Study the early years of Islam: who were the ones who supported Imam Ali (a.s.) at the time when Islam and Imam Ali (a.s.) were isolated? They were not those with a record of serving Islam. Muslims with a record of servings Islam included Talha, Zubair, Sa’d Ibn Abi Vaghas and others. Some of them left Ali (a.s.) alone; some even stood against Ali (a.s.). They represent examples of followers who left [the leaders of Islam]. Then, what were examples of new enthusiasts joining [the leaders of Islam]? Individuals like Abd-Allah Ibn-Abbas, Muhammad Ibn-Abi Bakr, Malek Al-Ashtar, Meysam Tammar. They represent new enthusiasts [who were attracted to and supported Islam]. They were not among the pioneering devoted Muslims during the life of the prophet (PBUH); they grew enthusiasm for Islam while Islam was isolated; they were like new saplings[...]
It is heartbreaking to see those who were bred by the revolution, who were raised by teachings of Islam, and Imam Mahdi (a.s.), those who claimed they supported Imam Mahdi (a.s.) and the immaculate Imams (a.s.), now act in a manner that is cheered by Israel, the U.S. and CIA and simply anyone around the world who is against Islam. This makes one sorrowful. However, I would like to mention that divine promises are so abundant that they remove any sorrow from hearts. Divine tidings are so many. We should not think that if a few who have revolutionary backgrounds left the revolutionary path, then the revolution would be left alone. It is not true, because every revolution, school of thought, or social movement has at the same time both followers who give up and new enthusiasts who join in.
December 17, 1999