TEHRAN -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has described prayer as a lasting source of strength in confronting “the worldly devils,” stressing its wider role in strengthening society and supporting people in times of struggle.
In a Thursday message to a local conference focusing on Islamic prayer, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined the importance of establishing prayer and holding the annual conference, noting that the practice is among the 

essential responsibilities of an Islamic society.
“Prayer is one of the most beautiful great blessings of Almighty God, the highest institution, symbol and pillar of religion, and the connecting thread through which each of us establishes a close and direct relationship with the infinite and everlasting divine source,” he said.
The Leader described prayer as an “elixir of prosperity and salvation” and a pillar of a wholesome life.
“This elixir of prosperity and salvation and pillar of a wholesome life is both a firm, continuous support and an inexhaustible reserve for human beings in the struggle against the carnal self and worldly devils,” he said.
He added that prayer also provides a source of hope and tranquility. “It is also a flowing spring of love, hope, kindness and peace,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding that divine blessings and abundance in sustenance are attained and increased through establishing prayer and seeking forgiveness.
He stressed that prayer should not be viewed merely as an individual obligation, citing Qur’anic teachings that establishing prayer was also a defining feature of righteous governance.
He linked the teaching to the struggle faced by Iran today, saying the placement of the verse after the Qur’anic promise of divine support for God’s followers and their struggle demonstrates the role of prayer in perseverance and victory.
“The establishment of prayer, as a stronghold of the remembrance of God, hope and trust in Him, has a special role in jihad, victory and triumph in the fields of struggle, particularly the field of struggle that the Iranian nation faces today,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian people are now more than ever addressed by the repeated divine command to “establish prayer.”
He called on families, educators, religious institutions, universities, cultural organizations and public figures to assume greater responsibility for promoting prayer, particularly among young people.
The Leader said making prayer widespread and institutionalized, followed by a collective effort to perform it properly, are key to advancing an Islamic society. He also pointed to the importance of mosques and congregational prayers, saying these are necessary steps toward increasing participation and improving the quality of communal worship.