Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met this morning with the officials in charge of hajj affairs. Speaking during the meeting, His Eminence said that the Iranian hajj pilgrims should be the manifestation of all the individual, spiritual, religious, social and political obligations and aspects of the hajj. Ayatollah Khamenei said that the hajj is like a spring that will benefit humanity and the Islamic Ummah if its rituals are performed in an appropriate and perfect manner.
His Eminence added: "Considering the problems and internal pains of the Islamic Ummah and the realities of the international community, performing the hajj rituals in a perfect and appropriate manner is more important and necessary than any other time."
His Eminence referred to constant efforts by the enemies of Islam to create a feeling of humiliation, passiveness and despair among Muslim nations and added that the great, unified and proper movement of the Islamic Ummah during the hajj can restore the feeling of grandeur, power and hope to the Muslim world.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that different anti-Islam and anti-truth sects have mobilized their forces against Islam and added: "The current situation is similar to the situation which prevailed during the Battle of the Trench. The manifestation of the unity and grandeur of the Islamic Ummah in the hajj can break the spirits of the enemies of Islam."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the domineering powers are making non-stop and organized efforts to discover the weak points of the Muslim world and infiltrate into it. He added: "They are trying to magnify the differences of opinion which exist in the Islamic Ummah. And the hajj, which is a source of unity among Muslims, will render their efforts futile."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution described unity as an urgent need of the Islamic Ummah and added: "Zionist and American elements are lying in ambush trying to create discord among Muslims under different pretexts - including religious and ethnic differences and sectarian prejudices - whenever they feel that Muslims are becoming united."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the enmity of the arrogant powers towards Islam has been revealed and this is a fact which necessitates vigilance in the Muslim world. His Eminence further warned that Islamic governments and nations should be vigilant about the plots of the enemies which are aimed at creating discord in the Muslim world. "If this does not happen, the Muslim world will receive a blow from its arrogant enemies."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that strengthening misguided and extremist tendencies among Shia and Sunni Muslims is one of the methods that is used by the enemies of the Islamic Ummah in order to foment discord. He reiterated: "Through vigilance, Muslim peoples and governments should recognize the fundamental need of the world of Islam for unity, compassion and cooperation, and they should be committed and loyal to the requirements of unity."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the hajj has great capacities for discussing the important issues of the world of Islam, especially the issue of Palestine, and for reaching an understanding about these issues. He further added: "As a political party that is renounced and hated even by the Jews, Zionism has occupied the Islamic territories of Palestine and the original kiblah of Muslims for more than 60 years. And they commit crimes each and every day, but most of the Muslim governments are silent in the face of Palestinian Muslims' shouts for justice and help. The great hajj movement can play a significant role in finding the roots of this inaction and discord and in mobilizing unified Muslim support for the Palestinian nation."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution criticized the pressures mounted on Iranian hajjis in Mecca and Medina. "Similarly, there are some people inside the country who do certain inappropriate things in reaction to these pressures, but these pressures and reactions are inadvisable, and they are opposed to the philosophy of the hajj," he added.
His Eminence said that the hajj pilgrimage of Iranian hajjis are much more fruitful today than they used to be 30 years ago and added: "These changes are not enough, and we should act in a way that the behavior of each Iranian hajji exhibits the personal, religious, social and political behavior that is appropriate for the hajj. The behavior of Iranian hajjis should also be the manifestation of the unity and solidarity of the Islamic Ummah."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that it is necessary for Muslims across the world to help the flood-stricken people of Pakistan. He added that helping the flood-stricken people of Pakistan is a socio-political aspect of the hajj. "The Iranian people and government have provided some aid to the neighboring Pakistani people, which will be rewarded by God. But this aid is not enough, and Iranian pilgrims can help relieve the pains suffered by their flood-stricken Pakistani brothers and sisters by cutting back on unnecessary expenses during the hajj. And through their word and action, they can invite pilgrims from other countries to help the suffering people of Pakistan."