Students from Leader's Perspective

Students from Leader's Perspective
19/03/2008

I must specify the features of student movements that occurred prior to and during the early stages of the Islamic Revolution as well as the features of the upcoming movements. The features of such movements are as follows:

• Idealism rather than expediency: love for and being enamored by ideals
• Honesty, purity, and sincerity
• Liberation and freedom from various affiliations to parties, political groups, racist beliefs and the like
• Independence from Individuals
• Sensitivity towards those instances of behavior which are evil to the human nature, including atrocity, discrimination and injustice, and opposing such behavior.
• Emotions alone never dominate such movements. Instead, besides those emotions, there is an amalgamation of logic, thought, insight, education, and an inclination towards understanding and precision.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech on Nov 22, 1999)

• My love for students and my interest in them is mainly rooted in their purity and sincerity.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech on Nov 22, 1999)

• Prior to the Islamic Revolution a tragedy occurred on December 7, 1953. The University of Tehran suffered that tragedy at the hands of the authorities of that time. Later, the opposition front opposed this movement led by the students because of the goal they pursued. It was indeed a major goal and it led to the killings of 3 students. The basic philosophy underlying the movement at that time, was confronting the U.S.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech on Nov 22, 1999)

• I once mentioned that there must be political movements at universities, and that university students must engage in political activities. This means that students must be able to analyze political events so that they are well aware of the opposition fronts, so that they will realize who our enemies are, and so that they will know how and where from the enemies are confronting us. This is very necessary for you. You will never acquire this ability if you do not engage in political studies and discussions. Of course, you must be cautious so that the enemy will not be able to take advantage of this issue. The enemy is staying extremely vigilant. Imam Ali (AS) said: "Be cautious! Even if you are being negligent, the enemy will never neglect you." The enemy is staying extremely vigilant.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech in his meeting with pupils and university students on Nov. 1, 1995)

Two Major issues in Students' Education

• One of the major elements in students' education consists of knowledge, research, scientific practicality, the discovery of talents, and similar issues. The second element consists of spirituality, piety, purposeful movements, and the refinement of students' souls. These two elements must be pursued in a parallel fashion, and this will be possible by using all the abilities and capacities available to the country.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech in his meeting with the members of the High Council for the Cultural Revolution on Dec. 11, 1991)

• I have constantly mentioned in student gatherings that in this democratic government, students must play the most important role in the future development of the country and in the setting of policies for the general movement of the country. This is because they are the pioneers, elites, and enthusiastic members of the society.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech in the ceremony arranged for students to pledge their allegiance to the Supreme Leader on May 13, 1989)

• There has been an upturn in scientific movements and in the flourishing of talents in our universities.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech in his meeting with exemplary students on Nov. 8, 2002)

• Thanks to God, our universities are now filled with pious professors, students and deans. Of course, I must tell you students, that you are the guardians of this stronghold - universities. Make sure you do not weaken this stronghold, and that you constantly strengthen it. This stronghold is a cultural and intellectual one. You must strengthen it. The refinement of thought and ethics, and the maintenance of Islamic principles is a divine duty to be taken on by the students.

(Supreme Leader's speech in a congregation of students and professors at the Amirkabir University of Technology)

• It is upon you dear students to become familiar with the holy Nahj al-Balagha. Nahj al-Balagha is very informative and helps you become vigilant. You must carefully reflect on it. You must try to become familiar with Nahj al-Balagha and the words of Imam Ali in your meetings. With Allah's assistance, you can even move a step forward and become familiar with Al-Sahif al-Sajjadiyya. It is only a book of prayers on the face of it, but like the Nahj al-Balagha, it is a book full of lessons to be learnt on wisdom and the guidance of humanity towards a prosperous life.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech in his visit to Sharif University of Technology on Nov. 22, 1999)

• Today, if our youth and students are to explore the depth of Islamic thoughts, and find answers to their questions on these issues, they must refer to the books by the great martyr - Morteza Motahhari. Imam Khomeini made a comment on his books:" They are all very useful books" or something to that effect.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech in his meeting with a large group of teachers and employees on May 5, 1999)

• Today, it is upon you to improve yourselves and the universities. You must create an Islamic and a revolutionary atmosphere at universities. Students must act harmoniously at the universities like the parts of the body. They must follow the same line of thought, which is based on Islam and the Islamic Revolution. You students must avoid any thoughts that would disrupt this unity leading you towards God and the Islamic Revolution. It is then that you will be able to form universities that will benefit the future of this country. You must project a pleasant picture of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation to the enemies and those who bear grudges against this country as well as to the friendly nations in the world.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech in his meeting with a group of teachers and students on Nov. 4, 1992)

• You students must be well aware of one of your biggest duties, which is indeed being ethically self-made. You must refine yourselves ethically. You have the opportunity to do that. This is a ripe time for you. You are at an important stage of your life. You are under the rule of the Holy Quran and the Islamic culture. Therefore, you have ample opportunities to reach the highest ethical and spiritual standards. You must make the best of such an opportunity. Scientific, industrial, and material achievements must be accompanied by ethical refinement. Attention to God is the key element in ethical refinement.
(Part of Supreme Leader's speech in his meeting with a group of families of the martyrs of the Sacred War, and a group of art students on Oct. 23, 1991)
• Students boost hopes for the future of this country.
• Students are the vital assets of this country.

(Part of Supreme Leader's speech on May 23, 1990)

• A successful student must meet these three criteria: He/she must study hard, pay attention to ethics and spiritual refinement, and do sports.
• Students are the pioneer class in the society. They are enthusiastic and intellectual members of the society.

• You students must not be negligent of your role in the society. You must be politically aware and vigilant about what goes on in the society. The revolutionary motives and enthusiasm which are typical of the youth must contribute to the goals of this government. Some simple-minded people believe that students who are to engage in revolutionary activities must confront their authorities. This is by no means the definition of revolutionary activities. When students confront some of their authorities, it is because those authorities are acting against the students. Some of those authorities are the mercenaries of the U.S. Students cannot tolerate such elements and express their disapproval in that way. There were similar cases during the Pahlavi regime as well. Students, religious scholars, the general public, awake consciences, daring people, and the spiritually refined sometimes confronted ex-authorities. Make sure no one could deceptively and through conspiracies get some naïve youth to believe that students must mount opposition. Of course, they may put up opposition, but only against the U.S. and other powers who meddle in the officials' and the authorities' affairs. You must maintain an active presence and follow the right line of policy wherever you study.

• Students must pay the greatest attention at universities to knowledge, and an Islamic and revolutionary spirit. Students must be aware of how much this country needs them both at the present time and in the future. They must prepare themselves for the future. Today, students must be the pioneers and the standard-bearers of revolutionary movements as they have always been. They must prepare and qualify for great duties.

• Today students and the youth - men or women, and from every class or part of the country - can be hopeful that they are all capable of turning into scholars who are effective and useful for the country. They are capable of turning into decisive figures in the free and democratic movement of their country, without taking any notice of their regional, ethnical, personal, family and other backgrounds. This is a fact that is to be appreciated.

• Dear students, you dear youth and children of this great nation, you are the best and the most innocent members of our society in the universities. You must be guided by Islamic principles and study, work hard, and do your best to contribute to the grandeur of this nation, to raise the flag of Islam, to awaken all nations in the world, and to breathe new life into this world, rendered dead at the hands of the global hegemony. You must make sure that the future of the Islamic Republic is remarkably improved compared to the present time. This must be your goal. This must be the goal behind the unity between universities and Islamic seminaries.

• You do not have to distribute the money that is loaned to the students equally. You must pay attention to these priorities: You do not have to distribute the loans equally among all students, because some live in their own city and may not need the loan. There are also some who travel between cities and who have adequate facilities, therefore they do not need the loan either. There are some students who only require allowances, but there are others who are really in need. We must not be negligent of needy students' status. Of course, there are some institutes who offer students loans. I do advise these institutes to continue that policy. Financial aids for the students might come from other sources as well. Such aids may be provided for the students without any problems.

• You pupils and students - boys or girls - carry great responsibilities. There is a revolutionary duty on your shoulders, besides studying which is your duty as students and pupils. You are on an Islamic and religious duty - whether at school or university.

• Our resistance is not limited to one or two days or any specific period of time. It must be carried on through all generations. If the new generation are to lead this nation towards greatness, and if they are to construct this country and act as a living model for other nations, and if they are to overwhelm the global hegemony, they must be an Islamic, revolutionary and pious generation. And you are the members of that generation. You are pupils and students today. In the future, you must keep the wheels of this country turning. You must prepare yourselves today. You must prepare universities for that purpose. You must make the atmosphere at universities and high schools an Islamic and a revolutionary one.

• It is upon you students - girls or boys - and even upon students at school to reflect on the slightest political events that occur in the world, and to provide analyses on these events. It is absolutely ok even if your analyses do not match the realities. May God blame those who tried and are still trying to keep the young generation and our universities away from politics. Can a government rule, move forward and resist along with its nation in a country where the youth do not follow political issues or are not aware of political movements in the world, and where the youth cannot have true analyses of such issues? This is possible only under totalitarian governments.

• I believe that there must be cordial relationships between different groups of students pursuing different interests. Look among the different states of the world and the different social and political groups in the world, and you will see that despite all differences of opinion, they all sit at the same table and carry out negotiations. Ultimately, they will reach a conclusion. It is by no means acceptable for a group of students, all following the same principles - all believing in Islam, the Islamic Revolution and the late Imam Khomeini - but having different political tastes, not to get along with one another. I cannot understand or accept this at all.

• Question: One of the dimensions of the enemies' attacks is indeed cultural invasion, depraving the youth - especially women - and directing people's attention towards sensuality and physical pleasures. In many Islamic communities, enemies have initially managed to disarm nations in this way. Considering the current crisis of the veil in our society and even at our universities, what is the duty of the people - especially the students and the Islamic assemblies in our society and universities - and your solution to this issue? What is your advice and message for those Islamic assemblies in this regard?

• Supreme Leader's Reply to the Question:

My advice to all those people is to adhere to principles of hijab. This is an Islamic duty. I must let the dear brother or sister, having written this letter, know that our women are not betraying those principles as you had mentioned. Some might say that I have only seen those who adhere to those principles, but that is not true. I sometimes go on the streets to find out about the way some men and women dress. The situation does not seem as some people suggest. Of course, there are certain problems in that regard, and I am definitely not aware of all the intricacies of this issue. Wherever you face such problems, the solution would be to forbid those people from doing what is religiously unlawful.

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