In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I welcome all dear brethren and sisters. Verily, the fragrance of the Quran imbues [human] life, when the reciters, memorizers, and people of the Quran, and those familiar with the Quran propagate recitation of the Quran’s verses. I thank all those involved in and organizing this good ceremony; I thank esteemed reciters [of the Quran]; [and] I thank those who performed program [here]. 

I hope God will count us among the people of the Quran. [We] must become people of the Quran. Reciting the Quran is just a prelude, [it] is not the goal. The goal is to absorb the moral principles of the Quran. The revered wives of Prophet [Mohammad] (PBUH) have been quoted as saying about the demeanor of the Prophet (PBUH) as such: His demeanor was [complaint with moral principles of] the Quran. That is, the Prophet (PBUH) was embodiment of the Quran. Our behavior, our demeanor, our personal traits [must] conform to the Quran. This is necessary. Recitation [of the Quran] is just a prelude to this; [and] this is not all; in addition to shaping one’s personality on the basis of the Quran, our society and our living environment must also conform to the Quran.

[We] must not let ignorance to impose itself on our societies and on our life; which is [unfortunately] the case. Today, the Islamic world is constricted by pressure from ignorant [political] systems and is ailing. Today, the Islamic world is afflicted with weakness, is afflicted with poverty, is afflicted with discord, is afflicted with civil wars, [and] is afflicted with consuming its huge internal resources and forces against itself. They have imposed this on the Islamic world. The Quran aims to get us rid of the pressure of these impositions; we must [try to] reach this point. [We must] learn the Quran, become intimate with the Quran, submit to the Quran, [and] show resolve and determination for moving toward Quranic goals; then we would be able [to achieve our goals]. If we take one step forward, the Almighty God will increase our power. This is the point that today, the Muslim nations must understand; [they] must understand this; take one step [forward]; let’s experience [this].

We have experienced [this issue]; we, the Iranian nation, have experienced this. We did not give in to the enemies of Islam and the enemies of the Quran; we resisted; [and in return,] God gave us power. The more we resisted, the more became our power; our abilities increased; our hope in the future increased. This is the very prescription for the remedy of the Islamic world. One of the things that the enemies of Islam have always pursued within the Islamic Ummah, and are forcefully pursuing today, is to sow discord; this should be stopped. Any person who talks in direction of [sowing] discord [among Muslims] is the mouthpiece of the enemy, [regardless of] whether they know this or not. [We must] be cautious not to allow our voice to become the mouthpiece of the enemies of Islam and the Quran; [that] it would not cry out [in favor of] discord. Religious difference; difference between Shia and Sunni, difference between Arab and non-Arab, difference among various countries, difference among [various] ethnic groups and nationalities and nationalistic prejudices, [these are] all issues that are being kindled among Muslim societies; these [efforts to sow discord] must be countered.

Of course, such things are easy in words, but difficult to do [in practice]; however, there is always a way to act; the way is open. The main factor is our determination and resolve; [we must] make a decision; insight and resolve are two main factors. Firstly, [we must] have insight; know the enemy, [and] know the friend. Today, among Muslim countries are countries where officials of those countries are plagued with error in vision; they cannot distinguish friend from enemy. [They] imagine the enemy is the friend, [and at the same time] consider the friend to be the enemy. Well, one will suffer blows [as a result of such an error]. Such a country, with such a view, with such an attitude, will be hit; insight is necessary. [Quran tells the Prophet (PBUH) to] say: “This is my path [and] I invite toward Allah based on insight both myself and those who follow me.” If there is insight, [if] one can recognize the path correctly, [and] then they and show determination and resolve, the path could be treaded easily. This is [the true meaning of] divine assistance; “if you assist Allah, He will assist you;” what can be said clearer and more explicit than this? “If you assist Allah, He will assist you and strengthen your steps.” This is the meaning of God’s assistance; [it means] to know and find the path of God; to follow it; [and] not to give in to enemy’s plot, to enemy’s [effort to] make a fool [of us] [and] to enemy’s imposition. The Quran guarantees this for us.

This annual Quranic gathering of us, thank God, is a successful gathering. Quran has gradually found its new life in our society. Those interested in the Quran, those resorting to the Quran, those who become intimate with the Quran, [their number] thank God is increasing in our society day by day. If you see that I insist on memorizing the Quran, on reciting the Quran, do not object that these are not the main [priorities]; I also know that these are not the main [priorities], but these are means; without these means you cannot get close to the Quran. If somebody is not familiar with the knowledge of the Quran, does not muse over the Quran, [and] is not intimate with the Quran, how he/she can serve as a guide in a society which wants to move on the basis of the Quran? Our intellectuals should become familiar with the Quran, our youths should become familiar with the Quran; [they must] strengthen their affinity with the Quran. When this [human] mind becomes full of the knowledge of the Quran, then “the jar gives out what is in it.” When the mind is enriched with Quranic knowledge, it shows its effect in words, in deeds, in decision-making, in large-scale decision-makings, [and] in behavior; this is the goal that we must pursue. State officials [must] continue to pay serious attention to the issue of the Quran; do not take this issue lightly. You dear youths, who are treading the path of learning the Quran and reciting the Quran and becoming intimate with the Quran; [you must] follow this path seriously and pursue it. The Quran makes a bright future for us; the Quran reveals to us the direct way and the direct path; [it] makes us happy.

Yes, I said that the Islamic world is afflicted with many weaknesses today, but fortunately, the movement toward Islam and the Quran has started in Islamic societies. This Islamic Awakening, which showed itself in regional countries, cannot be eliminated; this awakening will continue to exist, will stay there and, God willing, will show its effects. Islamic Awakening is a truth; this truth, God willing, will show itself increasingly. Of course, the Ulema shoulder a heavier responsibility; the intellectuals shoulder a heavier responsibility; authors, students, [and] researchers, including you, reciters [of the Quran], who are center of people’s attention, shoulder a heavier responsibility; [you] must be able to give hope to people about that path, which the Quran has promised you.

God willing, the Almighty God would make you successful and bestow his blessings upon you. God willing, Islamic countries [and] Muslim nations would avail themselves of the Quran. God willing, Islamic governments [and] Muslim rulers would get a little closer to Quran in practice, not just in claims, and God willing, the Islamic world would experience its prosperous future in the light of the Quran.

Peace be unto you and so may the mercy of Allah and His blessings.