Statements on the Anniversary of the Birth of Imam Ali (peace be upon him)

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

We congratulate you on this blessed birth, which is truly a cherished memory for all the free people of the world. Anyone who knows Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), even from afar, certainly feels joy on the anniversary of the birth of this great man of creation. We, the Muslim people, especially the Shi'ah of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him), have responsibilities towards this great personality; we have duties.

The status of Amir al-Mu'minin in the sight of God the Exalted has been attained through his struggles, worship, efforts, and sacrifices for that great man. God the Exalted knows the outcome of His test regarding these great individuals before their creation. The reward for these tests is the pure essence, the distinguished creation, and the characteristics that God the Exalted has gathered in this sacred being and the other infallibles (peace be upon them). These characteristics enable Amir al-Mu'minin to attain that high rank and status in the eyes of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

In the narrations of the Sunnis, there are accounts regarding the Prophet's love for Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) that are worthy of reflection and attention for all Muslims. In the traditions of Tirmidhi, which is one of the six authentic books of the Sunnis, it is narrated from Umm al-Mu'minin - Aisha - that she said: "God did not create any being more beloved to the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) than Ali"; meaning she testifies that among all creatures, no one was more beloved to the Prophet than Amir al-Mu'minin.

In another narration, Ahmad ibn Hanbal - one of the four imams of the Sunnis - narrates from Asma bint Umays, who said: The Prophet Muhammad raised his hands in prayer and said: "O God, I say to You as my brother Moses said: Appoint for me a minister from my family to strengthen my resolve and share in my affair with me, so that we may glorify You abundantly and remember You abundantly"; meaning the Prophet Muhammad is asking God the Exalted: O Lord! Just as the Prophet Moses requested that You appoint a minister for him, a partner who would assist him in his affairs and be his strong arm, I also request that You appoint Ali as my minister, my partner, and my strong arm.

These truths are evident before the eyes of the Islamic world. The spiritual ranks of Amir al-Mu'minin, that closeness to God the Exalted, that overwhelming power that God the Exalted has granted to these sacred beings, is beyond the comprehension of people like us; however, these things are visible to us; everyone sees them, everyone understands. Amir al-Mu'minin is the highest example of Islamic upbringing. He has gone through the period of military service and struggle, the period of estrangement, and the period of governance and leadership. Each of these periods contains numerous lessons for the Islamic community, and if we act upon these lessons today, the straight path of guidance, development, and elevation will be opened before us. We must take advantage of these occasions; we must learn these lessons.

One line from the thick book of the merits of Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) is that this great man, throughout his eventful life, was concerned with certain matters, including justice and unity. These are lessons for us. The unity of the Islamic community was important to Amir al-Mu'minin. The establishment of justice among the Islamic community was also important to Amir al-Mu'minin. His quest for rights manifests itself in both cases; both in the pursuit of justice, where he endures the most difficult tests of his life; those hardships, those difficult struggles, those wars that were imposed upon him - the three wars during his short reign, which he endures because he seeks justice. He pursues the truth here with determination; and also in the case where Amir al-Mu'minin, for the sake of God, for the interests of Islam, for the unity of Muslims, overlooks a right that is undoubtedly his, and does not oppose; he safeguards Islam, the Muslims, the Islamic community, and Islamic unity.

"So I held my hand until I saw the people returning from Islam, calling for the eradication of the religion of Muhammad (peace be upon him)";

meaning when I saw the issue of Islam at stake, the interests of Islam, the interests of the Islamic community at stake, I no longer deemed silence permissible, I came into the field to create unity. This was during the early period after the Prophet's passing and the period of Amir al-Mu'minin's hardships; there he also pursues the truth with determination. This truth here is unity. These are lessons for us.

The Islamic community has suffered throughout various eras from injustice; and from the division and hypocrisy and separation of individuals from one another and standing against one another, it has been harmed. The Islamic world has suffered from these things. Whenever you refer to the history of Islam - especially in recent centuries - you see this meaning more clearly. The Islamic world is in need of unity. Amir al-Mu'minin must be the source of unity for the Islamic world. The enemies of Islam want to create discord among the Muslim sects through Amir al-Mu'minin, who is himself a means of unity and solidarity. The Islamic world must be aware of these matters.

Today, those individuals and groups who seek to create discord between Shi'ah and Sunni by slandering Shi'ah, speaking ill, and sowing discord, must be observed. On the other hand, there are also those who provoke the feelings of their Muslim brothers, hurt them, and cause them distress. The Islamic world must be united. Today, the world demands this. Today, the needs of the Islamic community require that Islamic societies be together, stand alongside each other, have unity and agreement, and not allow enemies to take advantage of their weaknesses; enemies who naturally have no power. What is Israel? The Zionist enemy is nothing against one and a half billion Muslims; it does not count. The discord in the Islamic world - this weakness that exists within the Islamic world - allows the weak enemy to find a way, to recruit allies, to gather enemies from among the Muslim brothers.

The Iranian nation must also pay attention to this matter. We are a united nation; Islam has united us; our revolution has awakened us; our hearts have been brought closer together; our motivations have intertwined; we have become a strong and powerful fist against the enemies of the Islamic system and the enemies of Islam and Muslims and the enemies of Iran. The enemies are waiting to disrupt this unity; to create discord among the people; to create differences; to set brothers against each other; the Iranian nation must be vigilant.

In the recent fervent elections of the twenty-second of Khordad, which was a tremendous movement of the Iranian nation, a great achievement was made. This presence of nearly forty million at the ballot boxes, meaning an eighty-five percent turnout of those who could participate, is among the unparalleled figures in the world. This greatly enhanced the reputation of the Iranian nation, created much power for this great nation; it brought honor to the revolution; it showed that the revolution, after thirty years, has the power and ability to mobilize the people like this. The enemies have acted to sow discord among the people, and to some extent, they have succeeded. However, the nation must neutralize the enemy's movement.

The policy of the Islamic Republic system is a clear policy. Competition among presidential candidates, in our view, is a familial competition, which sometimes leads to anger. Two brothers may stand against each other within a family; what does it have to do with the enemy? What does it have to do with the foreigner? Foreigners who have entered this arena at various political and propaganda levels have the intention of creating division and discord; creating a rift. Some leaders of Western countries at the level of presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, and various officials have explicitly interfered in the internal affairs of the Iranian nation. What business is it of yours? Why do you interfere in matters that pertain to the Iranian nation? They interfere, and then they say we do not interfere; what does interference mean? Encouraging rioting is not interference? Introducing the Iranian people as rioters is not interference? Is it not an insult? Two groups, one voting for one candidate, another for another candidate, there is a majority and a minority; there are rules; those whose candidate did not win, it is natural for them to be depressed, to be upset; but this does not mean rioting; these are not rioters. The rioters are a small number; those who use the approved budgets of some Western governments to create discord within Iran, they are the rioters. In American and European media - which are often under the control of the Zionists and are fundamentally enemies of the Iranian nation and enemies of Islam and the Islamic Republic system - they portray that a group of the Iranian nation are rioters.

We warn; the Iranian nation warns the leaders of some countries who seek to use an internal issue of our country against the Iranian nation: Be careful, the Iranian nation will react.

First of all, let everyone know, the leaders of the arrogant countries should know, the meddling busybodies in the affairs of the Islamic Republic should know: The Iranian nation, even if they have differences among themselves, when your enemies come into the picture, they all unite; they become a single hand, a strong fist against you.

It is not the case that you think when you support a certain current, that this current will become inclined towards you; absolutely not. We have thirty years of experience; thirty years this nation has recorded your enmities in its memory; it has recorded them. The nation understands what you want to do, what you are doing. They mention some names as if they are defending them; they are lying; they are not defending them; their intention is to create discord, their intention is to create distrust among the Iranian nation and the Iranian elites towards each other; they are lying.

What exists in their spiteful hearts is that they wish this independent system, this glory and dignity that has risen from this country and stands against their bullying, does not exist. That is their wish. It is not the case that in the Islamic Republic they are good with Zaid and bad with Amr; no. Anyone who is committed to this system, anyone who is committed to this constitution, anyone who is committed to the ideals of the Iranian nation, is considered an enemy by them. They want the Islamic Republic not to exist, a subservient and obedient system to rise again in this country, just like in the past. They are after this. This is their false, nightmarish dream.

Thirty years of resistance of the Islamic Republic system has not yet awakened them. The slaps that this nation has dealt to their arrogant and aggressive leaders have not brought them to their senses; they still covet our country and our nation. They are mistaken; they are mistaken. They will undoubtedly pay the price for their mistakes.

We will account for these hostile statements, these hostile behaviors from these governments; we will write them down in their account; they should know this. In the future of relations and interactions of the Islamic Republic with these meddling parties, this behavior will have a negative impact; undoubtedly; they should know this, understand it. The Iranian nation is not a nation that will tolerate oppression. The Iranian nation is a powerful nation. The Islamic Republic system is a rooted and established system. The officials of the Islamic Republic, even if they have a hundred differences among themselves, in standing against the enemy, in preserving the independence of this country, they all stand together as one voice and one hand. The enemies should know this; they should not think they can create division among the nation.

Unfortunately, these propaganda and destructive machines and those opposed to the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation have followers within our country, which is not a new phenomenon; such things existed even during the Sacred Defense. They too must come to their senses and realize that the support of these predatory wolves will not benefit them. They are thinking of themselves, thinking of their own interests. They use people as long as their interests are served; just as they used Mohammad Reza and Saddam. When they no longer need them, they crumple them up like a dirty handkerchief and throw them aside; just as they did not support Mohammad Reza Shah during his time of disgrace, nor did they support Saddam during his disgrace and downfall. No one should rely on them.

The people are vigilant, the elites are vigilant. Unfortunately, a few individuals place their trust in them and fall for their deception. Being deceived by them also sends false signals to them, and they too, in turn, fall for their signals. The nation is vigilant and must remain vigilant. My advice to all the Iranian nation is:

Today, more than anything, we need vigilance, we need to recognize friends and enemies. Do not confuse a friend with an enemy; do not mix up friends and enemies; do not treat a friend as an enemy due to a mistake, and on the other hand, some treat a sworn enemy and adversary as a friend, listen to him, pay attention to him.

This sedition that the enemy has stirred up hoped that perhaps it could fish in this muddy water. Thanks be to God, these seditions have come to an end. Every sedition against the truth, against a vigilant nation will be eradicated; the dust will settle. It is always like this.

The margins created by a number of enemies, a number of heedless individuals, will disappear, the essence of the matter remains. The essence of the matter is that in a glorious election, nearly forty million of the Iranian nation participated. This is the essence of the matter; this is the truth of the matter. Forty million, after thirty years of the revolution, showed their trust in the system, their hope for the future with their presence. This remains. The essence of the matter is that a president has been elected with more than twenty-four million votes; this is the essence of the matter. The margins, the dust, the embellishments, the actions and words that please the enemy will all come to an end; but this truth remains. "As for the foam, it will vanish; but what benefits the people will remain on the earth."

Of course, the officials, the elected president must appreciate this popular support. The gratitude for this attention of the people consists of complete and comprehensive service to solve the problems of the people; striving for the advancement of the country and striving to maintain the unity of the great Iranian nation. These are the realities that exist. You, the Iranian nation, have accomplished a great task at this moment in time, you have made a great movement, and God the Exalted, by His grace and power, will bless this movement and advance it.

The gratitude of the officials is service; the gratitude of the people is maintaining unity; maintaining unity means maintaining vigilance, maintaining brotherhood, and having a compassionate outlook towards one another. The enemy wants this not to be the case, and you should strive to do what angers the enemy, and what will please the sacred heart of the Awaited One (may our souls be sacrificed for him) is this unity, kindness, cooperation, enthusiasm, and revolutionary movement of the Iranian nation.

We hope that the prayers of the Awaited One encompass all of you, and God willing, the pure spirit of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the pure souls of the martyrs will be pleased with all of us.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.