Martyr Imam Khamenei's selected statements on the New Islamic Civilization

All parts of the Islamic Ummah - in the form of different nations and countries - should achieve the civilizational position that has been specified in the Holy Quran. The main and the general characteristic of this civilization is that it should allow human beings to utilize all the material and spiritual capacities that Allah the Exalted has bestowed on them and on the world in order to bring about happiness and transcendence for humanity. The surface structure of this civilization can and should be witnessed in popular government, in the laws that have been extracted from the Holy Quran, in identifying and addressing different needs of humanity, in avoidance of rigidity and reactionary attitudes as well as unwarranted innovation and adulteration, in creating public welfare and wealth, in establishing justice, in liberation from an economy that is based on special privileges, usury and taking pride in wealth, in promoting human values, in defending oppressed people in the world, and in hard work and innovation. Adopting an ijtihadi and scholarly outlook on different areas - ranging from humanities to the system of formal education, from economy and banking to technical and technological production, from modern media to art and cinema and to international relations and other areas - are all among the requirements for this civilization-building. Experience has shown that all of these things are possible and within the capacities of Muslim communities. This outlook must not be treated with haste and pessimism. Being pessimistic about one's capabilities is ingratitude to God's blessings, and neglecting help from God and the laws of creation amounts to slipping into the morass of entertaining [evil thoughts about Allah.] [The Holy Quran, Sura al-Fath, Ayah 6] We can break the chain of scientific, economic and political monopolies of the domineering powers and help the Islamic Ummah become the pioneer of restoring the rights of the majority of nations in the world, which have been dominated by a minority of arrogant powers. Through religious faith, knowledge, ethics and constant struggle, Islamic civilization can gift advanced thought and noble codes of behavior to the Islamic Ummah and to the entire humanity, and it can be the point of liberation from materialistic and oppressive outlooks and corrupt codes of behavior that form the pillars of current Western civilization. (Apr 29, 2013) Today, the world of Islam has a responsibility to breathe a spirit into this world – just like Islam and the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) himself – to create a new environment and to open a new path. We refer to this phenomenon, which we are looking forward to, as “the new Islamic civilization”. We should be striving for the new Islamic civilization- for the sake of humanity. This is dramatically different from what powers think about humanity and from how they act. This does not mean conquering lands. It does not mean violating the rights of nations. It does not mean imposing one’s beliefs and culture on other nations. Rather, it means offering a divine gift to nations so that they choose the right path of their own volition and with their own choices and decisions. The path that global powers have dragged nations towards is a wrong and deviant path. Today, this is our responsibility … Today, it is Islam’s turn … Today, it is the Muslims’ turn to shape a new Islamic civilization with their own determination. As the Europeans used, in those days, Muslims’ knowledge and benefitted from their experience and philosophy, we too are using the world’s knowledge in the present time. We are using the current tools in the world to build a new Islamic civilization, but it is accompanied by an Islamic and divine spirit. Today, this is our responsibility. (Dec 29, 2015) I say with complete confidence that the full realization of God's promise - the triumph of truth over falsehood, the revival of the Ummah of the Quran, and the emergence of a new Islamic civilization - is on the horizon: [Allah has promised those of you who have faith and do righteous deeds that He will surely make them successors in the earth, just as He made those who were before them successors, and He will surely establish for them their religion which He has approved for them, and that He will surely change their state to security after their fear, while they worship Me, not ascribing any partners to Me. Whoever is ungrateful after that - it is they who are the transgressors] [Quran 24:55]. A sign of this inviolable, divine promise, in the first and most significant stage, was the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the establishment of the illustrious edifice of the Islamic system, which transformed Iran into a stronghold for the realization of Islamic governance and Islamic civilization. The emergence of this extraordinary phenomenon came precisely at the height of the clamor of materialism and the anti-Islamic campaigns of both the intellectual and political Left and Right. The Islamic system’s subsequent resilience and steadfastness in the face of relentless political, military, economic, and propaganda assaults from every direction rekindled hope throughout the Muslim world and ignited a new enthusiasm in people’s hearts. (Dec 7, 2008) The Revolution contains specified phases. What occurred in the year 1357 [1978] -- the beginning of the Revolution -- was the first phase of the Revolution; it signified an explosion against the bias and fraudulent Taghuti regime [Pahlavi] and the establishment of a new system on the basis of new ideals and values, with new terminology and new concepts: this was the first phase of the Revolution. Then, as we entered the second phase, the system job is to implement these ideals. The ideals and values, which I will refer to, should be implemented within our society. If these values are to be implemented, there must be a managerial system which is referred to as the Revolutionary Government. So, the phase after the establishment of the Revolutionary System is the establishment of the Revolutionary Government: this is a government whose bases and pillars embrace the Revolution, with all its existence, and pursues the Revolution in a dedicated manner. After the establishment of the Revolutionary Government, the ideals and values which have already been introduced -- our great revolutionary dreams and aspirations -- should be attained and realized one by one through suitable regulations: conventional rules and laws and appropriate implementation of them. Then, the result will be the formation of a Revolutionary Society. A Revolutionary Society will come into being, which is the fourth phase: the Revolutionary Movement, the Revolutionary System, the Revolutionary Government and a Revolutionary Society – the fourth phase. After the formation of the Revolutionary Society, the ground will be prepared for the establishment of the revolutionary and Islamic civilization. I used the word "revolutionary," but you can use the word "Islamic" instead of "revolutionary." In other words, you can speak about an Islamic government, an Islamic society, and an Islamic civilization: these are the phases. (May 28, 2018) Thus, it is clear that achieving Islamic goals — now may it be the Islamic system or ultimately, the Islamic civilization — is impossible without the presence, attention, and effort of the people. The people must want it. They must come and take action. This is one of our principles. We need to keep in mind that the people are the main issue. This is one of the principles of Islam. Without this, nothing can be accomplished. We will not be able to achieve the goals and reach a pure life. (Jan 16, 2004) Idealism means taking a look at realities and identifying them in the correct manner. You should benefit from positive realities and fight against negative realities. This is the meaning of idealism. You should take a look at ideals. What are ideals? One … is the issue of creating an Islamic society and civilization. This means reviving Islamic thought. Since many centuries ago, some people have been doing their best to eliminate Islam from life, from politics and from the management of society and to confine Islam to personal issues. Later on, they tried to gradually confine personal issues to issues related to graveyards, participating in marriage ceremonies and the like. However, Islam has come to deliver this message: [We sent not a messenger, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of Allah] [The Holy Quran, 3: 64]. This is not particular to Islam. All prophets have said this. Divine religions have emerged so that they can be established in society in the true sense of the word. This should happen. This is one of the most important ideals. (July 11, 2015) We can refer to one of the most important ideals of the Islamic Republic in a short phrase: Creating an Islamic civilization. Islamic civilization means an environment in which we can achieve growth in spiritual and material areas and in which we can attain the ultimate goal for which Allah the Exalted has created us. It means living a good and dignified life. Islamic civilization means building a dignified, powerful, confident and innovative individual who can improve the natural world. This is the goal and ideal of the Islamic Republic. (Sep 5, 2013) However, the very essence of this idealism is valuable because without idealism, we will lose the path. Idealism prevents us from losing our path or from deviating from it. Therefore, you should abide by your idealism. You should preserve important ideals such as justice, independence, the elimination of corruption and ultimately, the realization of an Islamic civilization. The main, the real and the ultimate ideal is the establishment of an Islamic civilization. You should not miss out on them and you should demand and think on them. (May 17, 2020) Islamic countries are not the same in terms of science, wealth, security and political power and they can help and add to one another. Those who are on a higher level in every area should take the hands of those who are lower. This is another level of unity. A higher level is that the entire world of Islam becomes united in order to achieve the new Islamic civilization. This is something that the Islamic Republic has chosen as its ultimate goal: achieving an Islamic civilization, one that is compatible with the requirements of the present era: a new Islamic civilization. These are the different levels of unity. (Nov 15, 2019) The purpose of the prophets’ bi'tha was to establish an ideal society … the purpose was to establish a civilization. Well, this civilization has everything. Everything exists in a civilization. There is science, morality, lifestyle and war. War exists in a civilization as well. As you can see in the Holy Quran, there are many ayahs related to war. However, such wars are not condemned, rather they are praiseworthy as they are jihad in the way of God. (Apr 3, 2019) The future of the Islamic world will be in a much better position than the present-day, God willing. By Allah's favor, the world of Islam will witness days when the Ummah will be at the peak of its civilization in its Islamic life: when bullies like the US and the likes of the US will no longer be able to control Muslims of Islamic countries around. This condition [Western control of Muslim nations] used to exist in the past; today, it, unfortunately, exists in some places. However, by Allah's favor, this will be eliminated, and the world of Islam will reach its peak, by Allah's favor and grace. (May 12, 2018)