Statements in Meeting with Non-Iranian Students of Qom Seminary

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 and chosen progeny, the infallible guides, especially the Awaited One of God among the inhabitants of the earth.

Peace be upon you, O Fatimah, daughter of Musa ibn Ja'far, O infallible one. May God's peace be upon you and your pure and infallible ancestors.

I am very pleased to have the opportunity today to spend these valuable moments with you, dear non-Iranian students and scholars, alongside the teachers, professors, and administrators of this institution. Non-Iranian students and scholars should know that they are not strangers in the Islamic Iran. You are not even guests; you are the hosts. You are my dear children. We honor these passionate butterflies who have traveled to this land out of a desire to acquire the teachings of pure Islam. We consider it our duty to provide you, dear ones, with what we have in terms of the teachings of pure Islam and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).

The first lesson that the Islamic Revolution and the blessed Islamic Republic taught us was to broaden our perspective beyond the confines of the Iranian nation to the vast arena of the Islamic Ummah. Our esteemed Imam taught us that our gaze should be directed towards the great realm of the Ummah. It is true that Iran was suffering under the oppression of tyranny and colonialism during the era of the Shah and needed to be rescued, but the fundamental pressure and the historical aggression were directed at the Islamic Ummah. The great Islamic Ummah, which is situated in one of the most sensitive geographical points of the world, has suffered from the interventions of great powers, the greed of powerful states, and the aggression of global arrogance over several centuries, leading to weakness, defeat, backwardness, colonialism, and poverty—both material and scientific. The Islamic Revolution had its eyes set on the Islamic world; its aim was to remove the oppressive and aggressive hands of global arrogance from the heads of the Islamic Ummah and from their lives. Therefore, when the Revolution triumphed in Iran, the Muslim nations in the East and West felt a fresh breeze in their lives; they sensed a change in the atmosphere; they felt a breakthrough in their affairs. Thus, in Africa, in Asia, and in all regions where Muslims lived, they felt that with the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the establishment of the Islamic system, a new path had opened before them. We learned this from the Imam, and this has been the clear line of the Islamic Republic system from the beginning until today.

Part of the great work is the very work you are doing. You have gathered here from nearly a hundred countries to become acquainted with the salvific teachings of pure Islam. The goal is not to export the Revolution in the conventional sense of political terminology to this country or that country; the Revolution is not something that can be exported with political tools or advanced with military and security means; that is incorrect; we have closed that path from the beginning.

The issue of the Islamic Republic is the issue of reproducing the lofty Islamic teachings so that Muslims feel their identity, feel their Islamic personality, and become familiar with the teachings of Islam that are salvific for humanity; they should understand what it means when God Almighty says: "We sent the Prophet to remove their burdens and the shackles that were upon them"; (1) what are these shackles and chains that are tied to humans in a polytheistic environment, and Islam wants to remove them? The Islamic Ummah had long forgotten these truths due to negligence. The Islamic Ummah can be free, advanced, knowledgeable, honored, and powerful; these are attainable through the blessings of Islamic teachings. Global arrogance and colonial systems have tried for two hundred years to erase these concepts from the memories of Muslims; they sought to make them forget their identity so that they could extend their hands of aggression into their political environment, their economic environment, and their indigenous culture. The Revolution reminded the Islamic Ummah of these truths.

Today, you have this great opportunity in the Islamic Republic, in the scientific capital of Qom, in the blessed community of "Al-Mustafa" to become acquainted with these teachings; "So that they may gain understanding in religion and warn their people when they return to them"; (2) you yourselves can become a source of light that illuminates the space. Today, the Islamic world needs this.

Of course, you live here in a state of estrangement. Although this is your home, you are far from your own people, your relatives, and your families. You face hardships, you have problems; you and your spouses, your families have difficulties; but stand firm. God Almighty laid down several fundamental lines before the Prophet at the beginning of his mission so that, with attention to these lines and important orientations, the noble Prophet could bear this unparalleled heavy burden. One of these lines was patience; "And be patient for your Lord". "In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. O you who are wrapped up, arise and warn. And magnify your Lord. And purify your garments. And shun uncleanliness. And do not confer favor to acquire more. And for your Lord, be patient". (3) God Almighty placed the line of patience before the Prophet. One must be patient. Patience means steadfastness, not becoming weary, not being overcome by difficulties. Various problems lie ahead of all of us; we must not be defeated. This lesson was also taught to us by our esteemed Imam through his actions; he was patient. On the day when the Imam's cry rose in this city of Qom, apart from a group of students around him, no one was his supporter; he was alone. The Imam was a stranger in his own homeland, in his own city; but he stood firm. Various pressures—both material and spiritual—were imposed upon that great man, yet he stood firm—"The believer is like a solid mountain; the storms do not shake him"—none of these tempests could shake that iron will, that resolute determination; he stood firm. When a spring bubbles at the summit, the slopes are also watered. His patience overflowed, and others learned to be patient; thus, others also endured. The great nation of Iran was able to overcome all these conspiracies with this patience.

You know how many conspiracies, how many hidden poisoned daggers have been wielded against this nation, against this system since the victory of the Islamic Republic of Iran until today? One example of a conspiracy against us was an eight-year war. They imposed a war on us for eight years. One example of a conspiracy against the Islamic Republic is the thirty-year-long sanctions. Today, they raise a clamor and uproar about the sanctions. The sanctions are not new; the Islamic Republic has been under economic sanctions for thirty years. The patience of this nation, the steadfastness of this nation, has triumphed over all these wickedness, enmities, and sabotage. Today, thanks to God, with God's permission, the Islamic Republic stands at the peak of its political and security power.

Do not forget patience, steadfastness, and endurance; this is a crucial element in the life program of every person who has a lofty goal. You are the treasures of Islam; you are a tremendous asset for Islam. Learn well here; breathe well in the atmosphere of the Revolution and the Islamic Republic, and God willing, return to your people at the right time, and with the tools of knowledge, with the weapons of forbearance, ethics, humility, and love for the people, convey these truths.

The goal of your presence here is not political; it is scientific, it is educational; very clear and evident. Knowledge is sought everywhere. Good words and clear understanding are sought everywhere. Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (peace be upon him) said to one of his companions: "May God have mercy on the servant who revives our matter"; may God's mercy be upon the one who revives our matter, our subject of concern. This narrator says: "I asked him how can your matter be revived"; how can your matter, your subject of concern be revived? "He said: By learning our sciences and teaching them to the people"; they should learn our sciences, the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt, and convey them to the people, to the eager hearts, to the searching minds. "For if people knew the beauties of our words, they would follow us". (4)

To spread the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt, there is no need for you to knock on this door or that door; there is no need to act unethically or to attack this or that; it is sufficient to learn the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt correctly and convey them to others. These monotheistic teachings, these teachings of human understanding, these comprehensive teachings regarding human life issues are inherently attractive; they draw hearts and lead them to follow the path of the Imams. This is a great opportunity for you. You have gathered here from various nationalities, from different countries. Each of you has the opportunity to become acquainted with your Muslim brothers and their indigenous cultures in this environment.

You can establish connections here from Europe to East Asia. You can connect from Africa to the Middle Eastern countries. A selection of nations has gathered here. Get to know each other, recognize one another. Learn from each other's cultures, aspirations, and the lofty goals that can be found among the brothers of various nations; this will give Muslims a sense of unity. This is a very great opportunity for you; such an opportunity does not arise elsewhere. An international scientific nucleus of Islam has formed here. By sitting together, breathing in a common atmosphere, and becoming acquainted with one another, you are forming an initial nucleus of the international scientific community of Islam here; make the most of this opportunity.

You are young. The greatest asset of youth is their pure and radiant heart. My dear ones! Utilize this radiant heart. Strengthen your relationship with God Almighty. If a young person who is ready can connect their heart with God Almighty through humility, remembrance, supplication, and intercession, they will become a manifestation of "Light upon Light"; the light of divine knowledge will shine upon your hearts. Staying away from sin, becoming familiar with God, valuing prayer, are among the important tasks.

One of God's greatest blessings is prayer. Prayer gives us the opportunity to speak with our God several times a day, to communicate with God Almighty, to seek His help, to express our needs to Him, and to strengthen our submission to the divine presence through this supplication and need. The great ones placed great importance on prayer. Prayer is available to everyone. We often do not appreciate the value and importance of prayer. It is not merely a duty to be discharged; no, it is a great opportunity that must be utilized. It has been said that prayer is like a spring of water at the door of your house, from which you wash yourself five times a day. This washing can have lasting effects on the hearts of the youth. It is through purity and piety that one can receive impactful and effective words from God Almighty.

One reason why our esteemed Imam's words had a remarkable effect in this vast public space of the country, in times of hardship and in all situations, was his spirituality, his inner purity, his connection and attachment to God, and his tears in the middle of the night. The Imam's son—late Hajj Sayyid Ahmad—once told me during the Imam's lifetime: "When the Imam rises at midnight, he cries so much that ordinary handkerchiefs are not enough to wipe his tears; he has to use a towel to wipe his eyes; he cries that much." That iron man, who faced events and blows that could shake a nation but did not shake him, that man who regarded the grandeur and majesty of global powers as nothing and void, that man, in the face of divine greatness, while praying and supplicating, shed tears like that. These moments are very precious. Value these opportunities.

Once again, I express my happiness at having met with you dear ones today. I must sincerely thank Mr. A'arafi and the officials of "Jamia al-Mustafa" and all those who have played a role in this great movement. God willing, may God bestow His grace and favor upon all of them, upon all of you, and upon all those who have contributed in this path.

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