As Eid al-Fitr prayers were performed across the country, thousands of devout believers in Tehran also gathered at the Musalla of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) to offer Eid al-Fitr prayers, with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution-- Ayatollah Khamenei-- leading the prayer, on Friday morning June 15, 2018.
Delivering the sermon after the prayer, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution opened his speech by stating: "I congratulate all brothers and sisters who are present at this great, vibrant gathering, and also the entire Iranian nation and entire Islamic Ummah on the occasion of Eid Fitr. The auspicious Eid Fitr is a day in which those who endeavored and performed good deeds are rewarded."
Ayatollah Khamenei described the month of Ramadan as an opportunity to gain greater divine rewards and said: "God has placed the month of Ramadan as a competitive field. Thanks be to God, every year our nation gain greater rewards [of spirituality] in this contest; when we compare each year with the precedent we recognize among the people that progress in spirituality, in good deeds, and acts bring people closer to God."
His Eminence reminded the audience: "Reciting the Quran (a juz’ every day) started in one city, and today, in many cities of Iran, reciting the Quran has become routine. Gatherings for reciting duas and supplications, and presence and enthusiasm of people in these gatherings, increases each year. I investigated and found that this year gatherings of dua, dhikr, supplication, and preaching were more popular, more attractive and more lively than other years: this is an arena of competition for His servants."
The Supreme Leader praised the tradition of giving out iftar, stating that: "In mosques, offering iftari to the people has become common, and in the streets and cities, several areas are prepared for offering simple iftari. Offering iftari was more widespread this year; it was more vivid. This exhibits progress in this contest. The utmost brightness of the month of Ramadan was during the nights of Qadr, when huge gatherings of people from all cities around the country raised their hands in prayers. They increased purity and pleasantness of their spirits; these are efforts made in the contest. The rally on the day of Quds was a unique phenomenon, unprecedented this year."
Ayatollah Khamenei asserted that the people of Iran were enlightened and awakened, spiritually, and this shared enlightenment would only increase: "This nation is awakened and inspired. This nation is not tired; those people from other countries that say the “Iranian nation is tired" are indeed themselves tired. The Iranian people, who after a night of little sleep, come to the streets and participate in the rally, are not tired."
Ayatollah Khamenei further hailed the Iranian nation's efforts to stand steadfast in the face of all difficulties and predicaments and added: This nation is not tired, is not hopeless: this nation regards the field of action as a competitive field. Spirituality increases day after day. Each year, during the month of Ramadan, our people’s spirituality and spiritedness increases. This means the Iranian nation is standing steadfast, despite all policies that aim at dissociating the people from spirituality. This nation is standing against a world that moves toward corruption and spiritual decadence. The catalyzers of such expanded efforts [against corruption] are mainly the youth of this country: this is an extraordinary spiritual capital for a country to have young populations with high degrees of spirituality: this will protect and safeguard the independence and greatness of our country."
The Leader of the Revolution went on to speak about the growing popularity of a now International Quds Day in his Aid ul-Fitr speech: "This year's Quds Day was more popular among other nations as well, and it was more widely, and enthusiastically celebrated. The news we read from other countries showed that people of various countries celebrate Quds Day. This means that despite the propaganda of the enemies, Muslim nations have come closer to Iran. These enemies, of course, try and are always defeated."
He continued: "The nations' aims are now closer. Satanic powers are constantly conspiring against the Iranian nation. Because those powers are afraid of [the propagation of] this nation's power, independence, and innovative vision for national life, among other nations."
Ayatollah Khamenei briefly mentioned Trump's misfortunate plots in the Middle East adding, " The president of the US claimed they have spent 7 trillion dollars in Asia and gained nothing: this is a defeat. They spent 7 trillions dollars in this region, and the Americans gained nothing in return."
"The United States is on its knees in the region. The Great Satan, with all its efforts, and temptations, has not achieved its goal in this region," the Leader firmly stated.
Once more the Leader of the Islamic Revolution reminded the audience that: "The US spends a lot of money without gaining benefits; in the future, too, satanic states will spend great sums of money, but they won’t gain anything; and the Iranian nation must be aware."
Ayatollah Khamenei finally held: Today, the enemy’s conspiracy constitutes putting economic pressures on the Iranian people, to make the people tired and hopeless, be aware of this; we should all work hard against their plots. Members of the Islamic government and authorities must also work hard—the collection of governing entities established by the officials of the three branches. The people must avoid squander; they should avoid extravagance, regarding unnecessary matters for the interest of the needy. Today, the Iranian people must know, liquidity is extreme in our country. Those who own liquidities, should direct the cash flow toward production. The wheel of the people’s life turns via production. All groups for the people are responsible [to facilitate this]."
Read the full text of the speech here.