic of the path of the Imam is the role of the general public both in elections - the Imam started a great democratic movement in this regard - and other social matters. Revolutions were prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, and various kinds of revolutions were started in the east and the west. But holding a referendum to determine the form of government only two months after the victory of a revolution has been unprecedented in the history of all revolutions. This happened in Iran due to the efforts made by the Imam. Less than a year had passed since the victory of the Revolution when the Constitution was formulated and ratified... Our elections were never cancelled even during the most difficult days of the war when Tehran was being bombed by the enemy. Not even a singe election has been postponed until this day. Which democracy has been like this? No democracies, let alone revolutions, have held elections as punctually and carefully as we have. This is the path of the Imam. In various other issues that were not related to elections the Imam used to pay attention to the role of the people. He used to explicitly emphasize the role of the people. Once he said, "If government officials fail to do what they are supposed to do, the people will step in voluntarily."

Imam Khomeini’s faith and confidence in divine promises

Another crucial standard of the path of the Imam is the issue of divine and spiritual calculations. The Imam used to give priority to spiritual calculations in his decisions and actions. What does this mean? It means that people should give priority to satisfying God in everything they do. The priority should not be gaining a victory, seizing power, and acquiring prestige in front certain individuals. First, satisfaction of God should be the most important goal. Second, one should have faith in divine promises. Despair, lack of vigilance, and arrogance will become meaningless if your goal is to please God and if you have faith in divine promises. When the Imam was alone, he was not filled with fear and did not lose hope. Similarly, he did not become arrogant when the Iranian people unanimously shouted his name and when other nations started to express their love for him. When Khorramshahr was occupied by the Iraqi forces, the Imam did not lose his hope. And when Khorramshahr was liberated by our selfless and valorous soldiers, he did not become arrogant. He said, "Khorramshahr was liberated by God." He meant we did not play a determining role. That great man remained like this in all the events that happened during his life. When he was alone, he felt no fear. And when he was in power, he did not become arrogant. He did not lose his vigilance either. This shows his trust in God. When one strives for the satisfaction of God, the result is always like this... The Imam was confident about the truth of divine promises.

Imam Khomeini’s manner towards the liberals, communists, and western trends

Another standard in the path of the Imam was the Imam's power to attract and repel... Islam was the factor behind the Imam's power to attract and repel people - just as Imam Sajjad (a.s.) prays to God in Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya... In dua 44 of Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya - the prayer that is said on the eve of the month of Ramadan - Imam Sajjad (a.s.) prays to Allah the Exalted for certain things in the month of Ramadan. One of the things that Imam Sajjad prays for is peace with his enemies. But then he says, "Except for the enemies that I have made for the sake of You because they are the enemies with whom we will never make peace." That was the way the Imam behaved. He had no personal grudges against anyone. Even when there was personal resentment, he would ignore it. But enmity that was rooted in religious principles was very important to the Imam. At the beginning of the revolutionary movement in the year 1341, the Imam used to accept different people with various intellectual tendencies and from various ethnic and religious backgrounds, but he drove certain people away after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. He explicitly rejected the communists. At that time what he did was strange for many of us who had been involved in revolutionary activities since the beginning of the Revolution. During the early days of the Revolution the Imam adopted an explicit position against the communists and drove them away. He adopted a determined stance against the liberal-types and those who were bedazzled by western systems and culture. He distanced himself from those people. He never stood on ceremony with them. He drove the reactionary people away - the people who were not prepared to accept divine realities and the Quranic spirit of Islamic teachings, the people who were not prepared to accept that great transformation. He repeatedly rejected the reactionary people in strongly-worded statements. He did not hesitate to reject the people who were not within the same intellectual and Islamic framework as he was. But at the same time he did not hold any personal grudges against them.

Imam Khomeini established the Islamic Republic against the tyrannies

The Imam believed that the Islamic Republic was the manifestation of Islamic rule. As a result, he stood firm and made all those strenuous efforts to establish the Islamic Republic. Obviously, the Imam was not after power. He was only fighting for Islam. Therefore, he supported the Islamic Republic until the end. The Islamic Republic was a novel idea that the Imam introduced to the world... The Imam established the Islamic Republic to oppose these forms of human taghuts [government that is not sanctioned by God]. He made Islam the main standard, and relying on the votes of the people is a core principle of an Islamic system. Therefore, the Islamic Republic is both republican and Islamic in that it relies on the votes of the people as well as divine sharia. This is a novel system. This is one of the main standards of the path of Imam Khomeini (r.a.). Any other conception of the rule of the Islamic Republic would be against the Imam's thoughts. Someone who has a different conception should not claim to be a follower of the path of the Imam. This is one of the clearest principles of the Imam's intellectual path.

Muhammadian original Islam is the first and the main point in Imam Khomeini’s outlook

The first and the most important point about the Imam's principles and views is the issue of genuine Islam - that is, the kind of Islam that is against oppression, seeks justice, supports jihad and the underprivileged, and defends the rights of the poor and the oppressed. The Imam introduced the term "American Islam" into our political discourse as opposed to "pure Muhammadi Islam". American Islam means an Islam that is ceremonial - the kind of Islam that is indifferent to oppression, greed, and violation of the rights of the oppressed, the kind of Islam that helps bullies and the powerful, the kind of Islam that can put up with all this injustice. The Imam named this Islam "American Islam". Pure Islam was our magnanimous Imam's constant concern. It was not just limited to the era of the Islamic Republic. However, practicing pure Islam was impossible except under an Islamic government. If the political system of a country is not based on the foundations of Islamic thought and sharia, it is impossible for Islam to genuinely fight local and global oppressors and bullies. Therefore, the Imam believed that among all Islamic duties, safeguarding the Islamic Republic was the most important obligation. According to the Imam, safeguarding the Islamic Republic is not just one of the most important Islamic obligations - it is the most important obligation. Safeguarding the Islamic Republic is the most important Islamic obligation because protecting Islam - in the true sense of the word - depends on safeguarding the political system of the Islamic Republic. In the absence of an Islamic political system, it is impossible to protect Islam.

The siege of Gaza is a clear violation of human rights

Another issue is the oppressive blockade on Gaza which has lasted for three years now. It was an extremely cruel and savage move, and surprisingly it was approved and supported by America, England, and the western powers that constantly claim to support human rights. It is three years now that they have imposed a blockade on 1.5 million people. They do not allow food and medicine to be provided for all those people. They disrupt the provision of drinking water and electricity. They disrupt the provision of cement and building materials that are needed to repair the damage caused by war. Cement was the major part of the flotilla's cargo, which the people needed to repair their houses. In addition, they frequently open fire on the people, killing innocent children as well as men and women. This is how the Zionist regime acts. The organizations that claim to support human rights are just watching.

Ayatollah Khamenei Leads Tehran Friday Prayers

Leader’s Friday Prayer Address

Leader Meets Poets and Panegyrists

On the auspicious occasion of the birthday anniversary of Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and Imam Khomeini (r.a.), a number of poets and panegyrists met this morning with Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

Leader’s Speech on the Occasion of Fatima al-Zahra’s (s.a.) Birthday Anniversary

The Leader's Message on the Zionist Raid of a Gaza Aid Convoy

Leader Attends Graduation Ceremony at Imam Hussein (a.s.) Military Academy

Leader’s Speech to Students of Imam Hussein (a.s.) University

Leader Meets President of Zimbabwe

Leader Meets Algerian President

Leader Meets Senegalese President

Leader Meets Brazilian President

Leader Meets Sri Lankan President

Leader Meets Teachers