Message on the Occasion of the Great Hajj Congress

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad the chosen one, and upon his pure family and selected companions.

Peace be upon the pilgrims of the House of God, the guests of the abode of the Beloved, and those who respond to His call. And special greetings to the hearts that have been rejuvenated by the remembrance of God and have opened themselves to His boundless grace and mercy. In these days, nights, and precious moments, there are many who, with gratitude, have surrendered themselves to the allure of spirituality, illuminating their hearts and souls through repentance and supplication, and have cleansed themselves of the tarnish of sin and polytheism in the waves of divine mercy that continuously flow in this sacred valley. May God's peace be upon these hearts and upon these pure souls.

All brothers and sisters should contemplate such an achievement and cherish this great opportunity. They should not allow the distractions of material life, which are our constant affliction, to occupy their hearts here as well. With the remembrance of God, with repentance and supplication, with a firm resolve for righteousness, correct conduct, and sound thinking, and by seeking help from God, they should elevate their eager hearts in the atmosphere of pure monotheism and spirituality, and gather provisions for steadfastness in the path of God and the straight way.

This is the center of true and pure monotheism. Here, Abraham the Friend of God (peace be upon him), by bringing his beloved son to the altar, left a legacy of monotheism, which is the triumph over one's own desires and absolute submission to divine command, for all monotheists throughout the history of the world. And here, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) raised the banner of monotheism against the arrogant powers of his time and the lords of wealth and might, considering the renunciation of tyranny alongside faith in God as the condition for salvation and redemption: "So whoever disbelieves in false gods and believes in God has certainly grasped the firmest handhold..."

Hajj is a re-examination and acquisition of these great lessons. Disavowal of polytheists and renunciation of idols and idolaters is the spirit that governs the Hajj of believers. Every aspect of Hajj is a demonstration of devotion to God and striving in His way, and disavowal of Satan and casting him out and standing against him. And every aspect of Hajj is a manifestation of the unity and cohesion of the people of the Qibla, where natural and conventional differences fade away, and the true and faithful brotherhood and unity among them is highlighted.

These are the lessons that we Muslims from every corner of the world must learn and base our planning for our lives and future upon.

The Quran has identified three signs of an Islamic society: a powerful stance against enemies, compassion and kindness among believers, and servitude and humility before God:

"Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and those with him are severe against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking bounty from God and His pleasure..." These are the three main pillars for erecting the dignified and glorious body of the Islamic Ummah.

All Muslims, considering this truth, can correctly recognize the current afflictions of the Islamic world.

Today, the treacherous enemy of the Islamic Ummah consists of the operators of arrogant centers and the greedy and aggressive powers who view Islamic awakening as a significant threat to their illegitimate interests and oppressive dominance over the Islamic world. All Muslim nations, and foremost among them, politicians, religious scholars, intellectuals, and national leaders, must form a united Islamic front against this aggressive enemy with as much strength as possible. They must gather all elements of power within themselves and empower the Islamic Ummah correctly. Knowledge and understanding, wisdom and vigilance, a sense of responsibility and commitment, reliance and hope in God's promise, and the ability to overlook trivial and worthless desires in pursuit of God's pleasure and fulfilling one's duty... these are the main elements of the Islamic Ummah's power that lead it to dignity, independence, and material and spiritual progress, and thwart the enemy's excessive demands and encroachments on Islamic countries.

Compassion among believers is the second pillar and another sign of the desired state of the Islamic Ummah. Division and strife among the segments of the Muslim Ummah is a dangerous disease that must be treated with all our might. Our enemies have long engaged in extensive and relentless efforts in this arena, and today, as Islamic awakening has terrified them, they have intensified their efforts. The heartfelt message of the well-wishers is that differences should not turn into conflicts, and diversity should not lead to strife.

This year, the Iranian nation has named the year of Islamic unity. This naming arose from awareness of the intensified plots of the enemies to sow discord among brothers. In Palestine, in Lebanon, in Iraq, in Pakistan, and Afghanistan, these plots have succeeded, and parts of the people of a Muslim country have risen against other parts, engaging in war and strife and shedding each other's blood. In all these bitter and tragic events, the signs of conspiracy were evident, and keen eyes observed the enemy's hand.

The command: "Merciful among themselves" in the Quran means the eradication of these conflicts. In these glorious days and during the various rituals of Hajj, you see Muslims from everywhere and from different sects circling around one house; praying towards one Kaaba; stoning the symbol of the accursed Satan together; behaving uniformly in the symbol of sacrificing their desires and carnal wishes; and in the meeting of Arafat and Mash'ar, they engage in supplication side by side. Islamic sects are close to each other in the most fundamental and numerous obligations, laws, and beliefs. Yet, why should prejudices and biases ignite flames among them and the treacherous enemy's hand fan this destructive fire? Today, some, with shortsightedness and foolishness, label a large group of Muslims as polytheists on the basis of unfounded excuses, and even consider their blood permissible. What do they know, whether knowingly or unknowingly, they serve polytheism, disbelief, and arrogance. There are those who have labeled respect for the sanctity of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the saints and Imams of the religion (peace be upon them) as polytheism and disbelief, while they themselves have entered the service of the infidels and oppressors and aided their vile objectives.

True scholars, committed intellectuals, and honest leaders must combat such dangerous phenomena.

Unity and cohesion among Muslims today is an obligatory duty that can be practically pursued through the cooperation of wise and compassionate individuals.

These two pillars of dignity, namely, on one hand, a powerful stance and positioning against arrogance, and on the other hand, compassion, solidarity, and brotherhood among Muslims, when accompanied by the third pillar, which is humility and servitude before the Lord, will lead the Islamic Ummah to progress along the path that brought the Muslims of the early Islam to the peak of greatness and dignity, and the Muslim nations will be liberated from the humiliating backwardness imposed upon them in recent centuries. The dawn of this great movement has begun, and waves of awakening have begun to move throughout the Islamic world. The media and propaganda of the enemy and its agents strive to associate every freedom-seeking and justice-demanding movement in any part of the Islamic world with Iran or Shi'ism, and to hold the Islamic Iran, which is the first victorious banner of Islamic awakening, responsible for the blows inflicted by the proud people of Muslim countries in the political or cultural arena. They accuse the unparalleled epic of Hezbollah in the 33-day war, the wise resistance of the Iraqi people that led to the formation of a parliament and a government that was not desired by the occupiers, the astonishing patience and steadfastness of the legitimate Palestinian government and its self-sacrificing people, and many signs of the revival of Islam in Muslim countries, with accusations such as Iranianism or Shi'ism, in order to undermine the unified support of the Islamic world. But this ploy will not be able to contend with the divine tradition that grants victory to the strugglers in the path of God and the supporters of God's religion.

The future belongs to the Islamic Ummah, and each of us can, to the extent of our ability and capacity and responsibility, bring that future closer.

The Hajj ceremony is a great opportunity for you, the fortunate pilgrims, to prepare yourselves more than ever to fulfill this duty.

It is hoped that divine grace and the prayer of the Awaited Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his appearance) will assist you in this great goal.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.

Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei 4th of Dhul-Hijjah 1428 AH 24th of Azar 1386