Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in a meeting on Saturday with organizers and officials in charge of the Hajj pilgrimage and trips to holy shrines, described Hajj as the guarantor of “continuation of Islam” and the manifestation of “unity and grandeur” in the Islamic Ummah.
Stressing the need to pay attention to the social as well as individual aspects of this major obligation, Ayatollah Khamenei said the Iranian nation’s sharing its unifying experiences in the massive Hajj congregation is a cause of solidarity, empathy and further strength of the Islamic Ummah.
Referring to the unique characteristics of the Hajj compared with other Islamic obligations, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution said: “Hajj has two different individual and social aspects. Taking these two aspects into account will contribute to both mundane and afterworld happiness of Hajj pilgrims and Muslim nations in a spectacular manner.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said performing pilgrimage to the House of God and the Hajj rituals provide a unique opportunity for the purification of soul, proximity to Lord and feeding the soul during lifetime. Addressing the Hajj pilgrims, the Leader said: “Appreciate the Hajj rituals one by one and purify and satisfy your soul and spirit at the source of this big benediction.”
Regarding the social aspect of Hajj, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the presence of all nations in Mecca and Medina at the same time, regardless of their racial, sectarian and complexional differences. The Leader said: “Hajj is the manifestation of and the real opportunity for Islamic unity.”
Ayatollah Khamenei sharply criticized those who resort to any methods like aggrandizing the concept of nationality in order to overshadow the reality and significance of the Islamic Ummah, saying: “Hajj is a meaningful example of establishment of the Islamic Ummah and a major opportunity for rapport, empathy and sympathy for world Muslims.”
Among other social aspects of Hajj are the manifestation of the grandeur of the Islamic Ummah and the provision of an opportunity for exchange of experiences, said the Leader, adding: “Expressing and reflecting the helpful experiences of Muslim nations will be ensued by bolstering the Islamic Ummah.”
To that effect, Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the Iranian nation’s effective and efficacious experiences about identifying the enemy, not trusting the enemy and not taking foe for friend, and said: “With an appreciable understanding, our people have realized that global hegemony and Zionism are the real and obstinate enemies of Iran and the Islamic Ummah and for this reason they have shouted slogans against the US and Zionism in all national and Islamic mass gatherings.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Over the past 36 years, hegemonic powers have often pushed ahead with their enmity toward Iran through the language and behavior of other countries, but the Iranian nation has always been aware that these countries are misled and serve [only] as pawns and the real enemy is the US and Israel.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution referred to the unsuccessful experience of coming to power of some Islamic groups in certain countries, saying: “Unlike the Iranian nation, they took foe for friend and they suffered blows.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said unity is another experience that the Iranian nation could share with other nations during the Hajj season, adding: “Despite all their ideological, intellectual and political discrepancies and ethnic differences, the Iranian people have maintained national unity and they appreciate this divine blessing. This valuable experience should be shared with other Muslim nations.”
Ayatolah Khamenei said internal conflicts in some countries under religious, political and even partisan pretexts stemmed from ungratefulness to the benediction of unity, adding: “God is not next of kin to any nation and if people refuse to be grateful for unity and empathy, God will bring the scourge of dispute and conflict and bloodletting upon them.”
Ayatollah Khamenie recalled the conspiracies plotted by oppressors in the world against Islam, Iran and the Islamic establishment and said: “In fact, they are not plotting against Shiism or Iran, but against Quran because they know that Quran and Islam are hubs of awakening nations.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution cited incessant efforts by arrogant powers to find ways to infiltrate Muslim countries and harm them, saying: “Relying on the never-ending financial support of hegemonic powers, dozens of intellectual and political centers in the US, Europe, occupied Palestine and dependent countries are studying and examining Islam and Shiism in a bid to identify and execute ways of countering awakening and invigorating factors in the Islamic Ummah.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Global bullying powers are seriously pursuing violence and division in the name of Islam and are making efforts to undermine the Islamic Ummah by sullying the enlightening religion of Islam, pitting nations against each other and even causing conflict within a nation. The Iranian nation’s sharing of its experiences with other nations in inspiring unity and identifying the enemy in the Hajj season will neutralize this plot.”
The Leader said: “Of course, the nations’ sharing of helpful experiences with each other during the Hajj season will face opposition, but a solution should be found anyway.”
In the concluding part of his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei once again referred to the necessity of paying attention to the individual and social aspects of Hajj, saying: “May it never come that the esteemed Hajj pilgrims lose the unique chance of breathing in the fragrant city of the prophet and [spend their time on] the highly erroneous act of touring markets and doing shopping instead of enthusiasm-provoking presence in Mecca and the House of God, and then regret missing out on this unique and emotional chance of presence in Haram Mosque and al-Nabi Mosque throughout their lives.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said efforts made by the Hajj organization were among the most beautiful and the most glorious responsibilities. Offering gratitude to the Hajj organizers, the Leader said: “Do your utmost for the realization of the desired Hajj.”
Prior to the Leader’s speech, Hojatoelsam val-Moslemin Qazi Askar, the representative of the Leader and head of Hajj mission, offered congratulations on the ten-day Dignity Period and said the slogan chosen for this year’s Hajj ritual is “Hajj, Spirituality, Insight and Islamic Empathy.”
He said: “Drawing up ten-point strategies and the Hajj promotion plan, boosting the level of knowledge of human resources, offering education to pilgrims and clerics accompanying the convoys, holding scientific meetings and benefiting from the potentialities of pilgrims and organizers are among the activities and approaches throughout the Hajj pilgrimage ritual.”
“This year’s Hajj should turn into the center of world Muslim unity in addition to safeguarding the dignity and honor of the Iranian nation.”
Saeed Ohadi, head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, also presented a report about the activities of this organization and referred to the facilitation of registration of pilgrims, the dispatch of 62% of pilgrims through direct flights to Medina, diversity in food programs, procurement of necessary items to pilgrims, reducing the costs of services and smart information dissemination are among the plans and measures of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization for this year.
“The necessary arrangements have been made for the dispatch of 64,000 pilgrims from our country to Hajj in the form of 455 convoys,” he said.
Before this meeting the Leader of the Islamic Revolution visited an exhibition of photos and books dedicated to the Hajj.