In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
We are from God and to Him shall we return
I utter the blessed words of Istirja`` «1» not for the Israeli crimes in martyring and wounding many of the innocent Muslims of beloved southern Lebanon, not for the occupation and destruction of the cities and villages of this Islamic country at the criminal hands of the Israeli infidel Zionist regime, not for the thousands of brothers and sisters in that innocent Islamic land becoming homeless, not for the innocent Palestinians for being subjected to the tyranny of Israel, not for the martyrdom of over 40 women, men and infants in Ilam who became the target of criminal Saddamites while they were chanting slogans against the US and Israel in the streets and not for injury of over 200 Muslims of innocent tribal people or the destruction of mosques, hospitals and civilians quarters although for these unthinkable tragedies one should utter the Istirja`. However, I recite the expression for the indifference of Islamic countries- in fact, Islamic governments. If only the problem was simply their indifference.
I pronounce the phrase for the support many of these governments extend to Israel and Saddam, these two illegitimate offspring of the US. Every Muslim everywhere and I should cry" We are from God and to Him shall we return" for the material and psychological assistance offered by governments of Islamic countries to the US, the master criminal, Israel and the Aflaqi Ba`athist Iraq, which executes the sinister aims of the US and global Zionism. Any committed Muslim should recite the Istirja` for the proposal recommending Jihad (holy war) against an Islamic country which is opposed to Israel on the false charge of receiving arms from Israel and attempting to recognize the usurper Israel, which has aggressed upon the Islamic country of Lebanon and martyred thousands of innocent Muslims in the south of that country.
The aggressor criminal Israel should be approved of and the arch-criminal US should receive material aid with the resources of innocent impoverished Islamic countries and enjoy political and psychological support through the efforts of mass media apparatus run by regional Islamic countries while Palestine and Syria should remain alone. Saddam, who is completely opposed to Islam, should benefit from propaganda, material and military aid for attacking Iran and massacring the Muslim offspring of Arab-populated regions, while the Islamic country of Iran that has risen up for the revival of Islam and the Holy Qur'an should remain alone.
These and many other subjects are predicaments suffered by Muslims who should collectively recite the Istirja`. I condole our innocent and helpless brothers in southern Lebanon on the great disasters which have befallen them. I also extend my condolences to the innocent people of Ilam and other war-torn regions in Iran on the calamities which have overtaken them, while beseeching God Almighty to grant mercy and salvation to martyrs during the defense of the two oppressed countries and patience and steadfastness to their families. I implore God Almighty to awaken the slumbering governments that are neglectful of the interests of Islamic countries and disregard the laws of the Holy Qur'an and vanquish the enemies of Islam and Muslims. God's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.
Rouhullah al-Mousawi al-Khomeini
Khordad 17,1361 AHS/ Sha`ban 14,1402 AH