Imam in a historic message on June 12, 1979 said as following:
Preserve these two issues. Consolidate your faith because you are not a materialistic creature. Those who consider the human being as a materialistic creature, evaluate a person as other animals.
You are a creature who has a materialistic dimension, but more important than that is your spiritual side; you possess a divine self. You have an abstract self.
If you are at the service of God, the Most Exalted, the Most High, then your 'self' will become purged and purified and you will achieve happiness. You will embrace this happiness under any circumstances; with your purged 'self' you are victorious in your defeats, even in dying.
Islam only values virtue and piety. Whoever is more pious and virtuous, has more value before God.
Imam on another occasion also said, "If mankind is self-constructed and perfected, everything will come out as spiritual. Even the materialistic will become spiritual. (June 6, 1979)