Speech [Man's heartfelt insight - Response to unwarranted accusations]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I appreciate you, the blind people, who came here to meet you closely. I am happy to see your bright Islamic faces and give you the good tidings that the Almighty God will assist you all. I pray God for your success and prosperity. Know that soul is the real essence of man. Man is nothing but heartfelt insight. Superficial things are only transient; what is eternal is human soul and what makes man prosperous is insight. I hope you have a full insight and pray to God Almighty to make you successful and happy.

I want to tell you, the gentlemen, that we are now facing the rumors based on which our enemies want to prevent actualization of Islam. One of these rumors spread by gossipers and sometimes written in letters or said in speeches- about which I heard that a man has talked last night in Imam `Askari Mosque «1» is that no one can meet me except a few clerics and that the only channel for visiting me is the channel to which the clerics have access. Other people cannot visit me at all. But you, the blind gentlemen, are coming here now and seeing me closely. Everyday, several hundred people of different walk of life and as much as this room has capacity come here into my house and in this room. It is not true that there is only one to say that only certain channels can meet me, as put by a number of malicious people. I have no special channel and followers. I meet all the people of all classes and I hear all their words. I receive letters and important news about incidents of Iran. I listen to the news on radio and television. All leading newspapers are brought here to me and I read the summary provided for me. The Minister of Guidance and all the news about the country by the gendarmerie and the chief of the army and the news about other places by the police that I am not uninformed of the situation of the state inform me of all news about the world. Those spreading such rumors are a group of malicious people, imagining I am put in a box the door of which is locked and which can be opened just by one or two clerics who can see me and other people not! You can now hear and see several thousands of people out of this house I should meet them whether inside or outside of this room. But do not expect me to dedicate a special time for all of these people one by one because I have no spare time to give them. Everyday from morning till noon a lot of people of different groups come here in this room to meet me. They even spread the rumor that the one, who made a speech last night in the Imam's Mosque and Mr. Najafi, «2» came to my residence, but I did not let them in. Mr. Najafi was with me last night. Who did not let him in? Can anyone not let Mr. Najafi in? Last night Mr. Najafi was here with me for about three-quarters or an hour.

I advise these gentlemen, either not to be influenced by the individuals and their remarks, or to refrain from spiteful acts. Some persons are spiteful while others are not so. They are only sitting in the corner, believing in whatever anyone would say, and disseminating whatever they hear. Well, this is contrary to humanity and against Islam for a person to disseminate whatever one hears everywhere, spreading that so and so has no appointment with anybody and that Mr. Najafi also went there and they did not let him in! Well, this is an insult to a Muslim such as Mr. Najafi and an `alim whom you say has not been let in! What sort of nonsensical word has been uttered?

I request those who have appointment with me or those who meet me every day to inform the people that the door of our house is open. I get tired as the result of meeting them in numerous occasions. Well, I am an octogenarian old man; I am weak. In spite of this, well, I have time for the people and the people meet me. The news of the people reaches me. They relay to me the needs of the people. But, of course, their problems are many. The problems of everybody are many. There is a group of individuals engaged in solving the problems. The government is also busy removing the problems. Yet, the task is gargantuan. The problems are many. The gentlemen somewhat aware of the problems and the spokesmen and those whose words are aired over the radio should be a little bit cautious lest they should give a slanted picture of events. They should not say anything contrary to the reality; they should not believe in what is contrary to the realities. It is said that I have only a single channel of communication." O Imam! Listen to the voice of the people." Sir, the people's voices are with me. You may ask any issue you want. I have information about all dimensions of the country. Reports from Kurdistan reach me everyday. What nonsensical statements are you uttering? What sinister propaganda are you doing? You are spitefully making a spiteful outcry!

May God mend your way! May God grant victory to this revolution? «3» May He guide those who are spiteful! May God grant assistance to Muslims and give strength to Islam.