In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
I am very pleased, and I thank the Almighty God for once again [giving us this opportunity] to see and benefit from this holy, blessed occasion in this Hussainiyah. Your pure, enlightened hearts add to the quality of their supplications, and to guidance, sermons, elegies, and everything else. The main thing is a person’s heart – an enlightened, pure heart – which, thank God, you are the source of this. Our respected reciter has shown good taste in reading this verse for us, “Surely they were youths who believed in their Lord and We increased them in guidance” (Qur’an 18:13). God willing, you will be an example of this noble verse. They were young people who believed, and faith was firmly established in their hearts. For this reason, the Almighty God increased His guidance for them. Let’s try to be like this.
The Arbaeen Walk is the glorious flag of Hussain ibn Ali (pbuh). This year’s Arbaeen Walk was conducted with more magnificence and glory than any other period in history. Indeed, the Arbaeen Walk and this massive participation of Muslims is a miraculous phenomenon. It is not something natural. An event like the Arbaeen Walk could not have come about based on any human strategy or planning. This was only possible through God’s will.
Well, this is good news. It is good news and glad tidings for you and me. Clearly, the Almighty God is advancing the cause of seeking and turning to Islam and is raising the flag of Islam and the Household of the Prophet (pbuh) more and more every day. This is an indication that the path we are on is a clear path, and God willing, it is a path that can be travelled.
I advise you, my dear young people, to appreciate the value of your heyats (groups for holding religious gatherings). I always tell young people that they should appreciate the value of their youthhood. The same thing applies today. Appreciate the value of your youthhood, but also appreciate the value of these heyats. These heyats are a treasure. They are truly a reliable, precious treasure. The heyats for Imam Hussain (pbuh) are for remembering as well as for clarifying. They are for both remembrance and clarification. This is how these heyats should be. They should keep these memories alive and be bases for clarification. This is something necessary for us today. You know, there are bandits who do not like the movements of you young people. There are bandits who dislike events like the event of the Arbaeen Walk that takes place from Najaf to Karbala. They don’t like seeing the enthusiastic, inspiring presence of the people. [So] they are busy struggling and working against it.
Our hearts should be prepared, and we all need to be ready to work. Each person has a duty. I have a duty; you have a duty. The country’s respected officials also have duties. Each person has a duty. Try to understand where you stand and what your duties are for yourself. Know what you need to do.
In my opinion, these two vital, fundamental, eternal sentences in the Holy Qur’an will always serve as instructions for us, and even more so today, “And enjoin one another to the truth and enjoin one another to patience” (Qur’an 103:3). Don’t forget enjoining the truth. Don’t forget enjoining patience. Patience means resistance. It means persistence. It means not getting tired and not feeling that one has come to a dead end. This is the meaning of patience. Walk the path of truth and bring others onto the path of truth too. Make an effort. Those people who are pious, Muslim, enthusiastic, devoted to heyats, and who truly follow the Qur’an and Islam’s teachings should strive to make an impact on the university environment and on various environments. They should enlighten and color their environment with what they believe in, i.e., bring that light and color toward the path of God. Enjoining others is obligatory for you. It is obligatory for us. Today, enjoin both the truth and patience. Do not let your environment become tiring. Don’t let it become dysfunctional.
I ask the Almighty God to grant you all success. I would also like to express my apologies to the brothers and sisters whom we could not welcome into this Hussainiyah any more than the numbers that are currently present. This is due to the existence of the pandemic, the Coronavirus, and the like, and also due to the limitations that exist. I send my regards to all of them and to all those who have expressed their kindness toward me and sent their greetings to me from afar. I send my greetings to them as well, and I pray to God for their success.
God willing, may the pure soul of Imam [Khomeini] be pleased with me and you. May the pure souls of the martyrs be satisfied with us. May the pure soul of Imam Hussain (pbuh) be pleased with us, and may the holy heart of the Imam of our Time be pleased with us.
May God’s greetings, mercy and blessings be upon you.
