Speech [Difference and disrobing clerical garb source of defeat of the clergy]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

First I feel ashamed that I am sitting here and the gentleman over there- not you gentleman, actually, you are the apple of my eye- and do others. I feel ashamed of this and hope you will forgive me. I thank the gentlemen who have come here so that I can meet them closely and mention some issues befitting this session. In my part, I have no concern over the revolution. The revolution has found its path and it will proceed without being dependent on anyone. I hope that this revolution will remain protected. No one can harm it from outside. However, what makes us slightly concerned is two cases to the clerics in general:

Firstly, I fear lest, God forbid, performance of some clergymen and turbaned people should bring about laxity in the ranks of the clerics who have led the revolution which should be strengthened by the clerics. If we divest of clerical grab and withdraw from the garb donned by our doyens in the course of history and Immaculate Imams( peace be upon them ), there is fear of clerics suffering a defeat, which in turn translates into defeat of Islam. Excluding the clerics, it will be impossible for Islam to continue with its path. The clerics introduce Islam and push it forward. It has been like this from the outset.

If we disrobe the common clerical garb and, God forbid, pay heed to the material things while we introduce ourselves in the name of clerics, this treatment may lead to defeat of the clerics. The concern always lingering in me is that I fear lest people go to Paradise by means of the like of me while we ourselves go to hell. People respect the clerics for the sake of God and you and we invite people to virtue and piety. I fear lest they go to Paradise for hearing our words and we go to Hell because we have not refined our soul. My great concern is that we face them while we are in Hell and they are in Paradise and overlook us. Where can one go to hide from this humiliation of having been reduced to the lowest rank because of our carnal passions while they have soared up to those high stations with our help? This is a fear I frequently remind clerics of. I was once told a story which goes like this: a businessman visited one of the prominent `ulama'- I don't know who- and asked if something has been written at the back of the book and you are aware of it, tell us as well, because we see you invite us to good and you do not act accordingly. Obviously, something else is at work. The prominent alim started weeping. As has been related, the `alim replied; There is nothing more; we are corrupt. Man should not think that Satan invites man to become arrogant at once. Satan does not say so. It pushes man forward systematically and inch by inch. If one prevents it today, Satan will withdraw its greed; if one fails to prevent it, tomorrow one will go forward one more step. Once one will see that the pious student of theology who lived at the school in condition we all know will transform to an arrogant man and from the qualifications followed by our mentors to a man who is devoted to worldly gains. These things will gradually appear. From the first step, one should prevent them. If one is, afflicted, other afflictions will follow suit. When love of the world takes root in one's heart, it will not be easy to uproot.

Among the tricks employed by Satan is that it suggests that you are now young and it is time for pleasure and when you grow old you will compensate- something that will never happen. If one purifies the self in youth, he will be successful. If he waits for old days to come, his capacities will be sapped, and the tree Satan has implanted in man's heart will grow stronger and could not be uprooted with a weak resolution. This is something about which I am worried. The gentlemen should also be worried. Everywhere, recommend the knowledgeable people and warn them to beware. Do not imagine that the world I mean denotes the world of nature, which God Almighty has not warned us against. In some narrations, «1» it has been acclaimed as one of divine manifestations. That world is within us, keeps us aloof from the source of perfection, and entangles us in carnal self and sensuality. One should beware of this censured world. One may be engrossed in a rosary or a book. Many a time one who is more attached to rosary or book might be more inclined to the world than one who is attached to a park, garden, etc. Man should appreciate that the world is transient. It is not clear if one would reach old age. Few people who reach the rip old age.

Man should therefore heed this concept, particularly this class that is engaged in preaching people. Their words should conform to their deeds. It means you who advise people to avoid worldly gains if, God forbid, are greedy and pay attention to the worldly gains, people will no longer trust you, and you may cause them to go astray. The question asked by that Haji( pilgrim to the House of God )as to whether a different thing had been written at the back of the book is moving.

If, God forbid, due to the deeds of clergymen any fault arises in the belief of some individuals who are weak, we have to suffer a lot as a result. This is a vast arena that pious individuals familiar with the verities of Islam in theology schools should educate theology students. The gentlemen in cities should preach the young theology students in their locality lest they should, God forbid, discard the clerical garb and thus bring about ideological instability among people.

You who have been delegated to guide people and have joined the ranks of those who preach people be aware lest the performance of some cause you to do the opposite of you believe in. that calls for lengthy discussion and all should pay great heed to this subject.

A second cause for fear and concern is that this revolution may, God forbid, is hurt due to differences among gentlemen in various areas. If in the union of, let us suppose, truck owners and those with different jobs any difference emerges, this will not affect other unions. If the truck owners differ among them, it has nothing to do with bazaar; it would not spread to other places yet if the clerics conflict, this conflict will spill over into bazaar as well as to the streets, because you are people's guide and people respect you. Naturally, a group follows you, one group follows your opponent, and you will suddenly see countrywide gap stemming from us- the same people who invite all to unity.

Unity of expression has brought the nation to this stage. Now we give way to difference! I tell you that we should not deceive ourselves. The root of difference lies in love of self. Everyone imagines that he disagrees with for God. One should sit, contemplate and explore where the root lies. One should not have a good opinion of oneself but should suspect one's self. The root is the same satanic root and that is love of the self. If, God forbid, difference emerges among the gentlemen in any city, this difference will naturally spread to the streets, and to bazaar. Unity and integrity of the populace have helped to preserve this republic so far. Since people were all united, they could work such a miracle. If because of our discord once this difference spreads to bazaar, as it will, or the streets and other unions, we have to shoulder all the blame. If you imagine that you are doing a certain thing against a gentleman for God, you are mistaken. It is not for God. One is deceived by one's tempting self and Satan. One is deceived by things others do, imaging that a very bad things is underway and Islam is being destroyed because a judge has done so and so somewhere. This is not for Islam. We should not deceive ourselves. Mediate late at night. Computation is one of the issues contributing to the course of human perfection. One should think late at night- I do not say I do, as I am lower than others- about reasons he has disagreement with ascertain person, or why they have split into different group, each following a gentleman. One should ask about the roots, ask if this for God. Don't you have the same flaw you see in others? Doesn't it amount to a satanic act that you magnify defects in other people- while concealing or belittling them in yourself? Is this for God? Is the flaw you highlight in that person absent in you? Is this act not satanic to magnify a defect in others, conceal, and belittle it in you?

If our discord, which no doubt is over worldly issues and not for God, leads to difference among people and defeat of the Islamic Republic so that it would not raise its head, do you think God will forgive us for this crime? We should be mindful. We should not be proud of ourselves and have good opinion of ourselves believing that we are such and such and others are not. We should have good opinion of others and consider deeds of those to connote good intention. We should suspect ourselves and scrutinize our acts and their causes. We ask why I raise objection. Those who oppose the Islamic Republic should bear God as witness and think if Islam has a more say in Iran today or at the time of the arrogant regime? Are Islamic manifestations greater today or at the time of the arrogant regime? If they raise objection and argue that the Islamic Republic is such and such, the root of this objection is satanic and has infiltrated his heart. The one objecting does not understand; he imagines that he is weakening the Islamic Republic for God. This is a mistake that overtakes man unless one really takes care of oneself, computes one's self and struggles so as to distinguish if I who am raising this objection, were in their place would I know everything well? Therefore, the root lies in carnal desires. A gentleman who was once with me in the distant past had come to meet me. I found that all his words about the Islamic Republic were that his fatwa was not cared. He complained that his ruling was not practiced. The criterion is my ruling; the criterion is not God's ruling. This is a disease found in everyone unless God protects human beings. God will not protect one unless man himself provides the means. One cannot sit and wait for God to purify him. God has provided us with the means of purification, which is a practice we should carry out. This cannot be devolved upon anyone else; it is entrusted to us to do.

I am worried for two reasons: one is what I already pointed out that clerical garb might weaken or disappear and the other that, God forbid, difference may emerge. These are important objects since you are in a position that people look up to you since you want to guide people. Beware lest our removal of clerical garb may cause people to divert their attention from us, and separation from clerics leads to separation from Islam.

Beware lest the difference that might emerge among us infiltrate other places and cause people to divide into two groups: one supporting this gentleman and the other that one, forgetting Almighty God and the revolution. These two subjects concern me. It hurts me a lot when I hear at times that for example there is difference between some people. Know that the difference is not concerned with Islam. The difference is over" I". I should strengthen Islam; I accept the Islam that I strengthen; I do not accept the Islam my friend strengthens. This mentality exists in man's essence even if one does not utter it. One may not say so but it exists in man's essence unless God Almighty grants us the capacity to purify ourselves.

I hope that God Almighty grant success to you who are the chosen ones of the nation to heed the subject in the Constitution for determining leader or the council of leadership. While selecting the leader you should be careful and see whether you are doing this for God or because that certain person is your friend. Is one who says certain person is not competent making this comment for God or because one is involved in competition with him. Undoubtedly, we should not conceal things among ourselves. Rest assured that the root cause of this mentality lies in man's carnal self. This root remains with man up to the deathbed when it might emerge in greater force. One of the `ulama' in Qazvin (may God's peace be upon him) related that he went to meet a dying man who told him that the injustice done to him by God had not been done by anyone else because he had brought up the children delicately and now God is taking him. It is a dangerous issue for man and has serious danger for man to imagine that Satan will let go of him at the end of his life. Strive from now that there is time. When you grow old like me, you will not be able to do anything. Now that you are young and youthful strength is there, you should endeavor to drive out the carnal passion from your soul. All troubles emerge from this carnal self. In selecting the leader, they shouldn't be any faction or horse-trading and none should favor a person just because of friendship with you; also, it should not pose as a problem if the nominee is not a close friend of you. Consider the truth and consider what generates God's satisfaction and not that of our satanic soul. The issue is important; it is vitally important. This important matter is now vested with you. You have accepted this responsibility and should fulfill this important mission by trusting God and entreating God almighty to protect you against the slightest deviation, as there are some incongruities and conflicts between man and his carnal self. You should empty your mind from all worldly allurements by sincere devolution to and prepare yourselves for this daunting task the slightest deviation in which will cause deviation in the course of the Islamic Republic, for which you will be responsible. This is a divine duty entrusted to you who have accepted it. When you accept, you should manage it. Whatever you think to fulfill this duty should be for God. Select the more competent one and, not the one who might be on friendly terms with you. Select one who is better for Islam. Of course, I have good opinion of the gentlemen and know many of them closely. I hope the gentlemen will fulfill the notions efficiently and be successful. May God Almighty help you and guide you towards the path leading to His gratification! May God protect you and grant you success! I beg you all to pray for me.

May God's peace and mercy be upon you!