Speech [Self-conceit and egotism]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I appreciate the gentlemen who took the trouble to come here, the gentlemen from the Experts Assembly, the Friday prayer leaders of the country and the dear guests of the Ten Day Dawn celebrations. I hope that God the Blessed and Almighty guide all of us towards the path He desires. All know the pains. You know what Islam is undergoing today, being caused by superpowers, their relevant organizations and affiliates. The gentlemen who have come from abroad should see if the realities conform to the picture depicted by the enemies abroad against the Islamic Republic and, in fact, against Islam, Iran, the people of Iran, the government in Iran and the clerics in Iran. Does their propaganda effort match with your observations or not? If it does, give us advice; if it does not, that it does not, the gentlemen are religiously obliged to reflect their observations in their country among their people. Those who triggered such problems do not have Iran in their mind. They fear lest Islam should expand as it is and permeate the entire Muslim countries, shedding its light on all oppressed peoples of the world. They are afraid of this. They are afraid of Islam. They actually target their attack on Islam. However, they cannot directly attack Islam and find excuse to involve Iran in difficulty. They cannot betray Islam and instead try to entrap Iran. The fact of the matter is that they do not want Islam. If the Islamic Republic was a democratic republic, they would have no objection, but the republic is Islamic and strips them of any opportunity to indulge in plundering and bullying.

The Holy Qur'an has given us instructions in the form of metaphorical and instructive stories and if we act accordingly, all our problems would be resolved. Prior to giving existence to Adam, God addresses the angles, telling them: I want to create Adam. The angels recall their own existence that glorifies Him and for mankinds ability to do corruption. They ask: Why do You want to create a population who would do corruption and shed blood in the earth, while we are glorifying You? They see themselves as creatures who glorify God and Adam as one spreading corruption, or the good aspect of theirs and bad side of Adam. God, the Blessed and Almighty tells them: You do not know what I know. You see yourself; you are selfish and do not see Adam's accomplishments. Then God rounds up the narration and teaches Adam the" Names of God", as everything is the Names of God and addresses the angels, asking them if they know the Names. They see they are unable and withdraw! After God creates Adam, He orders the angels to prostrate before Adam. The angels of God excluding Satan prostrate before Adam. The point in Satan's refusal to bow down lies in the fact that he is self-conceited. Satan said:" I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire while him Thou didst create of mud." «1» Satan says: Adam is inferior to me and I am superior to him. This treatment reveals Satan's self-conceit, thus refusing to prostrate and he was castant. Satan then begs God to give him respite. After Satan is given the respite and rests assured, then he swears by God's Majesty and Names that he would not let Adam and most of his offspring to pay regard to God. Satan threatens that" I shall come upon them from before them and from behind them and from their right bands and from their left hands, and Thou wilt not find most of them beholden (unto Thee)." «2»

From here we understand that self-conceit is the legacy of Satan. This has been the case from the beginning of the world. When Satan tempts Adam, Adam is lured into believing that he will be as if imprisoned in the world and that if he listens to Satan, he would enjoy greater than what he possesses. Adam succumbs to Satan's temptations. This state of affairs has been practiced as of the creation of Adam to the present day and we should take lesson. We should know that Satan's legacy is self-conceit. All corruptions, whether done by individuals or governments and society, prevailing in the world are triggered by Satan's legacy. All the corruptions observable in the world stems from the disease of self-conceit. Whether one who is sitting at the corner of his house and saying prayer or those in society and contacting people has inherited Satan's legacy if he displays self-conceit. If some corruption emerges, it is because of self-conceit and selfishness. This also applies to governments ruling the world countries. From the outset when government was established in the world up to the present day any corruption has its root in this quality.

Pains will not be cured unless this satanic feature is destroyed. One who wishes to heal his pain personally, should destroy this quality. One should toil and should not deem oneself great. One should not say one is a scholar, or holy, as stated by angels, one should not consider oneself rich, pious, mystic, monotheist, etc. If in any of these and even in the supreme knowledge; that is, philosophy or mysticism, this satanic quality prevails, that knowledge will be veil." Knowledge is the greatest of veils." If one wants to cure himself, one should heed this characteristic. It is very difficult to challenge this disposition. If one wants to be purified, one will not be edified by knowledge. Knowledge will not purify man. Sometimes knowledge will send one to hell. At times knowledge of monotheism will send one to hell. So is the science of ethics. Knowledge along cannot correct things. Purification of the soul is essential. Purification is preferred to all other things. «3» A theology student who studies at school needs purification alongside with lessons. The Friday Prayer Imam who wants to guide people should first purify his own soul so as to be able to guide. A government that wants to urge people to good work, should primarily edify itself. A mystic who wants to invite people to divine knowledge, cannot do so as long as he has not purified himself. A philosopher, who wants to teach monotheism to people, cannot as long as this satanic character persists in him. In such a case, tongue will be the a tongue of Satan though it speaks about monotheism and a heart will be the heart of Satan though it receives monotheism or learns fiqh and teaches fiqh. As long as this quality prevails, all affairs will be stalled in persons who want to edify their soul or persons who want to purify the society.

Who is responsible to purify the society? It is upon the `ulama', scientists, thinkers, Friday prayer leaders and teachers. All should act. But one who claim to be a teacher, professor, faqih, scholar and the like. If he wants to purify the society, he should begin with himself. Laters, he is responsible to purify the society. If he does not become purified, he cannot purify the society. One who is corrupt, cannot utter his words in a way as to correct the people. His words will not be impressive. Words will be impressive when uttered from a purified and clean heart. If words are expressed from an unclean heart and the heart of Satan, voiced through the tongue of Satan, they cannot affect the heart of the person. If the heart was a divinely heart, paid attention to God, sought everything from God, considered everything to be stemming from Him, one will be able to purify people. This is the responsibility of `ulama' in cities wherever they are. It is primarily their duty and all people are also responsible. But the former have exposed them. If you want to purify the society so that in a part of the world the name of Islam is cited, people would not oppose it, you should purify them. You should acquaint the people with such issues.

If only the gentlemen who have come from abroad and stayed in Iran for sometime would visit the warfronts, meet with our youths and witness the crimes committed against this Muslim people. If only they inspected the prisons and talked to prisoners and also visited the prisons in other countries to find out what the matter is. Then they would return to their countries and express their observations as it is. We do not expect a word to be said contrary to their observations. We expect the gentlemen who have come here to sit together and talk and issue a resolution and that is all, with everyone returning to his place being engaged with his own preoccupation. If Friday prayer leaders came together at a center or invited the Friday prayer leaders from abroad to converge, they should not be content with some speeches, interesting words a resolution, and the return to their places. This way of dealing with matters causes one's hopes to be unfulfilled. One who wishes to purify a society, a nation or a small society, should follow up the issues. When a gathering is held in a place for scholars, for guests and for Friday prayer leaders in domestic and foreign cities, they should chart out a post-conference program when they return to their locations. If you issue a hundred leaflets, deliver a hundred speeches and condemn one hundred cases and then go after your own business, this will come to nothing. You have made a speech and taken trouble without reaping any result. If you follow up the cases in your own places, tell the people the corruptions you have observed, let the people know about the corruptions committed by big powers against humanity, reveal the afflictions brought upon Muslims by parasites of the big powers and disclose what you observe in Iran, good or bad, people will be enlightened. People of Iran were not asleep, only to get up in the morning and being enlightened. The Iranian nation's `ulama' took pain for long years. In that suffocating atmosphere they worked hard, they suffered hardships, tolerated thrashings and prison, and told people about the crimes. Wherever they went they revealed the facts and awakened the people. When the people are awakened, they will of course have liking for good things. Primordial nature drives one to tilt towards what one sees to be good. Disclose the good and evil to people so that they would shun the evil and tend towards good. It should not be the case that you come here and deliver speech and receive acclamation and round up and go to your cities and sleep. This is not workable. This will rather worsen the situation, because your enemies come to know that there is nothing serious to see. It is only in words; there is no action, but words, talks, resolution and not action. Resolution should be followed by action, as it was the case in Iran. Action prevailed in Iran. Many of our youth were killed and made sacrifices and are doing so at present. Go and see the stongholds. These strongholds are mosques, centers of mysticism and monotheism. In these centers, the youth are engaged in prayers at nights and sacrifice during the day. It is because several years of efforts- almost 20 years- have been made to awaken this population. The `ulama' in the cities have worked hard to awaken them and help them evolve. If this Revolution had not been accomplished in Iran, only God knows what they would plan to do with the youths whom they had stripped us of and whom they had encouraged to be engaged in centers of fornication.

The development in Iran is taking place everywhere. In Iran we are witnessing the change for the better. You also observe in your cities. You see how Islamic laws are now being treated in there and here. They who always reject Iran and any radio you turn on deny Iran and claim about a choking atmosphere in Iran, about prisons in Iran, about tortures in Iran, about killing without trial. Right! You might have seen the situation abroad. Now study the situation in Iran. You are here. The doors are open. Go and do your research. You are observing the streets and bazaar. Is there any threat or torture or harassment? In the Friday prayer congregation did you see any one standing with rifle to threaten people to participate in the ceremony? Well! These are the accusations they level against us. If you see outside of Iran and in your cities that corruption is profuse, know that they fear lest their cities should return from corruption to purity and Islam. They want to stop cleanliness, put up a barrier and curb the emerging wave, not letting Iran's call reverberate in their countries. This is another mistake they are making. The louder the horns, the stronger Iran will be. The more they level accusation against Iran, accusing us of corruption, despotism and I do not know what fascism and the like terms and associating any terrorist act in the world with Iran, these accusations strengthen Iran. When nations observed that the US has set up barricades around the White House lest people from Iran go there to trigger blasts, people of the world will come to realize the power of Iran. People will understand that Islam enjoys such a power. They tell lies assuming to weaken us. They are lying. Iran is opposed to all these issues. Iran has proof. Iran has rationale. We are proceeding with the Qur'an. We are proceeding with Nahj al-Balaghah. We do not need to carry out assassination attempts. Those who are opposed to us are now involved in assassination attempts. They are still engaged in such acts. But they cannot and, let us suppose, assassinate a grocer. Right! This is blind assassination.

Those who claim to be opposed to assassination are actually the center of assassinations. The US that speaks about humanitarianism and its president is engaged in that sort of humanitarian acts, the US is philanthropist! The US that has set the world ablaze, claiming the US that is pushing human beings towards annihilation. Are they altruist? And Islam is not so?! And Islamic Iran is not so?! Brothers, when you go out, tell the issues. Do not sit at home so that they attack you. You should attack and they retreat. You should not sit at home and constantly fear lest so and so happen. Well! This was the same in Iran and the power of Iran was greater than most of the countries that exist. But Iranian `ulama' worked hard, awakened the people, told people of their interests, conveyed the Islam to people, the people want Islam in essence, they are Muslim. Define Islam to people, tell Islamic laws, do not confine to the laws of only prayers and fasting, tell these as well, but laws of Islam are not exclusive to these. Why do not you read the chapter Bara'ah for people? Why do not you read the verses on fighting. You constantly read the verses of mercy! That fighting is also mercy, because it wants to perfect man. Man sometimes is not mended, disease sometimes is not corrected, unless by cauterizing. It should be cut, burnt so that society would be correct. Those who are corrupt should be expelled from it. It is the aspect of mercy. However, gentlemen some of them imagine that the same mercy is that they are given respite to kill people. Is this mercy? Release them from prisons to take to the street and kill people. Is this mercy? Act according to the Qur'an. The Qur'an treats Muslims and believers and those who have faith in God brotherly. The Qur'an says kill, beat and imprison those who are contrary to this." Be severe against the disbelievers." You have taken the same side, you will fall on the ground as well. If we are supposed to accept one side of Islam, the same aspect of mercy as you call, I consider all its aspects to be mercy, but you think the aspect of mercy is that we send out the thieves, free the corrupt, and release the murderer. Quit this sort of mercies that you fancy. These are not mercy, these are opposed to God and opposition to God. You gentlemen should say the issues in your cities that you went. Tell the issues that God has stated" Those with him are hard against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves." «4» You should make people understand this what it means. What should we do with them? Those who attacked all Islamic cities and are destroying everything of Islamic cities.

From that side their court akhounds propagate and make corruption speak against Islam, and create discord among Muslims; from that side, they, have fallen on the life of people and are taking their everything. And we have sat aside, watching. We are spectators! What work do we have with these works! We go and say prayers and observe and it is finished! Duty is the same?! The Commander of the Faithful the same?! The Master of Martyrs, if he thought like this, he would not have gone to Karbala with a limited number. He did not have such thoughts. This wrong thought of ours was not in his mind. The Commander of the Faithful if he was indulgent would not draw sword to kill 700 people instantly. He killed almost the last man, those persons who had revolted against him, to the end since it was against Islam. He killed to their last and some of them escaped, and then they came and did that corruption, those who had escaped did that corruption. Know that in our prisons these persons are those who are corrupt. The persons who are not corrupt, we do not like them to be in prison. If from them whoever goes out everyone of them go out will kill, they have not become man. For how long should be persons, in slumber? For how long should we be simple minded? Why do you gentlemen do simple mindedness? When you go to your cities, tell people, tell the world that what these powers are doing with the world, what they are doing with the weak. The poor Ethiopians who are suffering so much, dying from hunger, they (the Americans) throw their wheat into the sea, spend on weapons to destroy the whole world. They are altruist! By this form of humanitarianism they want to trample all of us. By these human rights assemblies they want to destroy human rights.

I hope that God would have mercy upon us and awaken us, Awaken and make us aware of the laws of Islam. In all its entirety, in all its dimensions, in all its aspects. Do not imagine that Islam is only this bit, is prayers and fasting only. It is not so. If it was so, the Prophet would have simply sat in his mosque and said prayers. Why did he take trouble from the beginning of his life to the end, struggled, defeated and was defeated in order to give practical shape to the issues to the extent he could. The Commander of the Faithful was also the same. Others were also the same. Competent people are also the same. Awakened persons are the same. It is not such that they sit in the mosque and have nothing to do with these issues, sit in their homes and have nothing to do with anyone; be impartial; we have nothing to do with such works! If it was the logic of prophets, Moses would not go to the Pharaoh. If this was the logic of prophets, Ibrahim would not confront them. The Prophet did not do this work. This is not the logic of prophets. The logic of prophets is to be hard to disbelievers and those who are against humanity, but be kind among them. And that hardness is also mercy upon them. May God awaken all of us and grant all of us and all of you, God willing, health and victory. May God save oppressed mankind from the troubles people are suffering at the hands of these big powers and preserve the religion and the world of all of us!

May God's peace and mercy be upon you!