Speech [Duty of government with Muslims public treasury, stability of actions]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I congratulate this great Islamic and religious feast to all oppressed nations and world Muslims and the honorable nation of Iran. I take it as a good omen that the president's confirmation ceremony fell on such a great day. I should say that concurrent with this day, you have big responsibility ahead of you. We should consider the government of Imam `Ali (May God's peace be upon him) and the status of his government. Those who are engaged in the government and in government machinery should take into consideration the style of that honorable man and see what they should do. Of course, we do not have the power to act as he did. No one has such a power. As has been quoted, in one of his guidelines to some of his agents, the Imam has written" Carve the reed pen point thinly, write the lines without leaving space between lines and avoid things that have no use." «2» This is an instruction for all, particularly those who are engaged in public treasury. To observe economy, the Commander of the Faithful (May God's peace be upon him) gave such orders during his tenure. He refrains from writing five lines in a page having space for 10 lines. A reed pen that was then common for writing should not be thick so that less ink would be used. Irrelevant remarks should not be written to save time, energy and money. He has also been quoted that once he was computing the Muslims' public treasury. A candle was burning to produce light. One entered to hold talk with the Imam (`a) not concerned with public treasury. The holy Imam put out the candle and kindled another candle. Asked on the reason for the act, the Imam replied, saying:" The first candle belonged to the public treasury and used for relevant works, but you want to talk about things unconcerned with public treasury."

What should we do with Muslims' public treasury? What is the duty of governments with Muslims' public treasury? This question is not something exclusive to that time and rule of the Commander of the Faithful. This is an order applicable to all governments in all ages. In the course of history those who are in charge of government should not use the public treasury uselessly as much as possible. Wasting one single penny will be called to task in the next world. One will be called to account before the Threshold of God Almighty. We should provide answer for the acts we do, for bringing about changes in the public treasury. Why? If one has dissipated, one will be punished; if one has acted based on justice, one will be rewarded. Hold the Muslims' public treasury worthwhile.

Muslim governments should not spend the public treasury of Muslims for their own pomp and pageantry. Public treasury should be spent for Muslims. If one is working for public treasury of Muslims, gets salary and earns his living by the salary one gets from the treasury, one should not belittle the guidelines of the Commander of the Faithful. If a ministry or department belongs to the public treasury of Muslims, their staff should minutely observe the instructions of the holy Imam regarding the Muslims' public treasury. Of course, as regards those things dealing with protection of officials, the situation we are currently involved, this is something that is necessary, but the limits should not be exceeded. Even the print media should notice that they should not write things that are not useful for people; they should not dissipate paper and time for these things. Radio and television should regard that the organization belongs to the public treasury of Muslims; they should not devote their time to things that do not meet the interests of Muslims. Such things are chargeable. The individuals and officials should notice that they should recruit advisor or servant as many as necessary, not as they wish. Beware that our wishes are endless. Do not think that if we achieve something we wish, it is over; when we obtain a wish, we will demand more. Today small governments have small demands and whims, but these whims cannot be confined. When one gains a higher position, one's demands will rise; one's desires will go up. When one becomes the president of a vast country such as the US, Soviet Union or India, then one's whims will enhance. One will not be content with these countries. Man's desires are limitless. Do not think that if a man living in a place finds a better place, he will feel comfortable there. The new place will be the beginning of desire to demand more spacious place.

I tell the President that four years passed and four more years will elapse. All governments are like this. Time will roll on. That which will not be over is the deeds we do; these are fixed and will be recorded in the books of God. Our good and bad deeds recoil upon us. Everything is from us and will return to us. Our deeds react. We should note man's carnal desire is his plague. This is ingrained among all human beings and originated from the nature of monotheism. Man's primordial nature seeks monotheism, perfection, absolute perfection. Man does not understand; he thinks he wants position, but when he achieved it, he will see this is not what he wanted. If the entire world are collected and given to man, he will not be content. You see that the powerful ones who command enormous power seek power more than all other and struggle to expand the scope of their power. If they conquer the space, the oceans, the earth and the sky, they will not yet be satisfied. If man fails to control his whims, the waywardness that is uncontrollable will perish him. One should prevent one's willful desires and bridle one's self. Those in charge of affairs should consider things that are to the interests of Islam and the Muslim nations in managing the affairs. They should hamper the progress of carnal whims that are the source of all corruptions. They should not think that if they get somewhere this will be enough. Never! Nothing is sufficient for man. Man seeks absolute power; that is, God's power. Man wishes to be immortal. This wish is unlimited. However, since we are not conversant and do not understand, we think we want these things. Moreover all afflictions experienced by man stem from the fact that he does not know what he wants. These few days of the world is terminable, these posts are ephemeral. What remains is what we have done and what we are before God's sacred Threshold. If this mentality is corrected, everything will be corrected. I hope that this question will be resolved for all, particularly those who hold key posts. If it was settled, all other questions would be resolved.

In the government now in your control and in the new period, you should note that the works you want to do should be works that are to the interests of the country and Islam. Consider the universities and Islamize them. If universities become Islamized, our problems will be settled in the future. Consider to elect individuals who are useful for Islam. Brush aside the intimates and regard God. If this question is resolved in every human being, all his problems are solvable.

May God grant success to all to follow the straight divinely path. We should cross the path related in narrations, which describe it" adaqqa" (narrower) than hair «3» or as darker than night, etc., or in some others it is described as crossing the hell. «4» This path starts from this world and extends to eternity. This form is manifested in that world.

In the path you cross, notice it to be straight. It should be straight and not Eastward or Westward. Bring up the youths to follow the straight path and seek God. Correct the organizations and all other things. Serve the tyrannized people who provided you with such positions. If they were not involved, you were either in prisons or in graves. You should serve them. We all should serve them, everyone to the extent of his ability.

The greatest [capital] is taqwa or piety which the Qur'an and hadith have so much underscored, urging man to be upright and cautioning him to watch lest he should oppress people with his tongue, eye or ear.

Administer justice. Do not seek justice for others, but for yourselves as well. Observe justice in your behavior and words. Lessen formalities and serve this nation.

May God grant success to all of us, all of you and all the officials to serve this nation, to gratify God in this world! I hope their movement is Islamic and divinely. I pray God to make the officials successful in their works.

May God's peace and mercy be upon you!