Speech [The Constitution, Governance of the Jurist, a look at the country's main issues]

I congratulate you, gentleman, and the honorable nation of Iran and all the Muslims of the world on the arrival of the auspicious `Id al-Ghadir. It was a time when Imamate was established for the ummah and the Great Prophet (s) established Imams for the ummah's Imamate. What a great person and what a great personality! This man who started the Imamate was a unique personality, a person like whom will never be born. He was a person characterized by opposing elements. A warrior cannot be a God-worshipper. A man who aspires to have muscular power cannot be a man of asceticism. A man who draws his sword and annihilates the wrong-doers cannot be an affectionate man. This great man was a collection of opposing traits. While his days were spent fasting, his nights were spent praying to God. and it is said he used to perform a thousand Rak`ats of prayers each night, and as recorded in historical documents while he fed, on no more than bread, vinegar and zayt «1» or salt, his body structure was extremely powerful, so much so that the door of Khaybar «2», which could not be lifted by forty men together he had taken off and thrown some Dhira` «3» away. His sword was two-sided, and those who wore helmets and iron-coats could not escape his strokes. A man who used to feed on bread and vinegar, who, most often was fasting, and who broke his fast with bread and salt or with bread and vinegar, now had in himself a combination of asceticism and extreme bodily power: This combination is strange, but unique. He was a great warrior, putting the other warriors to flight. He used to say." If all Arabs attacked me, I would never withdraw." «4» In the domain of affection, he was such that when an ankle was stolen from a Jewish woman, he declared that death was easier for man than this abominable act. «5» A man, who had reached such a high rank in asceticism and metaphysics, drew his sword, destroying the infidels and saboteurs. We are the Shi`ites of such a miraculous, wonderful being.

I declare that if the Great Prophet (s) had not trained anybody else except Imam `Ali (`a), it would have sufficed. If the prophet (s) had been appointed to train such a person to hand over to the society it would have been enough. Such a person is unique, he does not have any peer; nobody may ever excel him. Today is the day when he was appointed as our Imam. We had such a (great) person as our Imam. Nobody can ever reach his station.

Except for the prophet (s) no one can or will surpass. Prior to his departure from this world, the prophet (s) appointed his genuine successor and successors up to the time of the [twelfth Imam's] occultation. Each one of the prophet's successors appointed his next successor and leader so that the ummah would be guided and would not be puzzled when one Imam passed away. After the Infallible Imams, «6» it was the turn of the jurisprudents, those who are experts in the Islamic studies, those who are ascetic, and those who renounce this (material) world, those who are not carried away by the flashy things of this world, those who care for this nation, and those who consider the members of this nation as their children; they are appointed to the guard this ummah.

Regrettably, those unaware of the principles of Islam erroneously assume that the passage of the Governance of the Jurist in the Constitution is equal to the creation of dictatorship. On the contrary, it is the Governance of the Jurist, which obstructs dictatorship. If there were no Governance of the Jurist, there would be dictatorship. It is the jurist who checks the president, the Army Head, the Head of the gendarmerie, and the head of the police and the prime minister from getting involved in dictatorship. The jurist is appointed to act as an Imam. He will break any sign of dictatorship. He gathers all under the banner of Islam and the rule of law. Islam is law-governed. It is based on the divine rule; it is the law of the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah. The government is obedient to law. This means the Prophet (s) and Imam `Ali (`a) were both obedient to law. They could not break laws.

The Almighty God says," If you fabricate anything against me, we could certainly seize you by the right hand and then we could certainly cut off your" watinat", «7» i. e. your aorta." There is no dictatorship in Islam. Islam is based on rules. Moreover, those who are supposed to protect Islam but resort to dictatorship are not the protectors of Islam any longer. Nobody should frighten others of the Constitution which was ratified by a great many Islamic experts and scholars. Do not listen to their nonsensical statements that this rule (i.e. the Constitution) is not democratic! These hypocrites do not consider Islam as democratic! This constitution will be set for people's ratification through their votes, within the coming weeks. Do not get discouraged by them not to go to the polls. Go and vote. You enjoy discretionary power to vote: If you agree, say yes; if not, say no. If it is not ratified by you, it should be revised. Do not be indifferent towards something to which your destiny is linked. Your Islam depends on it; your country depends on it, as well. What should brought up today is these important issues that are the constitution, President, the council [of experts] and the Consultative Assembly. Do not digress from this issue.

You have already been patient for fifty years for the discrepancies that you have been exposed to. Why not be perseverant for another two months. When the lack of asphalt, hospitals or good physicians, or good agriculture is brought out, the main purpose is to make you despair. We should take care of priorities: first things first. They want to divert your attention and make you think of minor things. This is similar to the situation when there is an earthquake in a region where victims are trapped under debris, we should be concerned about rescuing them or a group talks about the shortage of water or the scarcity of the agricultural produce, and that we should find remedies for this situation. Now, we are put under such conditions where some evil forces around and various cliques are lurking to deflect the path desire to stop the passage of the Constitution; they will then stop the formation of the Consultative Assembly or destabilize the country's presidency. In this way, they plot to deceive you. All you said was correct. It applies not only to your religion but to all sections of the country. We are living in a country where for fifty years they tried to keep our youth backward, to corrupt them, and to disrupt our country. Do not think that only Khorramabad is suffering from severe shortcomings. It is true also of Kurdistan. The same thing is also uttered by the people of Kurdistan. The same is true of the people of Khouzistan and Khorasan. The slum dwellers of Tehran say the same thing: their life is a lot worse than yours. But remember: These are minor things. This country is now in imminent danger because there are some agitators who have infiltrated the populace who will not let this movement achieve its objective or, if not, they want to retard it. They want to close down the whole system.

Let us march on with our might! Let us consider first the major issues. Let us finish our tasks. When the principles are set in order, then this diseased one needs treatment: But first save his life, then cure him. Our country has been exposed to ruin and destruction for the last fifty years. But there are major issues to be taken care of prior to the country's death. When the primary objectives are attained then we will deal with the secondary ones. All you say are correct, but they are of secondary status. Our culture should be revitalized. Our offices should be purged. All these should be carried out. Our agriculture should be strong so that we will not have to ask our enemies for food. Our educational system and universities should be corrected to make us rely on ourselves. But these take time to be carried out successfully.

Now our participation in the referendum for the Constitution is our number one priority. This is the main gist of our discussion and needs our full attention. You have to acquaint ever you around you and the whole nation with the constitution and tell that they must think carefully and vote for the Constitution. You are free to cast any form of ballot you want to. But you should not stand idle or indifferent to your country's destiny, Islam, the nation and the country. Do not consider the rigmarole uttered by some concerning this law. Those who indoctrinate others with wrong ideas are those who assume that Islam is backward. There are some who are mercenaries, who receive wages to deceive people or to disturb them. In the referendum for the Islamic Republic, you remember how many ballot-boxes were set on fire. In some places people were kept back at gun-points not to cast their votes. Then they encouraged people not to vote for representatives of the consultative Assembly. Now they want people not to cast their votes for the Constitution. This layer of people is against the very foundation of our Islamic Republic. But you are the ones who got your children martyred for the revival of Islam. You are Imam `Ali's followers; you will not care for the pernicious schools of thought which are heedless of these affairs.

Now Islam needs your help; the Great prophet (s) needs your assistance; Imam `Ali (`a) needs your help to remedy the problem. The requirement is for you not to be indifferent towards your country. This is taken to mean that the Constitution is the very basis of your country. Now you should forget about your other engagements and you should concentrate on voting. It is the fate of your country; it is the destiny of your religion; it is the fate of your nation. Do not be indifferent.

Now, everybody should cooperate. So far your cooperation has been tremendous. You have put aside your foes. You have expelled the corruptors. From now on stick together and remain united. You will prosper if God wishes to.

May God bless you all I pray for you. I am your servant, and I desire your progress and advancement.