Speech [Unity of expression; Shi`ah-Sunni fraternity; the position of the religious minorities; supporting the military]

I seek refuge in God from the accursed Satan

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I would like to thank all the social classes of the nation. I thank the nation for creating this cooperation between the nation and the government. You owe your success to the solidarity of some (groups) with others. I am thankful that the clergy have come here together with academicians, the oil company's employees, and airline employees have announced their solidarity in this way. The clergy who are at Qum's theological center and other holy religious centers, in the major centers of Iran- Tehran and other places- and have all united and concerted efforts in the way of Islam will be rewarded. May the Almighty God grant you dignity and greatness. May God sever the foreign hands off our country. This is the country of the Imam of the Time, may God's peace be upon him; foreign hands should not have anything to do with him. Anyone who is not united with the Imam of Time, may God's peace be upon him, should step aside.

We had faced many adversities and will face adversities in the future. The key to what had been achieved so far and to the victory is the unity of expression. It was the unity of expression of the Iranians and all walks of life which have brought the superpowers down to their knees and brushed aside this satanic power. It scuttled and pushed aside the great satanic powers that were backing him (the Shah). This key is the unity of expression, which should be safeguarded. Safeguarding this unity of expression will, God willing, take us to the end of our struggle. All the gentlemen (present here), all walks of life, all those who are interested in Islam, in Muslims and in the Imam of the Time, may God's peace be upon him, must continue the struggle and the movement, in one united stand. This sacred movement is present until the time we accomplish our objectives, that is the final victory, which consists of the elimination of all the satanic powers, and the succession of power of compassion in our country, which belongs to the Imam, to the Imam of the Time, to God and to the Prophet of Islam. We must all be united in expression so that we can brush aside this satanic power, which is now tottering. Nothing but a modicum has remained of it.

Once more, they are making incorrect statements! If they (the regime) respected the nation and the votes of the nation, they would realize that it was the nation's vote that is now being expressed through their cries in the streets in all the provincial towns. The nation's vote and unity is announcing their support «1» and solidarity when they take to the streets tomorrow in all the Iranian cities, in Tehran and the rest of the cities in Iran. Anybody who believes that he is of this nation and is telling the truth should be in solidarity with the nation. The military should unite with the nation. The military is of the nation and the nation is of the military. We declare our support for the military. The clergy announce their support for the military. Likewise, the military should join in the ranks of Muslims like the rest of the Muslims and become the army of the Imam of the Time, may God's peace be upon him, not the army of his enemies. Oh, the respectable armed forces! You are Muslims, you are of the prophet and the Qur'an, you are of the Prophet of Islam and the Imam of the Time, may God's peace be upon them, you should also be shouting in unison within the ranks of Muslims. We are united in expression with all Muslims and all the nations.

We are announcing our solidarity with the religious minorities. We announce our fraternity with our Sunni brothers. The enemies of Islam want to create disparity between our brothers and us. The enemies of Islam and those duped by them are publicizing differences between these two sects (Sunni and Shi`ah) at this time. We announce the unity of expression of the Muslims. If Muslims had unity of expression, it would have been impossible for the foreigners to dominate them. This schism between Muslims has made the foreigners dominate us. This discord between Muslims first found existence by the hands of the ignorant people, and up to now, we are still entangled in it. It is incumbent upon Muslims to be united. This is a critical period, which is a matter of life and death. We either remain under the yoke of exploitation and despotism forever, or be freed from this yoke. If we do not keep our unity of expression, we will be afflicted until the end.

Gentlemen! All of us are responsible. The clergy is at the top of the list of those bound by these responsibilities. It is incumbent upon the clergy to go to towns, cities and remote areas, the villages and hamlets and announce to the people the issues that we are talking about. In remote places people might be taken advantage of and publicize wrong notions (about the revolution). These elements cannot publicize adverse propaganda at the center of the country like Tehran and other major cities; however, in remote towns and villages, they are disseminating mendacities and lies. For instance, they are saying that in the Islamic government religious minorities will be annihilated! This is in contradiction to Islam. Islam respects religious minorities. In Islam, religious minorities are accorded with respect. Likewise, in Islam there is not any difference between Sunni and Shi`ah at all. There should not be any schism between the Sunni and Shi`ah. You should safeguard your unity of expression. Our infallible Imams had enjoined on us to be welded together and to maintain our congregation, and anyone who wishes to break up this assembly is either ignorant or of malicious intent. These words should not be heeded. Our Sunni brothers should not be influenced by the publicity created by the enemies of Islam. We are their brothers and they are our brothers. This country belongs to all of us. It belongs to the religious minorities, to the religious people among us, and to our Sunni brothers. We are all together (with one united stand.)

That which is incumbent upon you gentlemen who are men of learning, you the respectable theology students and great scholars, may God add up to your rewards, is to disperse in cities and propagate our cause and aims there.(Go to) cities and remote places and propagate this matter to settle these differences and rectify the mistakes.

I beseech God the Almighty for the health of all of the `ulama'. As has been said, the respectable attendants «2» of Qum are also present here; and they have my gratitude; they are of us too and we are of them; they are our Islamic brothers too. They are also servant of Fatimah, of Hadrat Fatimah Ma`soumah «3» and are great in our eyes. I am servant of all of you. May God grant success to all of you.

May God's peace and mercy be upon you.