In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
You are very welcome dear brothers and honorable gentlemen. I hope that the new term in the Assembly of Experts will bring our nation and our country many blessings, God willing. I wish to express my congratulations on the birthday anniversary of Hazrat Baqir al-Ulum (God’s greetings be upon him) and I would like to commemorate our deceased friends in the Assembly of Experts: the late Mr. Yathrebi, the late Mr. Ebadi, the late Mr. Zahedi from Kurdistan, the late Mr. Ferdowsipour and a number of other friends. I hope that God will bestow His mercy and forgiveness on them, God willing.
The Characteristics of the Recent Elections
Thankfully, we had good elections with good results. In my opinion, these elections had two prominent characteristics: one was the performance of the officials in charge of the elections as it was the first electoral experience of the ninth administration and they had to combine two – in some places – three elections because we had the parliamentary by-elections as well. Thankfully, officials managed to hold elections at a comprehensive level and in the least controversial manner.
The Psychological Warfare of the Enemy
Another characteristic of these elections – which existed in the previous Assembly of Experts elections as well, but which was more noticeable this time – was the heavy psychological warfare of the enemy and the propaganda of foreign media against the elections. Sometime before the elections – approximately, a few months before the elections – they tried to prepare the ground for cooling off the elections with all sorts of methods – whose significance is visible to those involved in the area of promotions. Well, the reason was clear. It was because elections are one of the most important areas and because the reliance of the Islamic government on the direct votes of the people is a very important phenomenon and a completely clear manifestation of religious democracy. They did not want this to happen and therefore, they were willing to cool it off.
And they set out to launch many propaganda efforts. Besides, certain threats against the country were issued with the purpose of discouraging and intimidating the people. They wanted to intimidate them about the current conditions of the Islamic Republic so that they would not show their presence in the ballot boxes. Well, the opposite measure against their plot is the next strong point of these elections: the people had a higher turnout in these elections compared to previous Assembly of Experts elections and their participation was warmer and at a more comprehensive level. Even some people thought of – and they mentioned it openly as well – holding the Assembly of Experts elections simultaneously with the local council elections so that the Experts elections would reap more votes thanks to the councils elections. However, the opposite happened: the turnout in the Assembly of Experts elections proved to be even higher than the councils elections despite the fact that the people’s daily affairs have more to do with the councils rather than the Assembly and people are normally more involved with the councils. Nonetheless, the people really cooperated. Almost all political groups participated in the elections. There was no tension, no separation and no fallout. This was one of the big achievements of the country and the system.
Influential Personalities Played Their Part
Another characteristic is that influential personalities came to the middle of the arena and expressed their viewpoints. Grand marja taqlids made certain announcements and spoke to the people. The same is true of outstanding personalities, ulama, student groups and seminarian associations. You could sometimes see that some people severely criticized the presence of such groups while it is correct to do so. It was correct for student, seminarian and various other groups to show their presence. And thankfully, Allah the Exalted helped us hold good elections.
The People’s Gratefulness and Their Faith in the Islamic Government
Now, I would like to set forth my main discussion. I will tell you that we should believe from the bottom of our hearts the role of the people in the Islamic government in a genuine and sincere manner and we should appreciate its value and preserve it. The people’s faith and belief in the system – their heartfelt belief and their ideological and emotional attachment – is a very important matter. It is really rare in the world for a people to develop a heartfelt belief – one that is accompanied by affection and an emotional bond – in the system with which they live. This is one of the results of the presence of religion in society. Therefore, we should appreciate the people’s belief.
If there are good relations between a people and their officials – the ruling body, whoever they might be – without faith and belief, this will be of no avail. Where there is a faith-based and belief-based relationship, then the people will have spiritual motives and something inside them will push them into every arena which is important for the system. Notice that Allah the Exalted says to His Messenger, “He it is That has strengthened you with His aid and with the company of the believers” [The Holy Quran, 8: 62]. He does something to make believers help the cause of Allah and it is He who has pulled the hearts of believers into this arena. Hearts are in the hands of God. People’s willpower, resources and emotions are in the hands of divine power. It is God who brings them to the arena: “Not if you had spent all that is in the earth, could you have produced that affection, but Allah has done it” [The Holy Quran, 8: 63]. However, the Holy Quran specifically mentions the element of popular presence: “He it is That has strengthened you with His aid and with the company of the believers.”
So, both divine assistance and believers’ presence exist. The value of believers should be appreciated. Here, passing a judgment depends on how we describe and define a particular phenomenon. Describing believers’ faith has an impact on their presence in the arena. Therefore, we should appreciate the value of preserving the people’s faith and love and the relationship between such faith and the system.
If the system truly proves to the people that it is committed to religion and to implementing divine sharia and that it is working for the sake of God – if we prove this in practice – then their love and their close ties will continue to exist. Our people are a pious people. I see that and the numerous reports that I receive from different places show that all groups of people participate in religious ceremonies and in ceremonies which represent genuine faith. People from different ethnicities and different denominations with different appearances and clothing, different viewpoints and at different ages participate in such ceremonies. This is a sign of faith. You may just need to look at the 22nd of Bahman rally which was held this year in Tehran and everywhere else. Notice which people participated in it. Hearths have not been estranged from faith and we thank God for that.
In other words, the 50-year effort of the taghuti power in Iran to separate the people from religion did not come to any fruition although they openly rebelled against religion. Thankfully, with the emergence of the Islamic government, the people took the right path and the orientation became a religious orientation. The people are with the system. Of course, there are different tastes and viewpoints and faith may exist at a low or high level, but everyone moves in this direction. This is a very important point and therefore, we should maintain it: the people should be shown in practice that the system and the Islamic government is a religious one and this cannot be proved with words and by keeping up the appearances. We should prove this in practice and in every area.
The Islamic Government Is Currently Enjoying Its Strongest Position
A point which I deem necessary to raise is that foreigners say something in their propaganda, political statements and various diplomatic negotiations that is sometimes repeated in our newspapers and media as well: they say that the country is in an extraordinary situation. I have said this before and I would like to say it to you now that this is not correct and there is no extraordinary situation. We have gotten used to these conditions. Since the beginning of the Revolution, the enemies of the Revolution and of Islam have always deployed their forces against the Revolution, with all their forces and numbers and this situation even existed before the Revolution.
Those who were present at the scene of revolutionary activities know full well that even before the Revolution, there were continuous conflicts and confrontations. However, at that time – before the Revolution – we had limited power and resources and our sphere of influence was not that wide. The enemy was small as well. There was the police of the taghut and at most, the taghuti regime itself, with all its power, but that was nothing. Later on, we became a government and naturally, the sphere of the enemies’ power widened as well. Subsequently, that government and that system achieved more power, credibility and deep-rootedness later on. Today, during the past 28 years, we are at our strongest position in every way and in every area. We enjoy the strongest position and status.
Well, the enemy has also proportionally reinforced its elements, its affairs and its activities. Nothing has changed. On the first day of the Revolution, the name of the Revolution and of Imam was heard everywhere, [but] today, the influence of the Revolution and of Imam exists everywhere. This is not a slogan. This is something that the Americans and the Europeans acknowledge and complain about in their analyses. Regarding Iraq, they themselves acknowledge that two elements are present on the Iraqi scene: One is the US and another is Iran.
The US spends a lot, but suffers a loss. As for Iran, it does not spend and it profits. This is not something that we say. This is what the Americans themselves say. Now, why they say this is another matter, but they are telling the truth in a way. The same is true at the scene of Middle Eastern, Palestinian and Lebanese developments. In all Islamic governments, there is the same outlook towards the masses of people.
The Sphere of the Islamic Republic’s Influence in the World
Notice that today despite all the propaganda campaigns that they launch against the administration and our President, whenever he travels to Indonesia, to Islamic countries and to Africa, the people, the youth and the intellectual society of those countries give such a warm reception to the same President who is subject to the harshest and most insulting media attacks. What does this signify? This signifies that the Islamic government has expanded. The same is true of previous years. Today, our influence is greater, our presence and power are stronger, our logic is cherished more and our cause is stronger. Therefore, the enemy’s activities have intensified as well: tit for tat. Before the Revolution too, we achieved victory with the same imbalance in forces. In the beginning of the Revolution and in the war, we won as well and in the present time too, we will win. Therefore, there is no extraordinary situation.
They keep promoting this notion. We have seen that in private negotiations between the politicians of our country with their diplomatic delegations – the negotiations in different places and in countries where anti-Iranian sentiments abound – they keep saying these things and they are reflected inside the country as well. They say these things to everyone, not just to executive and diplomatic officials. They say them to everyone available, to everyone travelling to those countries and to everyone whom they think can influence a group of people here. Unfortunately, these ideas are conveyed from mouth to mouth and they appear in the press as well.
Patience and Thankfulness to God: The Elements of Victory
We should know the elements of victory. The elements of victory in the present time are the same ones that existed before and in the beginning of the Revolution and during the past 28 years, which are summarized in two words: patience and thankfulness. The first is patience: “Patience will give you an opening.” One should resist. Patience does not always mean enduring hardships: “Now then, for that, call them to the faith, and stand steadfast as you are commanded” [The Holy Quran, 42: 15]. This is what patience is. It means that we should not stop in the middle of the path and that we should move forward. At whichever point you stop, that point will be the start of the enemy invasion and it will prepare the ground for your next defeat. Therefore, we should not stop and we should move forward. Of course, it is clear that courage is necessary as well as wisdom and acumen in planning and they should be displayed together. We should move forward and not stop in the middle of the path. This is patience.
And as for thankfulness, the first step to be thankful is to know blessings. The next step is considering it as something given by God. We should not be like Qarun who said, “This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge which I have” [The Holy Quran, 28: 78]. He said, “It is I who have achieved this.” However, there is no “I”. Many individuals more powerful than us were drowned amidst various storms in a way that there was no trace of them left: “He it is that has strengthened you with His aid and with the company of the believers.” It is God Who gives and Who helps.
Being Thankful for Divine Blessings
I have said this many times: during one of Imam’s illnesses in the year 1365 – which was of course hidden and no one knew about it – I paid a visit to him. I expressed my concern at his condition, but he said that I should not be worried in any way. He said something like this, but what I am about to tell you is his exact quotation and when I went out, I wrote it down: he said from what I understood since the beginning of the Revolution until today, I see that a hand of power is pushing us forward. This is what he exactly said, “I see that a hand of power is pushing us forward.” And this is the truth of the matter. We should consider these achievements as God-given. First of all, we should know what the blessings are: the blessing of the authority of Islam and the blessing of Islamic values turning into slogans. Are these minor achievements? There is also the blessing of raising the flag of religious promotion in the entire world of Islam. Is this a minor thing? We also enjoy the blessing of Islamic dignity which God has given us following that, the blessing of reviving the slogans of Imam and the Revolution after 28 years evidenced by the fact that a President is elected with such slogans. This indicates that the slogans are alive.
No other revolution has acted in the same way. When I say, “no other revolution”, this is based on examining the big revolutions in the world in a careful and detailed manner. I know what happened to the Great French Revolution after 28 years and in what condition the Soviet October Revolution was after 28 years. So, I am saying this by taking all those revolutions into account: there has been no revolution in the world whose slogans are alive, fresh and attractive for its people after the passage of 28 years. Naturally, there are some shortcomings, unsuccessful experiences and failures in the arena of practice, but the slogans are alive anyway. This is particular to our Revolution and it is a great blessing. Therefore, we should appreciate its value. When slogans are brought up, the people become attracted to them. This is what recognizing the blessings means.
Thankfully, our officials are good officials as well. They are busy working, endeavoring and doing jihad in the true sense of the word. I am witness, up close, to the activities that executive officials do. They do not differentiate between day and night when it comes to work and they are busy working hard. They plan, they take action, they follow-up and they move in hundreds of fronts for various affairs. These are very valuable, they are blessings. So, we should identify them and consider them as blessings given by God.
And the third factor in being thankful is utilizing the blessings in their proper place. One should identify divine blessings, consider them as God’s doing and then use them in the true place. “But the bounty of the Lord - rehearse and proclaim” [The Holy Quran, 93: 11]. This is one example of being thankful. Then, when thankfulness appears, patience appears as well: “Oh God, I ask you to bestow upon us such patience that is typical of the thankful.” This is from dua of the month of Rajab. It becomes evident that the thankful are naturally patient as well. When you see divine blessings and bounties and when you have a successful path, you become encouraged to resist and to be steadfast.
The Tricks That the Enemy Uses in Showing Enmity Towards the Islamic Republic
Of course, it is evident that the enemy does not like this situation. When I speak of “the enemy” I do not mean a specific government. Of course, it is evident that these enemies are headed by the Zionists and the US, but after all, with the slogans that the Islamic government chants, it has enemies from throughout the world including capitalists, materialists, power-hungry and over-ambitious individuals and the like. They do not like this situation and they have certain goals and methods. Our nation – in particular, you outstanding intellectuals, experts and outstanding personalities – have become familiar with the enemy’s methods and tricks over time. One of them – and perhaps, one of the most important ones – is political sedition inside the country. Of course, they sometimes become so brazen that they dare say openly that they pursue a dualism inside the government. Three, four years ago, they were saying that they would pursue some dualism and polarity inside the government.
چAnd sometimes things pan out in a way that they do not harbor such hopes and chant such slogans, but instead, they try to bring about some political sedition: for example, they try to separate personalities from one another, pit brothers against each other, portray small problems as proof of big divisions and consider differences of opinion as a source of conflict over essential matters. Normally, when there is division over the principles, conflicts will ensue. They try to entice individuals into adopting openly critical positions against one another. This is one of their endeavors and we should be completely vigilant. Everyone should be vigilant. This is not particular to the honorable members of the Assembly of Experts. All influential and honorable personalities – in the Islamic government, honorability has a spiritual basis: honorable personalities are those whom people listen to and who are influential among people – should be careful not to fall into this trap.
Another method they adopt is to discourage the system from continuing its path. They want to discourage the administration from continuing its path and using its current methodology and dynamism by way of insults, pressures and slander. This is what they are doing in the present time as well. They wish to give high-ranking officials and executive managers the feeling that continuing this path costs a great deal, thus discouraging them from doing it. And they have no scruples when they want to do so and this has always been their method.
During the time of jahilliyah [ignorance], when the Holy Prophet of Islam had not yet started his mission, everyone held him in high regard and called him “Muhammad the Trustworthy, the Moral, the Modest and the Beloved”. However, as soon as the slogan of monotheism flowed on his blessed tongue and as soon as they found out that this would jeopardize their interests, they used offensive terms to describe the same “trustworthy and loved” person, as mentioned in the Holy Quran: “Wizard, liar, poet” and other such terms of abuse. And later on, they resorted to their swords to confront him. This is how things are. When they feel that their interests are at stake, they decide to force the other party to changer their course. Here, God says, “And stand steadfast as you are commanded, you and those who follow you.”
There are certain shortcomings in the country which they magnify in their media and portray them as several times larger than they really are. There are certain achievements which they hide or portray in a dark way. These are the enemy’s doing. Therefore, we should be careful.
Of course, the enemy is the enemy, but there are some people inside the country – of course, they are not large in number, they are few – who are really not willing to get along with the Islamic government because of whatever reason. They are truly the manifestation of this holy ayah: “Even if We send unto them angels, and the dead spoke unto them, and We gathered together all things before their very eyes, they are not the ones to believe, unless it is in God's plan. But most of them ignore the truth” [The Holy Quran, 6: 111]. Even if the Islamic government splits the moon [reference to the Holy Prophet’s miracle], they are not prepared to accept it. Well, some people are like this. We have nothing to do with them. Since the beginning until today, the system has not adopted the policy of suppressing anyone who does not accept us. Of course, they level such an accusation at us, but it is a lie, the reason being that they are safe and sound, walking and being free not to accept us.
As long as they do not engage in fighting against and harming the system, they will naturally not be harmed. There is a counter-blow for every blow, after all. The poet said, “You dealt a blow, now here is a taste of your own medicine for you” [from a poem by Moulavi]. This is a completely natural phenomenon, but as long as they are merely opposed to us, they can keep being opposed. We do not engage with such people, but some of them have been misguided and therefore, should be enlightened. One should try to decrease ignorance and misguidance.
The Responsibilities of the Assembly of Experts
As for the current gathering of honorable Experts, what I want to say to you is reminding you of the following holy ayah: “Allah commands you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between man and man, that you judge with justice” [The Holy Quran, 4: 58]. This is the main point. There is an important trust in your hands and a very heavy responsibility falls on you. I have also spoken about some of these responsibilities and activities that should be done. The gentlemen in the meeting pointed them out as well. These activities are good as long as they are compatible with the law. In my opinion, working out of the sphere of legal obligations might not be very wise. It is alright to pursue with those activities which are compatible with the law. Such activities are alright.
However, the main point is what I said in my Eid ul-Fitr sermons: You are reserved for the rainy day, and that day will surely come. You are reserved for the time when society needs your choice, your decision, your diagnosis and your actions. You should prepare yourselves for that task and for that essential time. On that day, you should pay attention that “Allah commands you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due.” This is my main discussion with you: knowledge, courage, resistance and broad-mindedness should exist in you simultaneously.
Avoiding Denominational and Religious Discord
Another important issue, also mentioned by the gentlemen, is the issue of denominational discord. By Allah’s favor and grace, we are not suffering from it inside the country as Shia and Sunni brothers stand alongside one another. You mentioned Baluchistan in this regard. Well, I have been there and I witnessed up close the developments there. The same is true of Kurdistan, the Turkmensara and northern areas. In those areas, Shia and Sunni brothers are living and working together. They have similar Islamic viewpoints in many areas and in some areas, they have some disagreements. Well, this is alright. In a Shia community, do Shia groups not have certain disagreements? The answer is yes. The same is true of Sunni groups, but these disagreements should not lead to discord.
However, the enemies are working to that end. One could also create discord in our peaceful and quiet society where Shia and Sunnis live together. The enemy knows his trade, in particular the English. I have said many times that the English are experts in sowing discord everywhere. The same is true of the issue of Shia and Sunni. In Iraq too, Shias and Sunnis had lived together for centuries [before the emergence of takfirists]. They used to marry their sons and daughters to one another and they had familial bonds, but notice what they are doing to the people of Iraq by involving a corrupt group of people.
If we look at massacres, assassinations and explosions, it is not Sunnis who kill Shias and it is not Shias who kill Sunnis. Those actions are done by another group of people who cannot be considered Shias or Sunnis. In my opinion, they are neo-Qarmatians. They are the Qarmatians of the present era. As the Qarmatians did those abominable things by associating themselves to a certain denomination – the Ismaeeli denomination – and as they kept murdering Muslims and committing horrifying crimes almost in the course of a century, the present group are another version of the Qarmatians. By associating themselves to a false religion, they engage in corruption. They kill people and do horrible things wherever they can. They cooperate with the enemies of religion and Islam. One should be vigilant and avoid provoking the sentiments of the masses of people. Ulama can speak to one another more easily, but for the masses of people, this is more difficult. Everyone – from both sides – should act in a very considerate manner.
I have a word of advice for the gentlemen and experts in the Assembly of Experts: it will be good for you to participate in different congresses and gatherings. When there was talk of the presence of the experts in different areas – this was also pointed out in the gentlemen’s speeches in the congress held 10 days ago – presence is carried out this way. Otherwise, entering into some issues of the country – executive issues for instance – is not something which is to the advantage of the Assembly of Experts. The members of the Assembly of Experts should participate in academic and popular gatherings and congresses as experts and as members of the Assembly of Experts, not with other titles and positions such as Friday prayer leaders or representatives of the Leader. In those gatherings, they can ask and answer questions and speak about the principles of the Assembly of Experts and delineate its roadmap. They can discuss what they know about the issues of the country. This is what is meant by the presence of the Assembly of Experts at the scene.
Thankfully, the Assembly of Experts is a combination of good personalities. The combination is a good combination. In my opinion, the disagreements pointed out by Mr. Yazdi are not really deep and serious. The mere act of saying “There is some tension. So, let us solve and fix it” might lead to division and discord to some extent. This is the same as the story in which a professor was told, “Sir, you are sick. You look quite pale.” And the professor felt that he was really sick. We should really get the gentlemen you mentioned to ask themselves this question: “What is that deep enmity for us to solve?” There is no deep enmity. Everyone [here] is a clergy and everyone has friendly and close relations with one another. They might have some differences of opinion, but even close friends have differences of opinion on many matters.
I hope that you will win the attention of the Imam of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for his sake) and I hope that by Allah’s favor, you will be able to perfectly carry out your heavy responsibilities in this term which is longer than previous terms.
Greetings be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings