speech [Necessity of preserving Islamic ideology and system - significance of duty of Revolutionary Guards]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

You and we have two kinds of responsibilities: One is minor and the other major. The minor responsibility is to protect the country and system, to advance the revolution and to observe individual order and training. This is in itself important but secondary to the latter, which is to preserve Islam. If we succeed in the first responsibility, it will be a great success. If we fail, it will be a great failure. However, if we save Islam, we will not lose much. However, by preserving the image of Islam, there would be no final defeat for us. Our defeat would be confined to military activities. If we manage to save Islam and do not suffer defeat, we will eventually victorious. If you notice, since the time of the holy prophet and Imam `Ali's caliphate, many wars were fought. The battles were all Islamic oriented with the aim of educating the society. No single war could be found in Islam not being fought for construction of society and preventing those who did not want to let the society make progress. The holy prophet fought several wars; in some of the wars, he suffered defeat. While he suffered defeat in the wars, his school was not defeated. The school remained intact. Imam `Ali (`a) also lost some wars. Even in the war against Mu`awiyah, he was finally defeated. They defeated him deceitfully. Nevertheless, since the school was protected, he did not lose; he rather gained victory eventually. Now, his victory is clear. All Islamic nations are looking up to him. Formerly, if some Sunnite brothers did not want to talk about Mu`awiyah, it is not clear such is the case now. Mu`awiyah has become so defamed that Muslims do not believe in him any longer. While Imam `Ali finally became defeated in the battle of Siffin, he was the victor because the school was protected. Mu`awiyah's real identity was also disclosed to those who did not know him well. Such was the case with regard to Imam Husayn (`a). Well, he came to Karbala and battle erupted between his small number of followers and numerous groups, culminating in his murder and defeat and the captivity of his family. At the same time, however, he defeated Yazid. Yazid was so disgraced in the world that he became mortal forever. This was because Islam was saved. It was a monotheistic and Islamic school that remained in force. From this aspect, there was no defeat.

We are now on the horns of a dilemma. We may, God forbid, suffer defeat in our school. If, let us suppose, our nation had, God forbid, failed in the struggle against the Shah and, in fact, against all the countries accompanying him, it would be a defeat followed by victory. If we had failed, we would not be moped in my opinion, because our school was protected. Actually, protection of the school would finally lead to victory of right over wrong. But we are now confronted with a two-pronged road. Islam with its beautiful image might be misrepresented to foreign countries or domestic enemies at our own hands, bringing about the defeat of our school. Those whom we always argued to be holding devious schools should not be given excuse. We have claimed that Islam can mend the way of peoples and that Islamic school is exhilarating and capable of actualizing man's potentials. We made such claims and still do so. There is room for fear that if our deeds run counter to our words, our enemies would put it down on Islam's account and not ours. They might argue that Islamic guards and Mullahs act as such. They are looking for excuse to see a mistake and aggrandize it hundreds of times as much as what it is. They are making such remarks on the supposition to present the Islamic Republic as a regime troubling people like the former regime. However, they have found not much excuse.

The revolution accomplished by the people of Iran was more peaceful than any revolution in the world. It should therefore be called a" white" revolution, not in the sense applied by Muhammad-Rida, but that we obtained hundred times as much as we lost. Nevertheless, we have not achieved what we desired. What we have achieved is that we have removed the major obstacles on the way. There are still some barriers.

There are words that today we are acting the way the imperial regime did. Islamic Republic has been established, but we only speak of Islam, Qoran and faith. Our action is the same. Words have changed, but meaning is the same. A republic has replaced a royal regime. However, the same approach and program as in the past are being repeated. You and I shoulder a big responsibility. You, the nation and anyone else under the protection of Islamic Republic is responsible. This responsibility is not personal. If it were personal, there would be no concern. Let us suppose Mr. Lahouti, «1» Mr. Abousharif «2» or I am accused. This is insignificant. The question is that the school is subjected to accusation. They work to accuse our school. They are not concerned with individuals. That which ran counter to their goals and that which brought them defeat was our school. It was our school that defeated them. Our school produced these young adults who seek martyrdom. One cannot ask people to die; only a school can do it. It is not reasonable to say that I will die so that some goods may become cheaper or more expensive. People do not sacrifice their life for these petty things. It is the people's faith that drives one to make sacrifice. It was again faith that drove Imam Husayn (`a) and his few followers against a wicked emperor who commanded enormous forces, but who lacked humanity and faith. Imam Husayn was killed but defeated Yazid. If, God forbid, you and we do something in the revolution you have accomplished, all are responsible. The clerics and guards are both guardian of Islam. The entire nation must guard Islam;" All of you are responsible and supervisor of each other." «3» In the same way that a shepherd takes his herds to graze in grasslands and fresh waters; likewise, we are responsible. If the shepherd fails to do this, the herd owner would call the sheperd to question as to why he did not take the herds to meadow?

We are all like the shepherd; we are accountable to God and our conscience. We all must observe this rule. I should give due consideration to you all and each of you assist other people. This approach has obliged all to ask all" why". This obligation has required everyone to enjoin the good. If a so-called low-ranking individual in the eyes of people sees a high-ranking person make an offence, Islam pushes him/ her to confront the offender, saying," Stop doing the evil act". It is related that when Omar was the Caliph, he said if I make a mistake remind me of that. An Arab drew his sword and said 'we will stand against you with this sword if you make an offense. «4»

This is Islamic training not to give consideration to anybody as far as implementation of the commands of God and initiation of Islamic revolutions are concerned irrespective of whether he is a father or son and boss or subject. No consideration should be given. The question should be whether one is behaving in accordance with Islam or not. Anyone acting according to Islam should be appreciated, encouraged and treated kindly. If one acts in contrast to Islam, everyone should remind one of one's violations and forbid one regardless of being a prominent cleric or a chief. We must take care lest our deeds should tarnish the image of our revolution or presenting things in a way different from the path charted out by God.

Now, you bear the noble label of a guardian of Islam and Islamic Revolution. Islamic Revolution Guard is not simply a logo, but a reality. It is this reality that drives you to put out the sedition if someone is found somewhere to act against Islam. It is a fact that if we are guards, we should guard ourselves not to move against Islam. If a guard commits an offence, it will not be argued that this guard has done it, but that all guards are like that. Then, you have a grave responsibility. We also do. If a mullah does wrong, all Mullahs will be questioned. If a Komite officer does wrong, all Islamic Komites would be accused. The enemies are waiting to target the" class" rather than" person" extending their accusation to" Islam." Our enemies are like this; they want to slam the center of which they are scared; that is, Islam. Sometimes, they come in the name of turbaned class and at other times in the name of Islamic guards, Komites and courts.

We are duty-bound not to let spiteful individuals raise excuse. Everybody of us should guard one and one's friends. One should not only say prayer but also make others do so. One should not slander people unduly; one should also prevent others from doing so. This is, for sure, his divine duty to check you. Enjoining good deeds and forbidding evil acts are two Islamic principles aimed to reform a society. Islam has assigned everybody to enforce good deeds and to block corruption. It is not that you do good deeds and avoid evil acts. Your duty is far more than that and includes others as well. There is no difference in this respect among all strata of people. All should obey God. Serving as a guard is a noble task, because it is to render service to Islam and to protect Islam. Its responsibility is great, because if, God forbid, a guard acts contrary to the principles of Islamic guardianship, those who want to misrepresent Islam will find the excuse to do so. Our school might then suffer defeat in which case we are all done for. If at this time when this revolution emerged and drove out the bullies and plunderers is now replaced by similar plunderers, our revolution would be destroyed and our school would suffer defeat. This is the responsibility of you and me and all; we should preserve Islam.

I implore God Almighty to protect persons such as Mr. Abu? arif whom I have met in a few occasions but whom I well know. As regards the other gentleman, «5» who is the apple of my eye and with whom I am familiar for a long time has suffered a lot from this corrupt regime. Somebody told me now that he still bears some scars left on his body from severe tortures but has resisted. You should appreciate his value; he is not an ordinary man; he is an extraordinary person. I hope that this revolution will proceed with your assistance and the image of Islam will be portrayed properly. We have a commodity, which, if presented, will be accepted by the whole world. But we are denied to present it; that is, Islam. Now, a breeze of Islam has blown in this country. People come from everywhere and say all love Iran. Just now a man who had gone abroad had come and was telling me that in the meeting attended by some fifty or so of their intellectuals and `ulama' acknowledged Iran. When talking to people in different countries, all were keen to know about Iran. Now, several people were here from Bangladesh; they also confirming that their people had fixed their eyes on Iran.

The entire world has now fixed their eyes on Iran to see what we are doing. Did we tell a lie about just Islamic government or, God forbid, we told a lie and we are unIslamic and different from just Islamic government. If they regard us as non-Islamic, it will be fair. But, if they argue that this is Islam and these are its guards and those are its clerics, it will be a great failure.

My brothers, take care of yourselves! Beware that the responsibility is great and you should protecting yourselves and the ideology. The IRGC commanders should enjoin your guards to give regard to these issues so that, God willing, a country would be set up, an Islamic country, smacking of the holy Qur'an and the prophet of Islam wherever we set foot on. May God protect you all!