On the auspicious anniversary of the ordainment of the esteemed messenger of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei received on Saturday a group of Iranian officials, ambassadors of Muslim countries and people from different walks of life.
In the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei underscored the need to benefit from the lessons of the ordainment to vigilantly confront today’s modern paganism which is much more dangerous and more equipped than pre-Islamic paganism, saying hegemonic powers, led by the United States, are behind the emergence of “modern paganism.”
He said: “The experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the past 35 years has shown that the vast Muslim community could stand against this paganism and overpower it by sticking to the two principles of ‘prudence’ and ‘determination and perseverance’.”
The Supreme Leader extended his congratulations on the Mab’ath (ordainment) to the Iranian nation, the Muslim world and all free-spirited people, saying mankind needs to learn the lessons of ordainment and review these lessons. He said: “The ordination of the Prophet (PBUH) was meant to tackle the paganism which was not limited to the Arabian Peninsula, but dominated all empires of that time across the world.
Ayatollah Khamenei said “lust” and “wrath” were the two main elements of paganism in the pre-Islamic era, adding: “At that time, Islam rose up against extensive depravity in human life, which stemmed from unbridled carnal desires and sexual lust on the one hand and the dominance of wrath and destructive cruelty on the other.”
Referring to the recreation of pre-Islamic paganism in the current era based on the same elements of “lust” and “wrath,” the Supreme Leader said: “Today, we are still witnessing illogical and unrestrained debauchery and uncontrolled brutality and massacre, with the only difference being that the current paganism is unfortunately armed with science and knowledge and is much more dangerous.”
Noting that the current situation in Muslim countries, insecurity, fratricide and the domination of terrorist groups over regional countries are examples of modern paganism resulting from plots hatched by hegemonic powers led by the US, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “In order to realize their ominous objectives and safeguard their interests, they resort to extensive propaganda based on lies, an example of which is the Americans’ claim of fighting terrorism.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said: “The Americans made these allegations while they have already acknowledged their involvement in the creation of the most dangerous terrorist groups like ISIL. The Americans officially support terrorist groups in Syria and their supporters, the Americans back the fake Zionist regime which is ratcheting up the pressure on the Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank, but in their slogans, they falsely claim to be fighting terrorism. That is modern paganism.”
The Supreme Leader said: “The nation of Iran, the vast Muslim community and rulers of Muslim countries! Know that we can stand up to this paganism.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said the central plank of hegemonic powers’ wicked policies in the region under the present circumstances is to trigger proxy wars, adding: “They pursue their own interests and seek to fill the pockets of arms manufacturing companies. Therefore, the countries in the region should be vigilant not to be entrapped by these policies.”
He said among other false allegations by the US is its claims about security in the Persian Gulf, adding: “The Persian Gulf security belongs to the countries in the region which have common interests and not to the US. Therefore, security in the Persian Gulf region should be provided by the vey same countries in this region.”
Noting that the US is not seeking to establish security in the Persian Gulf and that it is not competent to air its views on this issue either, the Supreme Leader said: “If the Persian Gulf region becomes secure, all countries in the region will benefit from this security, but if the Persian Gulf becomes insecure, all countries will suffer from insecurity.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said another example of US’s false allegations regarding its alleged efforts to secure the region is the deplorable situation in Yemen, adding: “Today, Yemen has turned into a scene of the massacre of innocent women and children. It is blamed on apparently Muslim countries, but the mastermind and key culprit is the US.”
He said the US’s allegations that Iran is supporting terrorism are also false, adding: “The Iranian nation firmly stood against US-funded and US-backed terrorism which surfaced inside the country. But Iran is accused of sponsoring terrorism! That is while the one who openly supports terrorism is the US.”
Stressing that the Iranian nation has always stood and will continue to stand against terrorism and its supporters, the Supreme Leader said: “The Iranian nation will cooperate will all those who have stood up to the most dangerous terrorists and the terrorist Zionists in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the occupied [Palestinian] territories.”
Ayatollah Khamenei reminded US officials of Washington’s terrorist activities, saying: “You are terrorists! Acts of terror are your handiwork. We oppose terrorism, we fight it and we will support any oppressed [nation].”
Ayatollah Khamenei said the Yemen, Bahrain and Palestine nations are among
oppressed nations, adding: “While in Islam’s heyday, polytheists in Mecca stopped wars in forbidden months, today in Yemen, in the month of Rajab in which [war is] forbidden, bombs and missiles are being dropped on innocent people.”
Noting that supporting the oppressed is an Islamic instruction, the Supreme Leader said: “We will defend the oppressed and confront the oppressor as much as we can.”
Ayatollah Khamenei called on the regional countries to remain vigilant against hegemonic powers’ policy of creating an imaginary enemy and making these countries get scared of each other. “They try to keep the main enemy, which is the [global] hegemony and its stooges and the Zionists, in the margin and turn Muslim countries against each other. Therefore, this policy, which is modern paganism, should be confronted.”
Reiterating that the nations in the region have woken up, the Supreme Leader said: “Islamic Awakening may be suppressed temporarily, but awakening and insight could not be suppressed and today the Iranian nation and most nations in the region are aware and vigilant.”
The Supreme Leader said arrogant powers have for years been making efforts to stifle awakening and resistance in the region and they have spared no effort over the past 35 years to confront the Islamic Republic of Iran as the axis of this awakening, but they have always been defeated and they will be defeated from now onwards, too.”
Prior to the Supreme Leader’s speech, President Hassan Rouhani expressed congratulations on the Mab’ath, saying the ordainment of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) meant the start of a new era for the community of faith. “According to the teachings of the Ordination, what can build the future history and society ruled by justice is not the sword, bullets and towering palaces, but righteousness and divine revelation,” he said.
He said that the sharia (canon) presented to people by the Prophet Muhammad (PBHU) contained wisdom, justice, virtue and moral perfection. “Islamic sharia has nothing to do with violence. Those who want to juxtapose sharia with violence have understood nothing of sharia.”
The president referred to the spread of divisions and Iranophobia among Muslims and said that Iran has always been seeking peace, justice, helping others and resisting oppression and bullying and will never bow to oppression and excessive demands.
“Iran has not invaded any country and won’t do so, but if it is invaded, its response will make the invader sorry like [its response] during the eight-year defense [against the Iraqi invasion of Iran from 1980 to 1988],” he said.
Rouhani said Iran seeks nothing beyond its legal rights, and addressing neighbors and Muslim countries in the region, noted: “Seek refuge in the Prophet (PBUH)’s camp and the Qur’an, and don’t go towards Camp David because only the camp of Islam and the Prophet (PBUH) can save you.”
In the meeting, Ayatollah Khamenei underscored the need to benefit from the lessons of the ordainment to vigilantly confront today’s modern paganism which is much more dangerous and more equipped than pre-Islamic paganism, saying hegemonic powers, led by the United States, are behind the emergence of “modern paganism.”
He said: “The experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the past 35 years has shown that the vast Muslim community could stand against this paganism and overpower it by sticking to the two principles of ‘prudence’ and ‘determination and perseverance’.”
The Supreme Leader extended his congratulations on the Mab’ath (ordainment) to the Iranian nation, the Muslim world and all free-spirited people, saying mankind needs to learn the lessons of ordainment and review these lessons. He said: “The ordination of the Prophet (PBUH) was meant to tackle the paganism which was not limited to the Arabian Peninsula, but dominated all empires of that time across the world.
Ayatollah Khamenei said “lust” and “wrath” were the two main elements of paganism in the pre-Islamic era, adding: “At that time, Islam rose up against extensive depravity in human life, which stemmed from unbridled carnal desires and sexual lust on the one hand and the dominance of wrath and destructive cruelty on the other.”
Referring to the recreation of pre-Islamic paganism in the current era based on the same elements of “lust” and “wrath,” the Supreme Leader said: “Today, we are still witnessing illogical and unrestrained debauchery and uncontrolled brutality and massacre, with the only difference being that the current paganism is unfortunately armed with science and knowledge and is much more dangerous.”
Noting that the current situation in Muslim countries, insecurity, fratricide and the domination of terrorist groups over regional countries are examples of modern paganism resulting from plots hatched by hegemonic powers led by the US, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “In order to realize their ominous objectives and safeguard their interests, they resort to extensive propaganda based on lies, an example of which is the Americans’ claim of fighting terrorism.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said: “The Americans made these allegations while they have already acknowledged their involvement in the creation of the most dangerous terrorist groups like ISIL. The Americans officially support terrorist groups in Syria and their supporters, the Americans back the fake Zionist regime which is ratcheting up the pressure on the Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank, but in their slogans, they falsely claim to be fighting terrorism. That is modern paganism.”
The Supreme Leader said: “The nation of Iran, the vast Muslim community and rulers of Muslim countries! Know that we can stand up to this paganism.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said the central plank of hegemonic powers’ wicked policies in the region under the present circumstances is to trigger proxy wars, adding: “They pursue their own interests and seek to fill the pockets of arms manufacturing companies. Therefore, the countries in the region should be vigilant not to be entrapped by these policies.”
He said among other false allegations by the US is its claims about security in the Persian Gulf, adding: “The Persian Gulf security belongs to the countries in the region which have common interests and not to the US. Therefore, security in the Persian Gulf region should be provided by the vey same countries in this region.”
Noting that the US is not seeking to establish security in the Persian Gulf and that it is not competent to air its views on this issue either, the Supreme Leader said: “If the Persian Gulf region becomes secure, all countries in the region will benefit from this security, but if the Persian Gulf becomes insecure, all countries will suffer from insecurity.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said another example of US’s false allegations regarding its alleged efforts to secure the region is the deplorable situation in Yemen, adding: “Today, Yemen has turned into a scene of the massacre of innocent women and children. It is blamed on apparently Muslim countries, but the mastermind and key culprit is the US.”
He said the US’s allegations that Iran is supporting terrorism are also false, adding: “The Iranian nation firmly stood against US-funded and US-backed terrorism which surfaced inside the country. But Iran is accused of sponsoring terrorism! That is while the one who openly supports terrorism is the US.”
Stressing that the Iranian nation has always stood and will continue to stand against terrorism and its supporters, the Supreme Leader said: “The Iranian nation will cooperate will all those who have stood up to the most dangerous terrorists and the terrorist Zionists in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the occupied [Palestinian] territories.”
Ayatollah Khamenei reminded US officials of Washington’s terrorist activities, saying: “You are terrorists! Acts of terror are your handiwork. We oppose terrorism, we fight it and we will support any oppressed [nation].”
Ayatollah Khamenei said the Yemen, Bahrain and Palestine nations are among
oppressed nations, adding: “While in Islam’s heyday, polytheists in Mecca stopped wars in forbidden months, today in Yemen, in the month of Rajab in which [war is] forbidden, bombs and missiles are being dropped on innocent people.”
Noting that supporting the oppressed is an Islamic instruction, the Supreme Leader said: “We will defend the oppressed and confront the oppressor as much as we can.”
Ayatollah Khamenei called on the regional countries to remain vigilant against hegemonic powers’ policy of creating an imaginary enemy and making these countries get scared of each other. “They try to keep the main enemy, which is the [global] hegemony and its stooges and the Zionists, in the margin and turn Muslim countries against each other. Therefore, this policy, which is modern paganism, should be confronted.”
Reiterating that the nations in the region have woken up, the Supreme Leader said: “Islamic Awakening may be suppressed temporarily, but awakening and insight could not be suppressed and today the Iranian nation and most nations in the region are aware and vigilant.”
The Supreme Leader said arrogant powers have for years been making efforts to stifle awakening and resistance in the region and they have spared no effort over the past 35 years to confront the Islamic Republic of Iran as the axis of this awakening, but they have always been defeated and they will be defeated from now onwards, too.”
Prior to the Supreme Leader’s speech, President Hassan Rouhani expressed congratulations on the Mab’ath, saying the ordainment of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) meant the start of a new era for the community of faith. “According to the teachings of the Ordination, what can build the future history and society ruled by justice is not the sword, bullets and towering palaces, but righteousness and divine revelation,” he said.
He said that the sharia (canon) presented to people by the Prophet Muhammad (PBHU) contained wisdom, justice, virtue and moral perfection. “Islamic sharia has nothing to do with violence. Those who want to juxtapose sharia with violence have understood nothing of sharia.”
The president referred to the spread of divisions and Iranophobia among Muslims and said that Iran has always been seeking peace, justice, helping others and resisting oppression and bullying and will never bow to oppression and excessive demands.
“Iran has not invaded any country and won’t do so, but if it is invaded, its response will make the invader sorry like [its response] during the eight-year defense [against the Iraqi invasion of Iran from 1980 to 1988],” he said.
Rouhani said Iran seeks nothing beyond its legal rights, and addressing neighbors and Muslim countries in the region, noted: “Seek refuge in the Prophet (PBUH)’s camp and the Qur’an, and don’t go towards Camp David because only the camp of Islam and the Prophet (PBUH) can save you.”