Speech [Paying attention to divine criteria- the prophets' struggles in the way of God]

Blessed be this great and auspicious `Id for the world's deprived peoples, the masses under the yoke of the arrogant powers and the noble, combatant Islamic nation of Iran.

Man is a strange creature. There is none like man among all the classes of the creatures of Exalted Lord. He is a miracle that can develop into a divine, seraphic creature or a hellish, fiendish one. The other creatures are not like this. It is not that there is a distance between a perfect individual and an imperfect devilish one. It is one of the peculiarities of man in that the Exalted Lord has created him with all his own Holy qualities and attributes. There is everything in him. The Noble Prophet and all the other ones have emerged from this creature, as well as Aboujahl «1» and all other Aboujahls. In between these two, there are types that can neither be numbered nor known. The deeds he performs- good or bad, virtuous or vicious- depend upon his spiritual aspects. Outwardly, there is not much difference between the deeds. The thing that distinguishes the deeds is the intention. Deeds (of every individual) depend upon intentions. «2» As is the intention so is the deed. Consider two persons, each one holding a sword in his hand. Both the hands go up and come down in the same manner. Both kill two men. Both have performed the same act. But the act of one is like the worship of thaqalayn «3». The act of the other is an evil, destructive act, unworthy of mention. But the action is the same: the hand is raised, then comes down, and kills a man. Here the difference emanates from the difference between the persons. It is the difference in the mentalities of the persons. The difference lies in the intentions and motives of the persons in question, based on which the deeds are done. The aim creates the stimulus for the action and causes the difference in the very character of the action. It is the purpose that compels one to act. The instances of good and bad, virtue and vice are tied to this fact. The motives that are behind human deeds also depend on these factors and on will, decision, and aim. You see that if an action is divine in purpose, nothing can influence that divine aim.

The deed that is for the sake of God and has no other motive but a divine one, is like the acts that the Prophets (`a) used to do in their teachings. These acts had no other motive except that they were for the sake of the Blessed and Exalted Lord. Therefore, in spite of the many difficulties that the Great Prophets had to bear in the course of their teachings and guidance, none of these difficulties made them slack in carrying out their work. It must be said that, from the human point of view, those difficulties that appear to us as difficulties, were not so for them. And, the reason was that the goal they were pursuing and acting on was so great and sublime that all the difficulties they had to endure for its sake did not appear to them as such. They had an aim in mind; and so we see that the prophets spent all their lives in pursuing their aim. They did not take a single step backwards and neither did their spirits waver.

I do not think that anybody suffered as much as the Noble Messenger did during those thirteen years of his stay in Mecca and the ten years in Medina. If one takes a careful look of Hadrat Mawla Rasoulullah (the Apostle of God) one will see and, surely say, that he (the Prophet) did not rest for even a single day according to our perception of rest. While in Mecca, he was subjected to so much pressure and persecution, and also placed in such straitened circumstances of all types and in all respects, that he was forced to take refuge in a cave where he was under surveillance as well. And, his life passed in such a way. He did not have even a day's rest. After he saw that he could not remain in Mecca where his teachings did not love much effect- only a few people; a limited number of people came to profess his faith- he migrated. If we look into his situation in Medina, we see that in the ten years there, he had nothing but trouble and (being occupied with) the conflicts and holy wars that broke out. The burden of these holy wars also fell on his shoulders. But the mission was one in relation to all these matters were of no consequence. In Mecca, a message was conveyed to him (the Prophet) to effect that he should forego inviting the people (to the true path), and in return they (the pagans) would give him everything he wanted. The Prophet stated that if the whole world- what he meant was something like this- and all the earth and the sky were given to him, he would not give up his mission (of guiding the people) as it was a divine invitation, a divine mission. It was meaningless for him to give up his divine mission in order to gain position, status, wealth, or anything else.

One should not mind the difficulties encountered in pursuing the goals that are lofty. On the other hand, those individuals who have lost their human nature and have become beasts that are outwardly human- they are demons in human guise- also strive to attain their aims. They endeavor to achieve the purpose they have. But the difference between these two paths and these two aims is that they (the beastly type) try to derive some animal and satanic pleasures, while these (other) ones pursue divine aims. They want to reform society; the society in its entirety. The prophets were sent by God, the Blessed and Exalted, to guide the societies that were at the crossroads; one way being that of humans, and the other, the satanic, taghouti and inhuman one, with the people themselves being unable to distinguish properly between them. It was the duty of the prophets to make (proper) human beings of the nations, the( various )groups and societies by inviting them (to the true path) and by means of their teachings and guidance. This matter of the people becoming proper human beings has been the aim (of the prophets) since the beginning of creation, and it will be so to the very end.

The purpose of all the troubles taken by the prophets, the aim of all the heavenly books and the invitations of the saints and prophets was that this creature, which, left to itself, is worse than all the animals and more satanical than all the satans, be guided and called to the straight path, and be turned into a divine creature; a divine and human one. They, of course, did not succeed in reforming everybody. The stubborn ones were many. There were, and are many that were outside the pale of humanity. But they (the prophets and saints) did their level best. All the blessings that there are in the world arise from the blessed efforts of the great prophets of God and the saints. We should not base the criteria on material considerations nor examine victory and defeat in a worldly and materialistic framework. Our criteria ought to be divine and we ought to judge victory and defeat within that same divine framework. If we succeed in that divine context and that straight human path we shall be victorious even if the whole world were to rise and destroy us. The reason is that the criteria are not worldly ones, and besides that world is not this material one. This material world is the world of the filth and refuse of creatures. There are countless worlds. We have come from there and shall return there. The criteria are that domain and that path. Man in himself, his failures, and successes, his yardsticks, all have to do with that" path"; not the material one. We shall attain salvation if we adopt the path that exists for us- the path of the prophets- and if we succeed in it, just like the prophets did; the straight path of humanity, and triumphed over the evil entities despite being killed, some being burnt and all of them put into great trouble. The pharaohs and their like were defeated in that path, the one of human beings. As a matter of fact, they did not enter it.

The enemies of Islam and humanity did not even perceive this reality of something else beyond nature and animality existing. Those who have understood that the destination must be that we are from God and shall return to Him," Verily, we are Allah's and unto Him we are returning." «4» We are from God. We do not do anything; we give for His sake what He has given us. Suppose we be like the prophets or act like them; then, it would, in such a case, be inward blindness on our part to think that we have done something (good). You are drowned in God's bounties. Your eyes are from God. Your flesh is from God. Your strength is from God. Your hands, your legs are from God. Everything is from Him. I cannot name this as a trust. Yet, there is some selfishness about it. When everything is from Him, if you give for His sake, you have done nothing. It is all from Him and is given in His way. If we comprehend its human worth and its divine worth, we should not feel sorry that we have been subjected to economic pressure. The economic difficulty, however it be, pertains to the world and to nature. The enemy subjecting us to military assaults, sometimes by himself, and at times by means of his lackeys, should not perturb us at all. Why should we feel perturbed? We are acting for the sake of God. The Blessed and Exalted Lord has blessed us with everything. We should use the things He has given us in His way.

If we succeed in giving for His sake what he has given us, we will be victorious. If a Muslim, a believer, acts according to his religious and natural duty, will be triumphant even if he is separated and rejected by the animal- like society of people. And, the bestial and savage nature of the one with an outwardly human face, who behaves in an inhuman way, increases with his progress. Man is a marvel that is boundless in both aspects; whether in his goodness or wickedness. We have to determine the dividing line between man and beast, and between man and Satan, that will enable us to understand who the winner or loser is. These superpowers that we name" superpowers" use all their power for beastial purposes. They combine all their powers and use them for savage and satanic purposes which they are, nevertheless, not able to attain. If they are to attain their desired aim, they ought to be aware of it. As you see, these superpowers advance and in spite of having everything, they still advance. They are not satisfied even if they have the whole world. The reason for this is that there are no limits to man even at this end. The thing that makes man feel assured is God and the Praise of God." Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!" «5»

Those godly creatures feel secure because their refuge is the Blessed and Exalted God. The other creatures that are taghouti have no refuge. No matter what they get, what oppression they do and conquests they make, they want to conquer another country as well. Do not think that these kind of people would be satisfied even if the whole globe were given to them. Giving the whole of this planet to such an individual, he will not be satisfied. He will go to the other planets to see what there is in those places. They will go and plant their flags in those planets as well, just as they went and planted their flag on the moon. The reason for this is that man is different from the other animals even in his animality. When the animals are finished with their job- for example, eating and getting satiated- they just sit by until they set hungry again. But man is not like that. We should choose a straight way so that we feel secure; so that we shed and overcome our fear. The prophets did not mind if any one happened to insult them. Their aim was something else; the issue was something else. They did not get disappointed, they did not get discouraged, they did not complain. Yes, the prophets were much concerned as to why man, who is by nature virtuous, should be like this. The Noble Messenger used to worry about this. It was even said to him in one of the Revelation:" It seems that you are killing yourself because they do not profess the faith"." Yet it may be, if they believe not in this statement that thou (Muhammad) wilt torment thy soul with grief over their footsteps." «6»

His aim was to make them human. Whoever became a proper human was good news to the Prophet and to the other prophets as well. But conquering a country or possessing blocks of houses and such irrelevant things that concern the companions of taghout had, and have, no place at all among the prophets. The world of nature is of no importance to the Prophets. They came to pull these natural entities, these creatures of nature, towards another realm, and that which is beyond my and your ken.

Who has brought about transformation in our society? This miraculous transformation; this transformation of a hundred years that it has undergone as if overnight? If a teacher, a mystic or a godly person wanted to bring about such transformation by means of advice, admonishment and such things, it would take him thirty to forty years of hard work to train ten or fifteen people. A country of thirty-odd million people suddenly leapt from that state of darkness." Layer upon layer of darkness". «7»

Into light; eternal light. This change that has swept our country arises from the people having clamored for Islam from the very beginning, and their rejection of taghout. By this (demand) they brought God's favor upon themselves. The Blessed and Exalted Lord who saw the nation's young and old demanding an Islamic state, bestowed His favor upon. This is the divine kindness that drew the youths, who should be somewhere else in response to their inclinations, to fight for Islam against the non-Islamic forces. They came to fight with bright smiling faces. They were not like the soldiers of other entities that are compelled to fight because of pressure, coercion, promises and threats. While watching television, it makes me feel ashamed to see groups of women of the country- well, all the countries are like this sitting down and, in all earnestness, preparing packages, baking bread and making parcels for the youths fighting on the battlefronts. Why? What are we and what are they?! It is a whole nation that has become like this. It is a nation, all the strata of which rose for Islam and the Islamic country, with everybody doing all they could. Well, you saw some of these old people; one of them had come here. These old people go and implore (the authorities) that they be allowed to proceed to the battlefronts. Though he could not go, yet he refused and said that he had the strength, that he could go and that he should be sent. The little boys too have the same attitude. They, too, want to do what the elders do, and like them, undergo military training. The country has become like this. This is God's blessing bestowed on us. As long as we have this divine blessing, we shall not suffer defeat and nor shall we fear anything as long as the Exalted Lord's merciful shadow lies over the heads of our people. If we were material beings, and if we had closed our eyes to the other world and whatever we saw was confined to this very world itself, then we would have sat and mourned whenever any of us was killed. But Islamic beings that are struggling for Islam's sake make every effort without thinking about defeat at all. The battlefields that you now see and to which all have gone and seen for themselves that the young men who are fighting there do not become slack nor lose their sense of purpose on seeing their brethren getting killed and falling to the ground. Just as they go from here with enthusiasm, so also do they welcome martyrdom with zest, bravely and courage in the field of battle. This is an important point. A situation has arisen in Iran which defies explanation. Suffice to say that it is a divine country. It is a country whose people have realized that they must devote themselves to Islam.

You compare our nation with all the other nations. No, all the nations are good. But because of the pressures exerted on them, they are somewhat unable to campaign properly. God willing, they will. You just compare the heads of this country with those of other countries. In which one of the wars has Mr. Carter even gone to the battlefront? He sits in the White House or in his summer resort and forces people to fight. He does not care if they are killed. He wants them to work for him whether they get killed or not. Which battlefront has Mr. Saddam (Husayn) visited? He fears even his own soldiers and his own people. Do you know of any country where president and other high-ranking officials are constantly shuttling from town to town on the warfronts? And whose parliamentary speaker also visits the fronts? Is there any place where such things happen? Where have you seen the Friday prayers leaders go to the fronts clad in soldiers' uniform? Where are such things done? Where have you witnessed the soldiers, army officers and the army chiefs making such sacrifices? They keep pressing ahead in spite of giving martyrs. Where do you find such things. These are matters that cannot be solved except by following the straight path of humanity. It is because of this that our people are not apart from their government; their army and the like all of them belong to one another. We are now not worried that martial law may be imposed in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and other places, and neither are we apprehensive that such-and-such group, tribe or community living around Iran may stage an uprising against us. We do not entertain such fears.

A few youths that had been lead astray, have also understood now that they should not do such things. They have understood correctly God willing. This country is now an exemplary one. We want this exemplary country to become a supremely exemplary one; a model for all the other countries. Regarding this country, take a look at history from its beginning up to now. Can you find a place where the women, the young women- who, for example, should be taking care of their youth- and also the old men and women take such pains in supporting the army and the pasdars? Do you know of such a thing happening anywhere? If you do, tell us so that we, too, come to know of it. Where do you see such a ghing like the ladies standing shoulder-to- shoulder with the people, the pasdars, the gendarmerie, the army and all the armed forces and assisting them as much as their ability allows? Is Iraq like this? All the people of Iraq? What Saddam says is absard. He has said that the difference between those who volunteered (to fight) for him- there are 400,000 of them- and the ones that are in Iran is that the former respect him whereas the latter, in effect, have turned their backs on the pasdars and the soldiers. Well, a person's mouth is not muzzled. He says whatever he wants. But on examining the issue, it is seen that it is not so as Iraq has been wrapped up; nobody can see it! The Iraqis have been enclosed in a box. Whatever they say about them is immaterial. If such is the case, what is this martial law for? If his point is that all the people are supporting him, he should sometimes go unhesitatingly among these people and see (for himself) if he is able to! Before this, you saw in the days of Muhammad Rida that whenever he wanted to pass along a certain road, despite his traveling in a bulletproof automobile equipped with everything and accompanied by escorts, the authorities would have the houses (on his route) emptied a week earlier, and soldiers and security agents of SAVAK would take positions in them until he had passed. Now we see that all these people (from the government) and our prime minister, mingling with the people and talking to them. Our president and all our officials also behave in the same way. If he is telling the truth, he should go among the people. Why has he wrapped himself up and keeps aloof from the people?

Well, what caused him to do such a thing without giving any thought to the matter, without understanding the issue and without taking the people into account? It was only that some devils like himself had drummed it into his head that the time was ripe to attack Iran, and that they become something themselves. They, thereby, led him into committing such a crime. What was the need for him to do such a thing as to now go from pillar to post in search of a compromise? How should we make peace with him? Peace with whom? This is just like somebody saying that the Prophet should have made peace with Aboujahl. He is not worth making peace with. He was the one who committed all these crimes against us and against his own country. He was the one who killed all these Muslims committed all these untold crimes, which, I think, have few parallels in history. It is he who has done those crimes in Dezfoul. Now, suppose our president, our speaker of the parliament, and our prime minister had a meeting with him, shook hands with him and enquired about his health, and then offered the shat al-`Arab to him and asked him to leave us alone! Is that all there is to it? How can we answer the Iraqis? Our own people aside, what is our answer to the people of Iraq, considering that a regime has been ruling over them tyrannically for so many years, and has killed and maimed so many of the youths and martyred so many clergymen there, if we, who claim to be Muslims, sit with them (the Iraqi regime) at the same table and talk about reaching a compromise? Let alone answering God to Whom we are answerable, let alone answering the prophets to whom we are answerable, let alone answering the angels of God to whom we are answerable, let alone answering the deprived people to whom we are answerable, what answer can we give the Iraqis?! What answer do we have if we receive a scroll (of signatures) from Karbala asking us as to why we are negotiating peace with a person who has martyred their clergy and incarcerated their intellectuals? As we have been told, their jails are now full and so they have emptied some places for incarcerating the people. What peace can we make? How can we answer what with all the martyrs we have? Considering the many people martyred, should we now sit at the same table and negotiate with him (Saddam)? Our problem is doctrinal; it does not concern choice. Our dispute is over Islam. We maintain that a person who considers Islam to be basically against his party, subscribes to the `Aflaqi brand of Islam, which is, even worse than Carter's (understanding of) Islam. How can we make peace with a person, a party that view Islam as being totally opposed to them and assail it with all their might whenever the opportunity arises? That is, should we sacrifice Islam? Is Islam a piece of land? Is Islam the sky? If in the days of the defunct Shah they had told us- and they did tell us- to make peace with him, would it have been right of us to make peace with one who was opposed to Islam?! Yet, his opposition was less than that of the one but this one (Saddam) is doing the same things and is playing the same tricks which that man used to do. In Iran, he would visit the shrine of Hadrat Rida (`a) and would be photographed. This person now visits the shrines. It was broadcast on radio or where was it mentioned that he had prayed without kneeling! But we are not censuring him for this. There is no way for us to compromise with them because we have a certain goal which is Islam. All our people want Islam, but their (The Ba`athists) goal is one that is against Islam. There can be no understanding between Islam and the anti-Islamic entities.

Yes, Islam has made allowance for one who has become a Muslim and behaves in accordance with Islamic practices. He can be accepted by you as a Muslim in case you understand that he is one and behaves as such. He (Saddam), for his part, ought to refrain from these acts of his. He should also relinquish his hold on Iraq and become like any ordinary person. He must repent and declare that he has become a Muslim now.

" Islam covers up what one did in the past". «8» Because of their misdeeds, God has so sealed and blackened their hearts that they cannot be reformed not at all. They cannot repent at all. He has congratulated the ones who have done all these things for their crimes; crimes as murdering people. He is incorrigible. And we have no right to reform him. Suppose that I want to do so in keeping with my own personal inclination. What then, shall I do with the divine obligation that I have? We are charged with a duty. We could not compromise with Mahammad Rida because we could not answer all those who lost 60,000, killed and martyred. If that old man I would sometimes ask those who wanted to show goodwill as to how I could answer an old woman who had lost her young son. Did they want me to reach a compromise with him in that he should reign and not rule?! The meaning of monarchy is that he should sit there at the top, and we should address him as" your Imperial Majesty, Arya Mihr" and also observe all the due formalities and ceremonials, but that he should not knock us around anymore. I used to say that how I could I answer this old lady who came to me and asked me as to who I was to call him" Imperial Majesty" while she had lost her youthful son at his hands: It is the same even now. Who are we to go and sit with them and make peace with them? It seems they have not comprehended Islam.

Some of these clergymen of the Royal Court come and advise us to return to Islam. They do not know what Islam is. They know nothing of Islam except to eat and those same animalistic instincts. This man who has attacked on Islamic country is not a Muslim, and neither is this `Aflaqi party. If those who are aware of this understand Islam, they ought to know that it is the duty of the Muslims to attack him (Saddam) as he has invaded an Islamic country. Yet that clergyman of the court tells us to return to Islam! He is the one that ought to return to it. He is the one who must understand what Islam is. If Islam could be summed up as (just) eating, drinking and (indulging in) animalistic pleasures, then, yes, we should return to that Islam which you talk about. But (the actual) Islam is that for the sake of which those martyrs have been offered. Islam is that for which the Noble Prophet and the saints endured so much trouble. Should we now give up Islam and make peace just because we have lost some of our youths, albeit very dear to us? We and our people are the same ones that lost so many of our youths in these avenues in Tehran and the other cities, but did not compromise. While that evil person had all the power, they, nevertheless pursued their aim until they achieved it. Our youths are of this type. Our people, our men and women, are the ones that follow their aim and their creed. They will not make a compromise with any power or superpower.

The difference between our army and theirs is that our army has its hands tied. Islam has specified what the duty of our army is. But their army has got a free hand. It uses cannons and missiles, surface-to-surface missiles in their own words, that are nine or ten meters in length. And even if they destroy a town, they are congratulated. But our army does not do such things. It cannot and never will. Our army only targets their military positions and the people who are against Islam and have risen against it. And it will continue to do so. I must condole and congratulate the whole of Iran. I must particularly congratulate the people of Khouzestan- especially Dezfoul- for their spirit of resistance and brave struggle, and who are engaged in confronting the enemy. I offer my condolences to those who have lost their youths. All of us share their grief. Those youths did not belong to their parents alone. They belonged to Islam. The Prophet of Islam gives them his condolences. A misfortune has befallen Islam. I thank them because they have campaigned so well for Islam. Their reward is with Islam and with Islam's God.

And, I thank all the armed forces in this war between Islam and paganism. They have performed their duty and very well did that. They gave martyrs and their country suffered damage. They too, gave martyrs. They struggled and rose bravely to the occasion. I also thank everybody and those of the higher echelons- we have no high or low (levels), by the will of God- such as the brothers that had been delegated for these matters and had been there (the warfronts): the prime minister; the president; the Friday prayer leader, all of those that are busy in serving the cause, and very sincerely at that. Our nation should appreciate them. They are our brothers who go to the fronts and get martyred, and who exert all efforts. They will, God willing, triumph. They check those who are anti-Islamic. I thank Iraq and its nation for supporting Iran at this time, to the extent they can, which is the same as supporting Islam.

I also thank all the young men and others, from all the lands of the world- from most of the places: America; Europe; Pakistan; India; from everywhere- who have expressed their support for us and have announced their readiness to defend Islam. I pray to the Blessed and Exalted God for their success in attaining prosperity. I hope that, God willing, the situation will not reach that stage as to necessitate all the youths from everywhere, all the people of the world and all the allies to come and fight and destroy such a person. Our own youths and army suffice for this purpose. The main thing is that the Blessed and Exalted Lord is with us, and that we depend on Him. It is hoped that we will have this trust in Him till the very end so that we may safeguard this blessing of His. I pray to the Almighty God for the prosperity and well-being of all the nations and the deprived people. May God's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.