Tehran, March 20, IRNA -- The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei in his new year message called on the three branches of government to strive for
national strength by relying on the God Almighty and public trust. Ayatollah Khamenei said
national strength will guarantee the identity and dignity of every country. The Leader
cautioned that plots are under way to undermine the country's national strength, adding
that those nations interested in progress and development should take steps to consolidate
their national strength. National strength is not confined to military power alone but
rather it has wider scope, the Leader said, calling on the three branches of power to
safeguard the country's national strength. Ayatollah Khamenei said the public's high
turnout in the 8th presidential elections slated for June will be the manifestation of
national strength and national determination. The Leader expressed hope that the Iranian
nation, by relying on its national strength, will be able to foster unity and security in
the new Iranian year. The Leader said the new year should be one for addressing the basic
demands of the nation, that is creation of productive jobs. Ayatollah Khamenei said
economic studies show that the starting point for any activity is employment. ``It is
beneath of our country to see a large portion of its population, mostly talented
youth,
being deprived of productive jobs,'' said the Supreme Leader. The Leader said that of
course the quality of employment is important. However, job creation has top
priority.
Ayatollah Khamenei said studies were conducted in the previous Iranian year in connection
with employment and due planning were also made in this respect. All should endeavor in
this regard to ensure proper implementation of relevant programs, added the Leader. The
Supreme Leader said planning for employment is a task which rests upon the executive
branch of government, but the Judiciary and Legislature too should give a hand to the
government in this respect. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader called on officials of
three branches of power, including military commanders to follow the pattern set by Imam
Ali (A.S.), the first Imam of Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) infallible household, in their
deeds and words in the new Iranian year. Ayatollah Khamenei said last year was named after
Imam Ali (A.S.) and many cultural and scientific programs were carried out in his name but
what is important is to act like the Imam and try to move in the same direction as Imam
Ali (A.S.) did. The Leader congratulated the Iranian nation, particularly the bereaved
families of martyrs, the disabled war veterans and those missing-in-action (MiAs), as well
as all other Muslim nations such as the people of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Central
Asia, who observe Noruz rituals, on the occasion. The Supreme Leader expressed hope that
the new year would be full of blessing, prosperity, success and closeness to God, for all
peoples, especially the noble nation of Iran.
:irna 17:09
Tehran, March 18, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei
here on Sunday received relatives of the Founder of the Islamic Revolution, the late Imam
Khomeini. The Imam's wife and his grandson Hojatoleslam Hassan Khomeini were among those
who called on the supreme Leader. Paying tribute to the Father of the Islamic
Republic and his beloved son Hojatoleslam Ahmad Khomeini, Ayatollah Khamenei praised
the great patience and tolerance of the Imam's household.
::irna 14:15
Tehran, March 17, IRNA -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei received the
caretaker of Iranian Hajis Hojatoleslam Mohammad Mohammadi Nik-Reyshahri and members of
the Hajj Pilgrimage Coordination Committee Saturday evening. The leader thanked the
efforts made by the said committee, particularly during the annual rally staged to voice
the world Muslims' denouncement of paganism in Holy Mecca. Ayatollah Khamenei
stressed,
"you must resort to innovative methods aimed at upgrading the level of the cultural
propaganda you offer the Hajis and provide the necessary facilities for them in order to
enable them to perform these most glorious Islamic rituals at more ease and get best
results out of them." Ayatollah Khamenei referred to organizing such mass activities
as reciting Imam Ali's Komeil Supplication and making necessary arrangements to answer the
cultural questions that strike the minds of the pilgrims, particularly through providing
good books for them. "Even in staging the annual demonstrations to denounce the
pagans, you must not forget the innovation and quality factors," said the
leader. The
services offered to the pilgrims should be quite systematic and well organized form the
time they register for this spiritual activity to the day the return to their
homes, said
Ayatollah Khamenei. The Supreme Leader elsewhere in his remarks stressed, "none of
these measures should overshadow the spirituality factor, that is the main essence of the
Hajj pilgrimage." Before the leader's address, Hojatoleslam Reyshahri presented some
statistics about this year's Hajj pilgrimage and particularly referred to the glorious
demonstrations staged in mecca to denounce the pagan's plots against the world Muslims.
Referring to the victory of the Palestinian nation in their Intifada revolution and the
Lebanese in forcing the Zionists to leave their soil, Reyshahri added, "we arranged
for eight gatherings in Mecca and Medina during this year's Hajj rituals, which received
the warm welcome of the Iranian and foreign Hajis." Hojatoleslam Reyshahri also
referred to some of the problems with which some Iranian pilgrims were involved, including
housing and transportation problems and hoped such problems would be eliminated through
wise planning in the future.
A record 1.5 million pilgrims poured into Saudi Arabia this year for the Hajj, in
addition to around 500,000 Muslim pilgrims who make it from inside the Kingdom. Hajj is
one of the five basic pillars of Islamic ritual. Every able-bodied Muslim with the
financial means is required to make the Hajj at least once in his lifetime. 232 sorties of
Iran Air flights transferred 75,033 Iranian pilgrims from various Iranian cities to to
Saudi Arabia this year to pay homage to the holy shrine of Prophet Mohammad and visit
their four infallible Imams' graves at Baqi'a cemetery and to perform the grand Haj
rituals. The total number of the Iranians who had the honor of performing his most
glorious Islamic ritual eventually reached 87,500 pilgrims.
:irna 22:54
Tehran, March 16 - The Islamic Republic of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
led the last weekly Friday Prayers of Tehran in the run-up of the current Iranian calendar
year 1379 (ending on March 21st) named by himself after Imam Ali (AS) at the mausoleum of
the late Founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini. The pious inhabitants of Tehran
had the chance to meet their beloved Leader, pay homage to the late Imam Khomeini, his
passed away son,Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini on the anniversary of his demise (Friday March 16),
and vow new allegiance with the martyrs of the Islamic revolution. Different walks of
Muslim worshippers congregated in the religio-political ritual of the Friday Prayers led
by the Supreme Leader at the shrine of the late Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In his first religious sermon,the Leader gave his special praise to Imam Ali (AS) and
reiterated the first Shiite infallible Leader, Imam Ali(AS) is the role model for the
Islamic State in Iran. Imam Ali(AS) is the manifestation of thedivine justice as well as
personal righteousness and all Iranian and non-Iranian statemen and officials ought to
follow his directives, the Grand Leader stressed. Quoting Imam Ali(AS), the Leader of
Tehran's Friday Prayers said every single official in the Islamic territories must be
righteous and then try to implement the justice and righteousness in the Islamic
society.The Supreme Leader underscored that in Islam the ends never justify means and the
incumbent politicians must not seek illegitimate ways to hold power. Imam Ali(AS) is
resplendent star leading his followers to salvation , righteousness and justice, the
Leader stressed.The Islamic of Republic of Iran is capable to implement justice and all
officials are duty bound to fight with injustice and enforce the Islamic values, the
Leader continued. In his second political sermon, commemorating the demise anniversary of
the late Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini stood out among the issues raised by the Supreme Leader. He
said the late Seyyed Ahmad Khomeiniwas devotee follower of Islam and the Founder of the
Islamic Republic of Iran and that was why the enemies of the Revolution caused him lots of
inconveneinces.
Elsewhere in his second sermon, he warned the enemies were looking for infilterating
among high ranking statemen or in some cases, conspiratorstake side with one of the
political leanings to drive the wedge between them. Fortunately, most of the conspiracies
to divide among Muslims in the country have failed but we must be vigilant and foil the
plots, the Leader added. All political factions and leanings in the Islamic Iran should
abhor any aliensor counter-revolutionies suspicious supports and express their disavowal
ofthe Zionist and western media.IRIB
Tehran, March 16, IRNA -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday called
on officials to watch out for the covert and overt threats posed by the enemies to create
rift among them, stressing that they should stand united against the enemies'
plots.
"... Enemies frequently change their strategies and in the status quo, they are
seeking to create division among officials in different apparatuses of Iran's Islamic
system," Ayatollah Khamenei told thousands of worshipers attending the weekly Friday
congregational prayers at the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam
Khomeini. It was the last Friday prayers of the current Iranian calendar year which
ends on March 20. President Mohammad Khatami, Parliamentary Speaker Mehdi
Karroubi,
Judiciary Head Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and former president Akbar Hashemi
Rafsanjani attended the function. Ayatollah Khamenei urged the officials to make efforts
for establishment of national security in the country. "The enemies create rift among
the officials by praising one and criticizing another affiliated to a camp different from
the former through their wide-ranging media," he said. The supreme leader noted that
the Iranian presidents have thus far looked out for the enemies plots and managed to foil
all. He praised President Khatami, saying, "from the very beginning, the president
(Khatami) thwarted all attempts by Western media which pretended to support him."
Ayatollah Khamenei also warned against adopting any stance that might benefit the
enemies.
Ayatollah Khamenei called on Iran's reformist leaders, without identifying any by
name,
"to break free from the propaganda in their favor." "Even today, foreign
media, which are run directly or indirectly by Zionist circles, give flattering words in
favor of some while they fire shots at others," he said. "The remnants of the
counter-revolution, foreign intelligence services and their agents in the country have
always looked forward to dividing the political and also the religious leaders of the
regime," he said. Ayatollah Khamenei also took the moment in his second sermon to
condole the nation on the sixth anniversary of the passing away of Hojatoleslam Ahmad
Khomeini who was the only surviving son of Imam Khomeini. Hoj. Ahmad Khomeini deceased at
the age of 50 on March 17, 1995 in the wake of a heart failure. "After the demise of
his beloved father, Ahmad continued the path of defending the values and principles of the
Islamic Revolution which was initiated by his father," the leader said. Ahmad
Khomeini was a prominent face in the struggle against the oppressors, and spared no
efforts to safeguard the legacy of his immortal father. Before the 1979-Islamic
Revolution, he suffered exile and hardships along with his father, and after the triumph
of the movement and the founding of the Islamic Republic in Iran, Ahmad Khomeini was
frequently seen flanking his father at his public appearances.
:irna 18:17
Tehran, March 14, IRNA -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will lead the
last weekly Friday Prayers of Tehran at the end of the current Iranian calendar year 1379,
named by himself after Imam Ali (AS) at the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic
Republic Imam Khomeini. Tehran Friday Prayer Headquarters issued a communique on the
occasion in which the pious inhabitants of Tehran are encouraged not to miss the
opportunity. "You will have the chance to meet your beloved leader, pay homage to
Imam Khomeini, his son, Seyed Ahmad Khomeini on the anniversary of his demise (Friday
March 16), and vow new allegiance with the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution," says
the communique.
:irna 17:23
Tehran, March 14, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei
on Wednesday offered felicitations to the Iranian people, the world Muslim community and
all justice loving people on Eid al-Qadir. Al-Qadir is the place where Prophet Mohammad
(PBHU) introduced Imam Ali (AS) as his successor upon his return from Hajj pilgrimage to
Holy Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims throughout the world celebrate anniversary of the
auspicious occasion which falls on March 14 this year. The Supreme Leader said in his
address to thousands of people who had gathered to felicitate the leader on the occasion
that the philosophy of the prophet's decision to introduce Imam Ali (AS) was to pave the
way for continued guidance of human being to build a prosperous and fair human community
in the entire globe. Ayatollah Khamenei said that Prophet Mohammad has been appointed by
the Almighty God to guide the human being toward virtue and clean life and the Prophet
assigned Imam Ali as his successor to indicate permanency of guidance to the human
being.
The leader said that the Imams of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) Infallible Household proceeded
with guidance of human community and that with advent of Imam Mahdi (May God hasten his
reappearance), the human being will enjoy a real life. "The human community needs the
beneficence of guidance Prophet Mohammad (SA) and Imams of his Infallible Household
offered. That's why the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic resurrection have set a unique
pattern to the entire human community," the Supreme leader said. "The Iranian
nation resorted to Islam and leadership of Holy Quran which is in line with bright
direction al-Qadir has set. The Islamic movement in Iran helped flourish Islam's influence
in the entire world, the leader said. The Supreme Leader said that the Islamic Revolution
has followed Prophet Mohammad's guidance so that none of the anti-Iran hostile propaganda
campaign would work and God willing, the Islamic Revolution will be successful to prepare
the ground for Imam Mahdi's reappearance.
:irna 15:24
Tehran, March 11, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
on Sunday received President Mohammad Khatami prior to his three-day visit to
Russia. The
Leader wished Khatami success on the trip.
:irna 19:04
Tehran, March 10, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
here Saturday praised those engaged in operations to search for the dead bodies of the
Missing-in-Action (MiAs) and said the valuable service symbolically meant that
martyrdom,
martyrs and self-sacrifice have not yet gone into oblivion and would be kept in minds
forever. The Leader said the fact that will be kept alive both in history and in future is
the same path traversed by martyrs and passed on to mankind through devotion. Ayatollah
Khamenei said Iran's destiny is linked with this path, revived by father of the Islamic
Revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic, the late Imam Khomeini, and enemies will
not be able to prevent Iranian nation from following the path of martyrs. The Leader
thanked the forces involved in operations to search for the MIAs and lauded the patience
shown by their families. Prior to the Leader's speech, Brigadier General
Baqerzadeh,
Commander of the team in charge of searching for the MiAs, said that in light of the
operations, launched in northwestern, western and southern parts of the country, 47,000
bodies of the MiAs were recovered since start of the operations.
:irna 17:05
Tehran, March 10, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei
on Saturday communicated the country's general policies in the fields of economic
security, energy, water resources, mining, natural resources and transport to the heads of
the three branches of government. The Supreme Leader also called on the heads of three
branches of government to put these general policies into force in state
planning. The
Leader said in the introduction of his directive that the Constitution of the Islamic
Republic has stipulated the goals and demands of the Iranian nation and provided a
framework for legislation and policy making in this respect. The Supreme Leader said that
the major characteristics of the Constitution is its strong compatibility with the
developments and needs of the time, removing the bottlenecks and utilizing expert studies
to offer practical solutions to the problems. The Leader said that in line with Article
110 of the Constitution, he had assigned the Expediency Council to draw up the general and
long term policies of the Islamic Republic and single out the matters to which the
government should give priority and to this end, economic security, energy, water
resources, mining, natural resources and transport have been specified as the
priorities.
"I issue the guidelines and the heads of the three branches of government are
required to focus their planning on these topics," the Supreme Leader said. The
Leader said that the guidelines should go into effect within the framework of the
Constitution and its violation will not be acceptable. Elsewhere in his
directive,
Ayatollah Khamenei outlined in details the general policies for supporting the
manufacturing sector, investment and job creation. The guidelines defines economic
security as supporting public welfare, helping economic growth, preparing the ground for
economic justice and eliminating poverty. The Leader further said that the government and
the parliament are required to enact necessary legislations in this respect. The package
also calls for modification in the taxation system. The guidelines said that the
legislations supporting the goals mentioned above should be transparent and compatible
with the respective laws. The guidelines require the Judiciary to make specialized
investigations into economic offenses. According to the guidelines, the public
sector, the
cooperatives and the private sector should be provided with equal opportunities in
business activities. The guidelines calls for exploration of oil and gas resources and
optimal utilization of oil resources. The package urges export of oil derivatives instead
of crude oil and provision of high-tech for gas, oil and petrochemical
industries. It
authorizes attraction of domestic and foreign investment in the oil and gas sector (in
line with relevant laws). As for the mining sector, the guidelines calls for increasing
the share of mineral industry in gross national product (GNP) and providing the hardware
required for the mining industry from domestic industries. It also seeks development of
scientific cooperation with international firms active in the field of mining
industries.
The package calls for development and conservation of water, soil and
environment,
development of genetic and ecological know-how and setting up necessary data bases to
attract public participation. The guidelines recommended the development of transportation
facilities to help the country play a satisfactory role in the international
transportation, taking into account all safety, security and economic parameters.
:irna 19:34
Mecca, March 4, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Sunday
said that the Hajj makes every Muslim recognize that the prestige, all-round success and
welfare of Islamic countries can be attained only under the light of the two principles of
`tawhid' and `wahdah'. "Tawhid means negation of the lordship of tyrants and despots
and rejection of the supremacy of wealth and might. The wahdah is expressive of the honor
and power of Muslims," said the Leader in a message to the annual Hajj congregation
here Sunday. The Leader said that the great Hajj congregation this year may receive scores
of reports from dozens of Islamic countries that each creates responsibility for Muslims
and together set in perspective the realities faced by the great Islamic ummah. Stressing
that the Islamic world is passing through a critical phase in its history, the message
underlined the great responsibility that Muslim governments and nations undertake in this
connection. "Admission of this responsibility and commitment to it can close a sorry
chapter of weakness and misfortune in the history of Islam and inaugurate another chapter
of the prestige and greatness of the Islamic world and its material and intellectual
glory," read the message in part. Elsewhere in his message, the Leader said the
Western world which has been an aggravating agent of the weakness and backwardness of the
Islamic countries, is itself entrenched in great and insoluble problems. However, the
message further continued, a gentle breeze of awakening caresses the bruised and vexed
face of the Islamic world, adding that the signs of this awakening are visible in its
different parts, especially in the heroic Iran and in Lebanon and Palestine as well.
Stressing that the spell of indignity and domination of the West has been broken, the
message said however the road ahead is still a long and arduous one but is one which is
without any uncertainty. "At the present moment the people of Palestine have taken up
a great share in opening this road and in advancing on it. We should all assist that brave
and oppressed nation. Other nations and governments can fulfill their role in advancing on
this road by helping the heroic people of Palestine." The message noted that
thousands of propaganda means are active to make Muslims lose hope in their future and to
allure them towards a future that suits the enemy's evil intentions. "This cultural
propaganda and psychological warfare have been the West's most effective tool in its bid
to dominate Islamic countries," read the message, adding that struggle against this
ploy is not possible except by rejection of the West's domineering and self-imposing
culture. Western culture needs to be fractionalized and separated by the intelligentsia
and the elite so that its useful elements may be absorbed and its harmful, destructive and
corrupting elements need to be wiped out from the minds and practice of Islamic
societies,
it said. Reminding the religious scholars, the intelligentsia and the political elite
throughout the Islamic world of the all-round and promising struggle that lies in front of
them, the message expressed the hope that the Hajj this year will make everyone more
resolute in advancing on this worthy and blessed path.
:irna 14:04
Mecca, March 4, IRNA -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sent a
message to the annual Hajj congregation here Sunday. The following is the full text of the
message:
In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful
All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. May blessings and peace be upon
our Master, Muhammad, and the pure ones of his progeny.
Allah, the All-wise, says in the Qur'an: This ummah (community) of yours is a single
ummah, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.
Once again the Hajj season is back with its great pageant held yearly in the land of
revelation and prophethood, once more with its wonderful and inspiring scenes. Like an
ocean it receives the torrential streams of Muslim nations from all over the
world, giving
a concrete expression to the solidarity and amity of the one ummah under the banner of
tawhid. The common sentiments of this huge congregation express the hopes, needs, problems
and capacities of the great Islamic ummah.
The Hajj grounds are now playing host to visitors from Iran, Iraq, Palestine,
Lebanon,
the Indian subcontinent, North Africa, Turkey, Bosnia, and from all over Asia and Europe.
Their eager hearts may be spokesmen of the heart of the Islamic ummah. Of the purposes of
Hajj is to bring about this nearness and exchange within the worldwide Muslim
community.
The bond that connects all these hearts is the message that was first proclaimed in
this land. It then spread throughout the world and history. It is the message of tawhid
and wahdah, the unity of God (tawhid) and the unity of the Muslim ummah (wahdah). Tawhid
means negation of the lordship of tyrants and despots and rejection of the supremacy of
wealth and might. The wahdah is expressive of the honour and power of Muslims. More than
anything that may be said or written, the hajj rehearses this eternal message every year
in the form of its great congregation and sends it out to Muslims all over the
world. Once
again in the Hajj season it makes every Muslim, whatever part of the world he may
inhabit,
recognize the fact that the prestige, all-round success and welfare of Islamic countries
can be attained only under the light of these two principles: tawhid in all its
individual, social and political aspects, and wahdah in its correct, feasible sense in the
contemporary world.
In the great Hajj congregation of this year one may receive scores of sweet and bitter
reports from dozens of Islamic countries. Each of these messages creates responsibility
for other brothers, and together they set in perspective before us the realities faced by
the great Islamic ummah.
There is the message of the people of Iraq, who face adversity, poverty and humiliating
conditions due to the wrongdoings of foreign intervention and the disruption caused by it,
as well due to the dictatorship and unwisdom of its rulers. There is the message of the
people of Afghanistan, the fruits of whose past struggles have been cast to the winds by
prejudice and shortsightedness, making this nation a victim of a mindless belligerent
group. There is the message of the people of Bosnia whose Islamic identity is threatened
by the policies of de-Islamization pursued by the Americans and their allies, subjecting
their national sovereignty to gradual destruction. There is the call of the people of
Palestine who have firmly held up the proud banner of the Intifada and blunted the sword
or Zionist oppression and cruelty with the blood of their youth. There is the message of
the glorious resistance of the people of Lebanon, who have turned to a jest the myth of
the invincibility of the usurpers of Palestine, making them swallow humiliation and
ignominious defeats. There are the messages from the nations of Central Asia, East Asia,
Africa, the Muslim minorities in Europe and the United States, each of which bring reports
of their joys and sufferings, success and hardship. Ultimately there is the message of the
proud people of Iran, who with all their endurance, resourceful faith, and daily
accumulating experience in confronting hostilities and plots, convey to their admirers and
enthusiasts their unshakable determination to establish an ideal Islamic society.
The Islamic Ummah is presently experiencing these victories and reversals.
The Muslim governments and nations have a great responsibility in relation to these
facts. The Islamic world is passing through a critical phase in its history. Admission of
this responsibility and commitment to it can close a sorry chapter of weakness and
misfortune in the history of Islam and inaugurate another chapter of the prestige and
greatness of the Islamic world and its material and intellectual glory.
The Western world, which has been an aggravating agent of the weakness and backwardness
of the Islamic countries, is itself entrenched in great and insoluble problems. The
corrosive influences of materialism and capitalism on the foundations of that
materialistic civilization have become gradually evident. Step by step they expose the
chronic maladies that have remained hidden under the glitter of industry and capital,
giving warnings of an imminent crisis.
A gentle breeze of awakening caresses the bruised and vexed face of the Islamic world.
The signs of this awakening are visible in its different parts, especially in the heroic
Iran and in Lebanon and Palestine as well. The glow of hope illuminates the hearts of the
youth everywhere. The spell of indignity and the domination of the West has been broken.
This opportunity has not been obtained easy and cheap. Thousands of precious lives have
been sacrificed for its sake. The road ahead is still a long and arduous one, but is one
which is without any uncertainty.
At the present moment the people of Palestine have taken up a great share in opening
this road and in advancing on it. We should all assist that brave and oppressed nation.
Other nations and governments can fulfill their role in advancing on this road by helping
the heroic people of Palestine.
The biggest weapon against this rising tide of awakening in the hands of the arrogant
enemy, whose illegitimate interests are threatened by the awakening of the Islamic ummah,
is that of psychological warfare. It consists of creation of despair and hopelessness
among Muslims, affronts to Muslim identity, flaunting of its material power and
capacities. Thousands of propaganda means are active today, and so will be tomorrow, to
make Muslims lose hope in their future and to allure them towards a future that suits the
enemy's evil intentions. This cultural propaganda and psychological warfare have been the
West's most effective tool in its bid to dominate Islamic countries. The targets of this
barrage have been the intelligentsia and educated elite in the first place, and then the
mass of the people. Struggle against this ploy is not possible except by rejection of the
West's domineering and self-imposing culture. Western culture needs to be fractionalized
and separated by the intelligentsia and the elite. Its useful elements may be absorbed and
its harmful, destructive and corrupting elements need to be wiped out from the mind and
practice of Islamic societies. The criterion of judgment in this prodigious process of
purification is the Islamic culture and the fruitful, guiding and resourceful ideas of the
Qur'an and the Sunnah. This is a basic part of the all-round and promising struggle that
lies in front of the scholars of religion, the intelligentsia and the political elite
throughout the Islamic world.
With the hope that the hajj this year will make everyone more resolute in advancing on
this worthy and blessed path, I plead to Allah, the Most Exalted, to bless all the
pilgrims with the performance of a hajj worthy of His acceptance, and to enable them to
profit from the blessings and barakaat of this matchless observance. I invoke blessings on
the Baqiyyatullah, (the Imam al-Mahdi), blessings as vast as Divine mercy and beneficence,
may Allah appoint an early breakthrough for him and may our souls be ransomed for him
whose auspicious presence is expected in this yearly ceremony, and I pray to Allah to
grant the supplications and prayers of all the pilgrims.
Was-Salamu alayhi wa alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
Ali al-Husayni al-Khamene'i
6 Dhul Hijjah, 1421, 12 Isfand, 1379 (3 March, 2001)
