Speech [Importance and necessity of the constitution and the Council of Experts]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Your statements were composed of two parts: one was about the commercial affairs and the bazaar, and the conversion of the bazaar into an Islamic one so that individuals that go against the standards are prevented from doing so. The other one was about the constitution and the status of the constitution.

In my opinion, we should exercise a little bit of patience regarding the first part; and speak about the second part which now has priority, and then take action on it.

What are important now are the fundamental of Islam and the fundamental of religion that is based on it; and that is the constitution of the country. In the constitution of the country, one argument is what you mentioned that it should be based on the tenets of religion. There is no doubt about it. But you should study this same constitution that has been drafted and give your opinions wherever you have one, or write down your opinion on instances where the experts have opinionated and hand it over to the Senate where all the viewpoints are to be gathered, so that God willing, the experts who go there, discuss them and make improvements.

Yet another issue that is important is that of the experts. The issue of the experts is of utmost importance because it is possible that if we and you all become negligent or sluggish or focus our views on another problem and get preoccupied with other problems, then individuals that are opposed to your way send a few individuals to the Assembly and thereby cause trouble. For this reason, at this juncture, all must focus on these two issues: one, the drafting of the constitution, i.e. giving opinion on the draft proposals, so that whoever among you is an expert should give his opinion. The other is to elect those individuals that must be elected; individuals who are pious; individuals who are experts in their field; who are neither Eastern nor Western-oriented and whom the society trusts. They must be like these few individuals that have been elected in Tehran. Of course, the experts will give their opinions about them later. In any case, mentioning all other things right now- because there are many proposals coming forward- is somewhat off target. Those things must be solved step by step; in other words, each thing at its own opportune moment. There are certain issues for which the time is ripe now. There are issues that are to be pursued later; and there are issues that are to be tackled much later.

What are important now are those things that are the fundamentals of government. If in the basis of the constitution there is a flaw, a mistake- either deliberate or accidental- it can change the destiny of a whole nation. Therefore, now it is a bit early to put forward the matter of the guilds and their problems and the things that take place in the bazaar. This matter about the constitution must be put forward and all must give their opinions about it; utilize your energies for this issue. Now, our need is for this matter; our need is not for the bazaar. We all have needs. Well, our educational system has deficiencies that must be removed; our universities have problems; our judiciary system too has flaws; all of these must be removed. But if we take our hands off these issues that are now fundamental for us and pursue those matters, then God forbid, they shall penetrate and influence this fundamental issue. Later on, if, God forbid, they triumph, then there shall be no bazaar remaining for you or schools for us. Thus, now, it is the time for those two issues; the other two issues are to be handled after these two which are: one is the elections to the assembly and the other is the presidential elections. It is the election to the Consultative Assembly; this year it is different from the previous years; it is apart from the previous terms. Previously, they were by appointment. None of you would know who would become the legislator and when he would be appointed- it would take place whether you wanted it or not. But now it is not so; you must elect them yourselves. The next step must be taken too and you must give your opinions about the legislators that are elected there; and after this matter has been settled and a government has been installed, then these other matters must be investigated meticulously. Therefore, now neither I should look into my needs nor you look into your needs. Assume that for another one or two years this government is, God forbid, the former regime. It is only a few months old. God willing, in a couple of months this matter will be over; and you can add these few months to those long years that have passed.

It is important for them to create certain differences now. In other words, there are individuals who wish to prevent this movement from attaining its objectives. You have undertaken a movement and defeated a big power; but the objective was not only that the power should go. If, instead of that power another similar power takes over, well then it would be as before. Thus, the main thing is that after the departure of that power we obtain the result that Islam wants; a result that is for the good of the Muslims. In the meantime that we are preoccupied with examining and taking action for obtaining result, there are hands both inside and outside the country that are busy in creating differences- differences among the people for various reasons, in different names. Pay careful attention to this fact; and after conveying my greetings to your friends and the businessmen of the bazaar, tell them to pay full attention to this fact that whoever wants to create difference is an ignorant person who has been influenced; or is a satanic person who wants to prevent this movement from its right course. For, now, do not dispute over anything. In those lengthy speeches that I made I counseled them on this issue. You too- your friends and companions- should pay attention to this fact that no differences are created now. Differences now will cause us to be unable to take this step that is now necessary to take.

Therefore, the first problem of yours shall, God willing, be resolved after some time when a government has been installed and stabilized. This shortcoming and many other shortcomings that number not just one or two are a legacy of fifty years- at least fifty odd years- and go back to more than 2,500 years of monarchy during which they attempted to destroy. They made no effort for development. But one individual would destroy and not say that he was developing while this Muhammad Rida would destroy and holler that he wanted to reach the goal of a" great civilization"! They pushed us back. Now our culture is backward; our economy is not healthy. God willing, they will be set right. All our things are impaired. Everywhere is ruin. They repeatedly gave empty promises! Now, from allover Iran they come here to meet with us. Almost every few days a group comes from nearby regions and all of them complain that they have nothing; neither healthcare, nor asphalted roads and so forth. Sometimes I tell them not to think that only you have nothing; even Tehran has nothing. Go and visit the slums in Tehran and you shall know that they too have nothing; only a part of Tehran has all amenities; whereas these miserable and poor people who are now camped on the outskirts of Tehran, and I do not know whether they even have tents- they too have absolutely nothing. Those people made efforts to ensure that this country did not develop. In the name of wanting to build a" great civilization", they totally ruined everything. God willing, after the fundamental matter has been resolved, these problems shall be addressed.

One issue that is related to the bazaar that well, now, it is being spoken about is the matter of excessive profiteering. Those that are engaging in extortion, engaging in profiteering, do not think about these miserable souls, these barefooted people who demonstrated in the streets and gave their blood, now they are dealing with them in such a manner that a person who has nothing is unable to buy a watermelon; and in summer, a poor who has several children is not able to buy a watermelon! He is not able to buy a fruit for his wife and children because it is expensive and we do not know what we must do. Is it possible for a benevolent person in the bazaar to open a shop for the general public and sell at a more reasonable price so that profiteering comes to an end? For now, I do not know. Nevertheless, may God bless all of you and may you succeed in creating an Islamic bazaar; an Islamic nation that shall, God willing, be a model for all places.