Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with Families of Martyrs of Armed Forces and Construction Jihad

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Dear ones; esteemed families of the martyrs, welcome. In fact, both you and your martyrs are the shining lights of our history and system; you have honored us with your presence. In this warm and affectionate gathering, filled with the fragrance of martyrdom, what is worthy of discussion is the concept of martyrdom and the martyrs themselves. I will share a few brief words on this matter:

Martyrdom can be viewed from several perspectives. From any angle we look at it, this phenomenon is magnificent and full of brilliance. Once, we consider the value of martyrdom in the presence of the Almighty; our words fall short in expressing the high value of martyrdom. There is a narration that states when every good and every value is observed, there is a higher value until it reaches the value of "martyrdom"; there is nothing above the value of "martyrdom".

If we are to discuss this issue based on religious principles and the philosophy of religion, we will see that it is indeed so; there is nothing greater than a person willingly sacrificing their life and existence for a great and noble divine ideal. This is the meaning of martyrdom. Therefore, martyrdom in the presence of the Almighty has a special interpretation. In the Quran, being killed in the way of God is not considered a mere death: "So if he dies or is killed". Being killed in the way of God is not equated with ordinary deaths. In divine criteria and from a religious and Quranic perspective, it holds a different concept and a noble meaning. Thus, whoever receives this divine gift and is martyred in the way of God is indeed grateful to God.

The Almighty God has bestowed the greatest grace upon the martyr. Consider this! No one remains in this world; everyone is destined to depart. Humans die in various ways; there is no distinction between young and old - people die in youth, in old age, and in childhood; death is for all - the Almighty God has arranged this inevitable death, which every person must pass through, in such a way for the martyr that it has gained such value! While ordinary deaths do not hold this value. Is there a greater grace than this? Is there a greater favor upon the martyr than this? We all die; how valuable it is that the Almighty God has placed this death, this departure, this inevitable fate in a path that holds such virtue! Therefore, the martyr in the realm of the unseen and Barzakh is grateful to the Almighty; they are thankful for having received such a grace. The moment of martyrdom is among the sweetest moments for every martyr. See how valuable and exalted it is!

From another perspective, we see that martyrdom is an extraordinary phenomenon; because all the good deeds and virtuous actions that a person does - any person - are their own work; but martyrdom is the product of the collective efforts of a group of people, resulting in one person becoming a martyr. This young person who went to the front and became a martyr was not alone in their struggle; you, as their father, struggled for them to go. You, as their mother, struggled for them to go. The departure of a young person towards a place of danger - where their life is at risk - is not just their struggle; their father struggles with their departure, their mother struggles with their departure, their spouse struggles, their children struggle, and everyone who cares for them struggles. And astonishingly, this struggle does not end! They go to the front, stand firm for a while, endure, strive, and reach martyrdom. Their struggle ends; but the struggle of this mother continues. The struggle of this father continues. The patience of these individuals is their struggle. The struggle of these children continues; the struggle of that young spouse continues. Those who endure, those who do not complain, those who consider this a matter before God, those who regard this blood as a source of pride for themselves, those who continue the cycle of struggle among the rest of the people with their patience and gratitude, those who become a source of encouragement for others to strive, those whose steadfastness brings honor to a nation - these are the ones who struggle.

If the fathers, mothers, and spouses of the martyrs had shown impatience and complaint; if they had lamented and cried, would the face of this nation have shone so brightly?! It was you who gave this nation its honor. It was you who, with your words, your statements, your demeanor and behavior, with your heads held high because of the martyrdom of this child, illuminated the face of this nation! This struggle continues. For years, this martyr has joined the divine paradise - their struggle has ended - but your struggle continues. What value and what great work is this complex combination of various struggles - that too for long periods?! Every good deed is done once, and it is finished. A charity given in the way of God is money given, it is finished and gone; but martyrdom is not like this. See how exalted it is! This is another aspect.

From a third perspective, we see how immense this phenomenon is! The closer one gets, the greater its magnitude becomes. Like tall mountains; one can see from afar that it is a mountain, but when one gets closer, they see that the greatness of this phenomenon is beyond intellectual grasp. The dimension of the impact of this phenomenon on the great advancements of every nation is significant. Any nation that relies on martyrdom - meaning it understands martyrdom and learns the art of martyrdom - will always be proud and no power will prevail over this nation.

The powers of the world use what means to impose their thoughts on nations, on governments, on countries, and on elites? They use threats. They use bribery. They use various pressures; media pressure, military pressure, and so on. Who cannot withstand these pressures? Those who have surrendered their hearts to the sweet and rich life and whose eyes are dazzled by the superficial colors of life! Such people fear death. These are the ones whom the powerful can control and ride! These are the ones who, if they are at the head of governments, will bring misfortune to their own nations, and if they are among the masses, will abandon their governments. Those who have surrendered to the superficial appearances of life, have no knowledge of the essence of life, of the dignity of life, of human happiness, and of true success. These are the weak points of nations. This is the weak point of humanity.

Well; now a nation that is devoted to martyrdom, the issue of martyrdom in the way of God has been resolved for them. Not that everyone should go and be killed; no, but rather that if at some point it is necessary and the country and the history of that country and the dignity and interests of that nation require that some go and sacrifice their lives, there should be individuals in this nation ready to sacrifice their lives. This is the meaning of resolving the concept of "martyrdom"; martyrdom has been resolved for them. A nation that is like this, a nation that nurtures martyrs, a nation that has been able to resolve the issue of dying in the way of God for its youth, for its men and women, will it be influenced by threats?! Will it accept bribes?! Will it submit to the arrogant powers?! Will it pay tribute to global arrogance?! Absolutely not.

Therefore, today look; the dignity and greatness of your country is due to the blood of these dear ones. Its government, its people, its officials, and all classes are unwilling to let any harm come to the Islamic dignity of this nation and stand firm like a mountain. Now global arrogance is applying pressure; let it come. It will tire; just as it has for twenty years - from the beginning of the revolution until now - the pressures of global arrogance have continued: provoking a neighbor, starting a war, imposing economic sanctions, destructive propaganda, slander, making various statements, and trying to create discord among the people and undermine their beliefs!

Global arrogance has failed in all these savage assaults and incursions, and it will fail again. Because this nation, thanks to the blood of your martyrs, is a courageous nation; it is a nation that nurtures martyrs. See how exalted the impact of martyrdom is for the sovereignty and happiness of a nation?! This is what holds value. The existence of such men and women and such youth secures both the worldly and the otherworldly fate of a nation; it builds their world and their hereafter. Thanks be to God, the great nation of Iran, by the grace of the blood of the martyrs and the great blessings of martyrdom, will be able to remove all problems from its path. All these hostilities, all this enmity, and the ambushes of the enemies against the determination and will of this nation will not endure and will fade away. Why? Because the nation is awake. You families of martyrs should pay attention to this point.

Another aspect of martyrdom is that everyone must safeguard the blood of the martyr and protect it. What does it mean to protect the blood of the martyr? It means to see what this young person, this family, this father and mother, these great and indomitable spirits, aimed for. Protect that goal more than your own life. Our martyrs struggled for God; they were martyred in the way of God; they endured hardships for the establishment of God's religion in the country - which is the source of worldly and otherworldly happiness. The families of the martyrs also did the same. The fact that the families of the martyrs showed the best and most beautiful patience in the face of the martyrdom of their loved ones was for the sake of God. This is the path of the martyrs.

Today in this country, the path of God, the path of religion, and the path of realizing Islamic laws is the path of true happiness for this nation. Religion will also build the world of the people and their hereafter. Religion will also diminish the evil of the enemies. Those who strive to separate the people from religion want to strike at the root of this nation's happiness. Of course, they cannot. There is no center in the world that can contend with this nation, with these faiths, with these feelings, and with these devotions. You dear ones - esteemed families, fathers, mothers, spouses, children, and all others of the martyrs - preserve this honor for yourselves that you are the guardians of the blood of the martyr and the followers of the path of the martyr and the protectors of the banner of the martyr, which is the banner of the path of God and the religion of God and the preservation of divine and Islamic values. We hope that the Almighty God will shower His blessings and favors upon the nation and upon you dear ones, especially the families of the martyrs, and protect this nation from the evil of the wicked and grant victory over all its spiteful and hostile enemies, which God willing He will do, and may the prayer of the Master of the Age, may our souls be sacrificed for him, God willing, encompass you and your martyrs.

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