Message from Dr. Ghulam Ali Haddad Adel, speaker of the Iranian Majlis to the 37th Annual Convention of the MSAPSG
In the name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

I take this opportunity to congratulate you all on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Ghadeer which coincides with this year's 37th annual MSAPSG convention.

I would like to convey my gratitude for sponsoring this year's convention. The Muslim Student Association of the U.S. and Canada, which has a long reputation, is a legacy of the great faithful believing mo'mins such as Martyr Dr. Mostafa Chamran, who was a great personality with a strong will to carry out lofty goals which were apparent in the arena of the Islamic Revolution and made the Iranian people proud. The passage of time has made evident the righteousness of these founders more than ever. Truthfully it is clearer than day that mankind's need for faith in God and morality increases day by day and ideas such as peace and security which the West claims to be defenders of, are products of a metaphorical "ethics tree" and such a tree must be nourished by the foundations of faith. If the tree is not nourished as such, it will wilt; just as in today's world we see the decay in decency and morality.

Dear friends, sisters and brothers, sixteen years ago on an invitation from you, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend one of your spirited gatherings and had the chance to meet and speak to you all and your respected families face to face. Today, with the unforgettable memories of that spiritual environment in mind, I would like to take the opportunity to bring your attention to a few principle points.

1)Unlike the previous century, in which the Muslim world suffered setbacks due to lack of power and to an identity crisis which was spurred by the deceiving traits of western civilization, this century can be characterized as one of awakening for Muslims worldwide.
2)The most important sign of this is that Muslims have become more self-censoring, searching for their lost identity. Not only do they wish to maintain their faith on an individual level, they also wish to achieve an Islamic society-a society which encompasses Islamic principles and values in all facets and dimensions of social life.
3)The most visible and main dimension of such an Islamic society is the existence of an Islamic government. Muslims in today's world have become more aware and understand that preserving faith on a personal level may not actually be impossible in a non-Islamic environment, but it is quite challenging. Thus a truly Islamic society cannot be achieved without Islamic governance.
4)The Islamic Revolution of Iran, under the auspices of the knowledgeable and respected scholar Imam Khomeini (RA), was victorious and today continues under the guidance of Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Spiritual Leader. The revolution is the best example of the sole will and power of the Muslim masses of the world to achieve Islamic governance. The people of the Islamic nation of Iran are proud to be at the forefront of such a feat and stand prepared to sacrifice life and livelihood for the sake of Allah in an effort to enlighten Muslims around the world.
5)Our goal-particularly the youth and the faithful intellectuals-should be to learn a lesson from the injustice and political, social, and cultural upheavals and immoral corruption of today's world. We must latch unto Islam, the Holy Quran, and attempt to stand up in order to reestablish an Islamic civilization based on our culture, beliefs, and our holy commandments.
6)Now is the time to appreciate the opportunity which is present. We must unite to leave aside out personal desires and satanic temptations and use all our power and strength with the force of faith and science and knowledge to support in the establishment of this Islamic civilization and work to strengthen this previously-lit beacon of light. It is also important to note that each of us is responsible to defend the new-found, blessed, and invigorating Islamic awareness, which today is being relentlessly attacked under false premises and manipulated with sophisticated stratagems.


Today, in this convention in which three generations-past, present, and future-are gathered together, there is room for everyone to keep in mind the following holy verse of Quran:

Say: I exhort you only to one thing, that rise up for Allah's sake in twos and singly, then ponder: there is no madness in your fellow-citizen; he is only a warner to you before a severe chastisement. (Sura Saba, 46)

Let us ask Allah to soften our hearts toward one-another and make us amongst the followers of the path of those Muslims who have preserved this pure religion with their sacrifices and jihad during the past fourteen centuries.

There is still room for all of us-from the bottom of our hearts to recite this truthful verse:

"And those who come after them say: Our Lord! Forgive us and those of our brethren who had precedence of us in faith, and do not allow any spite to remain in our hearts towards those who believe, our Lord! Surely Thou art Kind, Merciful." (Sura Hashr, 10)