They launched surprise attacks against us from the sea, land and air, occupied a large portion of our country, and embarked on destroying, looting our cities and killing our innocent people. This state of affairs served as a factor contributing to the quiet state and tranquility for the aggressors in our country and fear for us. Does what God Almighty say “He cast panic into their hearts, a group of whom were slain and another group taken captive.” (Quran, 33:26) not find realization in Fathal-Mubin? Does this verse “He it is Who sent down peace of reassurance into the hearts of the believers.” (Quran, 48:4) not apply to the combatants of this warfront? Was what happened in the early days of Islam and brought victory to the army of Islam different from these events? Are the over fifteen thousand captives, thousands of dead and injured and so much war booty within one week something ordinary? Is the surrender of many groups to a number of forces unmatched with the former in terms of weaponry something ordinary and natural?
O God! The young Iranian combatants consider the victories to be from You and are not proud of their power. If they display pride and exaltation, it is because they are under the favor and support of Your Sacred essence. You instilled certitude and peace in their hearts and injected fear and intimidation into the heart of their enemies, who are the enemies of Islam. O God! Everything is from you. We hope You will continue showing this favor and support upon us until the final victory and until the time Your enemies and those of Islam are fighting the army of Allah and Party of Allah and up to the establishment of the rule of God.….
Although the war and defense of the Truth and the land has caused great pains and losses, has taken our most valuable youths and left many people in the war torn regions homeless, it had magnificent merits, thanks to the beneficent God. This imposed war spread the majesty and grandeur of faith and Islam over the expanse of the world. Great Iran, which was about to turn into an affiliated consumer country, into lifeless and humiliated people ready for abandoning themselves to oppression and blows thanks to the treasons of the Pahlavi dynasty and their affiliates, was suddenly caught up in an unprecedented leap and a divine revolution involved in an undeclared war with the conspiracy of oppressive world-devourers and their uncultured mercenaries and overt and covert support of superpowers. However, the Iranian people attacked the evil figure of the army of Saddam and the region's American agents so victoriously and bravely and smashed the Satanic myths one after the other, which was reminiscent of the holy hand of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) in the Battle of Khandaq, inspiring our forces to stand unmoved in the fight between the whole of Islam against blasphemy triumphantly, proudly and with a stature as endless as eternity.
Today, Iran is reckoned with in the whole world as a country committed to the school of Islam and resisting against the big powers. Even those who have risen with enmity against this republic and its strong youths out of ignorance or envy and internal frustrations remember within their selves with wonder and greatness and are afflicted by its victories.
Although I know that being committed to genuine Islam requires that the Muslim combatants treat the war captives and refugees with affection and chivalry as they, thank God, are actually doing although Saddam and his cohorts mete out savage and inhuman treatment, it is useful to remind you and stress that our youths and those who are in charge of keeping the refugees and captives make them savor the sweet taste of Islamic mercy and magnanimity and treat them in the way that their master and mentor treated the cruelest servant of God and the most criminal man-Ibn Muljam may God's curse and damnation be upon him (so that the captives, who have suffered a spiritual blow, feel comfort and compensation in the Islamic Republic and after liberation they would join the order of preachers of Islam and possibly sacrificing for it, something that is a valuable service to Islam and the Islamic Republic. These captives and refugees have most likely been sent to warfronts with coercion and threats of death of their families, as some of them have made this claim. Do not think that the proclivity to criminality and savagery that prevailed in Saddam also exists in them. How good it would be for the dear youth and guards of these deceived ones to transform one of Saddam's follower or those involved in crimes into an Islamic one who is at the service of the holy school of Islam. Know that “whoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.” (Quran, 5:32) and guidance is the greatest manifestation of revival.
Sahifeh, vol.16, Page: 140-142
Message, March 31, 1983