Leader: Instill awe in the hearts of enemies (1)

Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on Sunday October 13, after reviewing a march past at Tehran’s Imam Husain (AS) University, addressed commanders and cadets assembled for the graduation ceremony, saying their readiness ought to instill awe in the hearts of the enemies.

The following is the first part of excerpts from the Leader’s speech.

Ayatollah Khamenei praised Allah Almighty for His Favours, and saluted the Master of the all Divine Messengers, Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). He paid tributes to the Immortal Martyr of Karbala, Imam Husain (AS), his martyred sons and companions, and then greeted the Lord of the Age, Imam Mahdi (AS) – may God hasten his reappearance for establishment of the global government of peace, prosperity and justice.

He said: “First of all, I congratulate you dear youth, the apples of the Iranian nation’s eye and the fruits of the blessed tree of the Revolution, on this ceremony and on this day. I wish to felicitate those who have received their ranks and joined the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and I also felicitate the youth who have stepped into this arena, who have received their epaulettes today and who will continue their studies at this blessed university, Insha Allah (God Willing).

“I would like to raise two, three points with you dear ones today: one is about this University, another is about the IRGC and another is about a fundamental matter related to the Islamic Republic and the country.

“As for this university, I have to say that this is a great blessing for all those who study in it, those who render services in it and those who will benefit from the blessings of the graduates of this university in the future, Insha Allah. It is a divine blessing. I insist that the honourable IRGC officials should focus on the matters of this university in order to improve it.

“The report that the honourable commander presented here was excellent and shows signs of progress. The feats that you performed here shows continuation of the innovations by the IRGC youth. It was a beautiful, meaningful and significant ceremony, but as I have said this many times, we are happy and we are proud of you, but we are not satisfied. This movement of progress should continue both at a scientific and training level and at other levels – which I will refer to. One of these levels is the recruitment and appointment procedure that is very important. We should stress its significance. Another is deep educational programs, which should really enjoy depth.”

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “The points that the IRGC commander raised are important. What he said was correct. The scientific future of humanity and of the world is moving towards these newly-emerged matters. And we are thankfully not backward in them. We should focus on these matters as much as we can: matters like deep education, comprehensive training, having the necessary expertise in the case of the managers, and discipline. One of the matters that I wish to emphasize is being disciplined and systematic in all matters of this university.

“However, as well as the existence of solid discipline and a solid system, there should be an emotional and brotherly relationship between commanders, managers and the personnel. Since the beginning of the formation of the IRGC, this was one of its characteristics. The high-ranking commanders would behave in a brotherly way towards the body of the Guards Corps.

“Another point is that the professors teaching at this university – who deeply believe in revolutionary matters and in the IRGC itself – should focus on these matters. Our dear friends, our dear brothers and the IRGC officials should focus on the matters of this university. This is because it is very important and by Allah’s favour, it will play an important role in the fundamental issues of the country.

“The second point is about the IRGC, which today, thankfully enjoys dignity both inside and outside the country. As a matter of fact, the enemies have helped bring about this dignity. The Americans have increased the dignity of the IRGC with their violent, disgruntled and hostile attitude towards it. This is the enemy’s assistance which is acceptable and to our liking. God’s enemy shows enmity to God’s servants, but this enmity endears His servants and enlightens their faces.

“Well, the IRGC has a perpetual lesson. A few days ago, I spoke in detail with IRGC brothers about the matters related to this vital organization. I want to stress that there is a perpetual lesson for the IRGC which is what God Almighty says in ayah 60 of Surah Anfaal of the holy Qur’an:

“Prepare against them whatever you can of power and war-steeds, awing thereby the enemy of Allah, and your enemy, and others besides them, whom you do not know, but Allah knows them.”

 “There are several points in this ayah: First of all, the Arabic word “a’iddu” means preparing oneself as much as possible. It means that you should not be satisfied with any level. You should focus on this preparation and try to increase it as much as you can in the areas that have been mentioned in the ayah itself. The IRGC should increase its preparedness on a daily basis. This preparation primarily includes “quwwah” which means power, capability, and force, while “rebat al-khayl” which literally means “war-steeds”, in today’s world (of technology) means various means – of strengthening the defence equipment – since in every era, there are specific tools (armaments). What is the goal then? “Awing thereby the enemy of Allah, and your enemy”.

The Arabic word “torhebpun” does not only mean creating awe in order to make someone feel afraid. No, such creation of awe involves keeping someone at bay. If the enemy is scared of your power and your preparation, then that fear will keep it away. You should do everything to make the enemy afraid of the glory of the young, pious, self-sacrificing and motivated men because this is the most important factor in keeping the enemy away.

“The word “quwwah” or power means making the utmost use of power to develop your strength. This power shows itself in different ways: one is organizational power which means having a strong, solid and comprehensive organization. Such organizational power should be the base of the IRGC.

“Another is scientific and expertise power. All successful moves made by various human groups were primarily shaped in the shade of science. It is through science that people achieve strength, wealth, global power and dignity. And for this reason there has been so much emphasis on science in Islam. Thus, one important aspect of power is science.

“Another aspect is having power in the area of tactics and strategy. The military organization of the IRGC should constantly be prepared and move forward on a daily basis in the area of tactical and strategic matters.”

Ayatollah Khamenei remarked “Another aspect of “quwwah” or power is in the area of vigilance and readiness. Negligence is not accepted at all! We should be constantly awake and vigilant. The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS) says in Letter No. 62 of the Nahj al-Balagha: “Remember, a warrior is always wary and vigilant and never careless and negligent; whoever is careless about his cause, his enemy will not sleep over this advantage.

“The means, if you fall asleep in your trench, this does not mean that the enemy has also fallen asleep in the opposite trench. He is awake. Therefore, one should always be awake and ready in one’s trench.

“Quwwah” also means firm and iron resolve. It means strong and pure faith. It means having increasing motivation. All these are the components of “quwwah”: “Prepare against them whatever you can of power”. God Almighty wants you to be prepared in all these areas. “Quwwah” also means building ambitious and motivated youth. The manifestation of “quwwah” is Imam Husain University as it builds determined and pious youth. All these are parts of “quwwah” and they are the manifestation of “prepare against them whatever you can of power and war-steeds”.

“War-steeds” – in modern terminology – means equipment of defence. Our equipment should be advanced. During the era of the evil monarchial regime we were dependent in the area of equipment and instruments. We were both backward and inefficient. We had certain things, but we did not know how to use them. This is the characteristic of evil regimes. The equipment should be advanced and we should be self-sufficient in this field. These should belong to you. You yourselves should build, produce and create these. You should be their owners in the true sense of the word.

“These (equipment and instruments) should be up-to-date as well. Certain tools might have been used 10 years ago, but they might not come in handy today. You should see what we need today. You should be up-to-date in the area of tools. They should be diverse as well. They should be suitable for use on the ground, in the air, in space, on the sea, in our borders and in the heart of the country.

“They should be usable everywhere. And we also need security and operational tools and various other tools. Diversity in tools is another issue that should receive attention.”

The Leader pointed out: “Another is the issue of cyberspace. Today, this is one of the instruments or tools. Another is the military exercises – to test the prowess and readiness. Today, this is one of the tools as well. You should pay attention to all these. Therefore, we should both have strength and tools. You should prepare yourselves in these areas as much as you can.

“During the dependent Monarchial regime, our warehouses were full of American equipment which belonged to them. We did not have the right to even open and look at them at that time. We could not even familiarize ourselves with the pieces if we had the opportunity to change them. At that time, the dear brothers in the army who were familiar with the issues of those days said to me that they would sometimes put a set of sealed tools – inside which, there were sometimes 30 pieces – inside the plane to be sent to the US and to be repaired there and then to be returned! They would not allow our technical officers or our army brothers in charge of such tasks to take them apart and to examine and repair them. This would not be allowed.

“Our warehouses were full of weapons, but weapons which belonged to others. Others were in charge of them. They would be used wherever they wanted. If they did not give a permission, they would not be used. They built and developed the enemy’s weapon-building factories with our peoples’ money! This was one of the two elements of the power of the regime. The other element was that were regional gendarmes in the service of the US. In other words, the evil regime of Iran was obliged serve the US. Its duty was to suppress and stifle any voice raised against the Americans. This used to be done at the expense of the Iranian nation, with Iranian manpower and with Iranian money.

“The goal was to ensure others’ interests. Today, the exact opposite is true. Today, the Iranian nation works for itself and with its own free will. It moves with its own power and it does what is best for the country. “Quwwah” means that we should take all these things into account.

AS/ME