Speech [Explaining the mission and functions of theological seminaries in the Islamic system]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Since the president mentioned the names of all the groups and since we all have one aim, there is no need for me to mention the name of each one of you. I just talk about our common issues in general terms.

We should say that this revolution was a sudden movement in that our nation experienced everything for the first time. During the time monarchy, especially in the last fifty years or so, there was not any chance for any group to reflect on things let alone to take any action. The theological seminaries in Iran whether the old ones or the universities were not in a right position, therefore they should transform themselves with this movement. They were not prepared in advance, and suddenly have shoulder heavy responsibilities, which weighed heavily on all strata of people. But due to the great efforts of all people, we are going ahead with this burden of responsibilities. There is a lot to be desired, though. The activities of the seminaries in the former regimes, especially the last fifty years or so, were very limited. So were their educational programs and their activities.

The question of the judiciary is very important in Islam, but seminaries were isolated; they were not prepared to deal with such heavy responsibility. The former regimes were not concerned with things like religious punishments, verdicts and regulations. There were only few people capable of handling the judgment task, not because of any shortcomings on the part of seminaries, but because they were not given the opportunity to train such people. Our preachers all over the country were limited and could speak only about insignificant matters. They did not have any right to express their views on the problems of the country which is another reason why they were not prepared for such issues. Friday prayer, as pointed out by the president- may God keep him in good condition- was an optional duty according to the verdict of jurists. No attention was paid to this important obligation. Even if Friday prayer was performed in some parts of the country, the Friday prayer leaders could not say to people what they wanted, because they did not have the power. They could not say a word about corruption in the government. The preachers, Friday and congregational prayer leaders had a very limited relationship with people. This way the major Islamic issues had to be forgotten, because these groups wee not able to freely express their ideas. The courts all over Iran were in the hands of people who were not eligible to judge. There were few exceptions. That's why our courts were in the state of disarray, and for this reason they have to be transformed into Islamic ones.

The ordinary people whether businessmen, farmers, government employees, workers, and those working in different departments had some forced duties which they were not able to breach, and those who did not have an office job were wrapped up in their own life and did not have anything to do with the social, economic and political issues and problems of the country and nor did they have any view because they were not allowed to interfere. It was general suffocation for all the groups and as a result the administration of this country was tyrannical which was run by handful of people who forced their issues on the society and who did not allow anyone to have any independent view. On the other hand they tried hard to sow discord among the various groups, among the Sunni and Shi`ite brothers and among all the individuals and parties which were in existence at the time and through discord they did not let anyone take notice of anything.

Today, we suddenly achieved freedom; we were relieved of intellectual suffocation but we see that we are up against lots of problems which must be overcome with the efforts of all the country and all strata of the nation. Theological seminaries all over the country, especially in Qum, Mushhad and Isfihan, must do their best to send preachers who are familiar with the society and its problems and know well what to do and say. Seminaries should train judges, especially preachers for whom there is dire need. All over the country we need preachers. Furthermore, we need more preachers outside the country. We are short of them. We should not compare today with the past. Back then the seminaries were throttled; they could not deliver judges to society; they were not accepted and they could not deliver preachers who could convey social problems and issues to the people. Today, however, the seminaries should not be compared with the past. Today, all the clergies, the religious reference authorities, all the teachers and the `ulama' should try to carry out this responsibility efficiently. We need about three to four thousand judges and many thousands of preachers in the country. There are places where there is neither a single clergy nor a preacher. Theology seminaries should be aware that coming and studying in these schools is, according to God's command, a mean for preaching to and training people in different areas, and a way to remind them of their problems. Today, we do not have any excuse to say we can not. Today, we can do a lot. Of course, it takes a lot of time, but since it is a duty we must do it. Teachers of theological seminaries, of Qum, Mashhad and other should train the applicants to meet our need for preachers and judges all over the country. If judgment procedures run counter to Islamic standards, it is our responsibility to avert the trend, and all the `ulama' and theological seminaries should help amend the procedures.

People should come and go to theological seminaries. A group of teachers should be fixed and the majority must leave after they have finished with their work in the centers and must go out among people, and not stay in one place. A person who does not do anything useful should not be allowed to stay in the seminary. This is not acceptable due to the situation of our country. Today those who have finished their studies and do not have any teaching and preaching activities in the seminaries should go to places where they are needed and carry out their duty. The youths engaged in studying should preach to the whole country on their holidays. Even when they are not on holidays, they should take turns to do the same as much as they can. They should not let any place remain empty of clergyman. Many places in Iran are deprived of clerics and preacher. They have a religious and divine duty to propagate and elucidate the Islamic rules to the people. Studying is a mean for training. The verse of the Qur'an says," Why do not go and study so that you can return and admonish the people" «1». Studying has the purpose of admonishing people and explaining things to them. Of course, seminaries should be there; jurisprudents should be there. This matter should not be forgotten. Each year a number of students should leave seminaries to prorogate and enlighten people. After holidays, the teachers or religious reference authorities should send groups of clerics to different places in turn. We want to perform the divine duty. Studying is a duty, but propagation is a more important duty. Studying is a mean to admonish people.

The same is true about universities. All of a sudden we realized, the country and the universities realized that the era of suffocation was over. Back then there was a group that drummed every perverted thing into the minds of our pure youths and no one had any right to raise a word. Now, that we have got rid of this intellectual and practical suffocation, there is no longer any excuse for university academicians and intellectuals. Everyone can do something to run the university in the right way, there is no longer any excuse and they are answerable before God. Spiritual sciences must be taught at universities just like material sciences. Humanities and educational issues should be taught by those who know what Islamic education is and what Islam is. Some of these people should not think that Islam does not have anything to offer regarding society or education. As far as human issues are concerned, Islam is much deeper than any other school of thought. Islam considers educational issues as having top priority. Islam also deals with economic matters. Today, we can not be like before when our universities and children were corrupted by things brought from Western educational warehouse as gifts; we can not just sit and let minds raised in Western education teach our children. Education must be grounded in the Qur'an, the richest book in the world when it comes to education. However, education and training require specialists. It is not like what some people think that they know two Qur'anic verses so they know Qur'an and Islam. People who can hardly recite Qur'an correctly think they are specialists on Islam. Those who have no idea of the Islamic rules, economy, culture and Islamic rational sciences say that Islam does not deal with such things. Well, since you do not know, on what grounds do you say such things? Specialists are necessary and should be produced by theological seminaries. Let them ask the help of the centers where there are such specialists and open the universities but the scholars for the human sciences should be gradually taken from the theological seminaries of the country and especially from those in Qum.

In the past we also had Friday and congregational prayer, wit the former performed in a few places, but more common among our Sunni brothers. But neither they nor we could talk about daily and political issues in our sermons because we had been stifled. Now that this suffocation has been removed, the congregational and Friday prayer leaders should focus on their duty and talk to people about their issues. They should draw the attention of people to political and social matters. Friday prayer leaders are today quite good all over the country. People should take more notice; they should know enough about these issues. They should go, listen and act.

We also realized all of a sudden that our country needed Pasdars and the people themselves solved this problem. Today, there is a need for people to go to the war fronts. There should be more volunteers to go there and relieve the youths before they feel tired. Anyhow, as I said we suddenly inherited a system in which the Islamic rules had been actually forgotten, and there was no trace of Islamic in the government. The Islamic rules based on which the country should have been run, were totally forgotten. In their place there were Western ideas and Western advisers who attempted to manipulate us. Back then all had an excuse because they did not have the power. But today, you know that you have the power. Get together and show it. God gave you the power and cleared the way for you. Today, the whole nation is duty-bound to be prepared. If you become heedless, the wolves will devour you. You must be prepared. Friday prayer leaders should guide the people and remind them to be prepared. Thank God, the people are prepared. They should understand that we are still midway through; we have a long way to go before we can get there. Our journey will finish when we have implemented all the Islamic rules. Our goal will be attained when the oppressed people of the world shake off the burden of the arrogant superpowers. I beseech the Exalted God to help you keep up your activities in Friday prayer and sort things out. This is very important and I beg God to grant success to those who are engaged in other works and to help us succeed in acting according to Islam and educational matters.