Hawzah News Agency- Hojatoleslam Rousta-Azad made the remarks while attending a popular nighttime rally in Qom's Shahid Mahallati Square, where he underscored the elevated status of public presence in political and cultural arenas, calling it an act of "divine worship" and a means of humiliating the enemies.
Honoring the Martyrs and Imam Khomeini's Model: Standing Firm Against American Arrogance
The deputy for cultural affairs paid tribute to the high spirit and spiritual vitality of the participants in these gatherings, honoring the memory of Imam Khomeini, the Supreme Leader, and the nation's martyrs.
Recalling the difficult early days of the Islamic Revolution, he stated: "We remember the beloved Imam who taught us steadfastness and resistance. In a time when we had no missiles, no drones, and no capability to control the Strait of Hormuz, Imam Khomeini, relying on trust in God, declared: 'America cannot do a damn thing.'"
The faculty member of the Research Institute for Islamic Sciences and Culture added: "We also remember the Supreme Leader, who time and again, in his illuminating words, has humiliated global arrogance and America. We honor the memory of the dear military and security martyrs who sacrificed their pure blood for the dignity and independence of this Islamic homeland."
A Quranic Interpretation of Public Presence: 'Enraging the Disbelievers' as a Righteous Deed
Hojatoleslam Rousta-Azad challenged the perception that public presence has little impact, presenting two fundamental reasons from the Quran for its significance: the concept of "righteous deeds" in Surah At-Tawbah and the "qualities of the Prophet's companions" in Surah Al-Fath.
Citing verse 120 of Surah At-Tawbah—"Nor do they tread on any ground that enrages the disbelievers except that it is recorded for them as a righteous deed"—he stated: "Almighty God, twice in the Holy Quran, describes any action that provokes the anger of the enemy as a 'righteous deed.' This means every step you take on the path of truth, every slogan you chant, and every flag you wave that causes distress and anger among the disbelievers is recorded with God and carries the reward of a righteous act."
Hojatoleslam Rousta-Azad continued: "This presence reassures our commanders and military leaders. It gives confidence to the country's diplomatic apparatus that a powerful popular backing exists. Therefore, we must never consider our presence as low in value or lacking in impact."
Referring to the concluding verses of Surah Al-Fath, the deputy outlined the qualities of the companions of the Holy Prophet, saying: "In the Torah and the Gospel, these companions are described as those who are 'merciful among themselves' and 'firm against the disbelievers.' What is the ultimate purpose of these qualities? God states at the end of the verse: 'So that the disbelievers may be enraged through them.'"
He emphasized: "The outcome of bowing, prostration, steadfastness, and the description of the Prophet's companions in the divine scriptures is the enraging of the enemy—exactly what you are doing tonight. Therefore, these gatherings are a manifestation of the qualities of the supporters of truth, and we must not view them as a simple or temporary act."
The Civilizational and Global Dimension of Resistance: Iran Stands for Eight Billion People
Moving beyond individual and devotional dimensions, Hojatoleslam Rousta-Azad addressed the civilizational and global aspect of these movements, stating: "Our work is not low in effect, small, or temporary. The great, mature, and discerning nation of Iran stands on behalf of all humanity, on behalf of the world's eight billion people, against the bully and global arrogance."
He added: "All the oppressed of the world, all those with a partially awakened conscience, rejoice at these gatherings. They are happy that the Iranian nation is standing against coercion and arrogance. So take pride and honor in the fact that you are standing and resisting under the banner of the Islamic Republic, under the banner of the dear Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei."
A Quranic Analysis of the Qualities of the Supporters of Truth: Avoiding Weakness, Frailty, and Humiliation
In another segment of his address, Hojatoleslam Rousta-Azad analyzed verse 146 of Surah Aal-e-Imran: "And how many a prophet fought, alongside whom many devoted men fought. They did not waver for what befell them in the way of God, nor did they weaken, nor did they humble themselves. And God loves the steadfast."
He outlined three fundamental qualities of the "Rabbiyyun"—the true and divine companions of the prophets—to whom humanity owes its standing, stressing that the steadfastness of prophets and their followers forms the foundation of today's human knowledge and conscience.
The deputy for cultural affairs explained: "The first quality is the 'absence of wavering.' As stated in the verse, 'They did not waver'—despite the injuries, blows, and hardships endured in the path of God, they never became shaky or hesitant. The second quality is the 'absence of showing weakness'—despite limitations, such as the absence of today's advanced tools, they never considered themselves helpless or incapable, nor did they claim they could not make progress. The third quality is 'refusing humiliation'—they did not bend before tyrants, nor did they become abject."
Referencing the context of this verse's revelation and the account of Imam Ali following the Battle of Uhud, he noted: "Despite sustaining multiple physical wounds, Imam Ali, upon hearing of Abu Sufyan's intention to attack Medina, immediately readied himself for jihad. This is the very spirit that God describes in the continuation of the verse with the phrase: 'And God loves the steadfast.'"
Hojatoleslam Rousta-Azad clarified: "In the Quranic definition, a truly patient person is not one who merely exercises passive patience. Rather, the truly steadfast is one who does not waver, does not view himself as weak, does not become humiliated, and instead remains strong, resolute, and dignified. The Iranian nation today, following the path of the Ahl al-Bayt, is moving precisely in this direction and, by relying on these three guarantees, has preserved its dignity and perseverance."
The People Shall Be Resurrected: An Illuminating Expression from the Martyr Leader
Hojatoleslam Rousta-Azad, citing the words of the Supreme Leader, recalled the beautiful expression "the people shall be resurrected," stating: "If all of us had gathered and sought to choose a title for these people who have been on the streets for more than seventy nights, we could never have found anything more beautiful or comprehensive than this. God has resurrected these people, and they will set things right."
Pointing to recent developments and the foreign trips of the US president, he added: "Every day, we witness the increasing humiliation of the superpowers. The contradictory statements before and after Trump's trip to Beijing, the successive votes in America, and the internal divisions of the enemy all indicate the gradual collapse of the front of disbelief. The superpower that claimed dominance now finds itself sinking deeper into humiliation with each passing day."
It is worth noting that following his address, Hojatoleslam Rousta-Azad, after participating in the congregational prayer of supplication, toured the various booths set up by the Martyr Salehi Khansari Propagation Group—one of the active propagation teams operating under the Deputy for Cultural Affairs, Propagation, and New Media at the Islamic Propagation Office—and was briefed on the cultural and outreach activities being carried out.
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