Sayings of Imam Khomeini
-PART 1 of 2
PALESTINE AND AL-QUDS
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Jerusalem
is the first Kiblah of Muslims and it belongs to them.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>All must know
that the superpowers aim in creating Israel does not end in the
occupation of Palestine. They plan, Heaven forbid, to extend the
fate of Palestine to all Arab countries.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Do not the
authorities of the nation see or know that diplomatic talks with
history's criminal and powerful politicians cannot save Lebanon,
Palestine or Quds and the number of crimes and oppressions
increases daily.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We are on the
side of the oppressed which-ever pole they may be in.
Palestinians are oppressed by the Israelites, therefore we side
with them.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We fully
support our Palestinian brothers and those of southern Lebanon in
their fights against the usurper Israel.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Neither the
Iranian Muslim nation, nor any other Muslims and, as a matter of
fact, no open-minded individual, will recognize Israel. We shall
always support our Arab and Palestinian brothers.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We must all
rise, destroy Israel and replace it with the heroic Palestinian
nation.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The Quds Day
which is coincidental with the Night of Destiny (Lailatul-Qadr)
must be revived among the Muslims and be the starting point of
their awakening and awareness.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Muslims of the
world should regard the Quds Day as All-Muslims Day or the
oppressed People's Day.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is the
intonation of Allah-o-Akbar, the cry of our nation, that
disappointed the Shah in Iran and the usurpers in Palestine.
Essentially, it is the duty of all Muslims to liberate the Quds
and remove this nucleus of evil from Islamic lands.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The issue of
Quds is not a private or personal issue. It is not the exclusive
problem of one country nor a present-day problem of all Muslims.
Rather, it is a phenomenon concerning the monotheists and
faithful people of all ages-past, present and future.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Quds belongs to
the Muslims and must be returned to them.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The Quds Day is
the Day of Islam.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The Quds Day is
a day in which the destinies of the oppressed nations must to
determined.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The Quds Day is
a universal day. It is not an exclusive day for Quds itself. It
is a day for the oppressed to rise and stand up against the
arrogant.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The Quds Day is
a day in which Islam is to be revived.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The Quds Day is
Islam's Live Day!
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The Quds Day
which fall on the last days of the God's Great Month (Ramadan) is
a proper day on which all Muslims be freed from the bondage of
the Big Satan (Great Devil, USA) and other superpowers and join
the Infinite Might of God.
THE QUDS OCCUPATIONIST REGIME (ISRAEL)
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>I regard
supporting the plan for independence of Israel and its
recognition a tragedy for the Muslims and an explosion for the
Islamic governments.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The usurper
state of Israel with the aims it has pose great danger to Islam
and the Islamic states.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Brothers and
sisters must know that America and Israel are enemies to the
fundamentals of Islam.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The foolish
idea of greater Israel makes them commit any crime.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Let brotherly
Arab nations and the Palestinian and Lebanese brothers know that
all their miseries are caused by America and Israel.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Regarding
Israel, certainly we shall not help an illegitimate, usurper
government which is trespassing the rights of the Muslims and is
an enemy of Islam.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Islam and the
Muslims and all international standards regard Israel as a
usurper and aggressor and we do not approve the least negligence
in terminating its aggressions.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>I have often
said and you have heard me say that Israel will not settle for
these agreements for it regards the Arab domination over
territories from the Nile to the Euphrates as usurpation.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Israel must be
eradicated from the page of history.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is incumbent
on every Muslim to arm himself against Israel.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Those who
support Israel must realize they are nurturing a pit viper up
their sleeves.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Do not support
Israel, this enemy of Islam and Arabs for this listless viper
will have no mercy on you, young or old if it gets within your
reach.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is necessary
that all freedom-loving peoples of the world unite with the
Muslims and together condemn the inhuman aggressions of Israel.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Iran has been
and is the diehard enemy of Israel.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We shall reject
Israel and shall have no relations with it for it is a usurper
state and is our enemy.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>I announce to
all Islamic states and Muslims of the world, wherever they are,
that the dear Shiite nation hates Israel and its agents and is
disgusted with and hates the states that compromise with Israel.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We shall not
have relations with Israel as it is a usurper state and is
warring against Muslims.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We shall oppose
Israel for it has usurped the rights of Arab peoples.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Israel is
warring against Muslims, and usurps the lands of our brothers, we
shall not give it any oil.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Israel is
rejected by us, we shall never give it oil nor ever recognize it.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The criminal
hands of the world arrogant states will not be severed off the
Islamic lands unless Muslim nations and oppressed peoples rise
against them and their offsprings especially Israel.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Israel is a
usurper and must leave Palestine soon and the way to it is that
Palestinian brothers uproot this core of corruption and
colonialization from the region so that peace may return to the
area.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is a duty of
the proud nation of Iran to harness the interests of America and
Israel in Iran and invade them.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is necessary
for oil producing Islamic countries to use the oil and other
things available to them as weapons against Israel and the
colonisers.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is incumbent
on all Muslims especially Muslim countries to do away with this
core of corruption any way possible.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>This
degenerative tumour that has, with backing of major powers, been
planted in the heart of Islamic states and whose roots daily
threaten the Islamic lands must be removed with help and effort
of Islamic states and the great nations of Islam.
THE ARROGANTS AND THE SUPERPOWERS
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We would
surely destroy all arrogant powers if we could have the power to
do it.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The peace and
safety of the world is keyed to the extinction of the arrogant.
As long as these domineering, uncultured group exist on earth,
the oppressed will not gain the inheritance that Almighty God has
granted them.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Of all the
blows meted out on us by the big powers, the blow to our
personality is the worst.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Today world
conditions are so that all countries are under political
supervision of the superpowers.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>All the
troubles in which nations are bogged down are caused by
superpowers.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The whole aim
of these criminals is to gain power, power with which to clobbers
anyone that stops in their path.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is incumbent
on the intellectuals to reveal the disgrace of the powers and
superpowers, all the more.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Let all know
that the powerful, opportunistic countries whose ultimate wish is
to dominate the Islamic and oppressed countries will leave them
alone and abandon them in times of trouble, that the words faith
or fidelity do not appear in their lexicons.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Unite, for
under the aegis of unity your victory will be certain.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Rights are to
be taken, arise and drive out the superpowers from the scene of
history and life.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>World powers
must know that today is not like yesterday. Unlike the
governments, the nations will not retreat from the arena with
just one short tirade of intimidation.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We have no fear
of the superpowers. While we have no access to man-slaughtering
weapons, our faith impels us not to be afraid.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The aim is just
one-the defeat of the superpowers.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is our duty
to stand and oppose the superpowers and we have the power to do
so.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We are so
suspicious of the superpowers that if they speak the truth we
think that they say so to deceive the people.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Today, all
superpowers collectively oppose this nation in all its Islamic
aspects. We must wake up and realize that their propaganda is
more harmful to us than wars.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The basic
purpose of colonizing governments is to wipe out the Quran, the
ulema and Islam itself.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>That day is
blissful to us in which the domination of worldmongers over this
oppressed nation and over other oppressed nations is smashed and
all nations take their destinies in their own hands.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The slap-in-the
face which the superpowers received from Iran, was matchless in
all their lives.
NATURE OF THE USA GOVERNMENT
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We have
been hurt more by America than by all others.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>American
domination carries with it the entire miseries of the oppressed
nations.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>America is the
number-one-enemy of the oppressed and deprived peoples of the
world.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>America says
'we have interests in the Region.' Why should it have interests
in our Region and why should the interests of the Muslims belong
to America!?
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Muslim nations
hate foreigners generally, Americans, especially.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Let the world
know that any trouble that Iranian nation and Muslim nations have
is caused by foreigners, by America.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The most
important and painful problem that Islamic nations and
non-Islamic nations of the dominated states face concerns
America.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>All of our
distresses are caused by America.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Our entire
misery is by the hand of America.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>America wants
you for your oil, wants you as a market, to take away the oil and
sell you junk!
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The real
enemies of the Quran, Islam and its holy Prophet (SAW) are the
superpowers, especially America.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>America, this
natural criminal that has set the world on fire and its
colleague, world Zionism, to reach their objectives commit crimes
that pens and tongues are ashamed to describe.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Our entire
troubles come from America and Israel.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Let the
president of America realize that he is the most hateful
individual to our nation.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The feelings of
the Iranian nation concern American government, not American
nation.
FIGHTING AMERICA
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Shower
all your cries down on America.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Today, America
is the number one enemy of our whole nation.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Cold and warm
weapons, that is , pens, words and machineguns should all be
aimed at the enemies of mankind, headed by America.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We believe
Muslims should unite and together slap America and know that they
can do it!
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We do not want
America to work for us, we override America.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>If opposition
to America implies independence of that country, then, by all
means, we are opposed to it and if this point is what America is
afraid of, then let it remain afraid.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Our common
enemies today are Israel and America and others like them. They
want to destroy our prestige and put us back in bondage. Repel
the common enemies!
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The stigma that
this Movement inflicted on America has never been experienced by
any one.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Our crime is
that we oppose America.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Much better we
all perish than live in misery under American or Israeli hands.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>O oppressed
peoples of the world! Wherever you are and from whatever group or
layer you come from, arise and do not fear the yelling and ruckus
of America and other powers and make the world too narrow and
tight for them.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>America cannot
act as a swaggerer before the Muslims.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>America can't
do a damn!
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The fight, the
dispute now going on is not America and us, it is between Islam
and paganism.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Counteracting
America is presently above all our problems. If today our forces
become divided, it benefits America. Right now, America is the
enemy and all our equipments should be aimed at this enemy.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Our perfect
happiness comes the day when the domination of all the Eastern
and Western colonisers, especially that of worldmongering America
is removed from the heads of the Muslims.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>America can
defeat us but not our Revolution. for this reason I am confident
of our victory. American government does not understand the
concept of martyrdom.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>I am confident
if we carefully perform and continue our duty which is to fight
the criminal America, our children shall taste the sweet nectar
of martyrdom.
RELATIONS WITH THIE USA
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Our
relation with America is the relations of the oppressed to the
oppressor, relations of a robbed person to his robber.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We are not a
protectorate of America or Soviet Union nor of any other power.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>May God awaken
those who dream of America.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The day America
praises us that day we must mourn.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We do not want
America to supervise us. We do not want America to take away the
entire gains of our nations.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is a
disgrace for a Muslim country to extend a band to America and ask
for bread.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We shall not
establish relations with America unless it became humane and give
up oppressing others.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We will
establish relations with America and the USSR provided they do
not interfere in our domestic affairs and have good relations
with us.
THE WEST AND WESTERNIZATION
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>By
autosuggestion we must realize that nothing goes on in the West
except the idea of keeping us behind from the caravan of progress
and civilization.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We accept the
advancements of the Western world but not the Western corruption
of which they themselves complain.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The progress of
the West is materialistic, it rears the world as a wild fighting
beast.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Western
upbringing or education has divested mankind of his humanism.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We have come to
believe that everything is in the West. No! That which is in the
West is the training of savage animals.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We can't be
independent, we can't have anything unless we purge our minds of
westernization and come to know ourselves.
THE ORIENT
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The
Orient has lost itself It has to find itself
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The Orient must
wake up and separate its account from the West as far as it can
if possible to the end, at least separate its culture.
COMMUNISM
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>From its
inception, Communism has had the most dictatorial governments,
its authorities have been most dictatorial, power-hungry and
monopolistic persons.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is clear to
all that from now on communism may be looked up in the museums of
World's political history.
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We are
in an age when criminals are praised and confirmed rather than
being punished.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>These so-called
human rights agencies condemn the oppressed rather than the
oppressors.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>These agencies
that are created for human rights, are all agencies for pilfering
mankind.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>They commit so
much crime, they turn countries into grounds for massacre and
bloodshed yet they claim: 'we cannot see human rights destroyed!'
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We want to act
according to the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. We want to be
free. We want independence in our country. We want freedom.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>This, and any
other, nation has a right to determine its destiny itself This is
a human right and it is embodied in the Human Rights Declaration.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>These (states)
speak of human rights but act against it. Islam both respects and
observes human rights.
FOREIGN POLICY
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>While
maintaining independence, we shall have friendly relation with
all countries.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We are on
friendly terms with all nations and, if governments behave
respectfully, we shall reciprocate in kind.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The foreign
policy of Iran is based in mutual respect with all governments
without discriminating among them.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We shall behave
with respect toward all governments provided they do not
interfere in our internal affairs and treat us with mutual
respect.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We should have
relations with foreign countries which do not mean to swallow us.
Relations with those who seek to subordinate us through relations
are not required and these must be dealt with caution.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We are on the
side of the oppressed. We support the oppressed regardless of the
pole they are in.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We have the
duty of saving the oppressed and deprived people.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>It is an
Islamic duty incumbent on all Muslims to help anyone who is
oppressed.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We have a duty
to support the oppressed and be enemy to the oppressor.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We are opposed
to any deal that damages the interests of the Muslims.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>When we serve
the nation, the nation will support us and then foreigners' greed
ceases.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We are not
opposed to nations, we oppose oppressive governments whether they
oppress us or our Muslim brothers.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We are not
prepared to let a government use economic exchanges as levers for
political influence and imposition of its colonialization aims.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>World
conditions no longer admit a few to be "masters" and all others
to be "slaves".
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Just as we do
not accept oppression in our relations with other countries, we
do not oppress others.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Relationships
between a nation that has risen to free itself from the clutches
of International pilferers and a worldmonger is always in the
interest of the pilferer and the loss of the oppressed.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We oppose any
country, whether Eastern or Western, that wants to oppress
others.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Today the only
non-aligned country is Iran. You cannot find another country that
is 'non-aligned in the real sense".
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Destroy anyone
in any position who may want to compromise with the East or the
West, drive him away as ruthlessly as you can.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Defence of
Islam and the Hizbullah (Party of God) is the unimpeachable
principle of the policies of the Islamic Republic.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We cannot
separate our own account from that of other Muslims.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Care for the
affairs of Muslims is a most necessary duty.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Tending to the
affairs of Muslims is a very important religious duty.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>We hope that
the Islamic nations will overcome colonialization in near future,
we shall not spare any assistance when due.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Our state is an
independent sovereign state, and we are on friendly terms with
those states that do not interfere in our domestic business.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE EMBASSIES
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The
Foreign Ministry can, by Islamization, better than any other
agent, demonstrate our Islamic substance to people abroad.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>This Ministry,
that has to do with all other countries of the world, is more
sensitive than any other ministry.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The
responsibility of Foreign Ministry is very heavy because of its
dealings abroad therefore, try, as much as possible, to place
your embassies in the path of Islamic growth, progress and
advancement to high status.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>When people
come to our embassies, they should see an Iranian setting not an
American or French environ.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>If embassy
conditions, its staff, its management and attitudes be not in
conformity with standards of the Islamic Republic, it is better
not to have them.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Our embassies
must be centers of publicity.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The
representatives of the Islamic Republic abroad must perfectly
conform to Islamic Order.
GOVERNMENTS OF ISLAMIC STATES
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The
misfortunes of the Islamic states is caused by interference of
foreigners in their affairs.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>Regional
governments must know that in time of trouble neither America nor
any other power will support them.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>For more than
20 years past I have been recommending to the heads of Islamic
states, either in my sermons or talks, to put aside the minor
local disputes and unite in deeds and minds for advancement of
Islam and its aims.
ˇ<x-tab> </x-tab>The problem of
Islam is its Islamic governments not its nations.