Message of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution to Muslim Nations on the Occasion of Hajj

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

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and may God's blessings be upon Muhammad, his pure family, his chosen companions, and those who follow them with goodness until the Day of Judgment.

Brothers and sisters in faith across the world!

The continuation of the Islamic Ummah's deprivation from Hajj and the necessity of attention to its message.

This year, the Islamic Ummah has once again been deprived of the great blessing of Hajj, and eager hearts, with sighs and regrets, have lost the opportunity to partake in the feast at the sacred house that the Wise and Merciful God has established for the people.

This is the second year that the joyful and spiritual season of Hajj has turned into a time of separation and longing, and the calamity of the pandemic, and perhaps also the calamity of the policies governing the holy sanctuary, has deprived the eager believers from witnessing the symbol of unity, greatness, and spirituality of the Islamic Ummah, covering this magnificent and proud peak with clouds and dust.

This is a test, like other transient tests in the history of the Islamic Ummah, which can lead to a bright tomorrow; what is important is that Hajj, in its true essence, remains alive in the hearts and souls of Muslims, and now that its ritualistic body is temporarily absent, its lofty message should not fade away.

The functions and characteristics of Hajj.

Hajj is a worship full of mysteries. The beautiful structure and combination of movement and stillness in it shape the identity of the Muslim individual and the Muslim community and showcase its beauty to the eyes of the world. On one hand, it elevates the hearts of the servants with remembrance, humility, and supplication, bringing them closer to God, and on the other hand, through uniformity in dress and movement, it connects brothers who have gathered from the four corners of the world, and it presents the greatest symbol of the Islamic Ummah with all its meaningful and mysterious rituals before the eyes of the world, showcasing the determination and greatness of the Ummah to the adversaries.

The necessity for Muslims to pay attention to their eternal duty in the absence of Hajj.

This year, the Hajj to the sacred house is not accessible, but attention to the Lord of the House, remembrance, humility, supplication, and seeking forgiveness are all accessible; presence in Arafat is not possible, but the supplications that enhance knowledge on the Day of Arafah are possible; stoning the devil in Mina is not feasible, but repelling and driving away the power-seeking devils everywhere is possible; the unified presence of bodies around the Kaaba is not available, but the unified presence of hearts around the clear verses of the Holy Quran and holding fast to the rope of God is an eternal duty.

Muslims and the necessity to compensate for their past by relying on human and natural resources.

We, the followers of Islam, who today possess a vast population, extensive land, countless natural resources, and vibrant and awake nations, must shape the future with our possessions and possibilities. The Muslim nations in the past 150 years have played no role in the fate of their countries and governments, and except for a few exceptions, they have been entirely managed by the policies of the aggressive Western governments, falling prey to their greed, interference, and malice. The scientific backwardness and political dependency of many countries today are the products of that passivity and incompetence. Our nations, our youth, our scholars, our religious leaders, and our civil intellectuals, our politicians, and our parties must today compensate for that dishonorable and shameful past; they must stand firm and resist the bullying, interference, and malice of the Western powers.

A call to resistance; the source of concern for the world of global arrogance regarding the Islamic Republic.

All that the Islamic Republic of Iran has said that has worried and angered the world of global arrogance is a call to this resistance: resistance against the interference and malice of America and other aggressive powers and taking control of the future of the Islamic world based on Islamic teachings.

Naturally, America and its allies are sensitive to the term "resistance" and have committed themselves to various hostilities against the "Islamic Resistance Front." The collaboration of some regional governments with them is also a bitter reality in the continuation of those evils.

The functions of the rituals and symbols of Hajj.

The straight path that the rituals of Hajj—Sa'i, Tawaf, Arafat, and Jamarat—and the grandeur and unity of Hajj show us is reliance on God, attention to the boundless divine power, confidence in national self, belief in effort and struggle, a firm resolve to move forward, and abundant hope for victory.

Signs of hope for the victory of the Islamic Ummah.

The realities on the ground in the Islamic region add to this hope and strengthen that resolve. On one hand, the hardships of the Islamic world, scientific backwardness, political dependencies, and economic and social disarray place us before a great duty and tireless struggle; the occupied Palestine calls for our assistance; the oppressed and bloodied Yemen pains our hearts; the calamities in Afghanistan concern us all; the bitter events in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and some other Muslim countries, where the hand of malice and interference from America and its allies is evident, ignite the honor and determination of the youth, and on the other hand, the rise of resistance elements in all these sensitive regions, the awakening of nations, and the motivation of the energetic and vibrant youth fill hearts with hope; Palestine, in all its parts, draws the "Sword of Quds" from its sheath; Quds, Gaza, the West Bank, and the lands of 1948 and the camps all rise and, within twelve days, rub the nose of the aggressor in the dirt; the besieged and lonely Yemen withstands seven years of war, crime, and the oppression of the cruel and heartless enemy, and despite the famine of food, medicine, and living necessities, does not submit to the bullies and keeps them in a state of panic with its power and ingenuity; in Iraq, the elements of resistance, with a clear and loud voice, push back the occupying America and its ISIS proxies and express their firm resolve to confront any type of interference and malice from America and its allies without hesitation.

The American propaganda efforts to distort the determination, demands, and actions of the valiant youth and elements of "resistance" in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and other countries, and to attribute them to Iran or any other authority, is an insult to those brave and awake youths and stems from the Americans' lack of understanding and proper perception of the nations of this region.

This misunderstanding led to America's humiliation in Afghanistan, and after its noisy entry twenty years ago, and after using weapons and bombs against defenseless and civilian people, it found itself in a quagmire and withdrew its military forces and tools from there. Of course, the awake Afghan nation must be vigilant against the informational tools and soft war weapons of America in its country and stand against them wisely.

The separation of the approach of some Muslim nations in the region from their governments regarding the issue of the occupation of Palestine.

The nations of the region have shown that they are awake and vigilant, and their path and approach are separate from some governments that, to please America, even yield to its demands regarding the vital issue of Palestine; governments that openly and secretly play the game of friendship with the usurping Zionist regime, meaning they deny the rights of the Palestinian nation in its historical homeland. This is a theft of the Palestinian people's assets. They did not stop at plundering the natural resources of their own countries and are now plundering the assets of the Palestinian nation.

Our region is a showcase of the lessons and admonitions of resistance and submission.

Brothers and sisters!

Our region and its rapid and diverse events are a showcase of lessons and admonitions; on one hand, the power arising from struggle and resistance against the bullying aggressor, and on the other hand, the humiliation resulting from submission and the expression of weakness and the endurance of his impositions.

God's promise is true: the victory of those who strive in the way of God: "If you help God, He will help you and make your feet firm." The first effect of this struggle is to prevent America and other international bullies from interfering and committing malice in Islamic countries, God willing.

I beseech the Almighty God for the victory of the Muslim nations and send greetings to the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and ask God for the elevation of the ranks of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) and the great martyrs.

Peace be upon the righteous servants of God.

Sayyid Ali Khamenei

26th of Tir, 1400

6th of Dhul-Hijjah, 1442