The Office of the Supreme Leader

Supreme Leader instructs preachers

Tehran, Jan 25 - Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei told a large group of clerics and preachers Wednesday that 'wisdom', 'epic and dignity' and 'affection' form the pillars of the historical movement of Imam Hossein (A.S.), the third Shiite Imam, in the Ashura incident.

Ashura refers to a day in history in which Imam Hossein (AS) and his 72 loyal companions chose to give up their life for defense of humanitarian values rather than submitting to the tyrannical yoke of a libertine ruler like Yazid.

"These three elements must be paid the main attention in preaching (on the movement)," he said, urging the audience to try to affect the hearts and identities of human bodies.

The meeting was held on eve of the mourning month of 'Muharram' and the ensuing dispatch of preachers to different parts of the country.

The Supreme Leader called the Ashura incident a dynamic culture and an everlasting example for the Islamic Ummah in the course of history, adding that the impeccable logic and framework of the movement carries this lesson that every time the situation demands Muslims are duty-bound to embark on action, even if it risks life.

Ayatollah Khamenei warned that conservatism and reservations must not be allowed to hinder such an action. He described the lesson of Ashura a well-tested lesson and noted that the movement of the late Imam Khomeini in the month of Muharram in 1964 and also in 1978 which resulted in the historical triumph of the Islamic Revolution owes to the same lesson. He vowed that Imam Khomeieni's dignified path will be followed through in future.

The Supreme Leader touched on the dignified movement of Imam Hossein (A.S.) which came along with his innocence and also ingrained affection and love. He underscored that every plan and affair of the relevant mourning ceremonies must enjoy dignity.

He called on the audience to avoid extremes in discussing political issue, while also following wisdom and logic and the epic dimensions of the incident besides affective and mourning affairs.

He urged clerics and preachers to acquire strong rhetoric and elegant discourse in defense of religion as well as taking care of their words and deeds and precisely expounding on various dimensions of religion altogether.

He said the emergence of the effects of preaching activities is a longitudinal matter, promising that the society will one day witness the blessings of the audience's activities, adding that today's inclination of the youth towards faith arose from past activities.

Concluding his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei rejected certain comments on alleged distancing of the young generation from religion as psychological warfare, underlining that despite such illusions, the youth thirst for religious realities. He urged for quenching their thirst by true religious teachings.
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