The following is the full text of the speech delivered on November 23, 2017 by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting with the participants of International Conference on Ahlul Bayt and Countering Takfiris.
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and greetings be upon our Master and Prophet, Ab-al-Qassem Al-Mustafa Muhammad, upon his pure and immaculate household, upon his chosen companions and upon those who follow them until the Day of Judgment.
Dear brothers, dear sisters, you are very welcome. I welcome all you from the bottom of my heart. You are here at your own home and among your own brothers. We look at our Muslim brothers throughout the world like this. We are brothers. We consider you as brothers and by Allah's favor and grace, we have shown in practice our brotherly feelings.
The topic of this conference, which is loving the Ahlul Bayt (greetings be upon them), is a very important topic. Loving Ahlul Bayt is not particular to a specific group of people in Islam. All Muslims love the Holy Prophet's household. All Muslims admire the Holy Prophet's household. There were only a limited and small group – called nawasib – in history and whose primary motive was most probably political. They did not have a religious motive in the true sense of the word. However, the majority of Muslims are considered as lovers of Ahlul Bayt from the beginning until today.
Well, this very sentence is a lesson for us. That lesson is the fact that through love for Ahlul Bayt, we can bring about unanimity among Muslims. This love can become a pivot for the unity and solidarity of Muslims. As the holy existence of the Prophet of Islam, the Holy Quran and Holy Ka'bah are pivots for the unity of Muslims, love for Ahlul Bayt can become a pivot for the unity of Muslims as well and it can help hearts get close to one another.
And I will tell you dear brothers that today, the world of Islam is in great need of this unity and solidarity. Today, the body of the world of Islam is wounded. Today, the enemies of Islam have managed to weaken Muslims by creating war and discord among Muslims. They have managed to busy them with themselves and keep their enemies safe. In West Asia, the usurping Zionist regime has security, but Muslims are attacking each other. This is a truth and reality that exists today.
And this is the work of the enemies of Islam. This is the work of the US, international Zionism and their followers and cohorts in the region. With complete regret, we should accept that inside the Islamic Ummah and inside Islamic governments, there are some people who do exactly what the US and Zionism want. They provide the financial resources, they prepare the ground and they have turned into their instrument. For what? For wounding the body of the Islamic Ummah. In such circumstances, the unity of the Islamic Ummah is the most important obligation. We should gather together.
Love of Ahlul Bayt has a Quranic root. It has a root in hadith. This is not a new idea. A hadith which is accepted by all Islamic denominations is the Hadith al-Thaqalayn. This hadith says, "I leave among you two valuable things: one of them is the Book of Allah and the other is my household. These shall not separate from each other till they meet me together at the Kawthar [reservoir] in heaven.
Although what this hadith teaches us is following Ahlul Bayt, following someone without loving them is meaningless. So, loving Ahlul Bayt can also be understood from this hadith. The Holy Quran says, "Allah only wishes to remove all abomination from you, you members of the House, and to make you pure and spotless" [The Holy Quran, 33: 33]. The purity that exists in Ahlul Bayt because of the Will of Allah the Exalted is the requirement for Muslims' love and admiration for Ahlul Bayt. So, this is a tool for the unity of Muslims.
It is in the best interests of the enemies of Islam to drag war into the world of Islam and they have unfortunately done so. We have stood firm against this enemy plot and we will continue to do so. And I will tell you that we believe that by Allah's favor, grace, will and permission, we will achieve victory over our enemies in this battle.
Today, the issue of Palestine is the first issue of the world of Islam. Anyone who has a correct understanding of the issue of Palestine acknowledges that the issue of Palestine is the first issue of the world of Islam. The key to defeating the enemies of Islam is the issue of Palestine. The most important issue of the world of Islam in the present time is the issue of Palestine. Why is that? This is because Palestine is an Islamic country. They have come and occupied this country. They have taken it away from its people. The issue is not about usurping a village or city. The enemy has usurped a country and it has used it as a base for jeopardizing the security of regional countries. One should fight against a cancerous tumor.
Notice that if a person issues a fatwa as a religious mufti saying that fighting against Zionism is haram, that helping such and such a group which is fighting against Zionism is not allowed, this is really a disaster to witness that some people in the world of Islam are acting against the interests of Islam and have friendly relations with the enemies. This is the exact opposite of the Quran's clear words: "Those who are with him are strong against unbelievers, but compassionate among each other" [The Holy Quran, 48: 29]. However, those people are strong against Muslims, but compassionate among unbelievers. They are on good terms with them, but notice what they are doing to Muslims. For example, they create discord and they plant the vicious tree of DAESH and the likes of DAESH in Iraq, Syria and other areas.
Of course, this tree was uprooted in Iraq and Syria, but one cannot be sure. They might plant it somewhere else. The US will not stop showing enmity towards Islam. We should be awake. We should be vigilant. We should preserve our preparedness. We should not be taken by surprise. The Commander of the Faithful (greetings be upon him) says in Nahjul Balaghah, "By Allah, I shall not be like the hyena, that feigns sleep on the continuous sound of stone-throwing" [Sermon 6]. We should be like this. We cannot fall asleep. We cannot show negligence. We cannot ignore the enemy's deceptions. We should be awake.
There are certain requirements for this awakening one of which is the feeling of brotherhood and kindness towards each other. This kindness requires that we confront and fight against those elements which are either explicitly showing enmity in the world of Islam or helping the enemies. You should be the deliverers of the message that one should have this spirit. You should preserve Muslims' preparedness for this confrontation and battle. Confrontation does not always mean a military war. You should familiarize the minds of your audience – the people who listen to you – with the realities that exist in the world of Islam today.
We will definitely not forsake this responsibility. We will not abandon this responsibility and we are confident that Allah the Exalted will help us accomplish this task. A Quranic ayah says, "Oh you who believe, take not my enemies and yours as friends, offering them your love" [The Holy Quran, 60: 1]. However, contrary to this ayah, some people make friends with the enemies of Muslims, Islam and God and they offer them their love. They are the true enemies of Islam inside the Islamic community.
Thankfully, the world of Islam has awakened today. We Muslims are a great reality in Islamic countries. We are a reality that has been imposed on arrogance and on kufr. Today, the world of Islam can stand up against kufr and arrogance and assert its ideas. Thankfully, in Iran's geography, there is a government in the name of Islam and it feels proud of being an Islamic government.
Of course, we have not attained all our dreams in establishing the authority of Islam. We are in the middle of the way, but our goal is to achieve all Islamic goals and the complete authority of Islamic sharia. This is our goal and by Allah's favor and grace, we will follow this goal. This, in itself, is a tool to achieve victory over the enemies of Islam. Today, this reality exists here.
Dear brothers, dear sisters, today 40 years have passed from the formation of the Islamic Republic. From the first day until today, the US has shown enmity towards us. The front of kufr, arrogance and Zionism have shown enmity towards us. They have hatched plots and they have used everything at their disposal: they have imposed sanctions, they have launched military attacks and they have done various other things. Despite all these, we have constantly made progress during the past 40 years. Today, by Allah's favor, the achievements of the Islamic Republic are not comparable to 30, 35 years ago. They have always wanted to destroy us. Despite this, Allah the Exalted has strengthened us. He has given us power. He has made us stronger than what we desired. Today, the Islamic Republic is thankfully at the heights of power and strength.
We say what we want to say in an outspoken manner and we stick to it. And when it comes to confronting kufr and arrogance, we offer our presence and assistance to every place that needs it. We say this frankly and without any considerations when it comes to confronting and fighting against the world of kufr and arrogance. We show no considerations for anyone and we speak our mind in an outspoken manner. Today, there is such a reality in the world of Islam.
We hope that by Allah's favor, a day will come when Palestine will be given back to the people of Palestine, when they become the owners of their own land and when Palestinian refugees return to Palestine. That day will be the Eid of the world of Islam. On that day, a real and deadly blow will be delivered to the spine of arrogance and we will work and endeavor for it. By Allah's favor, that day will come.
Once more, I would like to welcome all you dear brothers and sisters. I entrust all you to God and I hope that your conference will be a blessed conference, God willing.
Greetings be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings
