In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The regime's opposition to the foundation of Islam
It is now the afternoon of `Ashoura' Sometimes when I reflect upon the events of `Ashoura', a question occurs to me: If the Bani Umayyah and the regime of Yazid ibn Mu`awiyah were at war with Husayn, then why did they commit such savage and inhuman crimes against defenceless women and innocent children on the day of `Ashoura'? What were the women and infants guilty of? It seems to me that their concern was far more basic; they did not wish the Bani Hashim to exist; the Bani Umayyah were hostile toward the Bani Hashim as a whole and their goal was to root out this goodly tree [shajarah at-tayyibah]. «1» The same idea prevailed in Iran. What business did they have with our sixteen- and seventeen-year-old youngsters? What had the Sayyid aged no more than sixteen or seventeen years done against the Shah? «2» What had he done to upset the government? What had he done to upset the tyrannical regime? One is led to conclude that it is toward underlying principles that they are hostile rather than children. They do not wish these principles to exist, nor do they wish any of us to exist; the young and the old alike.
Israel is the enemy of Islam and Iran
Israel does not wish there to be any learned men in this country. Israel does not wish the Qur'an to exist in this country. Israel does not wish the `ulama' to exist in this country. Israel does not wish to see Islamic precepts in this country. It was Israel that assaulted the madrasah «3» by means of its sinister agents. It is assaulting us too and you, the nation; it wishes to seize your economy, to destroy your trade and agriculture and to appropriate your wealth leaving this country without. Anything which proves to be a barrier, or blocks its path is to be removed by means of its agents. The Qur'an is blocking its path; it must be removed. The religious establishment is blocking its path, it too must be removed; Faydiyyah is blocking its path, it must be destroyed. The religious students might later prove to be barriers; they must be flung from the roof and their arms and necks broken. We are affronted by our very own government, which assists Israel in achieving its objectives by obeying her command.
Who is the parasite?
You respectful people of Qum! On the day that mendacious, that scandalous referendum took place- that referendum which only a few thousand were in favor of and which was carried out contrary to the interests of the Iranian nation- you witnessed how certain persons were let loose onto the streets of Qum, and in this center of religious learning which stands beside the shrine of Fatimah Ma`soumah(`a); and how thugs and ruffians were picked up and driven around the streets in cars, yelling," Your sponging days are over! Your days of good living are at an end!" You look around; take note of the condition in which Faydiyyah Madrasah finds itself; take a look at the residential chambers. Those who spend the best and most active part of their lives in these small chambers, their monthly allowance not exceeding between 40- 100 tumans- are they parasites? How about those who have one account containing 1000 million tumans, while thousands of millions more are elsewhere in other accounts- are they not parasites?! Is it we( the `ulama' )who are parasites- people like the late Haj Shaykh `Abdul-Karim whose sons possessed nothing, not even food to eat on the night of his death (the audience weeps intensely), or the late Buroujerdi who was six hundred thousand tumans in debt at the time of his demise- was he a parasite?! Yet those who have filled banks all around the world, who have erected great towering palaces, who refuse to leave this nation alone and who continue in their endeavors to fill their own pockets and those of Israel with profits taken from the remainder of the national resources- they are not parasites?! It is for the world and the nation to judge who is parasitic.
Advice and warning given to the Shah
Let me give you some advice Sir, Mr. Shah! Your Majesty! My advice to you is to abstain from such acts; you are being deluded. I would not like to see everyone rejoice if your departure was arranged. I will tell you a story that will be familiar to those aged thirty or forty years or more. Three foreign countries once attacked and then occupied Iran: the Soviet Union, Britain and America. The property of the people was exposed to danger and their honor was imperiled; but God knows how elated the people were when they saw that Pahlavi «4» had gone. I do not want you to end up this way. Stop acting thus. It is not my wish that the same happens to you. Do not annoy the people so. Do not oppose the clergymen so. If what they say is true and you indeed oppose them, then it is wrong of you to think this way. If they hand you formerly-prepared material and then tell you to read it, give it some thought first. Why do you speak without first thinking? The `ulama' and the religious scholars of Islam, are they really defiled animals?! Does the nation see them in this light?! If they truly are defiled animals then why do people kiss their hands? Is it the hand of a defiled animal they kiss? And why do they regard the very water they drink as blessed? Is this the treatment afforded a defiled animal?!( The audience weeps intensely )Sir, are we really defiled animals? I hope to God that this is not what you mean. God forbid that you were referring to the `ulama' when you said," The black reaction «5» is like a defiled animal which is to be avoided by the people," because if this is so then our task is made more difficult and so is yours. You will not be able to live. The nation will not allow you to live. Do not continue in this way; heed my advice. You are now forty-three years old; enough is enough. Do not listen to what others tell you. Think a little; ponder about where all this is leading you. Learn at least something from your father's fate. Do not continue in this way. Listen to what I have to say; listen to what the `ulama' have to say; listen to what the religious scholars have to say- it is they who seek the welfare of the country and the nation. Are we reactionaries? Is the doctrine of Islam reactionary; and a" black reaction" at that? Is it you then who turned the" black" revolution into a" white" one?! Did you create a White Revolution? Which White Revolution did you make sir? Why do you try to deceive the people so? I swear by God, Israel is of no use to you, it is the Qur'an which can be of help to you.
I was informed today that a number of preachers were taken to the offices of SAVAK and were told that they could speak about anything they chose other than three subjects: they were not to say anything bad about the Shah; not to attack Israel; and not to say that Islam is endangered. The problem is that if we don't concern ourselves with these three subjects then what else is there to talk about? All of our difficulties without exception stem from these three issues. Sir, they themselves say this; it is not I who says it. Whoever you ask tells you that it was the Shah who ordered for such action to be taken; the Shah ordered for Faydiyyah Madrasah to be destroyed; the Shah ordered for those people to be killed That man «6»- I will mention his name at the appropriate time when he has been duly punished( an outburst of emotion from the audience )- who came to Faydiyyah Madrasah, whistled to signal for the commandos to gather, and shouted," What are you waiting for? Plunder the entire residential chambers and destroy whatever is there." He gave the order to attack and they attacked; but when he is asked," Why did you do such a thing?" he replies," I was acting on His Majesty's orders."
Are these (religious students) His Majesty's enemies? Is Israel His Majesty's friend? Israel will cause the country's collapse. Via its agents, Israel will cause the dissolution of the monarchy.
The Shah under the influence of Baha'is
Beware, for one thing is certain- if you take a look at the Baha'i almanac of two or three years ago, you will read, `Abdul-Baha «7» advocates equal rights for men and women"; and this is the line that has been adopted by them. Then the ignorant Mr. Shah also steps forward and talks of equal rights for men and women! You poor wretch, they have purposely set you up so that they can say that you are a Baha'i, and so that I in turn can denounce you as an unbeliever and you are finally got rid of. Do not continue in this way, you fool; do not do it. Conscription for women is what `Abdul-Baha advocates. The almanac in question is available, so why not read it. Has the Shah not seen this?! If not then those who have seen it and have set this poor wretch up to say these things are to be rebuked. I swear by God that I have heard that the security police have plans to ensure that the people see the Shah in a bad light, so that he can be expelled; and it may be for this reason that some of these matters are in fact kept from him. There are many such matters, more than you can possibly imagine. Both our country and our religion are in jeopardy. You repeatedly tell the `ulama' not to mention that our religion is endangered; but if we do not say this, does that mean that our religion is in fact not in danger? If we do not mention what the Shah is like, does that mean he is really not like that? Indeed, you must do something to change this situation. You are being blamed for everything. You helpless creature, you do not realize that on the day when a true outburst occurs, not one of these so-called friends of yours will want to know you. They are all friends of the dollar. They hold no belief or moral principles and they have no sense of loyalty.
The Shah's link to Israel
We feel particularly emotional at present, not because of the fact that today is `Ashoura' (although to a certain extent that is the case) but because of what is in store for this nation; because of that which is about to take place. That is the real cause of our extreme sorrow; we are truly apprehensive. What exactly is the relationship between the Shah and Israel anyway, which causes the secret service to tell us neither to speak of Israel nor of the Shah- what is the connection between the two? Can it be that the Shah is an Israeli? Does the secret service believe him to be Jewish? Surely this cannot be so; he professes to be a Muslim. He who claims to be a Muslim, according to the laws of Islam, is thereby a Muslim. The connection between us and Israel perhaps this concerns some kind of confidential matter. Maybe there is truth in what they say about certain organizations wanting to destroy the Shah. Do you not consider it a probability? If so then resolve the matter in some way. Somehow inform this man of these issues; it may cause him to wake up and become somewhat aware of the situation. However, they have ensured that he is under constant surveillance and they might therefore prevent such words of advice from reaching him. We are full of regret and sorrow. We truly regret the state in which Iran finds itself. We regret the state of our ruined country, of this cabinet and of those running our government. Kindly ask Mr. Shirazi to come and recite a prayer. I feel truly tired.