RNA – In his Friday prayer sermon to a large and fervent crowd of believers at Qom’s Qods Prayer Hall, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi referred to the current state of Iran and the duties of the people and authorities in this regard, said, “On the fortieth anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, we are faced with heavy political, economic, social and cultural attacks.”
The member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom added, “According to the correct analysis by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Khamenei], these attacks are passive and they must not remove us from the scene. These attacks are due to the survival of the Islamic Revolution over the past forty years and the advance of the crashing wave of the Revolution in the international arena. The enemies are prepared with all their power. We aren’t facing a disappointing crisis but there is a challenge and the nation and the authorities must come together to combat the problems.”
He emphasized on the importance of protecting revolutionary and Islamic authority, “The basis of protection is faith, unity and cohesion and also includes missile power and defence industries. Elements of authority must be preserved and strengthened with complete force. Unity, the convergence and observance of the interests of the country in the light of the guidance of the Supreme Leader must be on the agenda of the government and the nation.”
Ayatollah Arafi called for officials to pay greater attention of to internal capabilities and capacities and continued, “We must rely on our internal strength and have no confidence in the United States or even Europe. The eyes of the authorities must not be toward the outside and we must protect our sense of independence, self-confidence and revolutionary spirit in planning and orientation. We must know that through resistance and adherence to the values of Islam, the Islamic Revolution and the Iranian nation will be victorious.”
The member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution noted, “In the face of the current hardships – in the area of price control, the observance of the needy classes, the fight against corruption, discrimination, displaced rights and rents everyone must work together.”
Referring to the forthcoming epic of the Arba’in pilgrimage, he said, “This magnificent movement must be performed with greater glorious. Arba’in is a great spiritual and religious epic which is unparalleled in the world and people from all religions and denominations are present and the program is guided by the people themselves.”
Ayatollah Arafi added, “The people of the world attend this great march, which is very important, and everyone must strive to comply with the laws in this epic commemoration. We are thankful for the decrease in the prices because we must open the path for more people to attend from Iran and throughout the world. We must also thank the sources of emulation and the Iraqi people and government.”
The dean of al-Mustafa International University said that the Iranian-Iraqi relations must be strong and added, “The enemies have come to undermine these strong relations, while these relations must be more firmly established than before. The new Iraqi officials must recognize the strategic depth of relations and their worth for the independence of nations.”
He added, “God-willing, the Islamic ummah will enjoy the great epic of Arba’in in spiritual and spiritual dimensions. In the pilgrimage of Arba’in, with all its virtues and great divine slogans, we must certainly commemorate the memory of the martyrs of Iran and Iraq and the Islamic Resistance. Thanks to these martyrs, the epic of Arba’in will be realized today.”
Referring to the bitter incident of the murder of Jamal Khashoqji, a Saudi journalist who criticised the House of Saud in Turkey, Ayatollah Arafi said, “That a critic and journalist was tortured and murdered isn’t acceptable.”
His Eminence said, “Recently, [American President Donald] Trump humiliated the Saudi rulers. We protest these rulers and we regard them as dependent and mercenaries but we really are really annoyed that one individual from 10,000 kilometres beyond the borders of the Muslim ummah dared to call this government a lactating cow and said that Saudi Arabia and its King would not last two weeks in power without American military support. This is a shame for the House of Saud.”
He noted “The House of Saud and the affiliated rulers must return to Islam and not affiliate themselves to the West. Islam gives honour to individuals and governments and those who have a Western orientation in their hearts must know the end of orientation to the West is humiliation. Our hearts are burning for this abject and dependent government, which is being humiliated in this manner.”
Addressing the regional rulers, Ayatollah Arafi said, “Look at the authority of Iran and the Islamic Resistance Front, which all enemies are afraid of. The footprint of the Takfiris of Saudi Arabia are visible in many events. There is a need to discover this and take appropriate measures.”
Rasa News Agency
112/970