In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
The war bringing disgrace on the dissident groups that claim to be the supporters of the people
There are some instances when we think that what is happening is bad, but it is actually good. Regarding this war that the despotic Iraqi government has imposed on us, I should say that the thing that happens is all to the good because, in this case, it proved a few issues. One was that Iran's counter-revolutionar were spreading rumors to the effect that the Iranian army was ruined and unable to resist the enemy. In fact they were, at first, saying that the army was not really necessary, that it must be disbanded and a new one formed. It has been proved in this war that our army is strong and that all the various armed forces are willing to cooperate and fight side by side, and that all the heads of the army are loyal. So the war was good in that it put an end to the rumors.
Another aspect is that the words of the people who claim, and used to claim, that they were the supporters of the meek, the supporters of the people, the self-sacrificers of the people and the ones who struggle for the people, proved to be contrary to reality. Now that the people of Iran are fighting a war with the crumbling Ba`athist Party, nothing is being heard about them; rather, they are continuing with the sedition which they used to contrive. But they have been made to realize that once the government of Iran decides to get rid of them, it will do so with one blow. This is also one of the benefits that we have derived from this war; this imposed war.
Another benefit is that they used to propagate and constantly say that the Revolution, at first, had something positive about it that the people were united, but now they are not; they are disunited. They used to say such irrelevant things constantly. But this war has proved that the people throughout the country are united and retain their revolutionary spirit. Our youths everywhere and from all the regions of the country are volunteering to fight. But this is not necessary at present. However, if, God forbid, their presence is needed at any time, what is to happen will then become evident. This is one of the things that has happened for the good of us.
The war, the source of activity and action
Moreover, though this war has been imposed on us, wars in themselves, rid people of their lethargy and the things that make slack and bored. War gives rise to activity and makes the innate nature of man, which is to be active and energetic, manifest itself. Man becomes sluggish in a constant state of rest and comfort. Man becomes progressively languorous and his energy ebbs, and this is especially true in the case of people who accustomed to a life of pleasure or to one of ease. They suffer more[ because of their lifestyle ]. But when a war erupts, when epics are created, when cannons and such things are fried in the darkness of the night and the light of the day, man comes out of that listless and lethargic state and manifests his own real state which is one of activity and movement.
Another one of the things which has turned out to be to our benefit is that Iraq has realized who it is dealing with. The Iraqis used to tell themselves constantly and indulged in fanciful thought that if they attack Iran, they will finish the job in the very first assault and advance the capital and other places. But they have now understood that this was a wrong notion. While we have not as yet given the people permission to fight and have not called for a general mobilization, they have realized nonetheless that they cannot achieve anything, and that, in the event of the Iranian government making up its mind, they will be defeated very swiftly.
The difference between the armed forces of Iran and Iraq
The main point is that there is a difference between the Iranian and Iraqi armed forces, and between their commanders. The difference lies in the fact that the Iranian forces and their commanders have Islam in mind and act according to Islamic principles. They have nothing to do with the defenseless cities, the ordinary people and the poor in other places. Only when the necessity arises do they, for instance, bomb, fire artillery shells at or attack the satanic centers of power. But the Iraqi commanders are oblivious of God; they do not believe in such things. Thus they bomb the cities such as Khorramshahr, Ahwaz, etc. They target the cities while we, for our part, have our hands tied because we do not want the ordinary, innocent people to be killed. But they are free to inflict any harm because they have no faith in Islamic principles, they lack human instincts and the things that man's innate nobleness distates. They only think about gaining victory, about attacking and such things. But it does not mean that Iran cannot defeat them. But it wants to go forward step by step lest the innocent people be harmed, God forbid. We have to abide by Islamic rules. We advanced step by step; we went forward bit by bit. So they thought that we were powerless. But now they have realized otherwise. We do have power. However, the people in power here act according to certain principles whereas mischievous people in power act in accordance with other ones. And, thus, they shell population centers or attack them with grenades. But our forces target only their military positions so as to destroy them.
trickery in outwardly following Islam
Thus, many things- there are, no doubt, many other things as well- became clear in this war. It is good that the war has outwardly drawn Saddam Husayn to Islam as it is said that he even says his prayers nowadays! He even goes to the mosque! These are the same things that Muhammad Rida Shah used to do; exactly the same. Both of them obtain their sustenance from the same source. At the height of his power, Muhammad Rida used to roundly abuse the `ulama' of Islam. He had nothing to do with Islam, and would harm it. But when he found himself weak helpless, he started praying. He would go to Imam Rida's Shrine to pray, and would do similar things. Now this person is known to all the Iraqis. Do they not know that by praying and going to the mosque, whom he is trying to deceive? He wants to deceive the Iraqis, but they know his nature. He also wants to deceive us; and we, too, know his nature. Some of the people who live in that part of the world- in America and Europe- may possibly not know him for what he is. But the people in Baghdad and Iraq and such places do know him. The people[ of Iraq ]have lived for years under the Ba`ath party and have suffered because of it. This person who is now saying that he is a Muslim and that the Iraqis are fighting the infidels, is the same one who has his men open fire on the pilgrims that had set out for the shrine of the Doyen of Martyrs on Arba`in, «1» killing many of them. Do the Iraqis, who have seen him committing such atrocities, believe that he is a pious person?!
In any case, war is good in one respect and it is that it males man manifest his talent bravery, allowing him to shed his sluggishness and become active. The people of Iran must bear in mind that they are serving Islam. And herein lies the difference between them and us in that our motive is to serve. The record of the people, from Islam's early days up to now, who served it and fought and sacrificed themselves for its sake is securely kept [with God]. The difficulties experienced by the Noble Messenger were greater than ours. He was imprisoned for several months or years. He was kept in confinement in Shi`b-e Aboutalib «2», but put up resistance nonetheless. And it was right that he did so. The people of Iran are putting up resistance and ought to do so. The Iranian army, the pasdars and the rest of the armed forces should show their power and crush them; these paper tigers such as Saddam Husayn and his ilk.
It also became evident what a puppet he is. They make him dance to their tune, and to a different tune everyday. This war made this clear and many other things as well.
Laying emphasis on the steadfastness and devotion of the nation in defending Islam
What I wish to tell our dear people now is that they ought to bear in mind that we are dealing with Islam and it is at stake. We, the followers of Islam, are fighting to defend it. Our people should be prepared. Our youths ought to receive military training and be prepared as it is possible for the war to be prolonged. We must fight for Islam and make sacrifices for its cause. The number of our people killed in this war is not as much as number of those killed in the early wars of Islam. We must make sacrifices. We must sacrifice all our loved ones for the sake of Islam. This must be done without any problems. The ones who hold positions of power whether in the border regions or in places like Khorramshahr, Ahwaz, Abadan etc., should insist that the people not evacuate their cities. This is cowardice. Islam decrees that the people must offer resistance.
In any case, I advise them to resist with all their might and with courage and self-respect. They should not be unnerved by the rumors that are being spread by the counter-revolutionar. We emerge victorious. Saddam Husayn is trying to come to a compromise with us, but we will not do so. He is a heretic: he is corrupt and a corrupter. We cannot compromise with an evil person. We will fight them [the Iraqi Ba`athists] to the end and triumphed, God willing. We are not at all concerned about the governments helping him because our aim is to fulfill our duty. Our duty is to safeguard and protect Islam. We will have done our duty whether we kill or get killed. This was the same rationale behind our opposition to the corrupt Pahlavi regime. It was not that we had to succeed by all means. Our reasoning was that in view of the difficulties that had cropped up for Islam - its precepts were being undermined and its manifestations were disappearing- we were duty-bound to oppose the regime with all our might. It would not have mattered whether we killed them or got killed because we would go to heaven in either case by the will of God.
Never allow anything to frighten you. You are fighting to preserve Islam whereas they [the Ba`athist] are fighting to destroy it. Islam is now arranged against heresy. Thus, you have to support and defend Islam and resist the enemy. It is binding upon all of us to defend it. Everybody ought to defend Islam to the extent he can. These people are now attacking Islam and we have to defend it. There is absolutely no question of making peace or coming to a compromise with them. We will never negotiate with them. They are corrupt; they are corrupters; we will not negotiate with these people. Yes, if relinquished power and leave, if they get out [of the country] and surrender, it is possible that we may stop fighting so that further discord among the Muslims is averted. But while they are pointing their weapons at us, we will fight them with our weapons of faith and Islam. And with these weapons, we will advance and crush all of them just as we have so far defeated the superpowers with those same weapons, and cut off their hands from this country.
The superpowers intend to do the same things again. They want to re-establish their hegemony over this Islamic country. It is our duty to stop them. We have to defend our country irrespective of gaining success or not. We must by all means defend it, and when the permission is given, all the people must set out to defend the country. But I hope that matters will not reach that stage, and that the situation will not be so grave. I hope that they come to realize what country and what people they are at war with, and that they stop their devilish acts and their interference.
May God's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.