Speech [Comparison between the Islamic Republic and the Pahlavi regime]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Congratulation to the Muslims of the world, the oppressed people and the audience on the occasion of this auspicious feast that characterizes different dimensions: mystical, political, sacrifice and others.

Today, I would like to make a comparison between the past and present in some respects. This comparison should begin from Majlis. It is one of the blessings of the revolution that representatives are present in a Majlis in which they could not assemble in former regime. You know that in the past no such gathering was possible between the `ulama' of Islam, Theological Seminary of Qum and Tehran and the universities. Never could these two classes sit together in a place replete with empathy and with one idea. Nor could ambassadors of friendly countries and university professors and government organizations sit together to explore our needs and work out solution to fulfillment of the needs. Petty differences had been enlarged and aggravated in our country. The propaganda was made in a way that religious men of letters had been intimidated to express one's words at university milieu. Similarly, the academician did not dare to express his words in academic milieu and educational schools. So were the university professors, civil servants and parliamentarians. They never met to find what their own country needs and what they should do to fulfill these needs. It was because the propaganda plans were of wide scope that suspicion prevailed everywhere. People were afraid of one another and suspected one another. I should say they were hostile to one another. This state of affairs had been created. None of the foreign ambassadors would attend the place where `ulama' were present. They were not ready to be present in such places because `ulama' had been introduced as reactionary, backward and intellectually dull. Such ideas were inculcated in former times, particularly in recent time. Obviously, foreign experts, European and American advisors were attentive that if these layers are together, they will be dangerous. That is, they are dangerous to them. And they were right. For this reason, through their domestic agents, their own men and the persons trained in their own milieu, they had made it impossible for such gatherings to be mounted.

Today, we have converged under a small roof. We share one idea, the idea of preventing the things prevailing in former regime. We are concerned lest our universities should again fall into the hands of those people and our clerics get entangled in those troubles and our country returned again to the state we all observed, what calamities befell this country. We are here today to see what we should do to prevent restoration of the former situation.

That which can prevent is some contemplation on the Qurban and the altar-related issues taking place for Ibrahim (`a), the sacrifice and self-negation he demonstrated. We should reflect on Ibrahim's self-sacrifice and the rituals of hajj. Islam has brought harmony among hajj and all other Islamic tenets, between mysticism and obedience, between politics and devotion, between social issues and other matters. This reconciliation has been made so that we would make something out of it. Those who are present here have duties and I hope they will fulfill their duties. When we returned, we have duties which are traceable to the contemplations were made on the Qurban Feast and the place of sacrifice. They should bring that sacrifice and unity as souvenir and we should instill this concept among our people. The clerics and academicians across the country have duty and are obliged to do so.

Thank God, we have so far taken effective steps. If you make a comparison between the past and present times, we can find where the differences lie. For example, many or most of you remember the voting for the so-called White Revolution, making much ado and employing those pressures and tricks. They could not claim more than six million votes though you should rest assured that the figure is not true. Despite those pressures by a despotic government that employed massive propaganda, they could not muster up people so as to claim 10 million votes. They could not even tell a lie and magnify the number. Now, in a country that is under pressure from every side, subjected to electoral boycotts and all-out propaganda, if this gathering- over 14 million people- is compared with any other country in the world, the difference between here and there will become clear. One can then find what development has taken place here. This is a strange development. A regime commanding all power leverages and capable of employing all sorts of pressures and not refraining from any pressure could not claim in its false declaration that eight million votes were cast. Only six million! Their exaggerated and false figure was declared to be six million! Then they bustled about the six million votes, although they told the lie. Without any pressure forcing you to vote and without anticipated propaganda- this year there was no propaganda at work- this massive population that converged so magnificently that is unprecedented in the world in terms of comparison, this is indicative of an enormous transformation in our country. Go to visit the war front from here.

When the allied forces entered our country, with all the claims they boasted of they said they could resist three hours. When that dastard son of a man «1» had asked them how three hours? They replied saying:" We exaggerate. They enter from that side and we left from this side! Compare this with the present day when our youths, our nation have stood against all powers who are all brewing plots. All of them shook hands to create a victory in this war. Every day they tell lies, yet our youths have stood and advance. Look at the women. What conditions did they have at that time and what today? Our women are not school-oriented. Throughout our country women are rendering service firmly behind the frontline in the same way the youth are serving in warfronts. In addition to holding class sessions, recitation sessions, teaching sessions, even advanced courses sessions as I have heard some women are holding. Right! What is this development? What was the situation in the past? What was the status of women in Iran? One is ashamed to say. That was called freedom! This is called suffocation! That was freedom that they doe whatever they wished in any form and this is choking atmosphere because women are free to serve, free to be behind the frontlines, free to study and free to do so and so. This is called strangling climate! By strangling situation they imply we do not let women act in a way as to paralyze the nation. A layer of young adults could bring the nation to a helpless condition due to the unbridled behavior they displayed. No one cared to accomplish an eye-catching activity, a social activity. Almost everyone waking up in the morning sought to find a place for recreation. They were concerned as to where to go to do so and so. Look at your bazaar! Look at your streets! Now, when they want to gainsay Iran, they say no place is found for recreation, the recreation they mean. Foregoing this, entertainment centers are many. Today, women are wearing chador «2». At that time they had made such propaganda that women did not dare to appear in the form they should and had to come into public sight stealthily. Those who wanted to preserve themselves either did not leave home or turned up at night or moved secretly from somewhere to another place.

This hajj in the past few years- this year it has been performed more gloriously- should be reflected in the world as true rituals which Ibrahim and the Messenger of God had prescribed. This hajj has found expression. The one who sends the Bara'at Sourah or chapter to recite in that gathering has aimed to make us understand that this chapter should be recited. As a matter of fact in time of the Messenger of God Muslims did not suffer the problems as Muslims are afflicted by today. Their problem was different. The holy Qur'an and hadith (traditions) teaches us that we should perform certain rituals in hajj. Hajj and all Islamic acts of worship are mixed with all differing dimensions. Of the miracles of prophets and particularly Islam is that its mysticism is mixed with its acts of worship. If an individual who is conversant with those tenets pursues the mystical dimension of prayer beside other practices and zikr (invocation of God), one will see what roaring sea it is, a spiritual elevation for the believer, soaring up man to the world beyond this natural world and mundane existence. Often a word of the formula in praise of God brings about this spiritual state. A single sentence occasionally carries so much spiritual and mystical weight that its realization helps the spiritual wayfarer traverse all the veils. The sourah or chapter Hamd in the Qur'an is the first sourah and has been prescribed to be recited in prayer which has been said will not be valid minus hamd. This sourah contains all learning. One who is perspicacious should reflect on it. Well, we are not conversant with it. We say al-hamdu lillah and mean God is meritorious. Al-hamdu lillah rab al-`Alamin signifies God is deserving of all praise. But the Qur'an does not mean this notion. The holy Qur'an says that basically no praise is made anywhere except for God. The one who worships idol praises God without one being aware of it. The problem lies in our ignorance and unwittingness." They alone we ask for help" actually means that no help exists other than that of God. What other power do we have save God? Is what you have other than God's power? It does not mean that we perform acts of worship for God and ask Him for help. The fact is that no other worship is accomplished in the world other than worship of God and His praise. Those who praise, for example, evil forces and kings and the like do not understand that these are praises for God, but they are negligent of it. Praise is sung for perfection and not imperfection. Anyone asking anyone for help in fact asks help from God. This is what the sourah means. If this single sourah finds reality for those who are conversant with such issues, all problems would be settled. For, when one sees everything comes from Him, one will no longer fear any power. If we fear powers, it is because we imagine it to be power. When one regards power to belong to Him, when one considers everything to originate from Him, one cannot fear other than Him. Our fears lie in the fact that we do not understand that there is only one power and it is there to favor all. That power is applied for the interests of all individuals and society and entire mankind. If we understand that everything is from Him and that everything is for our favor and our education; if we really appreciate this sense, observe it and absorb it, these problems will be removed.

We should acquaint people with monotheism. Prominent `ulama' should acquaint people with monotheism and divinely knowledge." Is for other than You anything of evident and manifest that is not for You?" `Arafah Supplication of the Doyen of Martyrs, Imam Husayn (`a)," When have You been absent so as to need to be manifest?" Qur'an is the same. Each of them has a different diction. Qur'an has been revealed and handed down to us. The supplications of our Immaculate Imams (`a), as put by some Shaykhs «3»," Qur'an is ascending." Whatever question you want you can find in the supplications. Language of supplication differs from the common language used in the ordinances. The language of supplication also differs from that of philosophy and mysticism. It is a language beyond these. The thing is that language needs to be understood. Those who comprehend that language should notice. Qur'an is a blessing everyone can benefit from. However, the use made by the holy Prophet of the Qur'an differs from that of others." The one to whom the Qur'an is addressed comprehends it" «4» Others do not know. We have a smattering of it, some illusions. The one to whom Qur'an has been revealed knows how it has been revealed. What is the quality of revelation? What is the purpose of revelation? What contents it carries and what is the end of it? These questions can be answered by the one to whom the Qur'an has been revealed. Those who have been trained by him know because they have undergone his training. The prophets' skill has been their ability to explain strict mystical issues in diction that everyone would understand proportionate to his perception. But the fact of the matter lies with those whose horizon of vision is wider. This art in the Qur'an is more superbly available than any other sources, also being found in supplications.

If the clerics, academicians and we are truly interested in keeping this country protected, particularly if university professors actually wish this country not to make a retreat to the former situation, they should be watchful. Academicians and university professors should take care of themselves in terms of education and watch the acts they do in relation to students and young adults. They should preserve the university in a form and reality that is the very development taken place in Iran. University should develop and has obviously undergone development, but needs greater care. The `ulama' in different cities, particularly in theological seminaries should develop all factors contributing to proximity to God. All the ingredients brining men of letters and those coming newly to study close to God and interesting them to gain close to God should be highlighted. Theological seminaries should run classes on ethics, not simply one class, two or three, but ten, twenty courses on ethics. If you want the future of your country to be bright, educate those who study in theological seminaries or where you teach. Train them in a way that they migrate from this world and regard the world beyond. They should be spiritually trained and mentally developed. The early steps should be taken to educate them spiritually. When this was realized, things will be rectified. One who is strengthened from spiritual aspects will also become strong in material terms. The example is the prophets and Immaculate Imams. Despite all their preoccupation with spiritual elevation and divinely knowledge, they were involved in state craft and established government.

They enforced the hudoud «5» against those who were detrimental to society, while they stood at so high level of knowledge.

If you educate people in healthy education, invite them to acquaintance with God, familiarize them with divinely knowledge and the Qur'an your country will remain sound and safe. This state of affairs will permeate other places. This is natural. You notice that today the waves released in Iran to the extent we observe has given rise to call for Islam. Of course, a group of people expresses Islam and calls for Islamization of laws to deceive people. There are also other groups that are actually Muslim and seek Islam. This call originates from the wave released from here; you people of Islam released this wave.

Rest assured that God is with you. As long as you appreciate the value of divinely blessings and the graces God has done to you, the gift of unity God has granted you, this gift of revolution God has given you, these young adults God has granted you, a revolution causing people to be still engaged in rendering service in warfronts, the professors granted to you. All these blessings need to be appreciated. We should appreciate the value of all these and thank all. I appreciate the people of Iran for all the cases they are acting and being present at the scene. I pray for all. May God protect all Muslim nations, acquaint them with their duties and familiarize us with our duties so that in the few days we have to live in this world and will depart from this world, we will at lEast consider the other worldly requirements. Beware of clinging to the earth and following one's own lust. «6»

May God's peace and mercy be upon you!