Today’s world with all its different types of information and data, is like a small village which is capable of reflecting, in the shortest period of time, the smallest and biggest of peripheral problems, and make apparent all our social, political, and cultural actions and reactions; but this same village with all its grandeur and glory which it has accommodated in itself, is still left incapable of depicting a picture of history, and national and religious identity of the people. It has even been seen that, in some occasions, the information presented for the new generation and the non-Islamic world has been accompanied with confused, disorderly, and conflicting thoughts. This trend of the exchange of information and various movements should be combined with what there is and take advantage of the synthesis of tradition and modernity, and not get digested and devoured in the age of globalization, and put to good use all the capabilities and possibilities of the electronic world and the written history of nations.

With this same perspective, looking at today’s world where written text has given way to the electronic kind, and books have not as yet found their way into the Iranian families’ shopping baskets, we should abstain from excessive talk and instead, attend to problems which can help us comprehend the roots of human thought with a single glance. It is on this same basis that the Cultural and Publications Office of the fiq’h-ul-Thaqualain Institute, with respect for all that has taken form in the abstract world of today’s young generation and while safeguarding the eternal inheritance of the glorious history of the Shiite and the learned and freedom-seeking scholars, has engaged in the compilation and arrangement of what is an extract of the thoughts of the modern thinker and religious authority, His Excellency, grand Ayatollah Saanei, and in line with this movement, attend to what has been the thoughts of this religious leader familiar with the suffering of man, and particularly after years of study and being in the discipleship of Ayatollah Khomeini (PBUH) and practicing in the history of religion and religious studies, all these valuable achievements has been put together and presented as a summarized collection for the lovers of knowledge and freedom. While we were preparing this collection, we were reminded of a phrase from His Excellency who said, “Whenever, in today’s rough and unstable world, loneliness fills my whole being, when I see that some people, being led by hypocrites, attack the splendor of the Islamic civilization and Shiism, and see religion as a source of terror and terrorism, pain overtakes my whole being. At such moments, I am reminded of God and the innocent Shiite Imams; reminded of the men and women throughout history who have struggled and showed patience but have not surrendered, and have directed criticism at all the powers. In the storm of events, it is only the thought of God and the Peacemaker, who will come and will bring justice, peace, and humanity with his coming that makes me calm and reassures me.

I think to myself, in the face of all that self sacrifice of our ancestors, what can be done by me? I must either be silent or, in some manner, make my voice be heard by the entire world, that the reality of Islam is not what you hear and has been depicted for you. On the other hand, I have no executive power, and am deprived of any specific tribune. So, what should be done? I have reached the conclusion that in my contacts with scholars and the media, lawyers, and those who seek freedom and those who are interested, I should talk of Islam, awareness, and liberty; talk of the beauty and delicacy of religion; say that, from the Islamic point of view, men irrespective of status, color, race and doctrine are equal in that they are all human beings.”

His Excellency continued, “In the storm of events, it is only the thought of God and the Peacemaker, who will come and who will bring peace, justice, and humanity, that makes me calm, and it is only with this sense that I say to all visitors that the Peacemaker and liberator of the world is one who will lead the world and our rationality to perfection and one who will realize the ideals of humanity. He is the one who will bring our hearts closer to each other and like the Honorable Prophet of Islam who is known as “Mercy to the nations,” He will bring for us the gift of mercy, peace of mind, love, and humanity.

This Shiite man of religion is a modern thinker and while reminding us of his pains, sufferings, and worries, ratifies this kind of work and has given us His blessings as we tread this path. We, in turn, with the same thought and sense of responsibility, have set out arranging and putting together this collection. It should be mentioned that the sources used by this office, have been the interviews, lectures, and Out-of-Text Discussion (OTD) courses of His Excellency, Ayatollah Saanei, which exist in the office of this institute. We hope that, in our future editions, any shortcomings will be overcome, and with studying His thoughts in other fields, we may be able to present a more complete collection.

We hope that Moslem and non-Moslem men and women and especially the young generation, while becoming familiar with His Excellency’s perspectives, learn more about the world of deception and illusion of the enemies of Islam and humanity, and day after day, get closer to the high and clear horizons of Islam.

The Publications and Cultural office of

Fiq’h-ul-Thaqualain Institute

October, 2008