An interview with Ayatollah Taskhiri, chairman of the International
Forum for Proximity of Islamic Denominations, about the hajj messages
issued by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution
After sending Iranian hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia after a long delay,
in order to coordinate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, certain
negotiations took place between the officials of the two countries.
Ayatollah Taskhiri was a member of the Iranian delegation which was sent
to Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Saudi officials.
Every year the Leader of the Islamic Revolution issues a
message to the great hajj congregation during the hajj season, which
contains important points for Muslims of the world. In your opinion,
what is the philosophy behind these messages?
There are a few points that I should mention before answering this
question. First of all, hajj – which is an Islamic obligation – pursues
great goals. Based on the Holy Quran, maybe the biggest goal of hajj is
the connection between the Islamic Ummah and the activities of the
prophets throughout history. That is to say, according to Sura
al-Baqara, it began with the creation of Adam and Eve when angels
prostrated in front of them, their experiences in paradise, their
banishment to earth and finally their use of their heavenly experiences,
including committing sins, repenting and complete submission to divine
commands. In order to describe each of these stages, the Holy Quran uses
the phrase “and when†which recount the story of all prophets until
Prophet Ibrahim when God says, “And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with
certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an
Imam of men. Ibrahim said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not
include the unjust, said He.†[The Holy Quran, 2: 124] It refers to the
leadership of God's righteous servants. “My covenant does not include
the unjust, said He.†This is where the issue of hajj is mentioned: “And
when We made the House a pilgrimage for men and a (place of) security,
and: Appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing-place of
Ibrahim.†God brings up the issue of hajj in the middle of the story
about the path of His prophets and it appears that Prophet Ibrahim is
considered the one who determines the path and the goals of hajj. And
one of the great goals of hajj is to connect the Islamic Ummah to the
path of the prophets and the path of prophets is the same path that God
has determined for humanity: the path of purity, submission to God,
avoidance of sins and building a faithful society.
The second goal has also been mentioned: making human beings go back to
their nature and to the natural path of surrendering to God. And this
goal is manifested in all rituals of hajj. Therefore, hajj contains
great goals and one of these goals is renouncing polytheists [bara'a]
and Prophet Ibrahim was the most important manifestation of renouncing
polytheists. Another goal is unity of the Islamic Ummah. During hajj all
pilgrims wear the same clothes. They make tawaf with the same
intentions while they chant the same things. They engage in the same
kind of worship. They come together in a small place. They even change
the clothes that distinguish them from one another and they wear
identical clothes. All these things show the unity of Muslims and the
Islamic Ummah. These goals are realized during hajj. A manifestation of
these goals is mentioned in every one of the messages issued by Imam
Khomeini (r.a.) and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.
Reviving hajj means reviving the Islamic Ummah and this is the
philosophy behind the existence of these messages and the insistence of
the Islamic Republic and the Leader on this issue. Implementing
the hajj messages would initiate the movement of the Islamic Ummah.
According to Islamic narrations, “Hajj is the flag of Islam.†What does
“flag of Islam†mean? As long as the flag of an army keeps flying during
a battle, it means the army is has not been defeated and the battle is
supposed to continue. Therefore, reviving hajj is one of the great goals
that the Islamic Republic pursues in order to bring about Islamic
Awakening. In the messages which have been issued by Imam Khomeini
(r.a.) and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, these points
have been frequently highlighted. In other words, they are a kind of
manifesto – namely a comprehensive statement which delineates the path
of the Islamic Ummah.
Considering the importance of this issue, it appears that there has
been a lack of public relations work regarding the hajj messages.
Yes, unfortunately we have failed to understand the importance of the
hajj messages. We have failed to make others realize the importance of
these messages. We have also failed to convey these messages to those
who are far from us. Our mass media, our pilgrims and others are making
efforts in this regard, but these efforts are not enough considering the
importance of these messages. In order to reach this goal, all media
outlets, all cultural advisors, all public relations facilities and all
media networks that we have at our disposal should try to convey these
messages to different parts of the world. We need to make more efforts
in this regard.
Do leaders of other countries also issue hajj messages?
Not like this. Only the King of Saudi Arabia issues a message for public
relations purposes. Basically issuing hajj messages was an innovation
by Imam Khomeini (r.a.).
These messages are made public on the Day of Bara'a. Has this been the case since the beginning?
No, at first, these messages were not made public on the Day of Bara'a.
It was Imam Khomeini who used to determine the time. But after the
conflicts that took place – which was the reason why Iranians did not go
on hajj pilgrimage for a few years – certain agreements were made. I
was a member of the delegation which was sent to Saudi Arabia for
negotiations. The two sides agreed that Iranian pilgrims should not come
together in Mecca and that they could only do so on the day of Arafa to
listen to the message of their Leader.
Did you also agree to recite Dua Kumeyl in Medina during the same negotiations?
No, the agreement to recite Dua Kumeyl in Medina was reached in other
negotiations. This agreement was a separate issue, which was settled
after a lot of conflicts and groundwork.
We claim that the hajj messages are conveyed to Muslim nations. What effects have these messages produced so far?
Many pilgrims from different countries take part in hajj ceremonies.
These messages are handed out during hajj. They are translated into
around ten languages and are handed out in Mena and other places during
the hajj season. These messages are distributed among all hajj pilgrims
as the message of the Islamic Revolution. These messages are also
broadcast in different languages in some of our media and they have had a
good effect on the hearts of Muslims although the entire system of
global arrogance as well as Arab and Islamic governments try to stifle
these messages. One of these messages was once published in a newspaper
in England: the entire network of global Zionism protested against that
newspaper and created problems for it.
When did this happen?
I do not remember the exact date, but it was in the 70s. The Zionists
try to prevent the messages from being published. And not only does the
government of Saudi Arabia refuse to help in this regard, but it
sometimes tries to prevent these messages from being published. It even
makes many arrests sometimes. Of course in the past few years there have
been few cases of such arrests, but they try to stifle these messages
in Saudi Arabia. Sometimes we try to publish the messages in foreign
newspapers and we pay the money, but they do not publish them. Many
newspapers do not allow this or they are prohibited from publishing
these messages.
In European countries?
In European and even Islamic countries. They strongly refuse to publish
these messages. But as I said, we have been negligent too.
What is the nature of these messages? Are they like political messages that are issued to the people by statesmen?
No, they are the message of a leader to his Ummah: the message of a
spiritual leader and a marja taqlid – who is also in charge of leading
the Islamic Revolution – to the entire Islamic Ummah. During hajj the
pilgrims are representatives of the entire Islamic Ummah. And the
congregation that is formed, is in fact the congregation of the
representatives of the Islamic Ummah. That is to say, it is the
congregation of the entire Islamic Ummah with the purpose of getting
closer to God. The pilgrims are trained with slogans, songs and
identical rituals. And the training is not limited to learning slogans:
they receive practical training. Hajj pilgrims should restrain their
eyes. They should restrain their hands and feet. They should restrain
their mouth and tongue. The things that should be avoided as haraam
during ihram are a kind of training for hajj pilgrims.
And the messages that are issued by the Leader are in line with this. I
have extracted the themes of the messages issued by the Leader
of the Islamic Revolution over the past few years and I can share the
result with you if you like.
Please go ahead.
If you study the Leader's messages, you will see that the first
point that is raised in these messages is the role of hajj in
structuring the Islamic Ummah. This is the goal of the Leader's
hajj messages. For example, one point that is raised in these messages
is the role of hajj in eliminating the weak points of the Islamic Ummah.
The Leader has pointed out in these messages that we have
certain weak points within the Islamic Ummah and that certain other weak
points have been imposed on us from outside. The hajj messages bridge
these gaps by strengthening piety and self-purification and by warning
against lack of vigilance.
The next point concerning the role of hajj is that these messages stress
the fact that hajj is the flag of Islam. In one of his messages, the
Leader pointed out that hajj is a manifestation of the movement
of the Islamic Ummah and that it defines the role of political Islam.
One pillar of hajj is tawaf around the House of God. That is to say, the
entire Ummah is supposed to revolve around and adhere to the guidance
of Allah the Exalted. The stoning of the jamarat is another pillar of
hajj, a ceremony in which members of the Islamic Ummah throw stones at
the symbols of taghut [government not sanctioned by God] and spiritual
revolt [against God].
Another theme that has been mentioned by the Leader in his hajj
messages is the mobilization of the entire Islamic Ummah in order to
stand up against the challenges faced by Islam. In sum, the first pivot
that is mentioned in these messages is the role of hajj in the
civilizational course of the Islamic Ummah.
The second issue is the role of hajj in moral education of individuals
and society. This is a theme that is present in all of the hajj
messages. The issue of self-purification and appreciating this
opportunity in the holy places that are related to hajj, are definitely
mentioned somewhere in the messages.
Showing the greatness of Islam and its messages is the third theme that
is mentioned in these messages. They highlight the greatness of Islamic
solutions to the problems of humanity.
Highlighting the issue of Muslim unity is another theme that is
highlighted in these messages. In the messages of the Leader of
the Islamic Revolution, Islamic Awakening is considered as the most
important way to bring about this Muslim unity. Islamic Awakening is the
most beautiful phenomenon that has been mentioned in these messages.
These messages have tried to deepen and spread Islamic Awakening.
Certain manifestations of this unity are also mentioned in these
messages: for example, pilgrims wear identical clothes, follow the same
path, chant the same slogans, adopt the same positions, make tawaf
around the same center and other such things. In last year's message,
the Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed out that Ka'bah
represents monotheism and that it is the symbol of moving towards Muslim
unity.
These messages also explain the great facilities of the Islamic Ummah –
its material and spiritual facilities and its geographic and cultural
capacities. These messages remind the Islamic Ummah of its great
facilities, which are unfortunately being plundered by the enemies.
Disclosing the plots of the arrogant powers is another theme in these
messages. In all these messages, the Leader mentions the evil
plots of the arrogant powers to annihilate the Islamic Ummah. And the
cause of these crimes is also explained. The messages explain the crimes
that are being committed as well as the most important issues and
developments in Islamic territories, ranging from the distortion of
Islamic truths to enmities, ethnocentric fitnas, spread of corruption,
numerous killings and the propaganda against the Islamic Ummah. All
these threats – which have increased after 9/11 – have been mentioned by
the Leader in his messages. Because the plots of the enemies to
occupy the world of Islam were foiled by the Revolution and Islamic
Awakening, they started to divide the Islamic Ummah and spread
corruption. Therefore, in his messages the Leader of the Islamic
Revolution says that the arrogant powers are an enemy of oppressed
people and human rights, a supporter of terrorism and a promoter of
hegemony and hypocrisy in the world of Islam.
Of course disclosing the role of the mercenary regimes in the region is
another important theme. These regimes try to fulfill the goals of
colonialism and take away the essence of hajj: these things have also
been mentioned in the messages.
Introducing the Islamic Republic as a successful model – which has stood
up against the arrogant powers, implemented Islam in all aspects of
life, pioneered Muslim unity, promoted solidarity between the leadership
and the people and represented religious democracy and support for the
oppressed – is another theme in these messages. Normally, all the
messages which are issued by the Leader mention one or more of
these themes.
In what ways has stressing these themes affected other countries? Has
it received any feedback from the prominent figures and politicians of
Muslim and Arab countries?
Everybody is speaking about how invigorating, effective and enlightening
these messages have been. Whenever we travel to other countries and
take part in different conferences, everybody mentions these points and
praises these messages. We travel to around 50 countries every year and
we speak to different Muslim individuals, groups and leaders,
particularly political leaders and activists of different Islamic
countries. That is to say, in spite of our weaknesses in making these
messages publicly available, they have had an invigorating effect
wherever they have been published.
Currently, public diplomacy is being discussed in the world. That is
to say, leaders of countries are addressing the people rather than
governments. Can we think of these hajj messages as one of the pillars
of public diplomacy of the Islamic Republic and as a means to export the
Revolution?
There is no doubt in this regard. One of the beautiful ways of exporting
the message of the Revolution is through the messages which have been
issued by Imam Khomeini and the Leader. Issuing these messages
is one way of invigorating the hajj congregation, responding to the
efforts to take away the essence of hajj and highlighting the role of
hajj in the life of Muslims. And I believe these messages have had their
effects although – as I said – we have not made enough efforts to make
them available to everybody.
Any final comments?
I wish God helps Muslims understand
Islamic observances and the messages [that they entail]. The problem is
that many hajj pilgrims travel a long distance and take a lot of
trouble, but they fail to understand the message of hajj. According to
Islamic narrations, “The light of hajj does not dim on the pilgrims
unless they sin.†That is to say, hajj pilgrims return with the light of
hajj and this light shows itself both in their human nature and their
activities in society until they commit a sin, which gradually destroys
the light. I hope hajj pilgrims will make efforts to receive the light
of hajj and to preserve the message of hajj so that hajj can have its
effect on educating the Islamic Ummah.