Statements of the Supreme Leader in Meeting with Hajj Officials and Administrators

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

First of all, I sincerely thank all the esteemed gentlemen and dear sisters who have undertaken the efforts and services of this great obligation and distinguished Islamic duty, and God willing, in the upcoming and near Hajj, you will be able and will have the success to perform this duty in the best manner and serve the honorable pilgrims. I welcome you and hope that your services and the efforts and attention that the esteemed officials devote to the matter of Hajj will be noticed by His Holiness, the Master of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and accepted by the Lord of the Worlds.

There is a fundamental and individual matter that, by the nature of the work, precedes all other issues and necessities, and that is that the action that emanates from us, God willing, must be accompanied by the intention of seeking closeness and the pleasure of God. This is the foundation of the work. All actions are better performed with good intention, pure intention, and divine intention; even purely worldly actions. However, actions that have a devotional nature and a spiritual aspect have effects beyond calculable material effects. Hajj is one of the most evident examples of such actions and requires more pure intention and divine purpose.

If the work is for God and with the intention of fulfilling a duty and seeking divine pleasure, God will bless it, give it effect, make it attractive, and draw hearts towards it. In this specific case, it will provide what you seek from the effects of Hajj. Look at this great movement that took place, namely the origin of the revolution, the start of the movement and struggle, and the actions that took place in this revolution; including this very subject of Hajj that our great departed Imam (may God be pleased with him and sanctify his soul) initiated. In all these actions, that divine and spiritual man had a divine intention, and God blessed it. Transforming Hajj from a semi-commercial, semi-touristic, recreational act into a great Islamic movement with global dimensions was no small task. This work could not be achieved with political and worldly planning and such things. God did this, and it was due to the pure intention of that great man. We must also learn this and make our intentions divine in our work. God willing, you are already like this.

The next matter, which is important in terms of social, global, and international effects, is the very issue of Hajj. Hajj is a reserve for the Islamic world. If this reserve is used well, it will benefit the Islamic world. If this reserve is not used or is used poorly, the Islamic world, with all its needs, will be deprived of it, or God forbid, may even suffer harm from it. We, the Muslim people living in this part of the world, do not have control over the affairs of Hajj in broad dimensions; we own ourselves and our work and its effects. We must perform Hajj in a way that benefits the Islamic world.

Hajj is a center of gathering. God Almighty could have set the period of the year for visiting His house. If it were only about going and circumambulating the house and finding a state of attention, what was the need for all the people of the world to be obliged to visit there on a specific day, at a specific time, and on specific days? They said, 'And proclaim the pilgrimage among men' (Hajj: 27); come during the year; whoever can, come and perform Hajj! They did not say this. They made Hajj 'known days'; they set a specific time; within Hajj, they placed one-day, overnight, two or three-day gatherings; they wanted everyone to gather there simultaneously. Why is this? It is so that 'they may witness benefits for themselves' (Hajj: 28). So these benefits that Muslims should witness during Hajj and see are benefits that are related to the gathering of people and this state of assembly. If a gathering is formed where there is no connection, thousands of people come without connection with each other, without contact with each other, without inquiring about each other, without spiritual help to each other, and without mutual thinking; the purpose is not achieved. What does it mean to gather a group in one place when no benefit is conceivable for them from that gathering? Why did they not say, 'Come during the year'? Surely they wanted Muslims to gather there at this specific time so that they could benefit from this gathering. What benefit can be derived from this gathering? Dozens of benefits. Can these be counted offhand? If you delve into the matter, it has dozens of great benefits that are all necessary and vital for the Islamic world.

If there is ever a time when the gathering of Hajj should be used in a way that the Islamic world needs it in every sense, that time is now. Muslims have never needed to gather, contact each other, and connect with each other as much as they do today. For a long time, Muslims were asleep; they were heedless; there was no light; there was no spark; they were not awake. Not that they had no troubles; there were troubles, but not enough to cause awareness and awakening and to understand those troubles and seek a remedy. That period, which was a period of stagnation, passed; while the gathering of Hajj had no benefit for them. A group of sleeping people, nations kept in the sleep of heedlessness and unaware of their situation, were thinking of pulling their carpet out of the water of Hajj and performing their duty and leaving. For a while, it was like this. Today, too, Muslims, due to the troubles that have been created for them all over the world, have the utmost need for mutual thinking and cooperation. This cooperation and mutual thinking is possible today; but in the past, it was not possible. Therefore, this opportunity is an exceptional opportunity and must be used.

Look at the corners of the world; see what these oppressive powers are doing to Muslims! Their first intention is to keep Muslims in the sleep of heedlessness, and if there is anyone who warns Muslims, they try to remove him from the scene in any way they can. This is the greatest effort of global arrogance and the powers and global bullies. They do not want there to be a warner; they do not want there to be an awakener; and for this reason, they oppose the Islamic Republic of Iran. Their opposition to the Islamic Republic is not because of the accusations they falsely make against this system. The claim that human rights are not observed in the Islamic Republic, which is of course a false statement and a pure lie and slander, is not because they really care about human rights and value humanity. Until recently, we thought that these Westerners and Americans, who falsely hold the banner of human rights, do not value Asian, African, and Latin American humans and only value themselves; but now it is clear that they do not value any human being, and if their desires and lusts require it, they are ready to destroy any kind of human being, from any region of the world. Just a few weeks ago, you saw that in America, a group that the American government said had 'deviant beliefs' was killed. Now, their beliefs are not even clear to us; but they say beliefs are not a problem and everyone is free! In those same days, the American president and high-ranking officials stood up to recognize rights for homosexuals! So, having a deviant, wrong, and false belief, what crime is it considered that they gathered and destroyed them and burned them in fire?!

We do not defend anyone. We do not know what kind of people that group who were killed were; but we want this point to be clear to everyone, including our people, which thanks be to God, it is clear. Even the scrupulous within the society now know that those who claim to be supporters of human rights are not telling the truth. They are lying; they are speaking falsely. Those who are so indifferent to humanity, if they criticize a country where human rights are violated, a wise person should look and see what their purpose is behind these words and what goal is behind these words.

That goal is clear. They do not want there to be an Islamic Republic, whose uprising and existence means that Muslims everywhere in the world can form a similar country. They are afraid of this! They wanted the Islamic Republic to be destroyed; they wanted it to fail; they wanted it not to progress towards its goals; they wanted it to face great difficulties. Now that they see, thanks be to God, with the efforts of the people, the government, and the officials, the country is moving towards construction and prosperity, the people have maintained their unity at the highest level, and the global dignity of the country is increasing day by day; now that they see the Islamic Republic is powerful, proud, and independent and does not heed or pay attention to any power, they are upset. They are upset that they see such a system, with its presence, encourages Muslim nations to wake up and think about their Islam. The awakening of the people is the first event they are trying to prevent. Therefore, they put pressure on the Islamic Republic. Of course, their pressure has no effect. If the pressures of America and the likes of America on the Islamic Republic were to have the desired effect for them, the Islamic Republic - by God's grace and the attentions of the Master of the Age - would not have progressed in this way.

The existence of this nation and the uprising and dignity of the Islamic Republic is the greatest and clearest proof that the plots of the enemies will not succeed and, to their dismay, Muslims everywhere in the world have more or less awakened; nations have come to themselves and appreciate Islam. Despite all the pressure they exert on Muslims, the Islamic force and spirit are increasing and growing. Now, for example, they have started so-called 'peace negotiations' to extinguish the uprising of the Palestinian Muslims! Could they do it? Can they do it? They call it peace! Is this peace or is it oppression?! Our opposition to these negotiations over oppressed Palestine is not because we oppose peace. We are supporters of peace; we are heralds of peace; we are heralds of more than peace. We say there should be brotherhood among the Muslims of the world and among all human beings. We are supporters of brotherhood. We are not opposed to peace; but these negotiations that are taking place in America today are not peace negotiations. This is an oppression negotiation. They want to establish an oppression; they want to legalize and formalize an oppression. Of course, we oppose it! All the noble people of the world should oppose it. All Muslims should oppose it and oppose it. They have taken the home of the Palestinian nation from them and placed a group of usurpers there, supported them, and with the hands of those usurpers, they have suppressed the homeowners in the most atrocious way. Now, to completely silence the homeowners and force them to withdraw their claim from their property, they want to sit and negotiate with the Arab governments and Israel!

Does anyone have the right to sign anything on behalf of the Palestinian nation? Does anyone have the right to sell the home of that nation to a usurper on behalf of someone else? We hope these negotiations do not reach a signed agreement; but if an agreement is made; if the Arab governments that have attended sign it, those signatures have no validity in the eyes of the Palestinian people, the Muslims of the world, and us.

America is mistaken. By gathering Arab governments around a table for such a disgraceful negotiation, America makes the governments gathered there more hated by their people. Are the people of Arab countries willing to agree that their leaders go and sell the home of the Palestinian nation to others? With this action, the gap between these leaders, if God forbid they reach such a signature, and their nations will widen. This action will make their nations angrier. It will make the Egyptian nation angrier. That poor Egyptian rises like a beggar and goes to America to complain about Iran! He complains to that poor person who himself is more filled with grievances against Iran!

Why do you complain about Iran?! Complain about Islam! Complain about your own Muslim nation! If that gentleman is supposed to complain about anyone, he should complain about the Egyptian nation. The Egyptian nation is a Muslim nation. The Egyptian nation has a history in Islam. The Egyptian nation has great honors in the path of new Islamic thoughts and Islamic struggles. This nation is a proud nation. It is certain that this nation is not willing to tolerate the betrayal of its leaders and will confront them.

The confrontation of the Egyptian people has nothing to do with us. We are happy wherever Muslims wake up. We are happy wherever Muslims clench their fists against the enemies of their religion. We are saddened and feel responsible wherever Muslims are beaten; but we are not the ones to intervene and make a nation like the Egyptian nation aware of their duties. They know their duty themselves; they are aware of what they should do and have understood correctly. The Egyptian nation has understood correctly; the Egyptian youth have understood correctly that they stand against a government that betrays the Islamic cause, the Palestinian cause, and the fate of Islamic countries. This has nothing to do with us. Their mistake is in this, that they cannot understand the strength, power, and influence of Islam.

Today, look at what is happening in Bosnia and Herzegovina! This Bosnia and Herzegovina is truly a lasting tableau. The betrayal and catastrophe created by the powers that today outwardly claim to care for the people of Bosnia will remain in history. The example of the Americans and some Europeans who only verbally express sympathy is like two people facing each other; then they take the sword from one and sharpen the sword of the other, and as soon as he plunges the sword into the body of this unarmed man and it is about to enter his heart, they start wailing around him saying, 'How about we stop the fight now? How about we treat and heal? How about we don't let it happen?' These words make aware people laugh mockingly.

The people of Bosnia have been under pressure for more than a year. You say we sympathize; we send food; we economically besiege the Serbs. These are all empty words; these are false claims; these are hypocritical actions and words! If they were telling the truth and their hearts were burning for the Muslims, they should have taken shipments of weapons and given them to those Muslims. Those Muslims do not need anyone's bread and food; they do not need the UN food convoy; they do not need anyone's false sympathy. If they had weapons, they would defend themselves. Do you see what catastrophe the same America and some European countries are committing in support of the butchers and oppressors of the Serbs and Croats?!

I want to say this point, and this is a fundamental point, that despite all these, by God's grace, after a while, with the support of the same people who resist for Islam, the glory and power of Islam in Europe will increase day by day, and the dreams of those who want Islam not to exist will be disturbed. This is the power of Islam. This is the spirituality of Islam. This is the readiness of Muslims. This is the need of the Islamic world and the Islamic community for mutual thinking and cooperation. And this is the great scene of Hajj, and you servants, who must guide and direct the pilgrims; teach them their duties, guide them in terms of their personal actions, and better use of the Hajj rituals.

May God Almighty support you and may the attentions of the Master of the Age, may our souls be sacrificed for him, be upon you, and may you have an accepted Hajj and a rewarded effort.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings