A youth runs away from his parents' house because of his ignorance. Then he goes back to his parents' arms and faces their kindness, compassion and caresses. This is repentance. When we return to the house of divine mercy, Allah the Exalted accepts and welcomes us with open arms. We should appreciate the value of this return which naturally happens to religious people.
I saw the images of the presence of youth, teenagers, women and men in Quranic meetings and religious ceremonies where they engaged in dua and dhikr in the entire month of Ramadan. The tears which were shed from the people's faces in paying attention to God are very precious and valuable. These acts mean repentance and we should preserve it.
Our careless hearts make mistakes and errors because of following temptations. The month of Ramadan has offered us the opportunity to cleanse ourselves. This cleansing is very valuable. These tears cleanse hearts, but they should be preserved. All great pains and deadly and dangerous diseases - that is to say, egotism, arrogance, jealousy, transgression, treachery and decadence which are our great diseases - find the opportunity to cure themselves in the month of Ramadan.
In the month of Ramadan, these diseases become treatable. In this month, Allah the Exalted pays attention to us and He has certainly done this already. This year, our month of Ramadan was very good. The meetings - Quranic meetings and the meetings during which people engaged in dhikr, dua, and counsel to do good - which were held in the month of Ramadan, the presence of people from different social backgrounds and the presence of different faces [were very good].
How many charitable actions were taken in the month of Ramadan! How many poor people were helped throughout this auspicious month! These are very valuable. Each of these actions gives a new scent to our souls and each of them opens a new door to us. We should preserve these things.
I advise the youth to appreciate the value of these soft and enlightened hearts. Such things happen less when one becomes older. Youth benefit more from these characteristics. You should preserve these hearts and souls. You should appreciate the value of saying prayers on time, being present in mosques and reciting and establishing a close relationship with the Holy Quran and the duas which have been narrated by the Imams (a.s.). These duas[Prayers] are the treasure of Islamic teachings.
We should attend to our moral behavior as well. We should attend to our moral behavior as well. Behavior is even more important than action. We should create an environment of brotherhood, kindness and optimism in society. I do not at all agree with creating an environment of pessimism and doubt in society. We should break ourselves of these habits.
Imam Khamenei Sep 20, 2009
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