TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said Hajj is a pillar of human life which contains important messages and lessons for various aspects of humans’ individual and social life.
In a meeting with Hajj officials here, the Leader also described the Zionist regime “an obvious plague for the world of Islam” which needs to be “exposed in any way possible”.
“The Holy Qur’an describes the wisdom of the Hajj pilgrimage in one short sentence that means ‘the pillar of human life.’ Hajj includes teachings and practices that teach human beings and the next generations how to select the pillars in their lives,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Teaching “coexistence, a simple lifestyle and avoiding the sins that require one to be more vigilant” is an important lesson to be learned from the Hajj pilgrimage, the Leader said.
He advised all pilgrims and officials involved in this spiritual journey to appreciate its great blessing and be grateful for the pilgrimage.
This means carrying out their responsibilities with the intention of getting closer to God, the Leader said, adding officials must conduct their actions firmly, with piety and innovatively.
Ayatollah Khamenei also urged Hajj pilgrims to become ready internally for this spiritual trip and to avoid spending their time in shopping and other mundane acts.
“The real souvenir of the Hajj pilgrimage is recitation of the Qur’an, saying one’s prayers and circumambulating Masjid al-Haram. So the pilgrims should not waste their precious time doing useless deeds.”
Hajj, the Leader said, is a symbol of the unity of the Islamic nation.
“Everyone should make all-out efforts to prevent the disruption of Muslim unity, because creating discord between the Shia and the Sunnis is one of the tricks used by the Brits.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said promoting good, enlightening communications with pilgrims from other countries and using good Qur’anic recitations are among the areas where efforts can be made to enhance unity.
Zionists, the Leader said, are a blight that is currently affecting the world of Islam.
“Revealing the Zionists’ conspiracies and plans during the Hajj pilgrimage is a great necessity,” he said.
“The Arab and non-Arab states which have pursued normalization of ties with the Zionist regime in line with American policies contrary to the wishes of their own nations, should be aware that such meetings will bear no fruit except their being exploited by the Zionist regime.”
Ayatollah Khamenei also referred
to the grave duties of the host nation and the necessity of its working in such a way to the benefit of the Islamic nation.
“Ensuring the safety of all pilgrims, especially the Iranian pilgrims, and preventing the tragedy that took place in the past is one of the Islamic Republic’s serious demands,” he said.