Hajj Symbolizes Muslim Unity

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei described the pilgrimage of hajj as a symbol of unity among Muslim nations, calling for all-out efforts to prevent any conflict within the Islamic community. 
He made the remarks in an address to a group of hajj officials ahead of the religious ceremony which occurs on July 7-12 this year, as Saudi Arabia receives its first foreign pilgrims after two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. 
The Leader said hajj is an artful divine program with various dimensions which is different from other religious duties.   
“Hajj contains lessons and practices that teach successive generations of mankind how to select the basics of their life,” he said, Leader.ir reported.  
Coexistence, simple lifestyle and avoiding sinful acts are among important lessons of the pilgrimage, according to Ayatollah Khamenei. 
He also advised pilgrims to focus on the spiritual aspects of hajj and avoid indecent activities such as strolling into markets.
“The real souvenir of hajj is reading the Quran, saying prayers and Tawaf [the ritual of circumambulating the Kaaba] and one must not waste the precious time on futile activities,” he said.
Making contact with Muslims from other countries and using the Holy Quran together are also among ways to promote Muslim unity, he added. 
Ayatollah Khamenei later pointed to the Zionist regime as an immediate disaster for the Islamic world, stressing that an essential activity during the pilgrimage is to try to reveal their hostile schemes.
“Arab and non-Arab governments who have moved toward normalization with Israel against the will of their nations and at the request of the United States must know that these relations will bear no fruit but their exploitation by the Zionist regime,” he said.
Apart from Egypt and Jordan who signed peace treaties with Israel in 1979 and 1994 respectively, four other Arab League countries, namely Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Morocco signed agreements establishing diplomatic relations with the regime in 2020. 
Saudi Arabia has also said it is ready to normalize relations with Israel based on the 2002 Arab initiative proposal for peace, which calls for the end of the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Beit-ul-Moqaddas as its capital.
The Leader finally highlighted the grave responsibilities of the host country and the need for this government to act in accordance with the interests of the Muslim world. 
“Ensuring the security of all pilgrims, especially Iranian travelers, and preventing the repetition of past incidents, as well as revising the increase in prices, are among the Islamic Republic’s serious demands,” he said.