The late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, would set out the main guidelines for the Iranian community of clerics during the eight-year (1980-88) Iraqi-imposed war as the country’s leader, said a war veteran who has also been wounded in action.
Hojjatoleslam Mohammad-Mehdi Mandegari, who is also a cleric, added Imam Khomeini was the greatest cleric of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the chief source of religious emulation, who would help constantly lift “our spirits”.
At that time, he said, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, as Imam Khomeini’s representative, would transfer Imam’s messages to the country’s clerics during the Sacred Defense and help them comprehend their profound meanings.
Following Imam Khomeini’s departure in June 3, 1989, Hojjatoleslam Mandegari noted, Ayatollah Khamenei, by saying wisely that “the defense still continues”, called on Iranian clerics to assume all the roles and responsibilities of the hard war era following the Sacred Defense’s end and perform them in the field of the soft war.
He expressed hope that the Iranian community of clerics would appreciate its value, position and responsibilities during the present era of the enemy-imposed soft and economic wars.
Turning to his memories and experiences of the Iraqi-imposed war, Hojjatoleslam Mandegari noted that clerics played three important roles at that time.
He said their first role was motivating the Iranian youths and soldiers to go to the battleground and encouraging and empowering people to support them at the war front.
Their second role was raising the soldiers’ spirits through reminding them of the value of their efforts and sacrifices and the rewards for their bravery, Hojjatoleslam Mandegari added.
He noted that the third role was raising the society’s spiritual awareness.
The above is provided by the Congress to Commemorate Clerics Martyred in the Iraqi-Imposed War, which will be convened on May 25, 2022, in the city of Qom.