Speech [Internal transformation of the people of Iran; preservation of the prestige of the clerics]

I thank the gentlemen for coming here to meet them in person. I have said time and again that one of the blessings of this revolution is that we can become more acquainted with the `ulama' of different cities and see the more often. What I would like to say is that you see how good the people, the million masses of people, are. Definitely, in the course of history such a situation has not been observed anywhere. Iran with a population about 30 million, excluding a small minority, has been transformed to an Islamic country. All think of Islam being implemented here. The people pioneer in everything that comes up for the government and, the problems it faces. Do not think that in other places and in other ages such a thing has been experienced. If you notice, you will see that the people's volunteer participation in the warfronts and their submission to martyrdom with open arms did not exist formerly, not even at the time of the Holy Messenger and the Commander of the Faithful in this manner. We see in the holy Qur'an that the Prophet, the individuals whom he called to join the war, made excuses, saying that ay was hot or that they would go the next day. The holy Qur'an describes them as people who would find pretexts to return, that they had work to do, and that their families were such and such. The holy Qur'an says that they wanted to escape. They wanted to escape; there existed many cases of disobedience. At the time of the Commander of the Faithful, the situation was worse; at the time of the other Imams you saw that people were not obedient. For the Commander of the Faithful in Koufah, you observed that the obedience needed was not shown and he complained about them.

Today, I believe that God, the Most Blessed and Exalted, has made this country successful so the people would be as they are and undergo such a transformation that all people, all masses of people, particularly the oppressed people, those who were deprived in the course of history be present in all affairs. If it was not for this cooperation, the government would not be established and the army was not able to lead the war to victory as it has been today. This is reason enough to appreciate everybody.

As for us, we should have a great regard for the fact that, in this revolution, the preservation of the prestige of the clerics depends on you, gentlemen. Today, the situation differs a lot from that in the previous time. In previous times, not many individuals stood against the government of Iran, against Iran, against Islam; they were small in number. Today, everybody mounts attacks from all sides you can think of, particularly against the clerics, constantly making critical remarks that the clerical regime is such and such, that the regime of the mullas (clergy) is this and that. Every day the enemies attack us without offering any reason. We should think about this matter lest, God forbid, we give them an excuse or a reason (to base their attacks on). We should serve the people; you gentlemen should serve the people. You do not want that, God forbid, a wrong thing to be done. Let us suppose if something wrong is done at macro-levels you should not interfere directly. As the gentleman said you should not interfere directly. Do not interfere directly; rather, refer to the government and right places that should attend to such affairs, to the courts and the like. Show the right way to the people; make people hopeful about the revolution. Everywhere there are wet blankets arguing that Iran has gone bankrupt, Iran can no longer administer the affairs and Iran has become this and that. The enemies make these despairing words. You gentlemen should counter these propaganda ploys. They are, of course, making propaganda at a global scale and we are short of this massive propaganda machinery. We do not have the tools to launch massive propaganda. However, we should promote Islam as much as possible. Assure the people at Friday prayer ceremonies, in congregational prayers about the Islamic Republic and explain how good Islam is for them. Assure the people that the government now existing in the Islamic Republic and the top officials will not act against Islam. However, there are colossal problems, problems confronted by each and every province. You are informed of your own province. Problems are numerous. At present, the government cannot attend to the problems as it should and bring about a general purge. It is not feasible for the government today, nor is it possible for anyone to correct the situation in a country ruined and spoiled but her previous corrupt regimes. So many sinister propaganda schemes had been made in the past fifty years. For fifty years we observed the massive propaganda ploys against everything Islamic. They encouraged prostitution, set up centers of corruption and attempted to drag our youths to corruption. However, God came to help this country in light of this revolution that is, thank God, changing things for the better. You should awaken the people to the fact that they have many enemies. There are many in the name of akhound (clergymen) who are also the enemy of Islam. A plan is underway to undermine Islam. People should rest assured that this government and those at the helm are all working hard to improve the situation, to correct things, to correct the economy. Thank God corruption is not widespread. Some might do things in their homes, in which case we will not investigate. We should not, of course, track such cases. However, thank God, today there is no center of corruption, as I have been informed. There is no open center of corruption. You know what situation Iran was in formerly. If the corrupt Pahlavi regime was given a longer time to rule, God knows what they had planned to do. There were some cases which occurred in Shiraz, and in Tehran that are indescribable. However, thank God, they were stopped.

I request the gentlemen to preach and invite the people. Suppose that these youths make a mistake or commit a blunder without ill intention, you should treat them in a brotherly manner. Of course, different devious groups might have infiltrated into them. You should advise them, treat them fraternally. If, after being advised, they find the right way and come to live, you should treat them in a brotherly manner; they should be preached, and counseled. If, for instance, they commit a mistake, it should not be raised at Friday prayers ceremonies. When secrets are disclosed, they might have adverse repercussions. I have not heard it happening in Mazandaran, but there are some places in which something like this happened. The Friday prayer leader raised such issues at the Friday prayer ceremony, publicizing that so and so person had done such and such. This is below the dignity of a Friday prayer leader, say, to damage the prestige of a man who has committed a mistake or, intentionally done something in the presence of worshippers who are all listening to his sermons. You, gentlemen, should preach; you should call on people. In the same way that we are commissioned to preach, we should invite. God willing, the situation will improve. Rest assured that no revolution has been achieved so easily. The Soviet Union with the pomp and strength it has is still rulling with bayonets. It does not have any choice. It cannot do anything else. So, it acts using the bayonet. Wherever there had been a revolution, rampanr corruption and massacres ensued. Thank God, Iran is going its way and proceeding well despite all the problems created by antagonistic powers. I implore God, the Most Blessed and Exalted, to grant success to all the gentlemen. That which is my duty is to pray, to pray for the gentlemen and the nation and, God willing, I can fulfill my duty.

May God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you!