Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

 The necessity of supporting and allocating religious funds to the Palestinian combatants

First question: Your Holiness, the leader of the combatants, what is your respected opinion on the giving of religious funds such as zakat and sahm-i imam to the brave combatants who, under the command of the Fatah movement, are on the front lines of the battle with the enemy and are fighting on the battlefield of honour?

Reply: In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Most certainly it is proper and indeed obligatory that some of the religious funds such as zakat and other alms be allocated in a sufficient amount to these combatants who are fighting in the way of God; these combatants who fight on the line of battle and make sacrifices in order to destroy the atheist and anti-human Zionist movement, who strive to revive and restitute the lost glory and honour of Islam and who battle to respect the illustrious history of Islam. It is incumbent on every Muslim who believes in God and the day of retribution to use all the power at his disposal in this path and eventually attain one of these good things: martyrdom or victory. It is your duty to go to the front line and take vengeance for the blood shed and thus erase the mark of shame. Obtain aid and assistance from God’s domain and secure the shining victory which is close. Then give glad tidings to the believers for God is the supporter of every courageous and truth-seeking decision: And another (favour will He bestow), which ye do love - help from God and a speedy victory. So give glad tidings to the believers. (Qur’an 61:13). And God is the supporter of this intent.

It is incumbent on us to use all the powers and means at our disposal to help our brothers, the great men of the Fatah movement and their fighting forces al-`Assifa, who, with the help of God the Almighty, will achieve the ultimate victory, and the other noble, self-sacrificing fighters who struggle in the way of God. And God guarantees success.

Second question: After the kindling of the fire of holy revolution in the land of Palestine and the attainment of many revolutionary achievements under the leadership of Fatah, what is Your Excellency’s opinion of our brothers who are resisting in the entrenchments and in the occupied lands?

Reply: In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. My first and last opinion about our steadfast and militant brothers is that they should tirelessly continue in their battle because life is belief and struggle in the way of that belief. A matter about which there is no room for doubt, according to Islamic thought, is that death is better than this humiliating life. Therefore, in our present situation there is no other way but to continue to struggle with all the forces and means at our disposal, until, through the greatness of Islam, we attain glory and honour for ourselves and for future generations throughout history. "Against them make ready your strength, to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of God and your enemies." (Qur’an 8:60). "O ye who believe, if ye will aid (the cause of) God, he will aid you and plant your feet firmly." (Qur’an 47:7). "So lose not heart, nor fall into despair, for ye must gain mastery if ye are true in faith." (Qur’an 3:139). "And slacken not in following up the enemy, if ye are suffering hardships, they are suffering similar hardships; but ye have hope from God, while they have none." (Qur’an 4:104). So then, oh ye people of Fatah, turn to God for help and hasten to the imminent victory and give glad tidings to the believers.

Third question: Would you please give your respected opinion on the culminating armed struggle taking place in the holy land of Palestine and the barbaric measures taken by the Zionists against the Arab and Muslim nation so that our Muslim people in all the countries will muster their material and spiritual forces and eventually take part in the holy war.

Reply: In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. As I pointed out earlier, under the circumstances facing Islam and the Muslims at the moment, this is a matter of duty. After submitting to the holy laws of Islam, I know of no matter which is more obligatory for the Muslims than rising up in defence at the cost of one’s life and property for the sake of Islam. When you see the blood of your innocent brothers and sisters flowing in the holy lands of Palestine, and when you witness our lands being destroyed at the hands of the destructive Zionists, under these circumstances there is no way other than to continue the holy war and it is the duty of every Muslim to render material and morale support. And God is the supporter of this intent.

Fourth question: At present, when the hands of the Zionists have infiltrated all the vital affairs of the Muslim country of Iran, what, in Your Excellency’s opinion, is the best method the Muslim nation in Iran can adopt to sever the hands of Zionism?

Reply: In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. The best way is for the Muslim people of Iran to strive with all the means at their disposal to stop doing business completely with Zionists in Iran and elsewhere. They should break their spirit and render them helpless materially, they should restrict their opportunities and embark on an economic struggle against them. They should fight against them in other areas too so that eventually they will be forced to sever all their relations with Iran and with the Muslim people there. Consequently, the Iranian nation can then place all its material and spiritual resources at the disposal of these freedom fighters. These painful circumstances make it necessary for all Muslims to use all their forces to free the occupied lands and wreak vengeance on the occupiers. And God guarantees success.

There is no room for doubt on one point, and that is this is the duty of each individual Muslim, even those Muslims in the farthest reaches of the Islamic world, just as it is the duty of the Muslim people of Palestine. The Muslims are like a hand which is held up in front of anything that is against them and all share the same responsibilities. Disunion and racism have no place here and nothing places one Islamic nation above another except piety and devoutness. "Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous," (Qur’an 49:13). "For us God sufficeth, and He is the best disposer of affairs," (Qur’an 3:173).

Imam’s interview with representatives from al-Fatah about assisting the al-Fatah guerrillas. September/October 1968 (Mehr 1347 AHS). Sahifa-yi Nur, Vol. 1, pp. 136-137.

I have also pointed this out before that the usurper government of Israel, with the aims that it has, poses a great danger to Islam and the Muslim countries. There is reason to fear that if the Muslims give them (the Israelis) a respite, they will lose their opportunity and stopping them will be impossible. Since the potential danger is to the very foundations of Islam, it is incumbent on the Muslim governments in particular and Muslims in general to repulse this source of corruption in whatever way possible and not to neglect helping the defenders. It is permitted for them to use money from the zakat funds and other alms to carry out this vitally important task. I ask God the Most High to prepare the motives for the rousing and awakening of the Muslims and to repel the evil of the enemies of Islam from the Muslim lands.

Imam’s reply to a letter from a group of freedom-fighters, dated August 28, 1968 (Shahrivar 6, 1347 AHS). Sahifa-yi Nur, Vol. 1, pp. 144-145.

Boycott of Israel

You have no knowledge of the dreams they have for these countries. I have repeatedly brought the danger posed by the government of Israel and its agents to the attention of the nation and have told them they must adopt a policy of passive resistance towards them and avoid doing business with them.

Imam’s telegram, July/August 1970 (Murdad 1349 AHS). Sahifa-yi Nur, Vol. 1, p. 155.

Calling on the Muslims to defend the Palestinian fighters

And then, at the head of all these disasters there is Palestine. Difference of opinions and the mercenary nature of some of the leaders of Islamic countries have not given the seven hundred million Muslims of the world the chance nor the possibility, despite their wealth, minerals and other natural resources, to sever the hands of imperialism and Zionism and to limit foreign influence. Selfishness, servitude and the surrender by some Arab governments to direct foreign influence have prevented the tens of millions of Arabs from freeing Palestine from Israeli occupation and usurpation.

Everyone must know that the goal of the great powers in creating Israel does not end with the occupation of Palestine. They are planning to make all the Arab countries share in Palestine’s fate, God forbid. Today, we are spectators of the Palestinian combatants’ struggle in their holy war (jihad) to place the destiny of Palestine into the hands of the Palestinians; we are onlookers as these freedom fighters take their lives in their hands and bravely rise up in holy war against occupation and aggression and to free Palestine and the occupied lands; we are spectators of that which the hands of the imperialist appointees did to these freedom fighters yesterday in Jordan and what they are doing to them today in Lebanon; we are spectators of the propaganda that is instigated by the imperialist appointees and the machinations that are carried out by them, in various ways, all with the aim of distancing the Muslim groups from the Palestinian combatants and of throwing the battle out of the strategic areas - for it would have given them a prime opportunity to deal a serious blow to the forces of Israel and Zionism, this usurping enemy.

Under such circumstances, do the Muslims and the heads of the Islamic states not have a duty and a responsibility before God? Morally and rationally are they not obliged to help? Is it right that the Palestinian freedom fighters be massacred by imperialist appointees in areas under imperialist sway while others remain silent in the face of this crime and even collaborate and conspire together to throw this freedom-bestowing jihad out of its most suitable and strategic zone? Do not the Arab governments and the Muslim residents of this region know that with the annihilation of this jihad, the other Arab countries will not be safe and secure from the malevolence of this perverse enemy?

Today, in order to safeguard their own independence, it is necessary for all Muslims in general and the Arab regimes and governments in particular to devotedly aid and support this group of fighters and not to spare any effort in supplying them with arms and provisions. The self-sacrificing fighters must continue resolutely and earnestly, by relying on God and holding fast to the teachings of the Qur’an, to reach their holy aim. They should not despair because of the indifference or apathy of some elements nor let this deal a blow to their zeal for freedom. It should be emphasised that relations between these fighters and the people of the areas where they are active must be based on Islamic brotherhood and good conduct.

I ask all aware, vigilant and far-sighted Muslims, especially God’s pure servants and the learned `ulama, to beseech God during these blessed days to help the Muslims free themselves from the perverse rule of imperialism. In the gatherings of the holy month of Ramadan, and other great Islamic gatherings such as Friday Prayers and hajj strive to make the truth known to all Muslims and invite the people to follow the (teachings of the) Qur’an which call for everyone to unite. Join hands to liberate Palestine and resolve the destructive problems with which the entire Islamic world is grappling. I ask God, the Most Great, to sever the hands of foreigners from Muslim lands. And He is the listener and the acceptor.

Imam’s message calling for support for Palestine, 10 November 1972 (19 Aban 1351 AHS). Sahifa-yi Nur, Vol. 1, p. 193.

Close ranks in order to destroy Israel

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

"And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out," (Qur’an 2:191). "And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression," (Qur’an 2:193).

Now that the usurping government of Israel has begun to excite more disturbances, to encroach further on Arab lands, to stretch out usurping hands against the ones on the side of right and fan the flames of war for the umpteenth time, and now that our Muslim brothers have taken their lives in their hands and are fighting on the fields of battle, the fields of honour, to root out this source of corruption and to free Palestine, it is incumbent on all governments of Islamic countries, and especially the Arab governments, to mobilise all their forces and with trust in God the Exalted and reliance on His everlasting power come to the aid of the self-sacrificing men who are fighting on the front lines and are looking optimistically to the Islamic nation for help. They should waste no time and join in this holy war to liberate Palestine and revive the glory, honour and greatness of Islam. They should refrain from destructive and weakening disagreements and discord, extend the hand of brotherhood to one another, close ranks and organise themselves. They should not be afraid of the frail power of the defenders of Zionism and Israel, nor deluded or subdued by the vain promises and idle threats of the great powers. They should avoid apathy and procrastination as this will lead to ignoble defeat and dangerous consequences.

The heads of the Islamic countries should be aware that this germ of corruption which has been planted in the heart of the Islamic countries has not been put there merely to suppress the Arab nation, rather it is dangerous and harmful to the Middle East region as a whole. The plan is for the domination and supremacy of Zionism over the Islamic world and the further colonisation of the rich lands and abundant resources of the Islamic countries. Only through self-sacrifice, perseverance and the unity of the Muslim governments can freedom from the evil of this black incubus of colonialism be found. If one government fails to act as it should in this vital matter which now faces Islam, then it is incumbent upon the other Muslim governments to persuade it to co-operate through reproaches, threats and the severing of relations. It is the duty of the governments of Islamic oil-producing countries to use their oil and the other means they have at their disposal as weapons against Israel and the imperialists, and to refuse to sell their oil to governments supporting Israel.

Imam’s message, 7 November 1973 (16 Aban 1352 AHS). Sahifa-yi Nur, Vol. 1, p. 209.

Giving Israeli agents control is an act of treason against the country

The creation of military, communication and espionage bases for foreigners contravenes the Constitution. Giving foreigners and their vile agents, amongst them Israel, control of the best lands in the country and stopping the nation from using them constitute a breach of constitutional law and an act of treason against the country.