Statements at the Meeting with Top Reciters and Memorizers Participating in the International Quran Competitions

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master and prophet, Abu al-Qasim al-Mustafa Muhammad, and upon his pure, virtuous, and infallible family, especially the Awaited One among the inhabitants of the earth.

Today’s session was a very sweet and desirable one. We benefited from the recitations and artistic performances of our dear men and youth; and we extend our welcome to the guests who have come from other countries, whether they are Quranic scholars present or competitors who are honored to be here.

One of the great merits of these Quranic competition sessions is the camaraderie among Muslim brothers from different countries. The various policies of global arrogance strive hard to separate us and alienate Muslim nations from one another, even to set them against each other; Muslim nations must act in exactly the opposite manner; they should strive as much as possible, through every means available, to increase their camaraderie with one another. One way to achieve this is by holding such sessions. The Quran is the focal point, the Quran is common, it is a great divine blessing for all Muslims; from this divine table of spiritual nourishment, everyone should partake together, and these Quranic sessions, these Quranic competitions, provide the opportunity for all to do so.

Another blessing of these sessions is that our youth, people from various backgrounds, and different classes become acquainted with the Quran. This is a reality: we are distant from the Quran; the Islamic community is distant from the Quran; our lives, the realities of our lives are very far from the truths of the Quran! We must bring ourselves closer; and the happiness of the Islamic community is dependent on this, that it brings itself closer to the Quran and the concepts of the Quran and the teachings of the Quran. One way to achieve this is for the Quran to be a source of familiarity for the youth and people, both men and women. This is also one of the blessings of these competitions. I thank those who initiated these competitions, managed them, endured the hardships, and organized them.

Be aware! Today in the world, vast sums of money are spent to strike at Islam and Muslims, and great efforts are made. The tyrannical powers of the world are afraid of Islam, they are afraid of the community of one and a half billion Muslims, therefore they make every effort - through various means - to strip power from the Muslim community; they know that Islam is opposed to their interests. If the voice of Islam is raised, they can no longer oppress nations in this manner; they silence the voice of Islam so that they can erase the issues of the oppressed in the world from memory, so that they can consign the Palestinian issue to oblivion, so that they can forget the usurpation of an Islamic country; these are their goals. If we cling to the Quran and the guidance of the Quran, we will be able to overcome these conspiracies; if we continue this struggle, victory will surely belong to us. We must cling to the Quran; the Islamic world needs to cling to the rope of God, to strengthen itself, to guarantee its steadfastness; today this is the need of the Islamic world.

We must not be weak; we must be strong. Strength is not just in weapons, strength is not just in money; the main basis of strength is faith in God and perseverance. The Almighty God says: "So whoever disbelieves in Taghut (the tyrant) and believes in God has certainly grasped the firmest handhold, which will never break;" If there is faith in God and if there is disbelief in Taghut, this clinging to the firm handhold is what brings power, it is the source of authority. In the Islamic world, we must promote this; we must desire this. Unfortunately, in the Islamic world, there are those who, instead of clinging to the Quran, cling to Taghut; those who implement the policies of America in this region and act according to the desires and policies of America - which is the greatest Taghut, the Great Satan of America - are clinging to Taghut, they do not have disbelief in Taghut. The first condition: "So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in God;" disbelief in Taghut must be present.

The fact that the Iranian nation stands against the greed and arrogance of America is the main point of the Iranian nation's power. Today we are a powerful nation. The issue of Islam in Iran is different from that of any particular religious or political figure; we are a government; a government that has resources, an eighty-million-strong nation, weapons, an economy, politics, and science; today this is the Islamic Republic. The enemy fears a powerful Islam, the enemy fears a courageous Islam; they fear the Islamic Republic for this reason and attack us for this reason; their attack on us is out of fear, because they are afraid and know that the positions of the Islamic Republic in the world are influential; because we speak sincerely to Muslim nations, we act sincerely, we do what we say and pursue it, the promises of the tyrants have not been able to deceive the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation, neither have their promises deceived us, nor have their threats frightened us; we are not afraid of their threats, nor are we deceived by their promises. This is necessary, this must be pursued; this is what the Islamic community needs: disbelief in Taghut and faith in God; if this is achieved, "then he has certainly grasped the firmest handhold."

Unfortunately, some Islamic governments betray their own nations; some Islamic governments betray the Islamic community, creating the ground for America's infiltration; they cooperate with the greatest Taghut, which is the regime of the United States of America, implementing its policies. This is the plight of Muslims today, the plight of our region today; this is a great sin that they are committing.

What is the duty of all the Islamic community and all the Islamic nation? It is to struggle for enlightenment; this is the first priority. Scholars are responsible, intellectuals are responsible, educated individuals are responsible, and all those who have a platform or a pulpit are responsible to enlighten and express the truths of the Islamic world to those who do not know; this enlightenment is jihad. Jihad is not just taking up a sword and fighting in the battlefield; jihad includes intellectual jihad, practical jihad, explanatory and propagandistic jihad, and financial jihad. Today, because we have not properly fulfilled this obligation - the obligation of explanation - some people have fallen into misguidance and, thinking they are working for Islam, are working against Islam; these terrorist groups in our region have deprived Muslim nations of security, have taken away comfort from Muslim nations; instead of fighting the enemy, they are fighting Muslims. These Takfiri groups, groups close to the Wahhabis, are those who have taken on the enemy's burdens, they are doing what the enemy wants done; they have created discord among Muslims. When Muslims are preoccupied with fighting each other, the Palestinian issue is forgotten; just as they are consigning the Palestinian issue to oblivion. We must explain, we must enlighten, we must work; utilize these Quranic gatherings, utilize these Quranic assemblies. You who have come from different countries, guide your nations, make them aware; lead them to the teachings of the Quran, to Quranic jihad, to the explanation that the Quran has called for; "You must certainly clarify it for the people and not conceal it;" clarify these for them, make it clear.

God willing, the Almighty God will prepare the ground for the movement of the Islamic community. If we strive, if we move, if we purify our intentions, the Almighty God will assist us; if we are lazy, if we do not perform what is upon us, it is natural that we should not expect divine assistance. The Almighty God helps those who work and strive; the Almighty God helps nations that move and individuals who strive; let us strive, let us move, and the Almighty God will assist us.

And there is no doubt that victory belongs to Islam; this front of disbelief, with all its vastness, with all its glitter, with all its artillery, will ultimately be forced to retreat in the face of the Islamic community and the fighting and struggling Islamic front. "And if those who disbelieved were to fight you, they would certainly turn their backs and not find a protector or a helper;" this is the divine tradition and there is no doubt about it. The only condition is that we strive, we move, we get started, we work; if we work, it is the divine tradition that the enemy must retreat, and they will retreat.

We hope, God willing, that the Almighty God will keep all of us and you alive with the Quran, cause us to die with the Quran, and resurrect us on the Day of Judgment with the Quran.

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