Speech [Members of Islamic Consultant Boards, workers of Iran, the personnel of Military Health Sector]

I thank you all, the army, workers and various categories, which have come over here to see me.

If I am called a servant, it is better than being called a leader. I hope that all of us and all of you, among the army, the workers and all the classes of the nation might be mindful of an important matter. You all know, particularly the workers that from the early days of the revolution till now, the classes of the people who have stood and campaigned against the revolution in various types and various methods. On the whole all their efforts were anti-revolutionary and anti-Islam; the groups which appeared after the revolution. Occasionally, they claim being Islamic. They become Muslims better than you. Sometimes they claim being revolutionary. They become revolutionary far beyond you. Sometimes they consider themselves founders of the revolution. The revolution, in fact, is done by the masses of the people- from workers, peasants, students and you. All of you have achieved this revolution that is brought to here. They had been abroad and watching. Or they were here watching to see who will win. If Shah and his camp won, they would go that side and make them indebted and themselves creditors. If you and the nation won, they would move this side as creditors and you the indebted. They use different pretexts and various names. They want to have everything- by using your name or the name of a worker, though they don't value a worker. They exert efforts to block the way for the revolution till its fructification. This is the last fruit the Prophet had desired. Since they are hurt by Islam they are certainly anti-Islam; even more than before

These groups have grown like mushrooms. They have hailed from various countries. They were waiting for an opportunity to block the way of the revolution. This is a danger for our revolution. We know they will not perform a positive thing. But we are concerned that they will create trouble for us. You have witnessed that they have created difficulties in Kurdistan. They could not vanquish but they kept creating troubles for a long time. They did the same in Tehran too. They cannot do anything serious. But they can create chaos. At every occasion, something fundamental took place, these groups which are now in Iran has created some mischief at the same time.

The first day when you were to vote for the Islamic Republic of Iran, these groups created chaos around Tehran. This step was taken. Anytime you advanced a step ahead, they created mischief. When the parliament was established and it started work, these groups created chaos simultaneously. They create trouble and they cry. They kick and beat others and they shout. This is a tricky dimension they have. This is the way they do things. As a result, it will hinder and hamper fructification. They shout that they sacrifice their life for the sake of the nation.

You see what they, who are at the margin of the Islamic Republic, perform and utilize the names of Islam, people, nation and etc. It is likely I may utter" Islam" or Fada'i-ye Khalq" or Fada'i-ye Khalq or Mujahidin-e Islam or Khalq. But when you look into my performance, you will see that I have been these organizations since the beginning. I have pulled the gun everywhere. I have been an oppugner. Wherever there was a reformation, I have appeared there and stood against it. Furthermore, I have even pulled the gun and closed my fist. Well, the colleges, which were at the service of imperialists, were supposed to be reformed. As soon as the plan for the reformation of the colleges was charted out, a fortification was made in the colleges to evict the plan taking place. Now they are sheltered in the same fortifications. This time it was done abroad. They try to prevent the formation of the cultural reformation. They do not want a revolution in the culture. They want the same culture to last and remain so that such fellows may come out of its womb- the people like the past deputies and ministers. These people wanted to destroy the country. They did the same before too. They were the past ministers, deputies and the chiefs. The calamities that hailed on this nation were brought by these same ones. It was they who gained access into the nation under the names of fada'i-ye khalq and etc.

They did not let the nation be its own. Whatever you had, they poured into the others' pockets. Their cronies, the associates of the deposed Shah ate the rest. So now they are campaigning against this uprising.

Everyday when this uprising wants to take a step ahead, or the parliament wants to go into session, we encounter some disturbances in Hamjadiyeh. Much regrettably, our youths do not know what they are doing and aiming to do. Even some people who are affiliated to me do not know what is going on. They think it is just a matter of some rascals or rogue business. Is this the only thing? No. It is not so. This is just a periphery phase. It is something else. It is too deep. It is an American issue. This is the thing that America should come here and take the destiny of our nation. It is not the matter of demonstrations- one wants and one is against. They are after huggermugger to create setback in the run of the country.

You, the gentlemen and workers! You have an important role in this country. You want to cut the hands of others from this country. You have already witnessed that in this period of one year and some months that people infiltrated in your rows. They narrated Speeches or whispers. They provoked some people among you to go on strikes and things like that. Their pretext was that they are your supporters. A worker in any country, if he does not work and carries out strikes, that country will be destroyed. They are wolves in sheep clothing and with such a disguise they approach you. They shake your beliefs and make your stand evasive by telling you what you are and what others are. They are not your sympathizers. Sympathy is a mask for them to delude you. They want to paralyze you, and the plants and the cultivation of lands. They are those who set fire to the heaps of corn when the farmers want to collect the yield of corn. Presently, they are doing the same thing.

Those who are in favor of our campaign or the revolution, go alongside our nation. They are with these workers and farmers. They want to emancipate the country from the foreign yoke. Thus, we understand who the enemy of our campaign and the revolution is. A country can be emancipated through work. A peasant works in his farm. A worker works in a plant and so forth. All should work if the country is to be free and independent of foreign sources. Those who creep into your rows and stymie the work, or mingle with a group to prevent you from the work, or distribute the money (come from abroad) among some of these ignorant workers, to make them go on strike; They are from the same root of the past regime. In cultivation it is the same. They mingle with farmers. They create troubles. They go around the country, from corner to corner, telling them that so and so has house, has property. They assault on the peoples' properties and houses without any religious sanction. We are ignorant of them. They cannot be disappointed so soon. They have interests here. They have many benefits- materialistic ones and otherwise. Our country is a bridge of victory for them. Therefore, they cannot give up this country because of their interests.

We should not forget that now we have become free, so we should not foster chaos or strike. We should bear in mind that in a country where a revolution has taken places a great many disturbances are likely to occur. Gentlemen! You are at least fifty or more years, which I well remember. You must remember the deposed Shah, his work in recent years. What did he do under the name of `great culture'! He said:" I want to make Iran like Japan, like America within two to three years". So he said and surrendered the very honor of the country to foreigners.

Of course, he who is a saboteur would not reveal his real character in advance. But he would pretend that," I am your friend" or" I wish your success", or these clerics are backward and whatever they say is useless and that they are adherents of capitalists, for example. Even if a truth-seeker comes to them they will tell him that you won't get anywhere. They are supposed to say the clerics are retrogressive. Who are these clerics anyway? We want to be at your service, they say. These groups corrupt the country. For instance, in Kurdistan they do the malevolent mischief. If the situation there becomes normal, they go to the other part of the country. If Balouchistan gets normal, they will head to the center. In the center they can do better, because it is a big place. They come with the name of Islam, Qur'an and so forth. This country should not be cheated.

This revolution went ahead and advanced forward within a span of one year and a few months by your strong hands. You even succeeded in forming the things which a government needs. The Islamic Republic, then the parliament, you have achieved all. You have gone to the ballot boxes several times and voted openly and freely and voluntarily. This is a slap on the face of those who cannot tolerate the progress of Islam. They know that all these things could not have been achieved had not there been an Islamic uprising. It is the strength and the power of Islam pushing ahead all these things.

You see in Iraq, which is close to us, they did a revolution some twenty years ago. Now this year, they have held elections. This is to say that we are human beings here. Their elections are far worse than the elections in the era of Shah. It is not the case that people go to the ballot boxes and cast their vote. As it was in the days of the Shah, they take the people to the ballot boxes and draw their votes as they desire; all by coercion and force. They are worse than the Shah's regime here. They see that all the necessary things are done in Iran within one year and so which a country should necessarily have. But they have done nothing after twenty years even by tyranny and dread of cruelty.

It is hard for them to tolerate this Islamic Revolution. They analyze and see what has happened. What is the difference between a man here and a man there? Both are men. But one claims to be the leader. There is a party everywhere. But in Iran, there is no such thing. There is no party there. But what was there that the things progressed and developed with such a haste and speed. When they ponder on these things, they conclude that the main reason that gave motion to the wheels in Iran was the school. It was the school of Islam, which did all the things. People did because God was their target. They did everything for the sake of God. When God is the target, people become His hand. When God is the purpose, the fists are closed. It is so now too and shall be so in future as well. The thing that should be taken into consideration is Islam. People come nearer to Islam. People shall tell others the laws of Islam. But they draw the contents from the revolution; the revolution, without content. This is the last strike. In other words, it is returning the things to their previous state, in a different phase. Their aim is Islam. They say that there should be no Islam. No matter whatever else there be.

Some intellectuals among some classes say that the Majlis should be national. For example, the Islamic consultative Assembly should be national, i. e. national parliament because its name `national' exists in the constitution. Their point is that the name `Islam' should not exist. They fear Islam. There should be `national' but not `Islamic'. In fact, there is no such clause in constitution to fix the name `National' or parliament, i. e. the National Parliament. But such a name does not exist in constitution. Yes, it is said to be mentioned against a thing. The National Parliament, it has been named but not an obligatory law to bind it. It has not been made a compulsory obligation that the parliament should be called a National one. For instance, suppose if in parliament one says what is the news in the palace of senate? This does not mean that the constitution or the Islamic law wants to name the senate as" Palace". What they argue is a thing of the past. Now it should be Islamic. They fear the name of Islam. Even the name is horrible for them. They clamor for the name national and so on.

These things are not just by chance. But it is the consequence of their studied plot and plan. Whenever you wanted to do a thing, they gathered and aborted your efforts. They want to change the mentality and mind of the nation. They want to pervert the mind of the people. They want to take the route from the nation and put another rout, whatever it is or wherever it might lead to. However, they create a problem that could attract the attention for a month so that during a period of a month, perhaps they can do something.

You should be careful. You should know the enemies. If you do not know them, you cannot defend yourself. Your enemies are those who prohibited the right to vote ever since the Islamic Republic was formed. They set fire to the ballot boxes. They broke the boxes which they could not burn. They prohibited the Islamic Republic, and they have become one of it, a part of it. They are now supporters of the Republic. This is not support. This is a trick. This is a chicanery. If they want to say `I am against Islam', `I have nothing to do with Islam'. Iran is an Islamic country. So, they cannot do anything. Therefore, they are obliged to say we are Islamic. So, we should see their actions. We should see the chaos they create. Since the early beginning, they have created trouble. These groups, the adversary groups, each have a different name. Troubles, problems, tumult, chaos is created to distract you so that you cannot continue pacing on the straight path which is your route, a route God has ordered you to pace.

Those who were servants in the Court of Muhammad-Rida now have become against Muhammad-Rida. They are not against Muhammad-Rida. It is only to make you think so. We are being tricked in this way. Or, we may leave them alone. Or, we may become their sympathizers. They were able to fool our naive youths. They are well-versed in propaganda. Therefore, the nation should be advertent not to be tricked or cheated. They are posing themselves attached to Islam. The nation should see their record as to whether they are so in practice too? Or, they want to destroy Islam by uttering the name of Islam. The thieves also commit robbery under the name of Islam.

By the name of Islam, we should not be fooled. We should see into the record of their deeds. We should see the contents of the books they write. We should see what their propaganda is and what it is for. They just want to say they are Muslims. But only a claim is not sufficient. These days all people say they are Muslims. All say that they are revolutionary. There is no one who says that he is not a revolutionary. Some say they have done the revolution. Well, how odd! How strange! This nation, what should it say? The people went out into the streets, into the squares, stood against guns and tanks, campaigned against the past regime and the big powers, and finally brought the revolution to this stage. But now I have come here. I sit here. I say" I am your leader". You are wrong. On what grounds you are the leader? Why should you be the leader? So, everyone has some or other claims to make. Everyone says he has done such and such. Well, where did you do it? Where were you? If a thief, who was from your stock and stem, was killed. So, then were you a revolutionary?

One should check who are these groups in this country and what are they dong here? They do what is harmful. Regrettably, there are some who are not advertent of these matters. Sometimes they sympathize with them. Sometimes they say a thing which these groups utilize to their benefit and say it is a support for them. They even wanted to fool me. I was in Najaf. They had come there to fool me. They were there for twenty days and so. Some said twenty-four days. I don't remember the exact number now. They were among those who claim Islam. One of them came to me. I gave him the opportunity to say what he wanted to say. He thought that he is playing a trick on me, and I was already cheated. From Iran too, one had written to me a letter recommending the visitors. May God rest his soul in peace. He had sent me a letter. These visitors had gained the sympathy of those who had written me the letters. They had come under their influence. I heard their words. «1» He spoke from Qur'an and Nahj al-Balaghah. All his words were within the framework of Qur'an and Nahj al-Balaghah. I heard the story of the Companions of the Cave.

I remember a story that had taken place in Hamedan. Perhaps it was in the days of the late Sayyid `Adbul-Majid Hamedani. One Jew had converted into a Muslim by Sayid `Abdul-Majid Hamedani. Some time passed. A few days later Sayyid `Abdul-Majid Hamedani noted that he (the Jew previously) is showing his Islam too staunch and too ardent more than Sayyid Hamedani himself. He had become far more Muslim than any one else. Sayyid Hamedani became doubtful. So, he wanted to know the reality of the case. One day called the new Muslim (the old Jew) and asked him:

Do you know me?

Yes. You are one of the clergies of Islam.

Do you know who are my father and ancestors?

Yes. The Prophet is your ancestor.

Do you know yourself?

Yes. I and my ancestors were Jews. Now I have become Muslim.

Now tell me, why are you such a devout Muslim?

Here the Jew understood that his plot was detected. So he fled away.

The man came to Najaf, stayed more than twenty days. He spoke only from Qur'an and Nahj al-Balaghah. I remembered the memory all of a sudden. My mind remarked me clandestinely. This man is like that one. You have faith in God and in other beliefs. Why then you come to me? I am neither God nor a Prophet, nor an Imam. I am only a clergy in Najaf. He had come to me. I only listened to him. I did not speak at all. I spoke when he said:" We will start an armed campaign." I told him not to put and expose himself to the danger of death because an armed uprising is impossible to be done.

They try to annihilate us by the very means of Qur'an and Nahj al-Balaghah in order to annihilate Qur'an and Nahj al-Balaghah later. It is the same story as happened in the days of Imam `Ali. They raised the Qur'an over lances and said this Qur'an shall decide the dispute between us. Imam `Ali was really a victim. He told and wept saying that it was a chicanery, a trick, a plot. We should fight. We should fight. But it was to no avail. After a while, they gathered around him (Imam `Ali). They threatened him. They pulled out their swords. They told him that they would kill him if he did not give order to retreat. It is the command of Qur'an, they said. So, Imam `Ali was compelled. He was left with no alternative. He was obliged to yield to the ignorant crowds. The victory for Imam `Ali was sure, had the army stayed an hour in its ranks and rows. But here Imam `Ali was under compulsion. He was obliged to give orders to retreat. As such, the army of Islam was defeated. It was a fatal defeat which entailed fatal consequences giving birth to various and worse issues. Those who had pulled swords for him again pulled their swords against Imam `Ali. So, we should see their deeds to judge them correctly. Those who pulled the swords on `Ali, had forehead glittering with the sign of prostrations to God. Ibn Muljim had a forehead with the symptoms of prostrations that he prayed to God. But, in spite of that, you see what he did. Symptoms of prayers over his forehead, and he killed Imam `Ali himself! So, which one should we believe? his worship or his performance? his assassination of Imam `Ali or his prayers to God?

Islam has always had trouble with such people. They tried to destroy Islam by its own name. Did not Muhammad-Rida print Qur'an? Was he not going to Mashhad annually? Did he not keep speaking of Islamic justice and so on? Did he not say that `Abbas rescued him from danger? These words have power. Power is hidden in such words. A real power is concealed in such sayings. Therefore, they seriously tell the nation things like that without feeling the least shame or embarrassment. They say, posing too serious and sincere face that this is done by God. God has done this and so forth. People believe such things. Many trusted his words. Well, a king says `Qur'an', says `Islam', says more and more. So, what should be done with such a man? We should labor long to make the people see or conceive the other face of this man. Both sides of a coin should be seen. You know there is a face with Qur'an, Islam, God, Nahj al-Balaghah and etc. With such a face he comes before people. It is dangerous. We should introduce such faces- one like that of Muhammad-Rida- to the crowds. We shall be victorious if we make the people know their second face. This was what exactly happened in the case of Muhammad-Rida.

In whatever case we enter, we see the aim and the target is the clergy. Muhammad-Rida used to say in his Speeches:" Name these follows backward ones". He further said:" They are the agents of the backward force". They are agents of the British government. I was once in Tehran sitting in a car. We were three in the clergy dress. I heard by my own ears one telling the other:" I had not seen these skeletons for long." He further said:" The English people have made these figures in Najaf and Qum in order to fool the nation." So, in those days, we were British agents. Now we are regarded backward. The open-minded men consider so.

Throughout the period of Rida Khan's rule, the force that confronted him and stood against him was this very backward one. They were clergies uprising against him. They wanted to awaken the people to the realities. Because they are hurt by this class of people, they want to separate them from the people. They had separated the university students from the clergy class more and more. How they want to do the same with all the masses.

They don't want any hindrance for their doings. There should be no one to ask them why and what for.

I must say a thing here to the nation of Iran and to the clergy class of Iran. I am afraid of some clergies infiltrated into this category doing things undesirable and harmful. I am afraid of these disguised clergies who might change the very face of Islam. They might display Islam in a shape or a status, which is not its real one. I address the clergy class of Iran to identify and introduce these fake clergies who have gained access into many locations such as revolutionary organizations and committees and etc. to the people and tell them that they are not from us. We keep away from them. It will be too late when we come to know that throughout Iran committees of Imam have sprung up. No body knows who this Imam is. What information the Imam has about the committees, we ourselves don't know. Everyone has done what he wanted in the name of so and so.

A few days ago, what Mr. Khalkhali did in the premises of the shrine of Shah `Abdul`azim «2» was a due thing and not a wrong one. Another clergy designating himself as the representative of Imam destroyed a grave of some one who is said to be a good man. Likewise, he has destroyed the houses of the people and the property of a group. Such a work leaves bad impression. It is abominable, obscene and creates hatred and disdain. By doing such things, they want to destroy the very campaign itself.

This is a danger to the whole category of the clergy. This is a danger to the whole country. I am giving a warning to all the clergies in Iran. Get awaken to this danger now facing us. Tomorrow there will be no excuse because I am already awakening you to the facts and realities. These clergies, the fake ones, have crawled into our rows. They go here and there and do what they want. They torture and trouble the people. They do them without any religious sanction or any permission. You should keep away from them. They are not my representatives. They want to create trouble in any name. Their aim is to discredit us in the people's eyes.

I should further say that these guards have served the country. They are still serving them. Their existence is necessary. They will be rewarded by God. Their labors for the sake of the nation is worthy before God. In other sacred rows, some one creeps in. He displays much piety and honesty. Then all of a sudden he assaults and invades peoples' houses and loots it. He is not a guard. A Muslim does not let himself loot the peoples' houses. These men are infiltrators. They are doing wrong things in the guise of guards.

We should know that we have carried the campaign so far and now the thing is how to end it. We should shun chaos and huggermugger. The government of the Islamic Republic, of course, shall seek these mischievous elements. They are unjust people. They siphon others' labor. They benefit from others' toil. The government shall confront them. In any case, guards are not allowed to do whatever they like. If ten things are done unjust, at least one thing should be correct and just. They have made people raise their voices. People do not know that these things are being done by the infiltrators. People take it from guards. Similarly, in the cleric category, there are infiltrators too. They have crawled in to spoil the name of Islam by doing wrong things in the guise of guards or in the guise of clergies.

Beware of them. They are doing wrong things. They are teasing and torturing the people. Well, there is one branch Jihad-e Sazandegi. This is good, very good. They are working hard. They will be rewarded by God. Yes, amidst them and among them there are some who do what is against Islamic standards and what is against divine regulations and against governmental laws and restrictions. Their ultimate aim is to raise the voice of the masses. People should say that we are tired of this Jihad-e Sazandegi. This is what they want. Therefore, please do know the good and bad, the vicious and virtuous. Today, one clergy from Mashhad was telling me the same.

Beware of those who are doing the wrong things in the name of Islam. If he is having turban, set him aside. The clergies themselves should repudiate him. If he is among the guards, the guards themselves should discredit him. If he is among the army, the army itself should isolate him, and so on and so forth.

They, whenever possible, try to infiltrate in order to disrespect or discredit Islam. This is a danger for the uprising. They want to disfigure Islam and present a garbled face of Islam. This is a great crime they are committing. If we remain quiet, it will be a crime. We must point out. You must act.

Those who come under the name of Islam and act destructively, they are not Muslim. They are against Islam. They are anti-revolutionary. They have only crawled in. So, our nation should be vigilant. Today, vigilance is the need, more necessary than before. In the early stages, people knew who was against Islam. The security force (SAVAK), all the people knew that they were against the nation and Islam. Since people know them, they campaigned against them. The hypocrites are worse than pagans. One who says he is a Muslim and acts against Islam, Qur'an condemns him too. In Qur'an, we have a chapter for hypocrites. But there is no chapter for pagans. In the chapter of hypocrites, Qur'an describes and specifies the conduct and qualities of hypocrites.

Islam has always been entangled with such groups. They were many in the early stages of Islam. In the era of Imam `Ali too, they were great in number. Even in the days of the Prophet, these groups were many. Similarly, throughout the history of Islam, these groups were the cause of all troubles. Among the Muslims, there were hypocrites. Those who were real Muslims, suffered very much. The hypocrites used to approach them in the guise of Muslims and played tricks upon them.

One of the rich men at that time came to me in Najaf. I was talking about Iran. He said:" No, you don't fear the worse. You fear the best might happen." In those days, when Rida Khan lifted the turbans of the clergies, one clergy from Qum- may God rest his soul in peace- told me:" They want to separate the bad from good ones". I told him:" They are against the good ones. They do not want to know the bad ones. They want to know the good ones to crush them." There has had always been a trick- from the very first of Islam till now. Ever since man existed, there has always been a chicanery. There are some people who are cheats and tricksters in various guises. In these Islamic countries, the outer appearance is an Islamic face. Some go to mosques. They pray there. They observe fast. This is the outer appearance. But from inside, they are against Islam. To know them or to trace their real identity is very difficult. Therefore, our youths are easily fooled by them.

Oh you, the workers! May God save you for our country. Oh you, the army! May God save you for our country. Please be aware of the fact that today Islam is a deposit for us. We had the excuse in the days of Rida Khan. Most people used to say:" What can we do before lances and etc. But today there is a lance. We are trustees of Islam. It is wanted from us. If today, we get fooled by these groups infiltrated among us in the name of Islam or God.

forbid, if we be attracted to them, we have betrayed the trust. We are supposed to be trustworthy. We must save Islam.

May God protect you and prosper you. You are Islamic. Proceed on this very line and get this campaign prosperous.

May God's peace and mercy be upon you.