Statements in Meeting with Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Reyshahri, Head of Pilgrims and Members of the Leadership Delegation

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

First, we must acknowledge our own inability and weakness in expressing gratitude to the Almighty, for whatever has happened is due to the grace and favor of the Divine. It is indeed a blessing from the Almighty that, thanks be to God, competent and capable men were inspired to manage this ceremony. Truly, our people were given a gift, and a healing hand from the unseen center of grace and mercy, and from the Guardian of the Age (may our souls be sacrificed for him), was extended over these people, who, after the passing of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), truly deserved such divine favor. I believe that the blessed spirit of the Imam is pleased with what has transpired.

We know, and the brothers involved also know, that in the last year of his luminous and blessed life, he was very concerned about the Hajj and was very eager for this matter to be accomplished. Of course, it was not destined to be completed during his lifetime, but thanks be to God, it was accomplished in this time; we are grateful to God. We consider ourselves too small to claim any personal benefit from this divine rain of mercy. We hope that God will accept these numerous efforts from you and continuously extend His grace and mercy over these people.

It is obligatory and necessary for me, as a humble servant, to sincerely thank the dear brothers who invested their lives, thoughts, and beings in this work and played a role in this great communal service; from our dear brother Mr. Reyshahri, to the rest of the esteemed scholars present, Mr. Jamarani, to the brothers of Hajj and pilgrimage, Mr. Rezaei, and others who were involved in this matter in various ways; both in the administrative, organizational, political, managerial, and logistical sections - which are clear and prominent - and in those subtleties and very effective contents - although they may seem less apparent in the field of evaluation - and also those who collaborated, those who undertook laborious tasks - as Mr. Pournajati mentioned some of them - as well as those who published those writings, drew the blessed picture of Imam (may God's mercy be upon him) - as Mr. Reyshahri told me, for about twelve days, and several hours each day, someone devoted himself in that confined space to make this picture beautiful and place it before the eyes of passersby - those who made those placards and signs, constructed the model of Quds, and in summary, those who wrote, drew, built, and crafted, truly millions of active moments joined hands, thousands of sound thoughts and thousands of useful forces came together, to provide this product for the Islamic world. We thank God and express our gratitude to you.

We hope that each of you, to the extent of your efforts - which God Almighty knows best and we are too small to claim knowledge in these matters; you know better than us - God willing, God will reward you, increase your successes, and accept from you.

What I find beneficial to say is that Hajj is an event that occurs once a year; however, it is one of those events that deserves if a wise, knowledgeable, intelligent, and capable group plans and strives for it for several days. Yes, I agree with the statement in the report that good planning shows itself in the field of action; although no year can be compared to another, and each year has its own issues. This year had specific issues, a specific form, and the elements of global policies had a specific composition. You took advantage of this opportunity and demonstrated this presence in this way; we do not know how it will be next year. It is not such that each year can definitely become a model for the next year; no, a small or large event may occur next year that changes the entire geometry of this scene and the drawn field. Then this collection will find another center and radius. Planning must be principled, general, and comprehensive. Of course, if details are assumed, it is good and necessary; however, it must be with that broad-mindedness, so that one can utilize every condition.

What is important is to see what Hajj demands from us. Today we are an Islamic government; this is our claim. We believe that Hajj is our place and field. This field is magnificent. It is clear that the greatness of this field is not just the one or two million people who are there; rather, it is the entire Islamic world; because each of them returns to their cities, countries, and homes and brings news of Hajj. Thus, you have covered from Indonesia to Europe.

All Muslims were at Hajj and you were present there. If you, while at Hajj, can do what "and be witnesses over the people" (Quran 2:143) requires, you have covered the entire Islamic world. Something has been done that cannot be done by any other means. That is, if we have a newspaper and can send it to the homes of this number of people around the world, it cannot have the effect that the presence of this group and the formation of this congregation and seeing your persons and bodies can have for them. This is something else; especially since the region is a strange region. The lands there are blessed. Whoever enters Mecca and Medina, in my opinion, should first bow down and kiss those lands. These are places where the feet of the Prophet, the feet of the Commander of the Faithful, the feet of Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her), the feet of Salman have touched these lands. These various valleys of Mecca, these different centers in Medina and Mecca, have great sanctity. The area is indeed strange; as if it has been brought from another world and placed in our world; for us, it is like this. On one side, there is such a place; on the other side, it is you who must "and be witnesses over the people" (Quran 2:143). You must plan now based on this.

This ceremony of disavowal is a very important ceremony. Truly the crown jewel of our collective Hajj is this ceremony of disavowal. Every group has a symbol and slogan; our symbol is this; but this is not everything. We must prepare ourselves to provide correct and appropriate answers to every possible question that may arise on tongues and perhaps some may not express, but it exists from us, and prepare those answers in the form of booklets, books, prepared individuals ready to speak, and contacts that must be made.

This year I had more motivation to inquire about the issues of Hajj and asked a lot of questions. I was told about the spirituality of Iranian pilgrims in Hajj; perhaps it has been the same in other years. Brothers reported that at midnight many Iranians were standing in the corners of the Masjid al-Haram or in Arafat and performing night prayers, or were in a state of attention. These are very important. I myself saw a group in Hajj that had a spiritual state. When I found out which country they belonged to, it affected my feeling and understanding of the people of that country. Years have passed, but this incident does not leave my memory.

In Hajj, we must be able to make the culture, ethics, and behavior of our people such that they become models and those who look do not forget; at least take prominent things from Iranians. This may, in some cases, have more effect than that suspicion. This is not a step to say it should be taken, for you to say it is not our job; no, as much as it pertains to Hajj, it must be done. Therefore, from the perspective of influencing Muslim nations, this fundamental and important issue exists.

But from the perspective of those one hundred and twenty thousand people we take ourselves, it is also an important issue. One hundred and twenty, thirty thousand, one hundred and fifty thousand, God willing, in the future two hundred thousand men and women, old and young, are entrusted to us for twenty or twenty-five days, in the most sensitive areas where one can effectively implant a word in minds. This is a very exceptional and very strange opportunity. When a group of people is taken to a camp for a week, we say what a good field for influence. This camp of one hundred and fifty thousand people has been entrusted to us and we are taking them; many influences can be placed on minds. Thanks be to God, we also have valuable assets; gentlemen of knowledge, owners of thought, owners of languages or effective methods. We should look at it with the view that we have taken a group to a camp and we want to influence them, and when they return, we have transformed them; because Hajj is essentially for transformation. Hajj should make us spiritual. When we return, we should truly be spiritual. Everyone who returns should be as if they have returned from the world of meaning and from paradise. Individuals should have such a state. For this, extensive planning must be done.

The truth of the matter is that Hajj belongs to us. Hajj is the heritage of the pious. Where are the pious? The pious are in this country. Not that there are no Muslims and pious people in other countries - yes, there are - but their path and way are wrong. Which faithful group and faction are moving in the path of the Prophet and the Imams in the world? These people who live in Iran. Ultimately, Hajj belongs to them. Hajj is the heritage of this nation and the heritage of this revolution and belongs to it.

We must use all the manifestations and symbols of Hajj. For example, see what use can be made in Arafat. I do not mean merely political use. Of course, part of it is political and revolutionary use and whatever can be used, should be used. Or, for example, in Mina, or in Mecca itself, or in Medina, what use can be made. In the midst of the Hajj rituals, what uses can be made. After the days of Hajj - when there is some leisure and calm and people's emotions have subsided and they are looking for miscellaneous activities - what uses can be made. That is, we must have a program for each of these. I am not saying that these programs should be organized from this year to next year; but the goal and direction should be this.

The Islamic Republic recognized Hajj. This was the insight of the Imam. The Imam placed his finger on the essential points. In Islam, there are many obligations, fasting is also a fundamental obligation; but the Imam emphasized Friday prayers and Hajj - that is, those sensitive parts and important points - a lot and constantly spoke about Hajj from the first year and sent messages. Of course, I remember that he also sent messages to the pilgrims before - that is, in 1962 - after the initial struggles related to the provincial and state associations, and after the government accepted the associations, there was a gap. In this gap between winter and April, the incident of the Feyziyeh School occurred, which was a bitter gap; there was movement and effort and danger, and we did not know what was going to happen. I remember one night, along with the late Mr. Sheikh Ali Heydari Nahavandi - one of the martyrs of the Islamic Republican Party - and two others, we went to the Imam to discuss the suggestions that came to our minds regarding Hajj. One of our suggestions was that on the occasion of the Hajj season, it would be good for a message to be issued by him; but he said that I have written it! It turned out that he had written and sent a declaration for Hajj. That is, in 1962, when it was still the beginning of the struggles and there was no news, he had recognized those essential points of religion and gave them importance.

Hajj belongs to us. We must set the direction of Hajj in such a way that the Islamic Republic, that is, the revolution, that is, the true Islam and the true heritage of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family). We must make this a place for the use of the believers; and Hajj is of this kind. These must be planned.

I know that in regional and global necessities, ultimately these Saudi rulers, despite their strong dependencies, have no choice but to come to terms with us regarding Hajj; the enemy also knows. They are forced to come to terms with an Islamic country of this magnitude in the matter of Hajj; provided they feel we are serious.

Global policies are sensitive to our smallest actions. We must carry out the work both precisely and intelligently, and not so openly and clearly. That is, there is no need to say from now that we want to go and conquer Hajj - not Mecca - but our intention must truly be this. We must conquer Hajj and, God willing, plan based on this.

I heard that, thanks be to God, good inspections and reports have also been conducted. Various sections naturally had deficiencies; no work is without flaws. One of the essential tasks that, God willing, Mr. Reyshahri himself and his cooperating brothers must pursue is the serious elimination of deficiencies. Let's see in which section, where there was a deficiency, that deficiency must be addressed; no consideration should be made. In this section, this was planned, this was the management, it had this flaw; at any cost, this flaw must be addressed, so that, God willing, it becomes more complete day by day.

I again emphasize writing and booklets and books. Of course, it will certainly face difficulties there; but there is no problem that does not have an escape and exit. Books and booklets must be written, clear answers to anticipated questions must be given; every day there is a question. Some questions are always repeated; but some questions are seasonal and dependent on current events. These questions must be prepared with the best expression, with the most beautiful translation, and with suitable printing and be available and, God willing, be given there.

Once again, I sincerely thank Mr. Reyshahri and the rest of the dear brothers who truly all worked hard and I was not unaware of the channels of affairs that exist - both during the work I understood, and later brothers who came, reported - I know how much sleeplessness, how much effort, how much endeavor was made, so that this work appeared so well, thanks be to God. I sincerely thank all of them and hope that God Almighty Himself will reward and bless all of you.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings