Statements in Meeting with Hajj Officials

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

We welcome our dear brothers and sisters; both the proud servants of the pilgrims, the caravan officials, the organizers of the caravans and others, as well as the senior managers of Hajj in the mission and in the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization. We ask the Almighty God to grant you success, guide you, and assist you, so that with your lofty ambitions and deep motivations, you can, God willing, provide a spiritual, glorious, and accepted Hajj for our dear pilgrims this year.

This great event - that is, the event of Hajj - which is repeated every year by the Islamic Ummah, is one of the fundamental secrets of Islam. It is narrated that the essence of Hajj is that you know "it is a visitation to your Lord"; (1) entering into the presence of God, being a guest for God. Well, it is clear how important and valuable it is to be a guest at the center of greatness, power, beauty, and generosity. All Muslim nations, from near and far, strive and make efforts to reach this great invitation every year. Some find this happiness, this success. Well, we are also part of the Islamic Ummah and have a role to play. Part of this great movement of the Islamic Ummah belongs to us Iranians. We must think about holding this ceremony in a glorious, meaningful, and profound manner at the international Islamic level and plan for it, while also considering our own personal benefit. You, who are pilgrims, and all respected pilgrims, each person must think about their own personal benefit. Therefore, both of these aspects must be considered together.

In the first part, which pertains to the public and international aspect related to the Islamic world and the Islamic Ummah, the Iranian pilgrim has certain duties; to show good behavior, to demonstrate brotherhood, to show solidarity, to utilize the Islamic bond between themselves and other nations to bring hearts closer together; these are among the duties; they are the exact opposite of what the enemies of Islam and Muslims want. The enemies of Islam and Muslims want the Islamic Ummah to not be united; because if it becomes united, it becomes strong, it becomes powerful, it identifies itself in various fields; then it will be difficult for the global arrogant powers. Therefore, they want to create divisions. They instigate religious disputes, they instigate ethnic disputes, they promote extreme nationalisms among nations; this is Persian, this is Arab, this is Turk, this is Pakistani, this is from where, this is Shia, this is Sunni; they constantly highlight these differences, they exaggerate them, to create walls between us, to make two of us suspicious of each other so that we do not come together, our hands do not intertwine, and a great movement does not arise.

This year, this conspiracy will be greater; know this. This year, because Islamic awakening has emerged, Egypt has awakened, Tunisia has awakened, Libya has awakened, Yemen has awakened, Bahrain has awakened, Muslim nations in their revolutions, in their great movements, have directed their sharp and pointed movement against global arrogance, against the Zionists, therefore their effort is to prevent communication between nations, to keep hearts apart. "When a hundred hearts become acquainted with each other, they are one." When hearts become acquainted, they become like one heart; one will, one desire, one decision; they do not want this. Therefore, they will emphasize Sunni in Sunni-ism, Shia in Shia-ism, and various sects in their own characteristics, constantly intensifying them. To provoke feelings, unfortunately, they also have tools. They have tools everywhere, perhaps even more there. Overcome these. "And hold fast to the rope of God all together." (2) Hajj is one of the manifestations of the rope of God; hold onto this strong divine rope together; that is, be together. Be together not only among yourselves as Iranians, but also among you as the Islamic Ummah. Muslims, from their African members, to their Asian members, to their European members, black and white, wherever they are in the world, are one body. This is the great and universal perspective.

Establish connections, talk, inform each other, uplift spirits, receive encouragement; explain the realities you know about global arrogance, the arrogant powers, the adversaries, the opponents - you have thirty years of experience - to those brothers who have just entered this field. Those who do not have the ability to explain and articulate these matters should invite people with their behavior; "Be callers to the people without your tongues." (3) People can be invited with words, but a stronger and better invitation is through actions. Your manners, your respect, your showing attachment to the truths of Hajj, these are collective and public behaviors for better conducting this international Islamic event.

There are also a number of tasks that pertain to your own hearts, related to your own selves; you must gather reserves. We are in this world tainted by materialism, by motives, by temptations. If we want to cross this border, which is called the border of death, in this condition, woe to us. We must purify ourselves. This purity is achieved in prayer, in reciting the Quran, in fasting, in charity and almsgiving, in various obligations this purity comes to a person; Hajj is a collection of all these obligations. In Hajj, there is remembrance, in Hajj, there is circumambulation, in Hajj, there is prayer, in Hajj, there is standing, in Hajj, there is attention to God, in Hajj, there is charity, there is sacrifice; everything is gathered in Hajj; it is a collection of these actions.

Value these few weeks greatly. In these few weeks, purify your hearts, cleanse them. The best place for purification is this Hajj ceremony; the Sacred Mosque is, the circumambulation of the House of God is, the honorable Prophet's Mosque is, that great ceremony. You are together, among each other, but each of you has an independent connection with God. No one may notice, may not know. Maintain this connection, strengthen it. Start from now, indeed, you should have started before this.

You must prepare for Hajj; just as for the blessed month of Ramadan, the method and behavior of great scholars and seekers and those of meaning and path has been that months before the month of Ramadan, they prepared themselves for entering the divine banquet. Hajj is the same; before the journey, one must prepare; more importantly than all actions, is to avoid sin; to avoid backbiting, to avoid oppression, to avoid impure gazes, to avoid impure actions. These avoidances prepare the heart for entering this divine visitation, this divine banquet.

After you go there, benefit, gather reserves for yourselves, and return, strive to preserve those reserves. During the blessed journey of Hajj, it has become customary - and what a good custom it is - that pilgrims repeatedly recite the Quran; some complete a recitation of the Quran in Medina, then go to Mecca, complete one or two recitations of the Quran in Mecca; continue this habit. Some who are not accustomed to night prayers test it during Hajj, they use it as a means, they go to the Sacred Mosque, the Prophet's Mosque, and become night worshippers; continue this, keep it.

If we observe these matters, Hajj is an extraordinary transformative device. Each Hajj season brings about a movement in the entire society; it is a collective movement, it is not about individuals. In this season, love for the Almighty God increases. A heart that is a treasure of divine love is very valuable and precious. A heart that is a place for God's love is less inclined to sin or does not incline at all; it becomes inclined towards good deeds. This love must be created. Creating this love comes through remembrance, through attention, through sincerity, through supplication. The point is, value this greatly; both collectively and individually.

Elevate your own country - which is dear and proud Iran - during this journey. An Iranian pilgrim can, through their behavior, make their country, their history, their revolution, their Islamic Republic system sweet and dear in the eyes of the world - where people from various places gather. The opposite can also happen. We can go there with bad, inappropriate, and trivial actions, making our country trivial, making our people trivial.

I do not oppose buying souvenirs, but these market wanderings are very bad. A number of people have a thirst for market wandering; these trivialize your nation, your people; it is a shame. They go and buy certain goods, often low-quality goods from distant profit-seeking countries that have arrangements with the same companies in the host country. They create low-quality goods for pilgrims and flood these markets; you also go and spend your currency and your dignity to purchase these low-quality goods. Today, fortunately, in our country, there are plenty of high-quality, diverse, beautiful domestic goods made by Iranian workers - your brothers. Some buy the souvenirs of the journey here before going to Mecca - this is a good practice - they keep them; then when they return, they give those they prepared in their own city as souvenirs. It is a gift of the journey, it is good. This is a very good practice.

Some bring souvenirs from there as something blessed; it is not blessed. These prayer rugs woven in Sanandaj and our own Kurdistan are far better than the prayer rugs brought from there. Strengthen your own brother, buy what is made by him, which is both more beautiful and better, and give this as a souvenir. Take this there and give it as a souvenir to those you love. All our goods are like this; now I mentioned the prayer rug, which is the most sacred. Observe these matters.

In Islam, we have everything. The Islamic system has everything within itself. This is material goods, we also have spiritual goods. Our teachings, our lessons, our Quran, our traditions, the hadiths of the pure Imams (peace be upon them), all of these are our assets. If we pay attention to these assets, utilize them, do not deprive ourselves of them, we will advance; "If you do good, you do good for yourselves"; if we deprive ourselves by our own hands, "and if you do evil, it is for her." (4) "And whoever fulfills what he has promised to God"; if we act upon what we have promised to God, "he will be given a great reward"; (5) if not, if we break what we have promised and contracted with the Almighty God, "whoever breaks, he only breaks against himself," (6) we have acted against ourselves.

A few years ago - I do not know if it has been ten years or more - I made strong recommendations regarding combating economic corruption to the officials of the country; they welcomed it; but if they had acted, this recent banking corruption - which has now filled all newspapers and all institutions and all minds - would not have occurred. When we do not act, we encounter these incidents. If corruption is fought against, then this several thousand billion - or whatever - misuse that individuals come to do will not occur. When we do not act, well, it occurs; it occupies people's minds, it occupies people's hearts, it breaks people's hearts. How much in this country do hearts become upset by the occurrence of such corruption? How many people lose their hope? Is this appropriate? This is because we did not act. From the time it was said that corruption becomes rooted, it finds roots, it grows branches, the longer it goes on, the harder it becomes to uproot - these were said, these were emphasized, these were all expressed; this discourages clean and honest investors - if action had been taken, we would not have encountered these issues. Now we have encountered them.

Of course, I should also say this, our dear people should know; fortunately, the officials of the country in all three branches are combating this incident, and God willing, they will combat other incidents and prevent them; they must do so, it is their duty to confront and fight. All three branches are making efforts. Some want to use these incidents to hit the officials of the country. The officials of the country are working; both the Parliament, the government, and the judiciary.

Well, of course, news has been reported; the media, others have done things, reported news, there is no problem; but the issue should not be dragged out too much. Let the officials do their work; wisely, prudently, strongly, and carefully follow the issues. A certain amount of uproar and commotion is necessary for awareness; but continuing like this - especially if some want to take other advantages from these issues - is not in anyone's interest. Care must be taken. Of course, officials should follow up. The people should also know that these matters are being pursued and will not stop, and God willing, by divine grace, the hands of the treacherous will be cut off.

The judicial officials, who fortunately have now taken this matter seriously, should inform the public and inform them in their respective cases; the people should also know that work is progressing. And they should not show mercy to the wrongdoers, the saboteurs, and the corrupt.

We hope that the Almighty God, by the blessing of His favors, His attentions, His blessings upon this nation, God willing, will make this year's Hajj a blessed Hajj and God willing, all of you, all the Iranian nation will be included in the pure prayers of the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and God willing, you will perform this Hajj with dignity and return safely.

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

(1) Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 2, p. 620

(2) Al-Imran: 103

(3) Mishkat al-Anwar, p. 46

(4) Al-Isra: 7

(5) Al-Fath: 10

(6) Same