Thousands of the Iranian citizens from different social strata and walks of life called on the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on Saturday, July 28.
The meeting was convened on the auspicious birth anniversary of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali-ibn-Abitaleb (peace and greetings be upon him).
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader felicitated the Muslim ummah and the Iranian nation on the auspicious occasion and stated that His Holiness Ali-ibn-Abitaleb (peace and greetings be upon him) belongs to the entire humanity.
He pointed out that the great character and eminent personality of the Commander of the Faithful has deeply influenced all Muslims, including both the Shia and the Sunni, and also the followers of all divine religions and even his antagonists.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the Commander of the Faithful as an ever-shining sun of the history of mankind and the vast ocean of marvels and beauties. He stated that nobody is able to comprehend the depth and dimensions of this vast ocean except the Immaculate Ones (peace and greetings be upon them).
"Bravery, exemplary worship of Allah, generosity, benevolence, jihad and self-sacrifice, deep insight into the nature of mankind, insistence on justice, opposition to oppression and tyranny, valor in the face of rebels and dictators, the wise words that are enshrined in the Nahjulbalaghah as well as other prominent features and beauties that human beings have observed in the personality of the Commander of the Faithful constitute only the surface of the deep ocean of his character, and reaching the bottom of this deep and marvelous ocean is not possible even for the sages and scholars and learned individuals," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic noted that the aspiration for and the administration of justice, the firm adherence to religion and standing up to oppressors and tyrants were among the main features characterizing the Commander of the Faithful.
"Likewise, the adopting of such features by the Iranian people and officials is the only way of accomplishing the great ideals and noble objectives of the Iranian nation," the Leader added.
Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the whole lifetime of His Holiness Ali-ibn-Abitaleb (peace and greetings be upon him) serves as a perfect model leading mankind to prosperity and salvation.
"The time of his youth and adulthood, the time when Muslims migrated from Mecca to Medina, the time when the Islamic government was established, his keeping silent for some 25 years after the Holy Prophet's departure for the sake of preserving the unity and solidarity of the Islamic ummah and his ceaseless and tireless efforts to dispense justice at every moment of his caliphate have all turned His Holiness Ali-ibn-Abitaleb (peace and greetings be upon him) into a perfect model for human beings throughout the history of humanity and placed him on the summit of the creation of mankind," Ayatollah Khamenei remarked.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic further stated that striving and perseverance in the way of Allah and tireless efforts to administer justice in the Islamic community were among the prominent features characterizing the Commander of the Faithful.
"Treading the path of Allah was the course of action that was adopted by His Holiness Ali-ibn-Abitaleb (peace and greetings be upon him). A Shia is a person who, besides being devoted to and admiring the Commander of the Faithful, also treads this path. The reason is that love and praise for the Commander of the Faithful without treading this path is of no value and is not approved of by him either," the Leader pointed out.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the establishment of the Islamic Republic system in Iran as an instance on a small scale of following the course of action that was adopted by the Commander of the Faithful.
"The identity of the Islamic Republic system is based on the objectives which were pursued by the Commander of the Faithful, namely the dispensing of justice and countering oppression and tyranny and discrimination. This is the reason why the oppressors and those possessing wealth and wielding power that are oppressing and tyrannizing mankind through their hypocritical and misleading propaganda and in the name of democracy and freedom and human rights are antagonistic and hold a hostile attitude toward the Islamic Republic," Ayatollah Khamenei told the audience.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic described the resistance and perseverance of the Islamic Republic in its confrontation with the global Zionist network of bullying powers as a manifestation of the path that was trodden by the Commander of the Faithful.
"The Iranian people and officials of the Islamic Republic will continue to tread the path of the Commander of the Faithful as the only path to the accomplishment of their great national ideals and the attainment of honor and grandeur and dignity," the Leader remarked.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the Zionist regime and the U.S. administration as the major enemies of the Iranian nation. He also hinted at the nations' increasing hatred for the American regime.
"Today, despite all the abortive attempts that are being made by the enemies of the Islamic Republic system, the Iranian nation enjoys honor and dignity and is held in high regard among Muslim nations," Ayatollah Khamenei pointed out.
The Leader also stated, "Considering the repeated slogans on the part of our government officials that call for justice and philanthropy, the Islamic Iran will, by the favor of Allah, continue to tread its present path with increased vitality and strength."