The following is the full text of the message issued on January 26, 2016 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, to the participants of the 24th Annual Prayer Conference. The message was read out by Ayatollah Abedini - the Leader's representative and Friday prayer leader of Qazvin.
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
I am thankful to God the Omniscient and the Omnipotent because the endeavors of you honorable officials of this important conference – more than all, the endeavors of the honorable and mujahid scholar, Hujjat-ul Islam Qira’ati – which have proved to be fruitful in fundamental and significant areas and because valuable tasks have been carried out in promoting the great and irreplaceable obligation of daily prayers.
Nonetheless, capacities, potentials and our Islamic society’s need and desire for reaching the ideal point are much more than the present realities in this regard. In last year’s message, a small part of this empty and demanding space was described.
Today, the point that I want to raise is an emphasis on a public sense of responsibility.
I expect that everyone – particularly, government officials and owners of worldly, otherworldly and managerial resources and amenities – correctly understand the greatness of this matter and the steps on the path of action.
Everyone should know that one of the most efficient ways for reducing social detriments is promoting daily prayers. You should act in a way that not even one youth and teenager of the country shows negligence in the area of daily prayers. This is one of the best ways for the spiritual and psychological health of our people and our society.
You should make efforts to help everyone learn and get used to saying prayers with humility and with presence of heart.
All these are possible tasks that will be accomplished with the firm determination and continuous efforts of you officials, God willing.
Greetings be upon you and Allah’s mercy
Sayyid Ali Khamenei
1/26/2016