In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The grave responsibility and important position of the clergy
I am hopeful that the gentlemen who have taken steps in this matter and have entered the madrasah of religion and learning will later constitute the resources of this nation and be the preachers of Islam. This path is a good one, but dangerous. It is a good path because it is that of the prophets. The prophets had also come to teach humanity, and the `ulama' of the community should also be the teachers of human beings. So, the profession is that of the prophets, and the path is their path and dangerous one. Our failure to discharge the duties entrusted to us is different from the failure of others in carrying out their duties. In case a grocer, an employee or a person does something indecent, God forbid, it will bring disgrace upon him. But if you become clergymen, God willing, and each one of you becomes a propagator of Islam and well known in a city or country, then any deviation, God forbid, on your part, will not be like that of the other people.
You are the symbols of God. You will be the symbols of Islam, God willing. All the activities and deliberation, all the actions, and all the words and deeds of one who is the symbol of God and Islam ought to be godly and based on divine principles. The people look favorably upon the clergymen. They pay heed to them; they pay heed to the Noble Apostle. The clergy is the representative of the Noble Apostle and the Imam of the Time (`a). If, God forbid, some deviation occurs in these people who are the representatives of the saints of God and the Messenger of God, the malicious people might put the blame on Islam, thinking that Islamic teachings are like this. Therefore, the path is one that is dangerous and noble. Make serious efforts to traverse this dangerous path as it is the true one. The straight, divine path begins from here.
The bridge of hell extends from the world up to heaven. You are now halfway; you are on the path. Take care to see that you do not deviate from it. Proceed straight along this path to heaven, God willing; to heavenly bliss.
And bear in mind that, in future, you will, God willing, be the people's teachers. The teacher of people ought to be guiltless; he should be refined. Pay attention to the fact that the clergyman's profession is the most important and the responsibility, the greatest. A clergyman can save an entire nation. He can also take it to ruination. Be careful that you do not become one of those people that ruin a nation. Be one of those that lead a nation, or the people that are within your sphere of activity, to prosperity. The people should be shown the right way by means of your guidance. No crookedness or deviation should occur in them because of your actions, words or conduct. Such deviation is highly detrimental to you. When each one of you later becomes an `alim, «1» God willing, you must while acquiring knowledge, concentrate on becoming pious and cultured, and on refining your morals and actions. They must conform to the Book and the Sunnah so that you, yourselves, become the Book and the Sunnah; that is, in practice. A clergyman should be such a person that the people, on seeing him, think of the Messenger of God. You have taken this burden on your shoulders. You must take it to the very end by leading the people. May God bestow health and prosperity on you, your friends and companions that are in that madrasah and the rest of the madrasahs. May He place you, who have acted for His sake, among the refined, distinguished `ulama'.
May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.