The Grand Ayatollah Imam Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, met with the participants at the 40th International Quran Memorization and Recitation Competition on 22 February 2024.

He said that acting upon the teachings of the Quran is the solution to the needs of humanity and human societies. He criticised the leaders of Islamic countries for not acting upon the teachings and instructions of the Quran. He emphasised that ignoring the Quran is the cause of the backwardness and humiliation of Islamic nations. On the issue of Gaza, he said, "Today, the resistance front of Gaza and Palestine are acting on the orders of the Quran with their steadfast stand against the evil Zionist enemy. By the grace of God, victory will befall the Palestinian people, and the Islamic world will surely witness the dissolution of the cancerous tumour of Zionism."

Referring to verses of the Holy Quran that describe and introduce the Holy Book itself, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, "The Quran is the "Book of Guidance", the "Book of Remembrance, the Eliminator of Negligence", the "Book of Wisdom, Light and Proof" and Imam Ali (AS), who is the outstanding student of the Quran, calls this heavenly book the "Reviver of Hearts" and the "Cure for the Great Pains of Humanity."

Ayatollah Khamenei said, "People who view the Quran only as a personal guide for prayer and yet refuse to accept its role in shaping society and politics contradict both the Quran's message and Imam Ali's (a.s.) interpretation."

He pointed out that the recitation of the Quran and its related art and skills were effective ways to encourage Muslims to communicate with the Quran and understand its teachings. He said, "Unfortunately, today, the complaint of the Prophet (s) to God about the abandonment of the Quran is a bitter reality in many parts of the Islamic world. This is the result of not acting on the commands and teachings of the Quran.

The Leader said that the issue of Gaza is a significant issue for the Islamic world and added, "Do the leaders and officials of Islamic countries follow the order of the Quran when it says, "Do not establish relations with the enemies of God and Muslims? Then why do the leaders of Islamic countries not openly cut ties with the murderous Zionist regime and stop aiding them?"

He said, "God Almighty will question and reproach those individuals in Muslim nations who did not pressure their governments to stop supporting the Zionist regime, and also Muslim governments for not acting upon these Quranic commands."

He added, "By standing up to the Zionist enemy, it is clear that the resistance of Gaza and Palestine is acting following Quranic teachings and commands, and the outcome of this story is that, by the grace of God and the promises of the Quran, they will be granted divine victory."

Pointing out that the Islamic world and the free people of the world are mourning the people of Gaza today, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, "The people of Gaza have been wronged by those who have no sense of humanity, and on this basis, the greatest duty is to support the oppressed people of Gaza, the brave stand of the resistance forces and those who help the people of Gaza."

Ayatollah Khamenei concluded by saying: Our hope in God's grace and victory will never end, and the Islamic world will surely witness the downfall of the Zionist cancer.

Before the Leader's speech, several distinguished individuals and international Quran reciters and memorisers from Iran and other countries recited the Quran. They performed the "Ibtihal" (a type of opening supplication) and "Farazkhani" (Quran recitation).

The head of the Awqaf and Charity Organization, Hujjatul Islam Seyyid Mehdi Khamooshi, also presented a report on the 40th International Quran Memorization and Recitation Competition they held in Tehran.