On the 16th demise anniversary of the Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the late Imam Khomeini, the Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei addressed hundreds of thousands of faithful mourners at the late Imam's mausoleum on Saturday, June 4.
Speaking to the large gathering, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the participation of hundreds of thousands of devout Iranians in the ceremonies marking the 16th demise anniversary of Imam Khomeini indicates the Iranian nation's solemn pledge to continue the path of the late magnanimous leader of the Islamic Revolution.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to Imam Khomeini as among those pious men who, disregarding worldly charms and allurements and having a deep trust in the Almighty, have been able to influence the course of history and change the world. He stated that the late leader of the Islamic Revolution, like other pious and godly men, ruled the hearts of the people, and that his leadership was characterized by charisma and spirituality.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic emphasized that in the absence of prophets and divine revelation, the late Imam Khomeini presented a true spiritual leadership through his words and deeds. The Leader also noted that the only way for the Iranian nation and the Islamic Ummah to achieve salvation and prosperity is to follow the path and ideals of the late Imam Khomeini.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the administration of justice, putting an end to the humiliation suffered by Muslim nations, brave and strong resistance against the arrogant powers, the elimination of poverty and backwardness, the promotion of morality, piety and faith in society and the attainment of freedom as the main ideals and objectives of the founder of the Islamic Republic.
"The path of Imam Khomeini is the path of faith, justice, worldly progress, dignity and prosperity. We are determined to continue treading this path, as we have pledged to our late magnanimous Imam to do so," he remarked.
The Leader pointed out that the political school that was introduced by Imam Khomeini delineated a proper relationship between worldly and spiritual affairs.
"The temporal inclinations such as sensual desires, pursuit of worldly allurements and fondness of material values are totally rejected and despised from an Islamic perspective and based on the views of Imam Khomeini. However, according to the political school introduced by Imam Khomeini, temporal affairs such as those related to various arenas of individual and social life as well as engagement in political, economic, social and cultural activities are totally merged with and in harmony with religion," the Leader told the audience.
Ayatollah Khamenei further noted that from the viewpoint of Imam Khomeini, the material world is the place where religion is expected to fulfill its mission and perform its responsibilities.
"From the Islamic viewpoint of Imam Khomeini, what gives direction to the activities of human communities in all arenas is religion. Thus, the separation of religion from worldly affairs will only result in the degeneration of human life", he remarked.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic considered the delineation of a proper relationship between religion and worldly affairs by Imam Khomeini as the main reason for the incessant hostility of the arrogant powers toward the late founder of the Islamic Republic.
"All tyrants and oppressors in the course of the history of mankind, from Pharaoh and Nero to Shah and Saddam and Bush, have tried to eliminate religion from different worldly arenas in order to prepare the ground for their corrupt domination of human societies. But Imam Khomeini countered this wrong attitude and proved in practice that religion is able to architect the material world of mankind, and that it should be entrusted with the responsibility to lead human communities and manage their worldly affairs," the Leader observed.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the regional and international developments over the past two decades, including the collapse of the Communist camp in the world, the Palestinian uprising in the occupied territories, the rising hatred for the United States among world nations, the elimination of Saddam from regional equations and the rivalry between the United States and Europe.
"These developments and also U.S. military presence in the countries neighboring Iran may appear to indicate U.S. power. However, a realistic analysis of the general trend of such developments would reveal U.S. defiance in the face of the Islamic renaissance movement," he noted.
The Leader also hinted at the total sway held by the United States over the region before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, adding that the revolution led by the late Imam Khomeini shook the foundations of U.S. domination.
"The establishment of the Islamic Republic in Iran and the emergence of an Islamic renaissance movement among Muslim nations forced the United States to take certain measures to rein in and suppress this movement," he further noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the abortive U.S. 'Great Middle East' plan as a sign of the attempts made by the United States to subdue the anti-U.S. sentiments among Muslim nations. He stated that by making such attempts, the United States is trying to prevent the Islamic renaissance movement of Muslim nations from turning into a revolutionary movement and to delay the indubitable victory of Muslims.
"U.S. officials recently acknowledged that if they had not invaded Iraq, the faithful Iraqi people would have toppled Saddam in a short time. This acknowledgement points to the fact that U.S. regional measures have been prompted by a fear of the consequences of the Islamic renaissance movement in the region," he stated.
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the creation of rifts and schisms between the Shia and the Sunni as another ploy used by the arrogant powers to counter the Islamic awakening of Muslim nations. Emphasizing that the British have a great deal of experience in taking such measures, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the Zionists and other aliens are actively involved in the bloody incidents and explosions taking place during congregational prayers at the mosques and Friday prayer grounds.
"As the late Imam Khomeini often stated, all Muslim nations, especially the people of Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, should be heedful of the divisive plots of the sworn enemies of Islam with utter vigilance, unity and harmony," he told the gathering.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic touched on the upcoming presidential elections in Iran and considered the elections as bearing great significance from various aspects.
"The Iranian nation on June 17 will entrust the fate of the country and its executive affairs to the next president for the next four years. It is likely that the next president will use his vast legal power and authority as well as the country's numerous resources and facilities to solve the people's problems; or, God forbid, he may stop the society from making progress because of his negligence and inattention, or he may even cause the society to regress. This is why the forthcoming elections bear great significance," the Leader told the audience.
Describing elections as a symbol of the Islamic movement in Iran and a gift bestowed by Islam on the Iranian nation, Ayatollah Khamenei further stated, "The late magnanimous Imam cleared the world's mentality of the absolutely wrong belief that government in Islam is of an authoritarian and hereditary nature, and he presented to the Iranian nation and to the world a real Islamic government that relies on public participation and the people's freedom of choice."
As regards the basic differences between religious democracy and Western democracy, the Leader of the Islamic Republic pointed out that religious democracy stems from the people's divine right and duty to seal their own fate, and that it is not a mere social contract.
"The direct or indirect election of all officials in the Islamic Republic, which is done based on the people's right to decide their own fate, shows the deeper meaning of religious democracy compared with the West's liberal democracy. Indeed, religious democracy is among the prides of Islam, the late Imam and the Iranian nation," the Leader observed.
Referring to the negative propaganda of the sworn enemies of the Iranian nation that is aimed at discouraging the Iranian people from participating in the upcoming presidential elections, Ayatollah Khamenei stated, "The enemies of Islam and Iran will receive a heavy blow from the Iranian people's high turnout in the upcoming elections, since this massive turnout will display the attractive meaning of the Islamic Republic to the international community. However, the Iranian nation, by the favor of Allah, will pass this divine trial with pride and honor."
In conclusion, the Leader called on the supporters of different presidential candidates to refrain from mudslinging and trying to tarnish the image of one another. He stressed that the present healthy atmosphere in society will enable the public to identity the most competent and suitable candidate from among those running in the next presidential elections.