In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

(Arabic prayer)

I congratulate the [Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)’s] Ordainment Day to you, esteemed attendants, dear brethren and sisters, [and] respectable state officials, and to the ambassadors of Islamic countries, who are present in this meeting, and to the entire Iranian nation, to the entire Islamic Ummah, and [to] the entire humanity, and today, humanity is indeed more in need of understanding the meaning of Ordainment and the truth of ordainment.
In the honorable verse [which says:] “Certainly a Messenger has come to you from among yourselves; grievous to him is your falling into distress, most solicitous for you…,” the Holy Quran has addressed the entire humanity in the last phrase [which says:] “… [he (the Prophet)] is compassionate, [and] merciful to the believers.” However, human suffering, problems that humans face in their lives and which [also] face human societies weigh down on the blessed soul of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), [and he is] “most solicitous to you [human];” [and] is eager to guide them and is eager [to see] their happiness. [Therefore,] the Ordainment is meant for all people. Then, in continuation of the same verse, it is interesting how the Quran tries to console the Honorable Prophet (PBUH) [by saying:] “But if they turn away [from you], say: Allah is sufficient for me — there is no God but He. On Him do I rely, and He is the Lord of the mighty Throne.” [This verse is] addressed to humanity, [telling the Prophet (PBUH)] to ‘take step to do good and correct [the mistakes of] the humanity and put your trust in the single God;’ [because] in His control is everything and the divine traditions serve this movement. Today, we need the concept of the Ordainment; [and] humanity needs it, especially the Islamic Ummah.
The Eid of Ordainment is [actually] the Eid of rising up [of the Prophet (PBUH)] in order to put an end to human sufferings; therefore, it is really an Eid (festive occasion). Major human sufferings, which have continued throughout history and these sufferings still continue in various forms, [include] worshipping [deities] other than God, establishment of oppression and injustice, divide among people’s [social] classes, [as well as] sufferings of the lower classes and bullying of bullies; these are perennial sufferings for humans. These things have been always imposed on humanity as a result of corrupt and corruption-inducing motivations of bullying people in power; the Ordainment was meant to do away with these sufferings. In fact, the Ordainment Day is a day for referring to the divine essence [of all humans]; because all these sufferings and pains and disorders have been ruled out by the divine essence, which has been embedded in the human nature. For humans, [having] the divine essence is [tantamount to] taking sides with the truth, supporting justice and supporting struggling on the path of the oppressed; this is the human essence.
With regard to the reason behind the ordainment of prophets, Amir al-Mo’menin [Imam Ali] (PBUH) has [said] a sentence in the noble Nahj-ul-Balagha over which [we] must muse a lot. He says, “[Prophets were sent by God] to ask people to fulfill their essential pledge [to God]; [in fact, he means that] prophets make people fulfill that pledge [with God] which has been embedded in the human essence, [and] own up to that pledge; the Almighty God has wanted humans to be free, live with justice, live with good deeds, [and] do not worship anybody but God. “[Prophets were sent by God] to ask people to fulfill their essential pledge to God, and [also] to remind them of [God’s] forgotten bounties [which has bestowed on man];” [prophets are given the mission] to remind people of the forgotten bounties [that God has bestowed upon them]; [and to remember] these divine blessings. We ignore the bounty of existence, the bounty of health, the bounty of wisdom, [and] the bounty of good tempers that the Almighty God has trusted in human nature; humans forget [such bounties]; [and] prophets [come to] remind humans of these [bounties]. “…and remind them of the forgotten bounties and argue with them by offering [solid] reasons;” [prophets are sent to] spell out the conclusive argue with people, convey to them the word of truth, [and] reveal to them [what is] the truth; [therefore,] expounding and expressing [God’s words] are among the most important duties of prophets.
The enemies of prophets take advantage of [people’s] ignorance and secrecies, [and] they take advantage of the cover of hypocrisy; prophets tear down the cover of ignorance and hypocrisy. [Imam Ali (PBUH) also says:] “… and [prophets] unearth what has been buried of wisdom;” [they have come] to open the treasure of wisdom to [the entire] humanity; prophets have come to make humans use their wisdom, to make them reflect, [and] to make them think; [just] see what great goals [are these]; these are [the goals of] the Ordainment. How humanity is in need [of achieving these goals] today! Then, after opening treasures of wisdom to humans, [prophets should] “show them signs of [His] power,” [prophets are sent to] guide the human wisdom toward monotheism, toward the divine signs, [and] to put before their eyes the signs of the power of the Almighty. An unguided wisdom without guidance of prophets cannot understand the Truth as it is; [but] prophets help the human wisdom, walk him through [difficult passes] and with the power that God has given them [humans], they tread this difficult path of life; [prophets] reveal the realities of universe to humans. The power of wisdom and using wisdom are important [capacities] for humans, but through the divine guidance, [and] with the assistance of God. Well, these are [main goals of] the Ordainment.
The opposite front to the Ordainment is the ignorance front. Ignorance should not be considered as an issue related to a specific and certain historical juncture, based on which we [could] say that in that time, the Prophet was facing the ignorance and that time is [now] past. Ignorance is not special to that time; [because] ignorance continues [to exist], just as the [message of] Ordainment continues.
[As famous Iranian poet, Mowlavi, says:] “Fresh water and salty water flow in currents; and [these] currents will continue for people until the Day of Judgment.”
These two fronts exist among human beings; this ignorance, which is opposed to the ordainment of prophets, does not mean absence of knowledge; this ignorance, is not ignorance as opposed to knowledge; sometimes knowledge is at the service of ignorance, just as is the case in our time. Today in the world, human knowledge has progressed, but is at the service of the same ignorance, for the elimination of which the ordainment of prophets has taken place. This ignorance is the opposite of the wisdom [which is] guided by prophets and the Almighty. When wisdom governs human life, and that a wisdom which enjoys support and guidance of prophets, the life will become happy; [this goal] must be pursued. The day that this is not the case, [and] human wisdom does not govern [human life], lust and anger will rule; [and] carnal desires will rule. It is then that humans will burn in a melted furnace of misfortunes; just as we have seen throughout history and we are observing today as well.
When lust and anger govern humans’ behavior, then you would see that in two world wars millions of people are massacred, human life loses its value, [and] human sanctity is undermined. This rule of lust and anger, or on the opposite, the rule of wisdom guided by prophets, exists at all levels; it is [extant] both at individual levels, and at social levels, and at international levels. If at international level, what governs the behavior of internationally powerful [countries] is God-given wisdom and [if it] is guided [by prophets], the world will look one way; [and] when carnal desires govern them, [and] there is thirst for power, [and efforts aimed at] stirring sedition, the issue will take a different turn. These are maladies facing humanity. The Ordainment is the opposite of this ignorant current, which can exist at all times and all human begins are obligated [to take steps] in its face.
Colonialism and humiliation of nations and plundering financial resources of nations and corrupting human resources of nations, are [all] the result of the rule of ignorance. When ignorance rules you see that many nations across the world are crushed under the boots of colonialism, their resources are plundered, they themselves are humiliated, [and] lag behind [other nations] by many years. Colonized nations, some of them lagged behind [other nations] tens of years, [and] some [others] for [even] centuries.
[Jawaharlal] Nehru [the first Indian prime minister after independence from Britain] says in his memoirs that before the British dominated India, India had an advanced civilization compared to [standards of] that time; it even had advanced industry, [and] had advanced products; [however, after] the British entered India, they took over the rule of that big and vast country and pushed it back, in order for themselves to grow. The small and remote government of Britain achieved power through plundering the resources of a big country like India; [and] reduced that country to ashes. This is colonialism, [and] this is the rule of lust and anger.
Following the first and second world wars, as they say and has been written, tens of local wars have been waged; [and] all of them by powerful [countries]. Today, you look what is going on in this very West Asia region, [and] what is going on in North Africa! Who has waged these wars? Who gave weapons to evil and corrupt human beings, gave them facilities [and] encouraged them to cause sedition in [certain] countries, [and] destroy and annihilate infrastructure of [those] countries? This is [the true meaning of] Satan. [As the Quran says:] “And thus did We make for every prophet an enemy, the devils from among men and jinn, some of them inspiring others with gilded speech to deceive (them).” It is like this; when devils join hands, they create [a new] system; [and] when they dominate currents that rule the world, the situation of humanity becomes this situation that you observe today.
The enmity of truly faithful [people], [and] the enmity of the Islamic Republic toward Zionism emanates from these realities; [otherwise,] we have no blood feud against anybody. When the Zionist regime and the vast network of Zionist capitalists dominate governments, [and when] they dominate a government like the government of the United States of America – [as a result of] which progress of every person, [as well as] coming to power of any party and any person becomes dependent on their support – the world becomes what you see today. These are the roots of the huge movement of the nation of Islam and the Iranian nation and the Islamic Awakening in the world. Then, they seek remedy [to this problem] through defaming Islam, defaming Iran [and] defaming Shia [Islam].
Today, fighting Islam, fighting Iran [and] fighting Shia Islam is part of definitive policies of the American government and its allied governments; [and] they are moving like this. This is their definitive policy. When nations are negligent, they go ahead [with their policies], [but] when nations are vigilant, impediment is created in front of them; then they become angry and cry out ‘why you are present in West Asia region, why you don’t let us do our job’. [It was] yesterday [or] the day before yesterday when American spokespersons announced that Iran’s opposition to America’s policies in the West Asia region – which they call the Middle East – prompts us to, for example, impose sanctions on Iran, or confront Iran. What does this mean? It means that ‘Iranian nation! You who are vigilant, who are insightful, [and] you who understand what is going on in the region, stand back and let us do our job, [and] do whatever we want to’; [and] this means continuation of [their] mischief. This situation is [tantamount to] ignorance and this ignorance exists today.
When it is [rule of] ignorance, when it is dominance of evil powers, then there would be rebellion [against the word of God]; this is the devil. As put by the Quran: “Those who believe fight in the way of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the devil.” This is the norm. Any step that anybody takes for the strengthening of the devil, will [cause that person to] be in the devil’s front. This is what the devil does: to do mischief and do corrupt things. [As the Quran says:] “And when they hold authority, they make effort in the land to cause mischief in it and destroy tilth and offspring; and Allah does not like mischief.” God wants good for humans, but the devil wants corruption of humanity. With a single bomb, they kill and annihilate hundreds of thousands of people in a couple of cities, [and even] after long years, they are not ready to apologize [for this massacre]. They are told [by the opposite side] that ‘you [must] apologize for the incident in Hiroshima’, [but the devil] says, ‘no, we will not apologize’; they are not even willing to apologize. The infrastructure of a country like Afghanistan and like Iraq and like other countries in this region is destroyed either by them or by their agents, but they take it on the chin and continue to go their way; this is the same [concept that the Quran says:] “when they hold authority, they make effort in the land to cause mischief in it and destroy tilth and offspring.” This current and this front is the ignorance front. The modern ignorance, in spirit and concept, is the same ignorance that existed in the Prophet’s era; of course, with new tools, with a new shape, [and] with new plans. This [situation] makes [accepting] a duty absolute and inevitable for all Muslims and the entire Islamic Ummah; [and that] duty is the duty to counter [the devil].
The Islamic Republic, since its inception, has never started a war and has not made any military move against any country, but has announced its viewpoint and its slogan out loud. Our honorable Imam [Khomeini] drew an analogy between the American Islam and the petrified Islam; [saying that] both of these [varieties of Islam] stand opposed to the pure Islam. They are afraid of the pure Islam.
These corrupt [and] mischievous groups, are doing mischief in Islamic countries, defame Islam, cut people’s livers out of their bodies and tear them to pieces with their teeth in front of people and in front of cameras in the name of Islam, burn people alive in front of camera and in front of billions of human beings in the name of Islam, [and] then these [groups] are being supported, and patronized and endorsed and backed by mysterious Western powers. Apparently, they form an anti-Daesh coalition, but news and correct information show that this coalition is not a real coalition and this [so-called] fight [against Daesh] is not a real fight, [but] this is only a superficial step. Then, when they want to talk against this corrupt and mischievous groups in propaganda, they call them [with such titles as] the Islamic State; that is, those persons who treat other people in that way, kill children in that way, deceive children in that way and bring them into the [battle] field for suicide attacks, are the Islamic State! This is [the true meaning of] fighting Islam.
Today, the duty of us, Muslims, is to become aware and make the world aware of the truth of the Ordainment. The Ordainment means rising up to save human beings and to save humanity; the Ordainment means establishment of the system of reform and honesty in human society; this is the meaning of the Ordainment. The Ordainment means well wishing for all human beings; we wish well for all human beings and even pray for those corrupt [and] mischievous heads of devilish regimes that the Almighty God may guide them; either to guide them and help them turn back from the wrong path, or shorten their life [so] that they would not do more mischief than this, [and] do not bring more divine wrath [on themselves]; this is also a really well-wishing prayer. Islam wants good for the entire humanity, [and] the Prophet wants [good for the entire humanity].
And this movement by the Islamic Ummah, this movement, which has started in the world through formation of the Islamic Republic establishment, and despite all efforts they made, they have not been able to destroy it and it has grown stronger on a daily basis, [and] has become more profound day by day, will certainly triumph; [and] animosity of enemies cannot put an end to this huge movement.
Here, we must act upon the recommendation and command of the noble verse of the Quran, which I recited, “Say: Allah is sufficient for me;” [The Quran tells Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) that] “if you see people turning away [from you], [and] if you see you are being surrounded by various means on all sides, ‘Say: Allah is sufficient for me; there is no God but He; on Him do I rely, and He is the Lord of the mighty Throne.” This was our honorable Imam’s trust [in God] which showed us the way and took us here and the Iranian nation, God willing, will continue to move with this very trust [in God] and the Islamic Ummah will continue to materialize these realities more [and more] through the Islamic Awakening on a daily basis.
And the triumph of Islam and triumph of Muslims is finally definitive, but we have a duty; both people have a duty and groups have a duty, and political elites of countries have a duty; the heads of Islamic states also have a duty; every one of them, who would fulfill their duty, would be rewarded by the Almighty God, [and] if they don’t fulfill it, [as put by the Quran:] “then Allah will bring a people, whom He loves and who love Him;” [therefore,] God’s order will be carried out, [and] this path will continue [to be trodden by righteous people]. I hope, God willing, we would be among those people who would never shun this duty.

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