Radio-Television Message [The dignity of labor and the laborer; the reconstruction of the country]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

The allocation of a particular day to workers is perhaps in consideration of formalities and respect, otherwise every day is labor and laborer's day. In fact, the universe is made up of work and workers. To allocate a specific day to workers is like allocating a day to light; allocating another day to the sun. Everyday there is light and is day of light, everyday is a day of the sun; but maybe these are formalities and out of respect, for this reason it is not inappropriate, but if viewed realistically, work and the worker have been present everywhere in all the worlds pre-natural and the natural worlds and the supernatural worlds- and all the creatures of the world whether they are pre-natural creatures or whether they are natural creatures or whether they are supernatural ones- have all been born from the worker, and work is likened to `existence' and plays a role in all activities of the universe.

The universe has been created from actions of God. The constituents of the universe have been created by the activities of certain creatures. You can never find a creature where the laborer and labor does not exists in its being, and is not itself labor. Laborers also are labor; they have been born out of work.

Particles of creatures in the world- in the natural world- are actively engaged in the creation of all the creatures that exist in this world; even solids, even trees; all are living; all are workers, for work rules over the entire world. From the beginning, the world was created with work and the workers are the origin of all creatures. The Almighty God is the source of labor and is a worker. He is active. The creatures of the invisible world, who have attained reality by means of invisible actions, are workers. The creatures of the natural world are the same, too. Whichever place and strata you observe; whether there are creatures that from our viewpoint are at the lowest rung of creation such as minerals, earth, and solids and whether they are at the next level of creation such as plants, trees, and whether they are after these in creation such as animals, and whether they are superior to all these such as the human being- all are reflections of work and all are workers. The workers have made them. Labor has command over all creatures.

The supernatural world- heaven and hell- too has been built by work and the worker. Heaven and hell have been created because of the work of human beings. It is by the work of a human being, that is, either a good deed or good work which is the source of realization of paradise, or immoral and corrupt deeds that are the origin of hell. We must not allocate a special day for the worker on the ground that this is the very day of celebration of the worker. Yes, it is not improper that we choose a day for the worker in order to make the world realize that it is labor and the laborer from whom everything is created.

Work is like the manifestation of the Exalted Truth that has penetrated all creatures. Work is inherent in all creatures, and they have been fashioned by work. All particles are created by the laborers. Even atomic particles that are present in this world of nature are workers have intelligence. All particles in the universe are active and intelligent, but we think they are not intelligent," And there is no creature except that hymns His praises; but you do not comprehend their hymns of His praise." «1» All are in praise of the truth; all are the workers of God; all are obedient of the Exalted Truth; and work is present everywhere and throughout the universe it is" Labor and laborer's day" and not just one single day is of labor. Throughout the universe, it is labor and laborer's day; throughout the universe there is laborer; through out the universe there is work. In other words, the particles of creation that- by the will of God- create human beings and other animals are workers and thus a human being is work; he is the result of their work. All creatures that you see in the world are the consequences of the active work of the workers of God. All the army of God is laborers. The Almighty God is the origin of work.

We regard this as a big day because it has been assigned to the worker. In Islam, the worker, when we observe in a more limited environment meaning in this lower creature, on this earth; in this small star which is insignificant vis-a-vis the infinite universe, vis-a-vis the material universe it is of miniscule matter. In other words, the material universe is so vast that what humankind has discovered so far is very little. It is said that some stars are more than six billion light years away and their light takes six billion light years to reach us. And this is what has been discovered and only God knows what lies on the other side and beyond. The earth in comparison with such a vast expanse is an insignificant thing, rather our sun and all our solar system is a mere speck in relation to the universe and the whole universe is a mere speck in comparison to the supernatural world. The whole world of matter is as a speck vis-a-vis the supernatural world; and the entire supernatural world both pre-natural and post-natural are insignificant in comparison to the will of God.

Now, we are discussing this small star, which is very insignificant in the universe, and we are engaged in a debate; and about the worker- in a manner that has been understood by others- we have a lot to say, perhaps we must shorten the scope of our discussion and make it more understandable. These, our workers are managers of the human society. The administration of the affairs of countries and lands are in their hands; in the hands of peasants, in the hands of factory workers and farmers and rural workers. It is they who manage the territories and the countries; and in this respect, they are managers of this world- the world of nature. In other words, on this small planet; on this earth, that is a small planet, the administration of the affairs of this earth is in the hands of workers. Their hands at work manage, and revive this world; and revive the country. Therefore, they shoulder a heavy responsibility; they are highly respected but have a lot of responsibility. Any person, who is more respected in the world, has respect for the Almighty God and is a greater source of inspiration, his responsibility is correspondingly greater. All the actions, and all the things that are in the country, the bounties that are present in the country are indebted to the existence of our workers, whether they belong to the class of farmers or laborers or the class of the rest of the factory workers; and therefore, they are privileged over all others. However, the things they are burdened with; the responsibilities that are on their shoulders are higher than all responsibilities.

If a country inclines towards growth, it is with the hands of you the beloved workers that it inclines towards growth; and if a country tends towards decline, again it is with you that it tends towards decline. It is because of not working or being lethargic at work or not being interested to work that a country slides into decline. Today, the country is you; the country belongs to the workers. There is not more interference of foreigners in the affairs of the country; there is no more suppression; there are no more pressures; there are no more plunders. Today, the country belongs to you and you have direct responsibility for it. You are answerable if you do not strive in the affairs for which you are responsible; if you do not endeavor in your duty and do not repay the debt that is owed by you to your country and to Islam. Moreover, should you strive and get the wheels of the country to move, you have a great honor with God. Islam has great respect for you; Islam regards you as the safe-keepers of the earth; you are the treasurers of the earth so that you must make the earth habitable and it is your duty to make it habitable, and it is for yourself that you make it habitable. You must accept this responsibility in the manner that you think is befitting and the way you want it to be; and not lend ears to the words of those who want to prevent these wheels from getting started. They are not interested in you; it is Islam that has respect for you and secures your rights and gives you what is your rightful due. Let Islam be realized; let the rotten roots of tyranny and exploitation wither and be eradicated; let those individuals who want to work for others be crippled.

You are our brothers. You are dear to us, you must manage this country; it is you who can carry this load to its destination; it is you who can get the wheels of industry in the factories moving and get them started and save the country. It is you the farmers, who can get the wheels of agriculture to move; and it is your efforts that can cause agriculture to be undertaken in the proper way. You know that they brought our agriculture to a standstill and destroyed it; now that the hands of the outsiders are severed and this country has become yours, it is up to you to continue with your agriculture and give the government time to help you and it will help to the extent that it can. You are our worker brothers; let the wheels of industry move in the factories so that this country becomes habitable for you and for all. You should allow and give time so that these factories start to work and the wheels of the country get moving. You are all our brothers and we are all at your service. You can manage the country, and get rid of these unrests.

You know well that they caused unrest in the country. You know well that they looted and went; and left our treasuries empty and fled. Now we all must together, and not a single stratum of the people alone, all together strive to get the wheels of this country to move so that our country gets into shape. Islam acknowledges your rights, and Islam will give everyone his due. Islam reserves rights for all workers, men and women; for all men and women peasants, and regards them with respect and shall give them their due. You should allow the realization of Islam; you should allow the republic of Islam with the enlightening tenets of Islam to be realized. You should not allow the individuals, who want to prevent these wheels from moving; who wish to prevent the realization of our agricultural objectives and prevent our factories from operating; to work. You should not permit them to engage in such activities and deceive you. They want to deceive you in order to plunder the resources of this country; to take away the riches of this country; and to give a free hand to those who want to take away the wealth of this country. You must prevent this from happening; all of us must prevent this from happening.

I pray to the Exalted God for the health and prosperity of the whole nation and for the glory of Islam and the honor of the nation and for the freedom and independence of this nation. All of us together, the peasant, and the worker with us; and all of us together, forward march.

May God's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.