Speech [Love of self, source of man's afflictions; expressing the problems and need for the preservation of the revolution's accomplishments]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Reciprocally, I congratulate the gentlemen on the auspicious feast and hope that God will bless the feats of the Muslims and the noble people of Iran and grant the oppressed victory over the arrogant powers and that will be a great blessed feast. I hope such a day will come.

The source of all afflictions suffered by man, from Adam to the present day and from the present day to the resurrection, all corruptions, wars, oppressions and infringements and aggressions revolve around the love of self, which has branches and different manifestations. If you notice, the manifestations emanating from the love of self has led man to destruction and will do so. Prophets were sent to correct this anomaly. Unfortunately, the Prophets had not been successful the way they wished. I don't think anyone will succeed. One branch and embodiment of this love of the self is the love of position, love of rank and love of power. From the beginning of the world to the present day whatever affliction brought upon people by tyrants for name and fame, position and power has emanated from the love of self. Now, we are embroiling in the situation prevailing in the world, and the suffering in the Muslim countries and the oppressions in oppressed countries have their roots in love of position and power. It is love of power that drives the US to commit these crimes that are unprecedented in the course of history. It is love of position and domination that motivates the Soviet Union to treat the oppressed people of the world the way you see. It is love of the self that the rulers of Islamic countries are indifferent to the crimes committed by the powers and their affiliates. If it were not for the love of self, position and power among the rulers of Islamic countries, they would not sit and watch the oppressions committed against Iran, and worse than that against Lebanon. All of these rulers cower with fear lest this transitory power, which, I should say, has no value, may be taken away from them. For this reason, they kowtow to the US and worse than that, to Israel. All the comings and goings in most of these Islamic countries aim at the recognition of Israel and strengthening the Camp David Peace Accord.

If it were not for this fleeting love of position and domination, no human being would let Israel treat Muslims countries the way it has done. They would not tolerate Israel degrading them so boldly, nor would they connive at the disgrace afflicting Islamic countries. Nothing can remove this disgrace unless Muslim rulers undergo spiritual development and come to realize the enormity of the disgrace afflicting the Islamic countries. Despite the knowledge of the maltreatment they are sustaining, they help Saddam to undermine Islam, which is going to take shape in Iran. All their efforts are concentrated on the destruction of the Islamic Republic in Iran. Some of them explicitly express this desire and some others equivocally. Love of name and fame is a legacy of Satan, who was expelled from paradise due to this disposition and because of considering himself superior to Adam. Satan boasted himself of being made of fire and Adam of clay, but had not perceived man's brilliance and was sent down from paradise. Then he swore to mislead mankind and he is succeeding in his shenanigans in spite of all the Prophets.

The offensive Saddam launched against Iran, everybody knows, was aimed at making him the commander of Qadisiyyah! The attack Israel waged against Lebanon before the eyes of all Muslims and governments of the region, everybody knows, was for giving power and domination. The same thing applies to the US and all other powers. This lust may emerge in you and us as well. Satan does not go only to Saddam, the US and the Soviet Union. He is everywhere. Satan is manifested in man's carnal soul. If once you feel like bullying people and like people to bow down to them you, know that satanic delectation lingers in your soul. It is this Satanic gratification of pleasure in the powerful that makes them so overbearing. It is this sensual gratification which urges Islamic leaders show humility to the powerful, while commanding all resources to forestall these powers. However, this Satanic dereliction caused Satan to reject Adam. Satan did not listen to the command of God and did not understand that the order to prostrate before Adam in fact meant bowing down before God. Unfortunately, the rulers of the so-called Islamic governments are afilicted with the disease of showing overweening arrogance. If they had taken a step towards diminishing this love of position or managed to eliminate it, they would not sit indifferently and suffer so much disgrace.

Sometimes it is the US that dominates people, at times, it is the Soviet Union and sometimes Israel. Israel is today becoming the commander of the Islamic lands. If this indifference, assistance and evasion of issues by Islamic leaders, which are all aimed at recognizing Israel come to fruition, Israel will become their commander. In the same way that Israel treated them with contempt and degraded them at the behest of the US, likewise, this treatment will expand and take root everywhere. Israel is not content with what it has; it proceeds step by step. With every step it takes forward, it calls it the last move. The next day, however, it takes a longer step. Today in Lebanon, tomorrow, God forbid, in Syria and the day after in Iraq and so on and so forth.

Unfortunately, these governments compromise with Israel rather than revolting against it. Instead of stopping it, they did not say a word to negate it. They are even attempting to recognize it. This is a shame for Islamic countries. It is incumbent upon the rulers and people of countries to stop Israel pushing them into abjection of any sort. It is deplorable that people have let the rulers do whatever they wish and bring contempt upon Islam and Muslims. Where can we take our complaints about these disasters? They embroiled us in war with Iraq, concocted a plot to pit us against Israel, to let Iraq to reinforce, so that both of them could later attack us. We uncovered this scheme and the gentlemen in charge of affairs noticed it and charted the right course to be pursued. If we had taken that course, today Iraq and, by the same token, Israel would deal with us in a different way.

Iranian nation has so far acted prudently. The recent political victory of the people of Iran was remarkable. Saddam exerted all his energy to assemble the heads of non-aligned countries in Baghdad. However, the Islamic Republic, this Islamic power in this corner of the world, caused them to find out his evil intention and turn down Saddam's request. Then he said insolently:" In order to preserve Islamic unity, I waiver my request." He wished the foreign ministers to converge in Baghdad to plot a diabolic design! To this end, he sent people everywhere begging the heads of non-aligned countries to gather in Baghdad, but all his attempts ended in the fact that he declared," We relinquish our attempt for the sake of Muslim unity"! I believe that for the sake of Islamic unity he had better go to hell!

is one of those who lay the foundation of discord among Muslims. He is the source of discord. Iran's government has not at war with any government at any time. It only wants to defend against those who intend to harm the country. This foolish offensive against Iran caused many of the regional governments to rise in opposition to Iran; that is, to Islam. They will gradually come to realize that it is not advisable to oppose a nation which is sacrificing everything for the cause of Islam. They will finally find out. We should also care for the pranks played by man's carnal soul. We should take care of the tricks of Satan in our soul. Many a time a pious man reputed for his piety throughout his life loses all his piety, because Satan has invaded a corner of his heart. Many a time you gentlemen who are present at this assembly- I wish you success- might not have discarded the Satanic dereliction in your heart despite all your efforts for Islam.

You should take care of yourselves and ask others to watch over you. Many a time the Sepah-e Pasdaran and their commanders, despite all the efforts they make to serve Islam, might find that the Satanic features are lurking in their unconscious mind. One should be constantly watchful of one's self. When one wants to say payer, one should ensure that Satan, the carnal soul, is away from one. When one wants to perform his duty as pasdar, he should guard against Satan who may lure him to do an act that may ruin him, thus presenting a deformed image of the Islamic Republic. Those who are involved in the Islamic Republic, be they ambassadors and charges d'affairs, who go abroad where there is greater expectation, or the Sepah-e Pasdaran and other military and law enforcement forces who serve inside the country or the honorable Majlis deputies and all in the judiciary and the executive, should exert care and guard themselves. They should know who has brought them to this power causing big powers of the world to reckon with them. The oppositions they mount and the conspiracies these big powers brew every day indicate you are powerful. If you were not powerful, they would not confront you. They challenge you since they see power in you. You should know that this power is not yours, others' or mine. It is the divine power, the power of Islam, power of faith. It is the power of faith that urges you to make sacrifices for Islam and that drives our dear ones in battlefields to fight to the border of martyrdom. As long as you preserve this faith and commitment to Islam, you will never suffer harm.

We should note that today we are at war- both political and military war. We are now at war with all the big powers and their affiliates. In fact, they attack us and we defend. The time has not yet arrived to say that we are independent and the game is over. No! The battlefields stand in need of forces.

People should still go to the warfronts. This is a divine and religious obligation, albeit a collective one. It is incumbent upon all. The difference is that the need is fulfilled only when sufficient number of forces is available. It is incumbent upon every capable man to go to warfronts. If the military commanders in Sepah-e Pasdaran and the regular army announce that there is no longer need for forces, then this obligation will drop. We should note that we are at war and in a state of defense. If, God forbid, we act sluggishly, one like Israel will, God forbid, attack us and if we are indolent it may dominate us. We should prevent them as of today. We have so far defended and will continue with our defense. At the same time when Saddam claims they no longer hit Iranian cities, almost every day our cities, particularly Abadan, are bombarded. They hit by their long-range missiles from across the borders, destroy the cities and cause human casualties. We should defend the Muslims and the Islamic country as long as we should. We should advance. This depends on the effort of the brave and committed youths of the army of God to make up for the insufficiencies. They should go and finish the job soon, God willing. Then we can go after that bigger and crueler enemy. There is anyone more malicious than Saddam, that one is Begin and his like.

We are midway through gentlemen. Our revolution is mid way and we should help it out. All should think so. The respected Majlis deputies should also think of it. We are only midway through. If there is need in the deputies to go to warfronts and advise and encourage the combatants, then they should think if they should go for a recommended Hajj or fulfill a collective obligation on visit the warfronts to hearten the forces. It is for some days that I am repeatedly told that the country is getting paralyzed due to weird attention to the journey for Hajj. 140 Majlis deputies want to perform Hajj rituals. Of course, they have their excuse. They say Mr. Hashemi «1» has said that the Majlis is in its holidays holiday. But do we have holiday today? Can we think of using holiday with the condition our country is embroiled in? Many of the members of the judicial council are also said to have applied. All right! Let the Guardian Council and other people also go! If it is obligatory for one to perform Hajj pilgrimage, no one can prevent one. One should go. If it is to be performed as a religious duty, with a higher degree of obligation such as guarding the borders of Islam, then all other religious duties are to be laid aside.

I have already dwelt on the subject of homicide. Let me say that again that murder of an innocent believer is the most cardinal sin next to ascribing a partner to God. However, Islam that has so much recommended about believers and warned against murder of believers has the following to say in its commandments regarding Jihad (holy war). If disbelievers use a group of believers as their shield, Islam has ordered to kill all, promising paradise for murdered believers and fire of hell for the disbelievers. It is because preservation of the boundaries of Islam is among the most important religious duties. It is, in fact, preservation of Islam.

All the gentlemen should be aware! All are scholars and aware of the issues. There are other issues I don't want to reveal to cause concern, but you should note whenever such a journey to the House of God, despite all the spiritual rewards it has, is advisable in the current situation of the country except for persons for whom performance of Hajj is a personal obligation. Do the gentlemen deem it advisable to close down the country? Do you recommend, God forbid, for the country to suffer harm in addition to the other concerns we have? Anyhow, note what has motivated you to go to the Hajj pilgrimage. Do you want to gain spiritual reward? Then compare if Hajj pilgrimage is superior or serving the Muslims? Which of them brings greater reward? Serving to safeguard borders of Islam or performing the Hajj ritual? Acquisition of knowledge is among collective oblligations and very important. However, if once we find there is need for `ulama' to give up acquisition of knowledge and go to the battlefields to hearten the combatants and go to remote cities to guide people, they should put aside this important recommended duty and perform the latter duty, because the latter is now obligatory to perform. After peace was restored, the gentlemen can return and continue with their education. All the clerical authorities are now involved in government activities because they see others cannot direct the country as required by Islam despite the fact that administration is not their business. The clergy do not intend to take control of the government. Who cares for government? But are the clerics not supposed to preserve Islam?

Once we presumed that committed individuals would be found to preserve the Islamic government, but they could not. We experienced it and the attempt failed. If non-clergy individuals committed to Islam are found, the clergymen will go after their own business. They have more important jobs to do. Mr. Hashemi and Mr. Khamene'i will go. So will all others in charge of the affairs. But what should we do? Today, our situation, the situation of Iran and domestic and foreign complications are such that without them we cannot manage this country. There are people who attempt to push the country towards the US or communism. It is therefore necessary for us to preserve the Islamic government.

Well! What answer do we have for God? What will be our reply to these martyrs who have fought for Islam? What answer do those who are sabotaging have worked out to provide? Those who do not believe in such principles are relieved. They believe that one will not have to answer to anyone in the other world." Neither came any good tidings nor sent down any revelation." «2» These people are at ease. However, those who think with Islamic mind-set and are Muslim do not compare the Islamic Republic in Iran with the former regime. They do not think that the government- though it has not so far been able to make Islam dominant completely in all aspects- does not want to implement Islam. It wants but has not been able to do so yet. Nevertheless, the extent Iran has implemented Islam has been unprecedented in history. You cannot find such any other government that is so interested in Islam. When one studies the history of early days of Islam, there are verses of the Qur'an indicating that people were neglectful in war. The Commander of the Faithful( Imam `Ali )experienced so much letharggy on the part of his people who put off battles from summer to winter and winter to summer. «3» However, you see the Sepah-e Pasdaran, the army, the military, Basij and this people toil in the torrid climate of Khouzestan, in very high temperatures, and in those baren deserts without making a complaint. They did not make any complaint. So far I have not heard a single case complaining regarding going to the battlefields. They come everyday with smiling faces demanding to let them go and achieve martyrdom. Such a development has taken place in the country, but a few gentlemen are sitting aside from everything and cause difficulty. For instance, in a village, one might have done something wrong, these gentlemen raise hue and cry about such petty events. They don't think that a country in the process of a revolution cannot prevent a man in a corner from doing wrong. Do you want us now to outpace the Prophet? In time of the Prophet such problems were rampant. The Commander of the Faithful sent governors who occasionally made difficulties and the Imam deposed them. Is it possible to get up in the morning and see all of a sudden everywhere has turned to paradise?

These gentlemen should see if the officials are proceeding towards Islam or going against it. Those who have done nothing for the Islamic Republic from the beginning should be fair. They have so far done nothing. They should not at least cause difficulty. The intellectuals act that way and reactionaries this way. Well! We know some of them who did not take a step for the revolution; they even opposed, advising us to stop and let the Shah rule saying:" It is not possible to remove him. He is better than others!" Right! You see now such a situation has emerged. In Iran so many centers of corruption have been destroyed. They don't such moves important. So many wine shops have been destroyed. No one can openly do such a thing. The numerous steps taken by the government and the Majlis should also be considered. One who has experienced the Majlis at that time knows about the then situation. Should you not thank God for making such a favor? Why not helping! If you can, come and make judgment. If you can, come and serve as governor-general of a province. Don't sit aside, nag and disappoint the people who will not be disappointed. Those who fled the country, who are distributing leaflets from abroad and who are at war with each other deal a blow to Islamic Republic. These sanctimonious people in the bazaar or at school or other places inflict a different blow.

In God's presence we should not do something that runs counter to the command of God. Now we have a republic, which we did not gain with our own efforts; God bestowed it. God is the one Who transforms hearts. Who can integrate the hearts of people throughout a country ranging from the children to the old people and mobilize them for Islam? When have you seen the Sunni brothers get together with the Shi`iat Muslims and move forward for one purpose? I hope these corrupt elements let these two groups of brothers and great Islamic sects get united and stand against others. We should always consider God and know that one day every one of us will be in His presence. We are all responsible. We should bear this in mind. If so, administration will be improved. Majlis will be rectified. They are all good people and will become better. Sepah will become good, army will become good, police will become good and Municipality and everything else will become good. I hope that all affairs of the government will proceed in favor of Islam with the commitment of this dear nation to Islam. May God grant you and us success in serving Islam and the oppressed people who have been impoverished in the course of the monarchical regime! The government should consider that remote villages and cities need greater attention. The government should attend to the needs of deprived people. May God grant success to you and make us your servants.

May God's peace be upon you!