The Office of the Supreme Leader

Islamic-Iranian Model of Progress called for

Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei hosted a four hour conference Wednesday night on the status and nature of strategic thoughts in the Islamic Republic of Iran where scores of thinkers and professors from the universities and the Howza (school of religious sciences) exchanged views on the fundamentals of an Islamic-Iranian model of progress.

Ayatollah Khamenei in a speech to the meeting urged for applying all existing capacities in the country in developing the model.

Ayatollah Khamenei said such a model would deal with the four realms of intellect, science, lifestyle and spirituality and shall serve as an upper hand document for any future visions or planning.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the planners need to avoid haste as the Islamic-Iranian model could only be developed in a long term or more optimistically in a mid term process. The IR Leader noted however that the process shall run on a rational speed.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the Islamic-Iranian model of progress shall set the objectives while its strategies shall be subject to modifications in the course of time, pointing to an element of flexibility within the texture of the prospective model of progress.

Ayatollah Khamenei then expounded on the four aspects of the term "Islamic Iranian model of progress," saying that the model was meant to be a master, comprehensive plan. "In absence of a master plan, we might suffer the failure of adopting contradictory measures as we have done on certain economic or cultural issues in the past thirty years," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

The notion of Islamic, Ayatollah Khamenei said, requires the model to pursue Islamic teachings when it comes to set aspirations, values or methods. "Our society and government are Islamic. We are proud that we could draw up our own model of progress based on Islamic resources," the IR Leader said.

As regards the notion of Iranian, Ayatollah Khamenei said the model shall consider historical, geographical, cultural, economic and social conditions of Iran. "The term also points to the origin of the model. It is actually an effort by the thinkers of the land of Iran to draw up the future of the country," he said.

As for the notion of progress, Ayatollah Khamenei said "progress" has been used intentionally instead of the notion of "development" which pragmatically connotes those values and requirements which are common in the west and which contravene the ideas and beliefs of Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the Islamic-Iranian model of progress shall designate a favorable situation to be achieved as well as how to reach it, adding that the notions of Islamic or Iranian do not necessarily mean to provide an imperative to overlook the experiences of others rather Iran welcomes to any knowledge outside albeit with open eyes and eclectic mood.

Ayatollah Khamenei urged the audience to take and answer any questions or enquiries concerning the model, adding that the current time was a favorable juncture for the development of the model in light of a thirty year old experience of Islamic government in Iran as well as ampleness of talents and thoughts in the society.

Touching on the four realms with which the model shall deal, Ayatollah Khamenei said the model of progress shall drive the society towards intellectuality and help it beam with thoughts and intellect.

Concerning the realm of science, the IR Leader urged for steadfast continuation of the ongoing innovative drive in the country for the purpose of scientific independence, adding that the model of progress shall help set the tracks and milestones of a comprehensive and profound progress in the realm of science.

The IR Leader said the Islamic-Iranian model of progress shall also help tackle major issues of societal life including security, justice, welfare, freedom, government, independence and national dignity.
 
As for the realm of spirituality, Ayatollah Khamenei described spirituality as soul for the body of progress.

Ayatollah Khamenei noted that human would be able to attain perfection after the reappearance of the Imam of Age, Hazrat Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance). "Human has endured challenges of life in the course of past millennia but would find the track of genuine progress after the reappearance of Hazrat Hojja," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

Ayatollah Khamenei in another regard, laid out the prospective Islamic aspects of the model of progress, saying that the notion of monotheism could provide human with a neat solution for social challenges and that belief in the afterlife could render it logical to endure strait times and promote the spirit of sacrifice.

Ayatollah Khamenei noted that human being was regarded by Islam as axis of any social planning however it differs from humanism in that the ultimate goal of Islam is human salvation with other social issues like justice, welfare, security and even worship serving as preambles or minor goals.

Ayatollah Khamenei said Islam views human being as bound with duties, adding that democracy here is a duty besides being a right so that no one is entitled to shirk the responsibility of moral status of the society.

Ayatollah Khamenei then touched on the issue of government as shall be viewed in the model of progress, saying in view of Islam, anyone who is going to serve a post must first acquire necessary qualifications otherwise it is illegitimate for him or her to serve the post.

Ayatollah Khamenei also noted that in view of the model of progress, any individual who feels arrogant or wants everything to be his or her is not entitled to rule over others and similarly the people are not entitled to allow him or her to rule over them.

Ayatollah Khamenei wrapped the discussion with noting that the model of progress shall encompass justice as a major pillar and that it must adopt a non materialistic approach towards economy. "Islam values wealth and favors wealth generation provided it is not used for corrupt intentions, dominance or extravagance," the IR Leader said.

Ayatollah Khamenei called for establishment of a foundation tasked with the development of the prospective model of progress, adding that all intellectuals in the country are welcome to join the major drive.
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