Statements in Meeting with Members of the Martyrs' Committees for Educational Affairs, Students, and Artists

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

This is a very luminous, fragrant, profound, and meaningful gathering. Those who have been introduced as martyrs in this meeting are among the elite and distinguished segments of society; they are students, artists, teachers, and students; this indicates that the motivation for sacrifice in the way of God and martyrdom in this path has been widespread and expanded at various levels in our society; this is a very important matter. University professors become martyrs, artists become martyrs, students become martyrs. Many of these renowned figures in our sacred defense - whose names adorn our streets and centers and whose images beautify our living environments - were often students; some of them were truly geniuses; they were artists, teachers, and professors; they went and offered their lives - the most valuable thing a person possesses, which is their life - in the way of God, in the way of goals; this is very important.

Commemorative sessions are a continuation of the jihadist movement and a continuation of martyrdom. If the names of our martyrs were not repeated, if they were not honored, and if respect for them and their families did not become a culture in our society - which fortunately has become a culture - today many of these valuable and precious memories would have been forgotten; this immense value that arises from the movement of martyrdom in a society would have been neglected. You must not allow this to happen again; day by day, the memory of the martyrs and the repetition of their names and the insightful examination of the lives of the martyrs must become widespread in our society. And if this happens, then the issue of martyrdom, which means complete struggle in the way of God, will remain enduring in society. And if this happens, there will be no defeat for this society, and defeat will have no meaning; it will progress. Just like the story of Hussein ibn Ali (peace be upon him); today, 1300 years or more have passed since the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), and day by day this story has become more prominent and alive. This story contains themes that are essential for the Islamic life of society. If these themes were not expanded, there would be no news of Islam, the Quran, and the truths of Islamic knowledge today. It is the same here; do not allow the names of the martyrs and the memory of the martyrs to be forgotten or to become stale in our society; and of course, with innovations; these commemorative sessions that you create - which are very valuable - are not merely a magnificent mourning session; these sessions have their own special themes; they must define martyrdom, introduce the martyr, and make the culture of martyrdom enduring in society.

Regarding the martyrs, God the Almighty says that they are alive: "And do not say of those who are killed in the way of God, 'They are dead.'" (Quran 2:154) "And do not think that those who were killed in the way of God are dead; rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision." (Quran 3:169) These are verses of the Quran; they are explicit in a knowledge that no Muslim can turn a blind eye to. Anyone who believes in Islam and the Quran must have this knowledge before their eyes. This noble verse of the Quran says they are alive; their life is a real life, a spiritual life, and they are provided for by God the Almighty; that is, divine favors continuously reach them; "They are happy with what God has given them of His bounty." (Quran 3:170) What news is there beyond the border of life and death? What do people know about that unknown realm? Regarding the martyrs, we know that they are happy, joyful, and delighted; "They are happy with what God has given them of His bounty." Higher than this: "And they rejoice for those who have not yet joined them." (Quran 3:170) That is, they are speaking to us, addressing us: "Do not fear for them, nor shall they grieve." (Quran 2:154) This is very important; this ear that can hear the heavenly call of the martyrs must be cultivated within ourselves. They are giving us glad tidings, announcing to us, negating fear and sorrow: "Do not fear for them, nor shall they grieve." We, due to our weaknesses, become afflicted with fear and sorrow; they tell us that you have no fear, no sorrow, either regarding themselves or regarding us - depending on the differences that may arise in the interpretation of this noble verse - they remove fear and sorrow; whether in this realm or in that realm. For a nation, how important it is to genuinely move forward without fear, without sorrow, and to move with hope; this is the message of the martyrs to us; this message must be heard. You, with these sessions, with these gatherings that you hold, are obliged to convey this message to the ears.

A good point was made by our brother that when a session is held in commemoration of the martyrs, those who participate in this session, no matter how esteemed and dignified they are, more than what they bring blessings, benefits, and greatness to that session, it is that session that provides them with goodness, blessings, guidance, and knowledge; this is the reality. Make sure that these sessions have these blessings; that they expand these and spread this culture in society. The Iranian nation has accomplished a great task; they have done a tremendous job. In a world that is based on the axis of force, bullying, and the plundering of the powerful, where oppressed nations in many parts of the world are constantly under the pressure of these oppressors, in this world, an entity, an identity has emerged that boldly and without hesitation has rejected this wrong movement of the world - which is the movement of domination, and we refer to it as the system of domination - this is the work of the Iranian nation. The Iranian nation has rejected the system of domination, which is based on the dominator and the dominated. The foundation of the powerful, plundering world is based on dividing the world into dominators and the dominated; it has always been like this, and it is still the same today; during the time the Islamic Revolution emerged, it was the same, and throughout history, it has been the same; of course, today it is more intense than in the past; because today the tools of domination are incomparable to those of a hundred years ago, a thousand years ago, or five thousand years ago; therefore, the dominators have greater opportunities to dominate the oppressed and the downtrodden, and they fully exploit this opportunity; they take resources, destroy cultures, humiliate people, and spread hunger among oppressed and deprived nations; and many other atrocities. In response to this movement, an identity emerged called the Islamic Revolution, which was based on divine revelation, divine ethics, divine movement, and what the Quran explicitly states; this is the movement of the Iranian nation. This movement, thanks be to God, has developed day by day; this movement has progressed.

We do not claim that we have been able to implement Islamic goals in the country; we do not claim this at all. In many cases, our capabilities have been limited, and what we wanted to implement, we could not do to the extent we desired, but we continued our movement; we are moving towards this summit. They tried to dissuade us from this movement, but they could not; they tried to stop us, but they could not; they tried to turn us back, but they could not. Yes, we have not reached the summit, but we have made significant progress from this foothill, and this movement continues, and this motivation continues, and this motivation will, God willing, increase day by day and will not stop. One day, some thought and some even expressed that you are taking these student children to the front - while we were not taking them; they were going with enthusiasm themselves; those who were prevented from going were trying in various ways and tricks to persuade those around them to allow them to go - universities would be emptied, knowledge would be halted; their movement, their efforts, and their struggles caused us to advance further and more in our scientific movement than in other movements that arise in society. Thanks be to God, today we have a commendable situation in our scientific movement at the national level; we have a situation of pride; it was unimaginable back then; it was said that if this elite, this artist, this student, this professor, this teacher goes to the front and is killed, a vacuum will be created. It became clear that the blessings of martyrdom and jihad in the way of God are much greater than this. They went, but today, thanks be to God, prominent figures have emerged who are distinguished in the realm of knowledge, in the fields of art, in various sectors; that is, they are capable of being showcased at the international and global level. These are the blessings of the movement and struggle of a nation, and this will continue; it will progress and continue.

I firmly believe that one of the fundamental needs of the country is to keep the names of the martyrs alive; this is a need that we - whether we are pious and devout individuals or not very pious, but we care about the fate of this country and the fate of these people - however you think about it, commemorating the martyrs is vital and necessary for the future of this country. The culture of martyrdom means the culture of striving with investment from oneself for long-term common goals among all people; which, of course, in our case, those goals are not exclusive to the Iranian nation, but for the Islamic world and for humanity. If this culture takes root in a society, it is the exact opposite of the individualistic culture of the West today [which] measures everything for oneself and with personal calculations; they assign a monetary value to everything, and that is to obtain that money; this is the exact opposite of that culture; that is, "And they prefer others over themselves." (Quran 59:9); these are the ones who make sacrifices; the culture of sacrifice, the culture of giving, the culture of investing oneself for the fate of society and for the fate of the people. If this culture becomes widespread, this country and any society that possesses this culture will never stop; it will not regress and will progress. Your work keeps this culture alive. Therefore, I thank all the brothers and sisters who are engaged in this good work and hope that you all succeed. The three groups that are present here today - the committee for commemorating the martyrs of artists, the committee for commemorating the martyrs of students, and the committee for commemorating the martyrs of educational teachers - each of these, in its own right, is a valuable, profound, and meaningful work that, God willing, we will see its effects in society. And peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.