Khamenei.ir

The Leader’s View of Morality

Imam Khomeini revived and raised the flag of Islam and the dignity of Iran

I believe that two flags have been raised by the Imam in his recommendations, his slogans, and his demands of the public, government officials, and all Muslims across the world. In fact, our magnanimous Imam raised two flags through the great movement he established in the country and the world of Islam. One flag was the revival of Islam and invoking the great power of Islam. The second flag was the honor and grandeur of Iran and the Iranian people. These two flags were raised by the powerful hands of our magnanimous Imam. The first flag, which is in fact one aspect of the Imam's call and movement, concerns the great Islamic Ummah. Although it concerns Iran and the Iranian nation, the second flag is a source of hope and dynamism for the Islamic Ummah, as it is living proof of the inspirational Islamic movement. This great movement in Iran was a real-world outcome of Islamic awakening and the realization of Islamic goals. Therefore, it is directly related to Iran and the Iranian nation. However, the outcome of the movement is valuable and important to the entire Islamic Ummah… The first aspect - that is, raising the flag of Islam - caused Muslims living all over the world to feel that they had an identity. After the efforts that had been made for many consecutive years to destroy the Islamic identity, the Revolution was carried out and the charismatic personality of the Imam was revealed to the people of the world, which caused all Muslims to feel that they had acquired an identity, a noble personality. As a result, the signs of Islamic awakening started to emerge throughout the world of Islam… The second aspect of the movement is related to the dignity of Iran and Iranians. The first and the most important measure that our magnanimous Imam took in this regard was to cleanse the psyche of the Iranian nation of feelings of inferiority... The Imam arrived and annihilated these feelings of inferiority. Our magnanimous Imam inspired confidence during his 15-year movement and this led to the victory of the Revolution. After the victory of the Revolution, he instilled self-confidence into our nation in other ways. He made us believe that we can make a difference and that we have the power to do so. He made us believe in our capabilities and greatness.

Important issues in which the Iranian people felt failure

During the reign of the Pahlavi regime, the ruthless dictator, Reza Shah, suppressed the entire Iranian nation. Later on during the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi - due to the presence of Americans in Iran, the establishment of the intelligence service called SAVAK, and the violence the people were exposed to - the Iranian people felt totally enervated. The Iranian nation felt it had been defeated in a number of cases. Regarding the Constitutional Revolution, although the Iranian nation was victorious in the beginning, it felt it had been defeated in the end. Similarly, although the Iranian nation started a great movement to nationalize the oil industry, the officials in charge of the movement were not able to preserve this movement, and, therefore, the Iranian nation was defeated. After this defeat, there was a suppressive era of dictatorship from 1333 to 1357, crushing the sprits of the Iranian nation. Through their actions and words, the westoxicated intellectuals, many of whom were among government officials, had made the public believe that they were unable to make a difference, that they were not able to do anything on their own, and that they had to emulate westerners. They made the public believe that they had to imitate western science, industries, culture, clothing, foods, and manner of speaking. They even went as far as to claim that the writing system of Farsi had to be changed. Just imagine how much a nation has to be alienated from its independence and self-confidence to make a group of people insolent enough to claim that the writing system of the country has to be changed. They claimed that we should change our writing system, the system that had been used for a thousand years to encode and preserve our scientific achievements. They suggested that we adopt the European system of writing. That shows the extent of their tendency towards imitation.

Leader’s Address on the Occasion of Imam Khomeini’s Demise Anniversary

Leader Warns Presidential Candidates Against Undermining National Unity

Leader Meets with Families of Martyrs

Leader’s Address to Families of Martyrs

Leader Slams US Military Interference

Disrespect for others' beliefs is our red line

Islamic denominations must work shoulder to shoulder in a brotherly fashion and move towards the lofty goals and ideals of Islam. The enemy is hoping to pitch the followers of different Islamic denominations against one another. Nobody must give in to this spiteful plot of the enemy. They want to incite Shia against Sunni and Sunni against Shia. They want to sow spite and suspicion in the hearts of Muslims. That was why I declared that disrespect for each other's beliefs forms the red lines from an Islamic point of view and from our perspective. Those who disrespect what is held sacred in an Islamic denomination, be it Sunni or Shia Islam, do not know what they are doing. These acts of desecration provide the enemy with the best means. These are the red lines

Leader: Kurdish People Proud of Their Iranian Identity

Leader’s Address to the People of Saghez

Leader’s Speech to People of Bijar

Leader Urges High Turnout in Presidential Elections

Leader's Message of Condolence on Ayatollah Bahjat’s Demise

Leader Meets Officials of Kurdistan

Leader Urges Development of Domestic Progress Model

Leader's Speech to Students and Academics of Kurdistan

Leader’s Address to the People of Marivan

Leader Urges Officials to Solve Unemployment Problems in Kurdistan

Leader Meets with Government Officials in Kurdistan

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Outstanding Personalities of Kurdistan Province

Leader Meets Nomads in Kurdistan

Leader's Speech in Meeting with Kurdish Tribal Chiefs

Leader Meets with Prominent Figures of Kurdistan

There are differences but we should accept them

"And lest your power depart." [The Holy Quran, 8: 46] What is the meaning of this? This verse exactly reflects our current situation. When there is discord, when we are suspicious of one another, and when we consider one another as traitors, we will naturally avoid cooperation. Even if we do cooperate with one another, we will not be sincere. That is exactly what the enemy is after. Both Shia and Sunni scholars must understand this. It is quite natural for two denominations of a religion to have differences in some of their primary and secondary principles. Of course they are normally similar in the majority of their principles. But difference is not the same as hostility. In some cases, the fatwas that are issued by Shia muftis are radically different. Similarly, the fatwas issued by Sunni muftis are sometimes very different from one another. But when there is difference, one should not necessarily engage in insulting and slandering. We should accept the differences.That is to say, no particular denomination should think that the members of the Prophet's household belong to them. That is not the case: They belong to the world of Islam. Is there anyone who cannot accept Fatima Zahra (a.s.)? Is there anyone who cannot accept Imam Hussein (a.s.), the master of those who live in Paradise? Is there anyone who cannot accept the honorable Shia Imams? Shia Imams may be considered a religious leader by some, and some others believe that it is not obligatory to obey them, but all Muslims accept them. These are the facts, and we must understand and institutionalize them. Of course there are some people who do not understand these things. They give in to the enemy's provocations, while they think they are doing the right thing.

Spreading nonsense about Sunni and Shia, the job of the enemies' agents

Take the case of Palestine and our support for the Palestinian people - that is just an example that I am going to discuss. Regarding the Palestinian issue, no country and government was as active as the Islamic Republic. We supported them so much that some Arab countries voiced their dissatisfaction and said that Iran was pursuing its own objectives in Palestine. Of course the Palestinians did not pay any attention to these claims. Particularly, during the 22-day war that was waged on the people of Gaza a few months ago(2009), the Islamic Republic served the cause of the oppressed and faithful Palestinian brothers. Public rallies and financial support were used to further their cause. At the height of our support for Palestinians, we realized that some dangerous ideas were being propagated. Some individuals were trying to convince a number of ulama to withdraw their support for the Palestinian people. These individuals had told them that the people of Gaza were Nasebi, which meant that the people of Gaza were opposed to the members of the Prophet's (s.w.a.) household. They convinced these ulama. Then the ulama sent me several letters saying that the people of Gaza were Nasebi. I replied, "May God protect us. May God curse the evil and abolished Satan. There are some Mosques in Gaza named after the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) and Imam Hussein (a.s.). How could these people be Nasebi? They are Sunni, but not Nasebi.". There is another side to the coin. Some people go all the way to Qom to search Shia books for an insult to what Sunni Muslims hold sacred or they try to record the voice of an ignorant and spiteful speaker who talks nonsense about Sunni beliefs Thus, they try to encourage a negative attitude towards Shia.

Leader’s Speech to Armed Forces of Kurdistan

Leader’s Speech to Sunni and Shia Ulama in Kurdistan

Leader: Iran Will Not Hesitate to Respond to Threats

Leader Meets Ulama and Seminarians in Kurdistan