Snippets from Ayatollah Khamenei's sermons during Friday prayers in Tehran

By Alireza Hashemi

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei led the congregational Friday prayers in the capital Tehran for the first time in five years, attended by more than a million people from different parts of the country.

The prayers followed two sermons in which the Leader made a passionate call for Muslim unity in the face of continued genocidal crimes by the apartheid Israeli regime in Gaza and Lebanon backed by the United States.

Ayatollah Khamenei told the massive gathering that Muslims face a common enemy and warned that failure to support those oppressed and subjugated by this enemy could only exacerbate the suffering of Muslims worldwide. 

In the second sermon delivered in Arabic and addressed to Arabic-speaking people in Lebanon and Palestine, Leader of the Islamic Revolution paid rich tribute to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by the Israeli regime last week in the southern suburb of Beirut. 

He lauded the extraordinary resistance shown by Hezbollah and Hamas, despite the loss of key leaders and amid continued aggression by the Zionist entity.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution also commended Iranian armed forces for the retaliatory military operation against the Zionist entity, calling it a "brilliant work." 

The historic Friday prayers in Tehran came a week after the martyrdom of the Hezbollah chief and his associates and three days after Iran's retaliatory military operation that targeted key Israeli military installations in the occupied territories. 

Here are important snippets from Ayatollah Khamenei's Friday sermons:

First sermon:

• If Muslims are united, they can access God’s unlimited power and benefit from divine principles that favor them.
• Quranic teachings emphasize that Muslims have velayat, or guardianship, over one another. When Muslims stand united and cohesive, they can overcome all obstacles and defeat their enemies.
• This unity counters the strategies employed by adversaries who seek to divide the Muslim Ummah through various deceptive tactics. However, Muslims are becoming increasingly aware, and the collective strength of the Muslim nation can prevail against such deceit.
• The enemy of the Muslim world is also the enemy of Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Yemen, and other nations. This enemy employs diverse methods to dominate Muslim countries—sometimes through diplomacy and sometimes with military force or economic sanctions. Yet it remains a singular adversary.
• If this enemy can conquer one nation using these tactics, it will inevitably target others. To resist this pressure, nations must remain vigilant and support those under attack.
• Muslims have long neglected their struggle against this enemy, resulting in significant consequences.
• Islamic defensive rulings outline our responsibilities, while international law establishes our objectives: every nation has the right to defend its territory against aggressors.
• This means that the Palestinian people have the right to resist those who have destroyed their homes and farmland—a fact recognized by many.
• No international tribunal or organization has the authority to challenge Palestinians in their fight against the Zionist regime.
• Likewise, no entity can criticize Hezbollah for supporting the Palestinian uprising; such actions align with Islamic principles, wisdom, and logic.
• All recent attacks, particularly Operation al-Aqsa Storm, represent legitimate and lawful actions taken by Palestinians in self-defense against ongoing aggression.
• The courageous support of the Lebanese people for Gazans is equally logical and legitimate. Furthermore, Iran's Operation True Promise II was entirely legal and justified.
• The actions of our armed forces were a necessary response to the horrific atrocities committed by the Zionist regime—America's "rabid dog" in the region.
• The Islamic Republic of Iran will decisively and resolutely fulfill its responsibilities in this matter. We will neither procrastinate nor rush in executing these duties.
• What is logical will be acted upon at the appropriate time, and future actions will be taken as deemed necessary by Iran.

Second sermon:

• The loss of the shining jewel of Lebanon, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, is a profound tragedy. He played a pivotal role in reviving hope and inspiring others through his indomitable spirit and will.
• The essence of our mourning for Nasrallah mirrors our mourning for Imam Hussein; it revives, inspires, and fosters hope. His spirit and will remain with us forever.
• Nasrallah was a steadfast supporter of those who fought for righteousness, encouraging their efforts.
• He nurtured Hezbollah like a seed that has flourished into a powerful force, igniting faith and resisting adversaries.
• The assassination of Nasrallah represents an accumulation of sacrifices; however, rather than weakening us, such losses have strengthened our resolve.
• It is incumbent upon all Muslims to defend against resource usurpation and confront America's role in safeguarding its entity's security.
• The Zionists and Americans are deluded in their belief that their entity will remain stable. The Zionist regime is inherently unstable, relying heavily on American support which has only exacerbated its challenges.
• The regime's expenditures on aid from America and Western countries stand in stark contrast to its limited achievements.
• America's focus on preserving this entity's security is part of its broader policy aimed at controlling regional resources. Yet they have ultimately failed.
• The clear evidence of this failure lies in billions spent bombing Gaza and Lebanon over the past year—achievements that amount to nothing more than destruction of schools, hospitals, and homes.
• Iran experienced the assassination of prominent revolutionary figures during the 1980s; each one was a pillar of the revolution. Losing them was a significant blow; however, despite these losses, the march of the revolution intensified and resistance continued to grow stronger.
• The criminal regime ruling the occupied territories has made no progress over the past year and has reached a point where its primary concern is merely preserving its existence.
• The main challenge in the region is foreign interference. Regional countries should be dedicated to establishing peace and security. Achieving this noble goal requires sustained efforts.

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