In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The need to maintain the prestige of Islam
The possessions and assets of the criminals are of no importance to me. What I attach great importance to is the fact that the Islamic Republic has now been proclaimed. The people are now rid of them; rid of the regime. They consider the Republic as an Islamic one. All the strata of the nation, especially those at the helm of affairs, especially the clergy that is at the head of affairs, should make all attempts to ensure that the image of the Islamic Republic, God forbid, does not appear unseemly in the public eye. This is the most important of all such matters. Possessions are not something to be taken away, swallowed up or seized; or used for the deprived class of the people which, of course could be done. What is important is the prestige of Islam. Every endeavor should be made to protect it. The people knew that the government was taghouti «3» and that its actions were also taghouti. With its departure, the people now expect an Islamic government. The people do not expect that all the affairs should be set right at once. However, those in authority should ensure that Islam (the government) is not presented as a taghouti government. If we are negligent of affairs or violate the policies of Islam and Islamic governments, it will make Islam appear as taghouti in the eyes of the world, the foreigners, the youth who are uninformed about Islam, these people who are not well aware of Islam; in the view of all. This would be a setback, leading Islam to defeat right to the very end. Yesterday, I told some of the gentlemen who were here that the day the prestige of Islam is at stake would be like the days when the great men of Islam gave their lives to safeguard it. In the days of Mu`awiyah «4» and then of his son Yazid «5» who had succeeded him, things were such that the image of Islam was getting distorted because of them. As the caliphs of the Muslims and the successors of the Messenger of God, they used to perpetuate atrocities. What courts they used to hold! It was here that the call of duty necessitated that the great personages of Islam oppose and challenge them; to fight even to the death for Islam, an ugly image of which they were presenting and with the uninformed people possibly thinking that the Islamic caliphate, itself, was just like that of Mu`awiyah and Yazid.
Observing religious rules and norms
Up to now, all the groups- may God give them health and prosperity- had been opposing this one, finally defeating and destroying this corrupt regime that was cruel, oppressive and treacherous. With the country now in the hands of the people, and the claim that the government is Islamic, that it is an Islamic republic, it is now that challenge is great. It is now up to the clergy, more than anyone else, to be a role model for the people because the clergy is a symbol of Islam and of God's prophets. Believing in Islam and in God, it is their duty now- with the taghouti regime having gone and an Islamic-humane government, as we claim, in place- to ensure that it does not so happen that the committees throughout the country, the Islamic guards[ pasdars ]and all the people everywhere regard themselves as being at liberty to do whatever they please, and to behave as they wish. If the clergy does not act according to Islamic principles, if the clergy that is at the head of society does not act according to the criteria and rules, if the government and the military authorities do not do so, if they do not make their actions conform to Islam, an ugly image of Islam will be projected abroad. Now that the government is to become Islamic, now that the country is, for instance, an Islamic republic, the Islamic guards have been entering and leading people's houses and what not. Just a single instance (of this) is enough for the people to say that all of them do the same thing. If this happens on a couple of occasions, that is, they necessarily enter people's homes and, say, rob them, it would be enough for the people to claim that the occupation of the committee personnel and the Islamic guards is robbery. If just one committee in one neighborhood, or two committees in one neighborhood, act in contravention of religious laws, it would be enough for the people to say that this is how the Islamic committees are; these are the things they do. If there are a couple of cases of imprisonment contrary to Islamic laws, it would be enough for the people to say that imprisonment in Islam is also like that of SAVAK (the ex-Shah's intelligence agency). «6»
The authorities under divine test
Everybody now has a very grave duty to perform: I, a seminarian, have this duty, the gentlemen belonging to the clergy have this duty, and the same is also true for all the other people. We must strive to show the dignified face of Islam as it really is; not like what the caliphs, such as Mu`awiyah and Yazid, and also many of the Umayyad «7» or `Abbasid «8» caliphs use to project. Claiming to be the representatives of Islam, they used to act against it; thus, causing a reversal of its standing in the world.
We are now in the midst of a big examination. God is testing us to see what we are going to do at this juncture when we have acquired something, when we have acquired power. Are we the same (as the previous regime) but in a different form, or are we not so? Do we abide by the rules? There is one danger afoot that I consider important. The communist threat is not so much; it is there but not to this extent the SAVAK threat is not so much. These dangers are important. It is not important to me if the deposed Shah's possessions are gone or not. The palaces of so-and-so are of no importance to us. What is important is that the dignity of Islam be maintained; the real image of Islam would remain so. Now with the affairs in our hands, let us not behave in such a manner for them to say that this is what Islam is!
Dealing a blow to the prestige of Islam- an unforgivable crime
They sometimes say that so-and-so is like this. It does not matter that so-and-so is like this. But, God forbid, if at any time it so happens that the `ulama' «9» or the believers commit an offence or two, the people, then, would say," Well, these are examples of Islam; the representatives of Islam are like this. Hence, it is obvious that Islam is like this." If the Islamic committees and the committees in the Islamic government are involved in any such incidents, it would show Islam in a bad light. If we, ourselves, do some such thing, it would be an unpardonable offence. God, the Blessed and Exalted, would not forgive us. This is not like the other sins; it is a big sin in that we have endangered Islam, we have portrayed Islam contrary to what it is.
A humble request
Therefore, I humbly request; in all humbleness and humility, I beseech all the people, all the committees, the Islamic guards, the believers, the preachers, the prayer leaders, and all Muslims not to portray this Islam that is now in their hands in a manner contrary to what it really is.(They should) show it just as it is. If Islam is shown as it (really) is, the world will accept it; it is a good `commodity'. But, God forbid, if we now act in a way that would make them say that this is what Islam is, it would be the greatest act of treachery toward Islam that we have committed. This is a general recommendation that is important to me, and, I must say- I must tell all the strata of the people of this nation to pay the utmost attention to the matter so that not a single step be taken contrary to Islam; not a single step. Be very careful to ensure that those who act contrary to Islamic principles are not in the committees under your jurisdiction. Take the utmost care to ensure that those posing as Islamic, as Muslims, as believers, and so on, do not take a single contrary step that, God forbid, would show an ugly face of Islam inconsistent with what it really is. This, in my opinion, is the most important thing of all and the responsibility for which, the greatest. This is the duty of all of us, to the extent that our capabilities allow, so that the public does not think that Islam, too, is like the other regimes, that they had no power so far, but now that the government is in their hands, the affairs are just as they are and as they used to be.
The need for the people to be watchful of the actions of the authorities
This is an important matter to which the people should pay attention. The whole nation is duty-bound to exercise supervision over these affairs, to supervise these matters. If I took a wrong step or made a wrong move, it would be the people's duty to tell me so, to tell me to watch my step. This matter is very important. It is the duty of all to supervise all the affairs that concern Islam. If, God forbid, the people notice a committee acting against Islamic regulations, the bazaris [traders and shopkeepers] should object, and I must also say- farmers, the believers and the `ulama' as well should object. They must keep on objecting until they manage to correct the deviation. If they notice that a believer, God forbid, wants to violate Islamic norms, everyone is duty-bound to prevent him from doing so, as (the issues) these days are different from those of the other days. They should have done so in the previous period as well; however, the matter is very important now. The essential point now is the prestige of Islam. Basically, it is that Islam (government) is now in our own hands; what are we doing about it? Hence, this is what is important in my opinion. The other matters should also be addressed, but they are of secondary importance. The issue of prime importance is that all of us, the people one and all, should pay attention to this aspect, observing the principle," You are all responsible." «10» They should see to it that at no time should I utter a single word against Islamic laws. In case I do so, they should object, write and speak (about it). Sir, you, this one, these (people) that are said to be managing the people's affairs whether concerning the government or, I should say, the courts, wherever they are, should know that it is now the time for everyone to be careful, not to take a single false step. They should protect Islam and portray it as it really is. If, God forbid, anyone is found to have done something wrong, the people should raise an objection; they should object to that person as to why he is doing so. At the advent of Islam, there was the case of `Umar «11» who, when speaking from the pulpit, asked the audience what they should do if he did something wrong. An Arab drew his sword saying that they would set the matter right by means of" this;" by the sword. It should be like this. If the Muslims see anyone- be it anybody, be it their caliph- taking a deviant step, they should unsheathe their swords and tell that person to correct his ways.
If we wish to safeguard Islam and present it as a model to the world, it cannot be done just by ousting the Shah and the tyrants. If it is to be that the oppressors having gone, we, another group have taken their place and, to the extent that powers allow, are doing the same things, then we are also just the same; just like that regime. We, too, are the same as those oppressors. All the people should know this; the whole nation should know it; and at the head of them, the clergy and the top authorities everywhere. The Islamic government, the Islamic army and the disciplinary forces, all of whom are now saying that they are Islamic and inclined toward Islam, and that they are rid of the taghout, should know that mere words are not enough; there should be substance to them. The people's condition should now change from what it was; not that their words change, while their state remains the same. The same applies to the municipalities, the army, the ministries, government departments and the bazaar. The bazaar must be an Islamic one. There should be no fleeing and no dealing in smuggled goods. It should be an Islamic bazaar and have the people's condition in mind. The people are suffering because they lack purchasing power. The opportunists have raised prices manifold. This is not in conformity with Islam, it is against It is now the duty of all of us, all the individuals of the nation, from the highest to the lowest- whether in the government departments or not, whether in the bodies that are managing the affairs or not- it is the duty of all of us to do our work as approved by Islam. Now that we say that it is an Islamic republic and that the country is Islamic, now that we want to show Iran as a model to the other countries, let it not so happen that, one day, it becomes a satanic model and we remain indifferent about it. It should be an Islamic model; this is the duty of everybody.
May God grant all of you success. I thank all of you for having come from afar to visit me, and hope that by the will of God all these issues be resolved.
[One of those in the audience mentioned the economy and opportunities, to which the Imam replied:]
I have not much time now, not much time. The country's affairs must be run in conformity with Islam. Wealth that is contrary to Islam will be confiscated. It will be calculated. The properties that, it is said, will be confiscated and what the government is doing about it, do not belong to the people. These properties consist of wastelands that the previous regime had sold without having owned it, or the people who were not the owners had sold. These are the issues. Not that they will take away the land from someone who had developed it. There is not such thing in Islam that the possessions of people are seized for the sake of the materialism of other; it is not like this. The question of the people's possessions should be resolved according to their legitimate rights justified by religious law and on the basis of divine principles. Everything will turn out right if divine principles are observed.