Iranians across the country celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Thursday, April 11, 2024, praying for individual, familial, social, and national needs with hearts full of faith and with eagerness to serve the Almighty. The magnificent Eid al-Fitr prayer was held at the Tehran Prayer Ground and the surrounding streets of the capital. It was led by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Imam Khamenei and was attended by a large gathering of the faithful.
In the first sermon of the prayer, Ayatollah Imam Khamenei extended his greetings to the Islamic ummah and the entire Iranian nation on the auspicious occasion of Eid al-Fitr. He described Ramadan as the month where there are showers of divine mercy. He said, "This year, the Iranian people made utmost use of the bountiful divine banquet (of Ramadan) and, to the best of their abilities and capacities, celebrated the beginning of the (Persian) new year in tandem with the spirituality of the blessed month of Ramadan."
He pointed out that one of the remarkable features of this year's Ramadan was that displays of Quranic recitation across the country had become more prominent and highlighted the role of the national media in presenting this great advancement and shining reality. He said, "The gatherings of dhikr (remembrance), supplication, humility, and whispered invocations, especially during the nights of Qadr, made this year's Ramadan more beautiful and desirable."
The Leader of the Revolution emphasised the importance of preserving the spiritual treasures of Ramadan for the general public, especially for the youth. He added, "By divine grace, young people tend towards religiosity, and this is a great opportunity for the country."
Ayatollah Khamenei considered fasting to be a fundamental matter. Speaking about situations where it was not observed in certain public spaces, he said, "The Islamic system does not seek to compel anyone to be religious forcibly, but certainly, when faced with public behaviour that goes against traditional etiquette, disregard for them will not be tolerated. Officials, the general public, and those who encourage good and discourage evil must fulfil their duties."
In the second sermon of the prayer, the Leader of the Revolution said that the bloody events in Gaza have led to a feeling of bitterness among Muslim nations during the month of Ramadan. He pointed to the continuing crimes of the oppressive Zionist regime during the blessed month. He added, "Because of its inability to confront the resistance, this evil regime kills children in the arms of their mothers, patients in hospitals, and shamelessly martyrs tens of thousands of men, women, children, and youth in front of the eyes of the world."
He strongly condemned the military, political, and economic support Western governments have given to the Zionists, especially by the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom. He said, "These governments have shown the evil nature of Western civilisation to the world in the case of Gaza. Of course, critics of Western civilisation, including ourselves, have repeatedly said that the essence of this civilisation is its hostility towards moral and human values. The performance of governments supporting the bogus Zionist regime for the six months of the Gaza atrocities has highlighted this reality."
Referring to the claims by the West to be the defenders of human rights, Ayatollah Khamenei asked, "Are not the thirty thousand or so innocent and defenceless martyrs of Gaza human beings? Then why is there no voice being heard from the West about them?"
The Leader spoke about the attack by the savage regime on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. He said, "According to international norms, an attack on the consulate or embassy of any country is considered an attack on the soil of that country, and the vile Zionist regime must and will be punished for this crime."
He said that the Iranian nation mourned the martyrs of the Zionist attack and mentioned the martyrs Zahedi and Rahimi and their companions, stating, "Indeed, these people whom we hold dear, spent years striving for martyrdom, and God rewarded their efforts and made them successful."
The Leader of the Revolution also mentioned that the nation was mourning the martyrdom of the security forces in Sistan and Baluchestan as well. He said, "These dear young people sacrificed their lives to safeguard the security of the nation and its borders, and we hope that God will give success to the nation in all its endeavours."
The Leader's final recommendation in the Eid al-Fitr prayers stressed unity. He said, "Everyone; the youth, political and social activists, and media figures should know that the success of the nation lies in unity. Of course, political and non-political differences are not a problem, but conflict, division, and creating artificial rifts are detrimental to the religion, the nation, and weaken the country."