In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The Arba`in [the fortieth day marking the martyrdom anniversary] of the Doyen of the Martyrs and Master of the Oppressed- Allah's salutations and greetings be to him- has arrived. Our wakeful and courageous nation has had many useful Arba`ins. What tragedies and destructive cultural shortcomings we have faced during these years, that is, during more than fifty years of the usurping reign of the Pahlavi dynasty. The bitter and miserable years during these fifty years and more bitterer and more miserable over the past one or two years which have moved our brave nation against the dictatorship and colonialism.
This year the Arba`in of the Imam of ummah has coincided with the Arba`ins of the followers and Shi`ah of that great man of Islam and as if the blood of our martyrs is the extension of the pure blood of the martyrs of Karbala, and the recent Arba`in of our brothers is the reflection of the Arba`in of those courageous men. Their pure blood put an end to the rule of Yazid and the pure blood of these people has terminated the illegal monarchy. This year's Arba`in is exceptional and typical; participation in the exiting demonstrations and rallies marking this Arba`in is our religious, national duty.
The great Iranian nation, through its rallies and demonstrations across Iran, will bury this regime, will announce its opposition to the illegitimate Royal Council, and for yet another time announce its support for the Islamic Republic. It is necessary to attract the attention of the valorous nation of Iran to a few issues:
1. According to some reports the government officials take away the wheat of the silos and stores by trucks overnight and want to create an artificial famine. It is the definite duty of the people of Tehran and other cities to prevent this measure and appoint some of the trustable people to supervise and thwart this inhumane act. Negligence of this point involves religious liability.
2. According to reports the United States wants to steal away or explode the weapons and equipment, which have been imposed on Iran in lieu of petrodollars (if they have not taken them away by now as some news agencies have disclosed). It is the duty of the officers and other ranking officers of the three services of the army to prevent this act and it is the duty of the nation to cooperate with the army in this regard and not allow them to destroy or plunder the wealth of the nation anymore.
3. The honorable farmers must make efforts and not ignore cultivation, particularly cultivation of dry farming. The malicious elements may create artificial famine and pressure the country.
4. The Islamic banks should grant interest-free loans to the farmers and the Muslims cooperate with the banks in this regard to stop diabolic plots.
5. It is announced to all the foreign banks that the deposits of the Shah and his relatives and other thieves of the wealth of the dispossessed nation- the list of whose names has been prepared- belong to the nation, embezzled and taken out of the country by them. These banks must not give the deposited funds to them and very soon the competent officials will lodge complaint against them.
6. The members of the illegal houses of the parliament are warned to avoid going to the parliament and in case of violation, will be taken to the book by the honorable nation.
7. Now that the universities, these firm bastions of the struggles of the students, have been reopened, I expect the honorable academicians to continue their slogans against the corrupt regime and their struggles against the usurping government, against the Shah and against the illegal royal council and not accept the professors who are related to the system of oppression and repression or are supporters of the corrupt regime.
8. I warn those who have joined the illegal Royal Council as its members that this action is illegal and their interference in the fate of the country is an offense; they must immediately resign from this council, and in case of violation, will be responsible for its consequences.
9. The members of the Revolutionary Council are in Iran and will be introduced soon.
I beseech the Almighty God to rid the nation from the domestic and foreign vice by His extensive blessings. May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini
16,1399 AH
Dey 25,1357 AHS