The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei attended a commemorative ceremony marking the 18th departure anniversary of the Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Imam Khomeini on Monday, June 4.
Hundreds of thousands of faithful Iranian citizens from different cities and provinces across the country attended the memorial ceremony and renewed their allegiance to their late magnanimous leader on behalf of the great Iranian nation. The participants in the ceremony also made it known that the path of Imam Khomeini is still the only path to the accomplishment of Islamic and national ideals and objectives.
Speaking at the ceremony, which was held at the Imam Khomeini's mausoleum, Ayatollah Khamenei told the great enthusiastic gathering that the future of the Iranian people is much brighter than their past in view of their firm adherence to Imam Khomeini's movement, a movement which was mainly characterized by its Islamic nature and its reliance on the public.
The Leader further stated that Imam Khomeini and his thoughts and course of action constituted an immaculate word which imbued the Islamic nation with grandeur and dignity.
"The magnanimous Imam's name and his noble thoughts and pious deeds are becoming more dynamic and more shining in the great land of Iran and in the Muslim Ummah and in the human community as time goes by," the Leader noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed out that the secret of power and eternity of godly men is their communion with the Almighty and their striving in the way of Allah.
"The secret of spiritual power and increasing grandeur and influence of Imam Khomeini is that this great personality observed Allah in whatever he did and worked for the cause of Allah, and Almighty Allah also assisted him as He has promised in the Qur'an," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
He added that what caused the composure and firmness of purpose of Imam Khomeini at all times, especially at the country's crucial stages and difficult junctures and even at the time of his departure to his heavenly abode, was his communion with Almighty Allah.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic pointed out that one has to pay a price for moving on the path of truth and resisting the bullying powers and attaining progress and independence.
"Public trust was the price that Imam Khomeini paid for moving on this path, and Almighty Allah also recompensed him with a reward that was double the price he had paid, so much so that those who took part in his funeral procession were by far greater in number than those who welcomed this great leader on his return to his homeland," Ayatollah Khamenei remarked.
The Leader described prudence and persistence motivated by awareness as the only way for a nation to achieve its goals and attain its rights. He stated that the rights of a nation would not be attained by begging the domineering powers and giving ground and showing flexibility in dealing with them, "since rights would be attained only through perseverance and persistence."
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the strong determination and wholehearted striving of the Iranian nation as the most important factors contributing to the stability and strength of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the accomplishment of national dignity and independence of the Iranian people.
"The prudence and perseverance of the Iranian nation have caused the world's bullying powers to come to the conclusion that the Iranian people will not withdraw from the arena of hazards whenever their rights are at stake," Ayatollah Khamenei stated.
The Leader emphasized that the Iranian people's national persistence will prepare the ground for the attainment of their rights in all areas, including the area of nuclear energy.
"It is not the way with the free and independent Iranian nation to beg the domineering powers for the attainment of their rights and the use of nuclear energy, since this great nation and their valorous youth enjoy self-confidence and know from their experience of the past 28 years that they are able to attain all their rights through prudent perseverance," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic stated that the formation of a new entity in the significant Middle East region, namely the Islamic Republic of Iran, was the most important measure that was taken by the late Imam Khomeini.
"In the dark pre-revolution era Iran was under complete U.S. influence and domination. This was the reason why the miracle of the Islamic Revolution, which achieved victory under the unique leadership of Imam Khomeini and because of great efforts on the part of the Iranian people, surprised all the domineering powers, and wise individuals realized that the raising of the banner of Islam in Iran changed the course of the region," the Leader observed.
Ayatollah Khamenei further touched on the abortive attempts of the enemies at subverting the Islamic Republic.
"Despite all the plots and machinations of the enemies, the new entity that was formed by Imam Khomeini is presently the most stable system in the region, and the Iranian nation is the most fervent and the most resolute and the most dignified nation, and the bright face of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the late magnanimous Imam is becoming more brilliant among Muslim nations and the youngsters and intellectuals of the Islamic world as time goes by," Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out.
The Leader also referred to the Islamic characteristic of the Islamic Republic system as a feature going beyond a single branch of the Islamic religion.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has been established based on Shia teachings, but the Islamic nature of our system is such that it encompasses all the Islamic schools of thought and it is not confined to a single branch of Islam. This is the reason why, today, the Sunni Palestinian youngsters are looking to and pinning their hopes on the Islamic Republic of Iran just as the Shia Lebanese youngsters are doing, and our Islamic system has imbued all the constituents of the great Muslim ummah with a sense of honor and dignity," the Leader told the gathering.
Ayatollah Khamenei also cited adherence to the Islamic law and reliance on the public as other main aspects of the Islamic identity of the Islamic Republic system.
"Besides moral values, we have also derived all our social and political principles from the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and we are proud of this because we believe that a proper understanding of the Book and the Sunnah and a broad and scholarly outlook on them can provide nations with many ways of fulfilling their individual and social requirements," Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out.
As regards the Islamic Republic's reliance on the public, he stated, "Under the Islamic system, the will and demand of the public play a decisive role in the real sense of the word, and the fulfillment of public requirements is the major objective pursued by government officials. Indeed, the government aims to meet the material and spiritual and moral requirements of the public."
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic hinted at the notion of religious democracy and described the public's will as absolutely decisive within the framework of the divine religion. He added that religious democracy is the main structure of the Islamic Republic system which aims to preserve the genuine dignity of people and meet their general requirements.
"The Islamic system rejects the kind of democracy that is based on the wrong principles of the defeated Western liberal democracy, since under the dictatorial Western systems people play no role and the real powerbrokers are those possessing great wealth and capital," Ayatollah Khamenei remarked.
The Leader referred to innovation and initiative based on Islamic principles as another major feature of the Islamic Republic system. He stated that the Iranian political and cultural elites are expected to expound the pure Islam as it is understood from the Book and the Sunnah to those interested both inside the country and abroad.
Touching on the numerous blessings of Islamic innovations for the Islamic Republic system, Ayatollah Khamenei further noted that the political literature of the Islamic Republic of Iran holds great attraction for other nations as well.
"Some individuals should not try to match Islamic tenets and foundations with Western viewpoints because of their feeling of inferiority or their sense of fascination in the face of the West," Ayatollah Khamenei stated.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic hinted at the attempts that are being made by the arrogant powers' media empire to present a distorted image of the Iranian nation and the Islamic system.
"The resistance and victory of the Iranian nation in the face of threats and challenges, the preservation of principles and moving in the right direction, marvelous scientific and technological achievements, advancement in the areas of social and political management, a rise in global honor and dignity and turning into a model for other Muslim nations are the components which contribute to a real image of the Iranian nation," the Leader observed.
Ayatollah Khamenei also touched on the enemies' plot to foment a confrontation between the Shia and the Sunni, and he described Islamic solidarity as a real exigency.
"The enemies of the Muslim Ummah have created a bigoted and reactionary group that is ignorant of religious knowledge and spirituality so that there may be disputes and war and bloodshed among Muslims. However, based on the views of genuine Muslim ulama, those who taint their hands with the blood of Muslims commit an unforgivable sin, and what they do is indeed tantamount to renouncing Islam," the Leader pointed out.
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the bonds of brotherhood between the Iranian nation and other Muslim nations are real and genuine. He noted that despite their differences of opinion, Muslims belonging to various branches of Islam are expected to close ranks and join hands under the banners of "There is no God but Allah" and "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" and stand up to the enemies of Islam and of the Muslim Ummah.
In conclusion, the Leader of the Islamic Republic described the Iranian people's future as much brighter than their past.
"We still have a long way to go to the accomplishment of our ideals and objectives. However, the great Iranian people, in view of their perseverance and insight and national awareness, will tread this path with more success and, by following the glorious path of Imam Khomeini, will ensure a brilliant future for themselves," the Leader told the audience.