Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with Hajj Officials

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

First of all, I extend my greetings. Secondly, I congratulate you on the blessed birth of Imam Abal-Hasan Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (peace be upon him), whose spiritual presence is evident throughout our country, thanks to the blessed existence of his holy shrine. The eighth Imam (peace be upon him) is the spiritual, intellectual, and material benefactor of our nation. I hope that, by the blessing of this great and noble birth and the spirituality emanating from his holy dome, God will bestow His grace upon you, who are the servants of the guests and pilgrims of the House of God, and illuminate your hearts with the light of divine guidance.

The sanctity of the months of Dhul-Qi'dah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram signifies the greatness of these months and the immense respect that these days, nights, and hours hold in the divine will and creation. The days of Hajj represent the peak of this dignity and greatness, and the presence of pilgrims in the rites and at the center of the unity of the Islamic world—namely, the Holy Mecca—is one of the greatest blessings of the sacred months. It was not without reason that Islam emphasized the sanctity of the sacred months among the laws that were prevalent before Islam. It is not that the Prophet (peace be upon him) merely accommodated the ignorant Arabs of that time, accepting their designation of these months as sacred; rather, it signifies that the four sacred months—"منها اربعةٌ حُرُم"—truly possess a distinction, just as certain days, nights, weeks, and decades throughout the year have their own distinctions. These months are special, and we must all appreciate them, especially the pilgrims of the House of God. Those who will attain this great blessing this year, as well as you who are their servants, should regard these days as a valuable opportunity to prepare for this great honor. We hope that the Almighty God will include all of you in His special attentions and guidance, and God willing, illuminate your hearts.

The truth is that Hajj is an exceptional obligation and a remarkable, profound ceremony. Although much has been said about Hajj, and many beautiful and eloquent expressions have been shared, the matter of Hajj is much deeper than what we have understood so far. Hajj is a pure, profound act of worship—humility, reverence, remembrance, devotion, supplication, and seeking intercession—performed in a communal setting. The combination of these two characteristics gives the matter great significance. While there are social acts of worship in Islam, such as congregational prayers, Friday prayers, and Eid prayers, the immense gathering and the centrality given to remembrance and monotheism, drawing all Muslims from the corners of the Islamic world to a single point, holds great meaning. The fact that all Muslims, despite differences in dialects, races, customs, traditions, and sects, are obliged to gather at one point and perform specific acts together—acts that are solely acts of worship, supplication, remembrance, and attention—carries profound significance. It becomes evident that, according to Islamic perspective, the unity of hearts and souls is not limited to the political arena and jihad; even going to the House of God and gathering hearts and bodies together holds importance. Thus, consider the verse in the Holy Quran: "واعتصموا بحبل‌اللَّه جمیعاً". The act of holding onto the rope of God has no benefit unless it is done "جمیعاً" (together). Hold onto the rope of God together; grasp the reassuring point of divine education and guidance together. Being together is important; hearts together, souls together, thoughts together, bodies side by side. The circumambulation you perform—this circular movement around a center—is a symbol of the movement of Muslims around the axis of monotheism. All our actions, endeavors, and aspirations must revolve around the axis of divine unity and attention to the exalted essence of the Lord. This lesson pertains to all of life. Those who wish to confine Islamic laws to the corners of homes, places of worship, and hearts, and to strip social activity of its religious essence, do not pay attention to these Islamic points. The Sa'i (the act of walking between Safa and Marwah) that all Muslims must undertake is the same. Sa'i is a movement with determination, intensity, attention, will, and awareness, and everyone must move together; they must go and come together. The great gatherings in Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina are the same. These massive collective acts, which cannot be found in any other religion or school of thought or in any other Islamic laws, demonstrate the greatness of this obligation. Here lies a divine treasure that anyone who is fortunate enough to reach out to this treasure should make the utmost use of it. Utilize this treasure as much as you can during the days of Hajj.

These times are both blessed in terms of days and moments, and the location is also blessed. In terms of time, it is at the peak of the sanctity of the sacred months; in terms of location, it is at the highest point of blessed regions—where the House of God and the center of monotheism and the attention of all Muslims is present at all times. The pilgrim there must strengthen and solidify their relationship with God; they must become familiar with the Quran and consider supplication, remembrance, and presence as their permanent duty. Sometimes, it is very regrettable that some go there and seek goods that can be found everywhere! Some spend their precious time, money, and reputation to go to various markets and bring back these goods; these are ordinary life commodities that exist everywhere. There is a commodity there that cannot be found anywhere else: the commodity of divine pleasure, the visitation of the House of God, the visitation of the holy grave of the Prophet; where else can this be found? Where else can this time and place be found? Everyone must take advantage of this opportunity. You, who are the hosts and servants of the pilgrims, must constantly remind each of them of these points. The pure spirituality and guidance through these faithful and devoted groups must continuously flow towards the thirsty hearts of the pilgrims. Many of these opportunities lie within the grasp of the Islamic nation, and if utilized, the Islamic nation will be what the Quran desires for it: "فلا تهنوا و تدعوا الى السّلم و انتم الاعلون" or "ولا تهنوا ولا تحزنوا و انتم الاعلون"; you are the highest. Of course, not the highest because of race, nor the highest because you have a special kinship with God—no one among creation has a special relationship with God—but you are the highest because of your affiliation with a doctrine that can save humanity in its time of confusion; it can, over the centuries, hand the torch of guidance to humanity and bring them happiness and lead them to a point of safety, security, and perfection; this is your distinction.

The other religions were a prelude to the entry of this religion into the realm of human thought—"انتم الاعلون"—because this faith is in your possession; you must utilize it. This very faith can crush and shatter the powers of the devils and tyrants, just as it has done before. In the days of the emergence of Islam, who would have imagined that a small, oppressed, weak group in a corner of Mecca, by the blessing of these divine verses, could establish the greatest civilization of their time, elevate and advance human civilization, and create this vast domain and remain with dignity and pride throughout the ages? Some thought that everything would soon be destroyed: "الظّانین باللَّه ظنّ السّوء"; they thought that the Prophet would not achieve success in any of the events that befell him: "بل ظننتم ان لن ینقلب الرّسول و المؤمنون الى اهلیهم ابدا". "و ظننتم ظنّ السّوء و کنتم قوماً بورا"; those who have ill thoughts about God, those who do not recognize the importance and value of the precious gem of religion, are among the "قوماً بورا"; we Muslims must not reach that point. The Quran can guide humanity; it can elevate a person from being "لفى خسر" to being one who is "انّک کادحٌ الى ربّک کدحاً فملاقیه"; it can lead them towards God and enable them to meet Him. This Hajj is a manifestation of this Quran. The sincere faith of believers throughout the history of Islam has stemmed from this Quran; this must be appreciated. Like all our other treasures, this treasure is also under attack. Those who you see at the Hajj ceremonies seeking to sow discord, incite strife, and promote their delusional and superstitious thoughts are the very fingers, whether knowingly or unknowingly, that destroy and obliterate this treasure. Those who do not allow the glory and dignity of this unity to be reflected and resonate in the great Islamic nation are among those who destroy and waste this treasure. Those who do not allow the unity and great glory of the Islamic nation, in the path of God—not glory as a means of boasting, not glory as a means of colonization and humiliating other nations, not glory as a means of inciting war against the weak of the world; rather, glory in the direction of divine values and in the path of monotheism—to be reflected in the Islamic world are committing injustice against humanity. Today, the Islamic world suffers due to the neglect of this great divine treasure.

You see how the arrogant powers and tyrants of the world are treating Muslims and those who possess this great gem—who unfortunately do not use it properly—in the Middle East! Look at what they are doing to the Palestinian nation! Look at the schemes they are concocting for Iraq! Look at the pleasant dreams they have for seizing the material and spiritual resources and wealth of this region! The Islamic nation can stand against them and thwart these savage actions, provided they pay attention to the firm rope and the divine bond. It is a difficult condition, but it is possible. All aspirations—including this aspiration—are realized through speaking, listening, understanding, and persisting. There was a time when there was no mention of the greatness and glory of Islam among Arab countries and among Muslim nations; however, today, thanks to the persistence of the Iranian nation on the ideals of Islam and their sacrifices and acceptance of struggle, it exists. The Iranian nation has taken on a heavy burden for the benefit of the Islamic nation. Of course, the greatest benefit is for the Iranian nation itself and the martyrs in the path of God; however, the Islamic world also benefits from their struggles. The sacred Islamic Republic, which has placed itself under the raised banner of Islam, adheres to all Islamic principles. We evaluate all global issues by the standards of Islam, and this is the most precise criterion and the best measure of interest. One should not think that because we view events from an Islamic perspective, we cannot analyze events or find the correct strategy in events; on the contrary, Islam provides us with a torch that illuminates our path. Those who have succumbed to the bullying of America and the unprecedented savagery of the Zionists have done so because they have not considered the Islamic perspective, and they have fallen into this great calamity; neither have their worldly affairs improved, nor have they been able to establish their human dignity and honor; they are also accountable before God Almighty. Governments and countries that have refused to speak out against the oppression of the Palestinian nation and have not seriously defended that oppressed nation, and who are now unwilling to criticize and stand against the greed and excesses of America in this region, do not have a good world. It is naive to think that these people will walk a few steps with America and, in return, live comfortably. What comfortable life?! The experiences around us in the Islamic world are full of the failures of those who became servants and accomplices of the devil. These people are used as long as they are beneficial to them and to the capitalists and companies that support those policies; afterward, they are discarded like the stones of the devil—according to Molavi. This is our existing experience. Islam grants dignity, power, and courage to the Islamic nation and Islamic rulers so that they can act, understand, and see their path. Hajj is a great opportunity to present these truths and many other truths—thanks to Islamic knowledge and guidance—to the public consciousness of the world and awaken them. Many hearts in the Islamic world are awake; they must feel that throughout the Islamic world, their thoughts have supporters so that they can gain the necessary courage and bravery. All of this is in the shadow of the spirituality of Hajj; do not neglect the spirituality of Hajj and the utilization of the lofty concepts of supplications, visitations, and the noble verses of the Quran. Utilize this great treasure as much as you can. God willing, return from this journey with full hands.

We ask the Almighty God to grant success to all of you dear brothers and sisters who are serving the pilgrims, especially the esteemed officials of this great task who truly and justly bear great burdens and endure significant difficulties and solve them. We also thank the other friends from Dar al-Hadith and the relevant faculty who are present here. I hope that all of you will be included in the mercy, grace, and guidance of God, and God willing, you will be able to gain the greatest benefit from the Almighty during these blessed days and this blessed journey.

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