An Islam That Remains Silent Against Tyranny Is Not True Islam
In his Friday prayer sermons at the Imam Khomeini Grand Prayer Grounds, Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, the Interim Friday Prayer Leader of Tehran, emphasized that Islam which remains silent in the face of oppression, corruption, and arrogance is not genuine Islam.
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"True Islam is the pure Mohammadan Islam—a faith that embodies mercy, decisiveness, and rationality," he stated, warning against what he described as a “Westernized” interpretation of Islam promoted under the guise of "compassionate Islam."
On Economic Pressure and the Prophet’s Example
Ayatollah Khatami drew parallels between the economic siege imposed on Iran and the historical blockade faced by the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in early Islam, asserting that such tactics have always failed against the faithful.
He quoted Surah Al-Anfal (8:36) and Surah Al-Munafiqun (63:7) to argue that those who conspire to weaken the Muslim community through economic warfare will ultimately face defeat, as did the enemies of Islam in the past.
"Trump’s so-called maximum pressure campaign is not new. The same strategy was used by the enemies of the Prophet—and they were humiliated," he said, urging officials and citizens to confront the challenge through "Jihad with wealth" —a concept encompassing economic resilience, transparent governance, and public sacrifice.
Military, Economic, and Media War
The cleric described the current situation as a "multi-layered hybrid war" against Iran, encompassing military aggression, economic sanctions, media disinformation, and cultural subversion.
He condemned the killing of civilians in recent Israeli strikes, including 168 schoolchildren, calling the attacks "cowardly and lawless."
"The enemy commits one act of aggression and receives multiple responses—and our armed forces are fully ready to deliver them," he said, praising the military for responding with "honor and chivalry."
Defense of the "We Can" Spirit and Islamic Governance
Ayatollah Khatami reiterated the need to uphold the "We Can" culture, warning against any rhetoric that signals weakness or despair, which he said emboldens the enemy.
He defended the integration of religion and politics—a foundational principle of the Islamic Revolution—quoting Imam Khomeini’s rejection of the "separation of religion and politics" as a colonial plot to disengage Muslims from their destiny.
Citing Imam Ali (AS) and Imam Hussein (AS), he added: "Political struggle has always been an integral part of religious duty. The blood of martyrs, from Imam Ali to Imam Hussein, was shed in the path of justice and resistance against tyranny."
Refuting the "Rahmani Islam" Narrative
In a pointed section of his address, Ayatollah Khatami criticized a discourse circulating in some circles under the label "Rahmani Islam" (Compassionate Islam).
"Some promote a term that sounds Islamic but is rooted in Western liberalism. It is neither Islamic nor compassionate—it is an Islam without substance," he said.
He distinguished between that concept and the "Pure Mohammadan Islam," which he described as combining compassion with strength and wisdom.
