Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the Hajj pilgrimage is key to "durability of Islam" and emblematic of the "unity" and "grandeur" of the Ummah.
"The Hajj, as a true symbol of Islamic unity and… a manifestation of the grandeur of the Islamic Ummah, offers a chance for sharing experience between Muslim nations to help each other grow," the Leader said.
"The Hajj is a significant example of the congregation of the Ummah and provides a great opportunity for the world's Muslims to promote harmony and unanimity and develop empathy," he was quoted as saying by Fars News Agency.
Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with Hajj officials in Tehran on Saturday.
The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence. The pilgrimage occurs from the 8th to 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.
Denouncing some political groups in Muslim countries for their misplaced trust in "the enemy", the Leader said, "They have suffered (the consequences of their mistake) because unlike the Iranian people, they confuse friends with foes."
Failure to appreciate the significance of "unity" in some countries led to "domestic conflicts", Ayatollah Khamenei noted, warning, "Bullying powers are seriously pursuing their policy of provoking violence and creating strife in the name of Islam."
"They are trying to undermine the Mulsim Ummah by tarnishing the image of Islam, turning nations against each other and fomenting discord within nations," he added.
