The Islamic Revolution should be considered an important factor in the revival of Islamic civilization. In this regard, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran had, in a statement made on June 4, 1995, said: “The great and important message of our revolution for the Islamic Ummah and Muslim societies and nations is the revival of Islamic identity, return to Islam, and awakening of Muslims. This is the important message of our revolution to the Muslim nations, which was outlined by the great Imam (Khomeini) and Leader of this path and school of thought.

The basic and leading principles of the Islamic Revolution are the same as the religious foundations and principles of Islam, which include independence, freedom, self-awareness, negation of non-divine rule, efforts to revive the teachings of Islam, etc. It should be noted that righteousness and justice are important measures to preserve and protect the revolution against the conspiracies of enemies.

The expansion of the Qur’anic teachings, Islamic concepts, values, and knowledge, which serve as the source of salvation for the nations and the oppressed, will help a lot in arriving at the New Islamic Civilization. If the true, pure, and authentic essence of the Islamic Revolution is introduced and the nations get familiar with the enlightening facts of the Islamic Revolution, the logic and message of the Islamic Revolution will be transmitted to the societies.

The essence of Islamic civilization is based on the teachings of pure Islam and its characteristics are within the framework of Qur’anic teachings and rely on the prophetic tradition and those who continued the path of the Great Prophet of Islam (PBUH), the components of which include: religiosity, ethics, knowledge, justice, Islamic laws and regulations, national solidarity, security and peace, tolerance, maintaining unity and integrity, wisdom, and respecting the rights of the oppressed. Arriving at the New Islamic civilization requires knowledge and awareness about the capacities available in the Islamic world, the most important of which can be summarized as follows:

1- Strategic geographical position of Islamic countries

2- Cultural capacities of the Islamic world

3- Natural resources and manpower of Islamic countries and societies

4- Cultural and spiritual capitals of the Islamic world (The Holy Qur’an, common Qibla, mosques, common customs and rituals, common history and ideals, etc.)

Recognizing and confronting the factors that can weaken and make the Islamic civilization stagnant - some of which include 1) deviation from the path of pure Islam, 2) tyranny of rulers in Islamic societies, 3) sectarianism, 4) petrification or Incorrect understanding of Islamic principles and teachings, 5) Stagnation in the field of thinking and being satisfied with the achievements of the predecessors - are the inevitable necessities of moving towards a New Islamic Civilization.

From the point of view of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the ultimate goal of the Islamic Revolution is to arrive at a New Islamic Civilization, which must be achieved through the five basic stages of the Islamic Revolution, the Islamic system, the Islamic state, the Islamic society, and the Islamic Ummah. In his own words: “... there is a logical chain; the first link is the Islamic revolution, then the formation of the Islamic system, then the formation of the Islamic state, then the formation of the Islamic society, and then the formation of the Islamic Ummah (Oct. 16, 2011).

According to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, with the victory of the Islamic Revolution, a unique and exceptional situation was created for the Iranian nation and the Islamic Ummah to pave the required grounds for the formation of a new Islamic civilization.

In his statements, the Supreme Leader emphasizes these certain points: 1- An unprecedented revolution based on the teachings of Islam has taken place in Iran; 2- As a result of this revolution, a ruling system with Islamic characteristics has been formed; 3- It is necessary and the Iranian nation has tried to form a desirable Islamic government based on the Islamic system; 4- Building an Islamic state is necessary for the realization of an exemplary Islamic society; 5- The establishment of a superior Islamic civilization and unified Islamic Ummah, the absence of which is felt in today’s world, is the ultimate goal of the Islamic Revolution.

It should be noted that there are certain assumptions with regard to the process of realizing Islamic objectives:

1- The way of life that is based on Islamic teachings is the best way of life;

2- Islam is the basis of movement and the source of thought in individual and social life;

3- The goal of all the struggles of the Iranian nation in the process of the revolution is to form “Hayat-e Tayyibah” (pure Islamic life);

4- What is meant by pure Islamic life is the coexistence of this world and the hereafter in the path of the interests of the Islamic Ummah;

5-Islamic goals provide grounds for inviting and attracting people and transforming desires into lofty and idealistic desires;

6- Realization of Islamic goals requires a long and program-oriented process;

7- A road map is needed to realize the Islamic goals and the rule of the true religion.

According to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution: “Hayat-e Tayyibah” means that a nation should, on the one hand, be blessed by material and daily life, prosperity, security, knowledge, literacy, political dignity, economic independence, and financial and economic prosperity and, on the other hand, have faith, believe in God Almighty in its true sense, be pious, and abide by high divine morals.” (Oct. 14, 1995). Elsewhere he has said: “Hayat-e Tayyibah” is not merely confined to the hereafter. This is not the logic of Islam; the logic of Islam is that the life of the Islamic society should be filled with divine blessings and human beings should have material benefits in their lives and at the same time do not lose the path of spirituality and righteousness. If that kind of life comes into being, then oppression, injustice, and discrimination will be eradicated from society, violation of human rights will no longer take place, wars, and fratricide will disappear, and insecurity in human life will be reduced to zero. The prophets worked hard to actualize this kind of world.” (March 21, 2004)

From the viewpoint of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei accessing Hayat-e Tayyibah and actualization of a new Islamic civilization has five stages:

1- Undergoing the hardship of changing prevalent values, abiding by God Almighty’s instructions, and working towards progress and perfection. The aim of the Islamic Revolution was to prepare the environment for the creation of a new system, to change values, to do away with corruption, to prevail justice, to establish the Islamic Sharia law, to eliminate foreign rule, and to create a system based on Islamic thought.

2. The stage of the formation of the Islamic system, in the sense that after the victory of the Iranian nation over the tyrannical monarch regime, the formation of an Islamic system was considered that would, as stated by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, change the general geometry of this Islamic society.

In the Islamic system (religious democracy), the people choose, make decisions, and determine the destiny of the country by electing the officials, but due to divine guidance, their choice will not go astray from the straight path.

3. The formation of an Islamic government is the third stage of the establishment of an Islamic state, in such a way that the character and method of the statesmen, mechanisms, and institutions for the administration of the country are prepared on the basis of Islamic teachings.

4. The formation of the Islamic society and country is the fourth stage in the sense that rules and regulations and relations between officials and people become Islamic, in the literal sense of the word, and an exemplary country is built based on Islamic teachings.

5. The formation of the Islamic nation is the fifth stage of the formation of a new Islamic civilization. The general direction and approach of the revolution is the realization of Islamic civilization. With the formation of the Islamic society and the Islamic state, the ground is provided for the creation of the Islamic Ummah. From the point of view of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the factors that make up the Islamic civilization are faith in God and divine decrees, sincerity, and individual and social piety of the Islamic Ummah.

Keeping in view the great capacities of the Islamic world development, The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution considers the formation of a new Islamic civilization, which includes such aspects as science, invention, economy, politics, international credibility, Islamic lifestyle, unity, etc., essential and believes that the Islamic world should move towards its formation by resorting to knowledge, wisdom, prudence, and insight. He also believes that the Islamic Ummah - in addition to the common ideological characteristics such as the One God and the Holy Qur’an as well as having a common enemy - has many vast resources that can revive their strength and identity through unity and joint efforts.

According to Ayatollah Khamenei, the most important principles that should be adhered to for the formation of a new Islamic civilization include:

1- Preserving the ideals of Islam; 2- Recognizing and paying attention to the general strategies of the system (relying on Islam, avoiding oppression and being oppressed, religious democracy, etc.); 3- Idealism by keeping in view the existing realities; 4- Honoring human dignity; 5- Preserving dignity on the basis of religion, rationality, and knowledge; 6- Simultaneous progress of material, moral, and human virtues 7- Ensuring independence; 8- Advancement in science and knowledge, etc.

To summarize, it can be said that by keeping in view the existing capacities, resources, talents, etc., and with the blessings of God Almighty as well as by resorting to insight and awareness and all-round preparation on a continuous basis it is quite possible to take on the path to the realization of the new Islamic civilization. In this regard, it is up to the Muslim scholars, elites, and experts to form a think tank and through discussion and exchange of views come up with coherent opinions and pave the way for the realization of the new Islamic civilization and achievement of what is called “Hayat-e Tayyibah” for the entire Islamic world.