Radio/Television Message [Admiring the bravery of the Armed Forces; advice for the nation and army of Iraq]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I would like to have a few words with our own army and with our nation; then a few words with the Iraqi army and people. The bravery of our army and all the armed forces- such as the Islamic Guard Corps and others- reminds us of the bravery of the Muslims of early Islam. There was no comparison between the enemy forces and those of Islam in its early period. In the Rome battle, the Roman army numbered 700,000 - 800,000 while that of Islam numbered 30,000 men. The vanguard of Roman army consisted of 60 thousand soldiers which was twice the whole army of Islam. Khalid ibn Walid, who was one of the Muslim commanders, suggested that they deal a hard blow to Rome's army in order to weaken their morale- This is how I see it- and that thirty people from among them go and fight the [Roman] vanguard of 60,000 as some of them did not agree to this proposal, it was arranged for 60 fighters to go. They carried out a raid at night and put those 60,000 to the sword; they wiped them out.

Throughout the period that we were involved in the movement in Iran, we always had almost nothing by way of forces and the weapons of war in comparison to the defunct Shah's army of the time, in addition to which he had the support of the world's superpowers. But there was nobody to support us. Though Iran had a population of thirty million, some hundred millions were against us. In a war, the importance does not lie in numbers. What is important is one's power of thought; that same power which, by relying on God in the early days of Islam, enabled a small force to overpower large armies and throw them into disarray. Thank God that the people of our country, though few in number while that of the inimical superpowers was large, were able to pass the test in that they defeated the large armies and the great number of enemies because of their unity of expression and reliance on the Exalted Holy Being. Thus, that which is important is that power which comes to the people from the Unseen and which the people, thank God, have. As I have been told, the army, the Islamic Guard Corps and all the security and military forces possess that power. It is so great that even if they are on the verge of being killed, they launch their attack with the cry of Allahu Akbar. At that time, there were, and still are, a limited number of people in a garrison in Kurdistan who withstood the attack of the large number of enemies because they had faith in God while the enemy did not. Therefore, we should not say that our army is like the other ones, that our gendarmerie or the Islamic Guard Corps are like the armed forces of other countries. It is not right to say so. For whom do the other armies, etc. fight? The Iraqi army fights for Saddam Husayn. Which sane person will give his life for Saddam?! To what purpose? Our soldiers have a good reason: they say that they will go to God if they get killed. Such morale is the most important factor. This kind of spirit stems from the devout belief that a person getting killed is actually a victory in that he will go to rest in God's protection. This is the spirit that made us triumph and which the army and all the rest of the armed forces such as the pasdars, gendarmerie, police, etc., thanks be to God, possess. I wish to tell the army that, firstly, I appreciate them and all the armed forces because they are now fighting bravely like the soldiers of early Islam. I wish to give them the glad tiding of their going to heaven whether they kill[ the enemy ]or get killed. This is a divine power with which our security and military forces, and our Islamic guards are equipped. Their weapon is Allahu Akbar; there is no other weapon in the world like this. And the case is the same with our people.

This transformation that took place in our people was a divine one. Nobody thought it possible for thirty million or more people, most of whom were unconcerned about such matters, to be so transformed. In the days of taghout, people used to obstruct [the affairs], but most of them remained indifferent. The regime would do whatever it wanted to do. It had instilled such fear in the hearts of the people that they would not disobey whatever orders that a policeman would go and give in the bazaar. But an Invisible Hand transformed these timid people into steel ones. Of course, there were many of them, but they were not equipped. They [the ex-regime] had all the weapons. But the people would fearlessly go and face the tanks and machine - guns. Some of them would climb up on the tanks; those implements that the [Shah's] regime would pit against them. This was divine power which our nation possessed, and, praise be to God, possesses. Thinking that the people have nothing more to do [with the movement] is a delusion. Some say that there is nothing left to do. Some classes and groups satisfy themselves by saying, for instance, that the people have now changed. But we see the people rise all at once [to help] whenever there are difficulties. In Khorramshahr, Abadan, Ahwaz and other places, people have set up entrenchments. The President who had just been here, told me that they had gone there and seen that the people have set up barricades and are in a state of readiness. The news that is being broadcast from abroad to us and our people is just a rumor. Rumors are afloat that Khorramshahr has fallen. Bani Sadr, himself, has just been to Abadan, Khorramshahr and other places. The enemies spread these rumors for their own gratification. I heard the rumor of so-and-so's «2» death today. They have made themselves happy at [the thought of] so-and-so's death. If I die, you must pray for God as well to die! Who am I, when He is always there. Our people have God on their side. God the Blessed and Exalted has always been supporting our nation since the very beginning. This support has been evident at times and subtle at other times. It is very evident at present as things are going against their whishes. Thus, our people who were weak have become powerful now. Our people desire martyrdom; such a nation that desires martyrdom does not fear anything. It will emerge absolutely victorious, God willing.

I wish to tell the soldiers of the Iraqi army that I am sorry that being Muslims- I am not aware of those that have been brought from Israel; I have nothing to do with them- who face the Ka`bah in prayers, whose Book is the Qur'an and the Noble Messenger their prophet, they are fighting. Against whom are they fighting and why? What is their motive in fighting? They are in confrontation with Muslims. Saddam Husayn's views on Islam, of course, differ from ours. No doubt he calls us Magians and that we belong to the Magi. This is an old lie which some people used to say long ago. For whom are the Iraqi soldiers shedding their blood? Do they know that they will be killed like this if they come to fight Iran? Have they not understood now that using any force against Iran will not help them? Why are they shedding their own blood? What is their motive in doing so? Can they claim to be serving God?! What has Saddam Husayn to do with God?! what does Michael `Aflaq have to do with God? The Ba`ath Party is one that has nothing to do with God. It is not familiar with God. Therefore, you are not giving up your lives for God. What is your motive? We are using our power to fight for the cause of God. He has given us everything. We are from Him and will give our all to Him. Herein lies the motive of the army of Islam. It was the same at the advent of Islam, and it is the same now. What is your motive? Are you opposing Islam for the sake of God? Are you opposing the Qur'an for the sake of God, or for the sake of Saddam Husayn? There is no way for you to claim that you are fighting for God; it is meaningless for you to say this. That means you are fighting for Saddam Husayn. Are you fighting for the purpose of making Islam powerful?! Well, we have Islam here; and it is also powerful. The Iraqi nation, itself, does not approve of Saddam Husayn; it opposes him. All the Islamic masses are against Him. The reason is that his ideology is a godless one and he, himself, is an atheist. The motive of our army, our armed forces, the pasdars, and all the other forces of Iran- the navy, air force, ground forces- are one and the same: to serve God. The country is an Islamic one. Our people got rid of taghout and replaced it with Islam. We are fighting to put Islamic precepts into effect, and to root out the remnants of taghout. But to what end are the Iraqi soldiers losing their lives? What will they give you in return for your lives? What will they give you for shedding your blood? It is said here [in Iran] that giving our lives [for God] will take us to stations in heaven higher than those of the earth. What about you?

O army of Iraq: return to Islam! O armed forces of Iraq: return to Islam before it is too late! You cannot return when the time to do so has passed. Repent while there is still time, just like many of your brothers who repented and came here and joined the army of Islam. You, too, must return [to Islam]. It would be for your own good both in this world and the next. Do not follow a heathen; do not follow one whose ideology is atheism and who is an atheist himself. Follow Islam; follow the Apostle of God, and not Saddam. Forsake these people. They are nothing without you. Leave them. Kill them if you can. Use your weapons against them and kill them. But if you do not get the opportunity, leave them and turn your backs on them. Come to Iran; you are most welcome. It is your home. We will receive you warmly and serve you.

I knew that the Iraqis were a spirited people and that their tribes were armed. It is the same even now, but I do not know what has happened to them in that they have not risen in revolt and are not taking any action as they should be doing. I know that all of them feel resentment against this government. No Muslim can approve of it. But now that they are engaged in a war with Iran, the Iraqis should rise in revolt, like the Iranians, before we kill and destroy the authorities [in Iraq]. The Iranian nation rose and overthrew a regime that was many times more powerful than Saddam Husayn. You, too, must do the same thing. This man is occupied with Iran at present. This is the time for you to strike at him. Rise, go on strike and hold demonstrations against him. If the people hold demonstrations against him in all the cities of Iraq, he will not be able to massacre them. The reason for them in doing so would be that he is opposing Islam. Hold marches and demonstrations for God and Islam. Paralyze the economy. Do not pay taxes. It is religiously forbidden to pay taxes to him; it is one of the great sins as it amounts to assisting one who is against Islam. And do not pay your water and electricity bills either. Do not give them anything else they want. Do not put up with anything. March[ in the streets ]and demonstrate. Condemn him. He cannot confront an entire nation. Their radio keeps on broadcasting the people's support for Saddam. But you know and the Iraqis know what he is doing and what he has been doing to them up to now, and given the opportunity, this beast will wipe out all traces of Islam in Iraq. He will destroy your mosques. But if his regime, considering its attitude and ideology, does find the opportunity, it will do away all the vestigee of Islam. So you have to start subversive activities while he is occupied in fighting against Iran. Hold demonstrations; blow up the government buildings. Do what they used to do in Iran and what they are still doing. You must, in the defense of Islam, stand up to the regime that is anti-Islamic and has risen against Islam. It is imperative that you defend Islam; it is an essential matter. Besides, it amounts to protecting your own dignity. This man resorts to various lies. He claims to be an `Arab. Not so; he is an American [stooge]. He and his regime are not `Arabs as `Arabs are Muslim. They are not `Arabs; they are Americans. They now claim to follow Islam. The people of Iraq should take note of the fact that this war is one between Islam and heresy. It is incumbent on all Muslims to defend Islam. Granting the impossibility of this man prevailing over Iran and destroying the Islamic Republic, the repercussions of this world be felt in all the Muslim countries. The Iraqi regime does not want an Islamic country to exist as such. They are the followers of Michael `Aflaq. Has Michael `Aflaq anything to do with Islam? He considers Islam to be inconsistent with his aims. This Ba`ath Party considers Islam to be opposed to its aims. The Iraqi people should wake up. They should rise and start a movement [against the regime]. They should carry out a revolution. They should revolt until they get rid of this person. They ought to know that they will be victorious if they start an uprising for the sake of God, just as we rose; our nation rose for God and triumphed. It will be victorious even now [in this war] and will destroy this man, God willing. Let us join together and dissolve this party, and execute those Ba`athists who do not return to Islam so that the country [Iraq] is rid of the Michael `Aflaqs, the Saddam Husayns and the Sadats, and rediscovering its religion, becomes an Islamic country. Every [Muslim] country must have its own independent government, but an Islamic one. Iran has its own particular kind of government, and so do Iraq and Egypt, all in their own places. But all of them should be under the banner of Islam. God willing, we will get rid of them. May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.

Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini