Muslims Urged to Help End Conflicts

The Leader of Islamic Revolution called on Muslim dignitaries and figures to use the occasion of hajj pilgrimage to foster unity among Muslims and work toward ending conflicts provoked by their adversaries, allowing the Muslim community to focus on its top tasks, particularly supporting the Palestinian cause against the Israeli occupation.

In a message released on Wednesday on the occasion of this year’s hajj pilgrimage that started on Wednesday and ends on Monday, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei added that hegemonic powers are fanning the flames of discord among Muslims and trying to turn Muslim states into a hotbed of insecurity.

“Today, the world of Islam is suffering from insecurity ... This is mainly due to our negligence and the brutal invasion of enemies. We as Muslims did not carry out our religious and rational duties in the face of the invasion of the vicious enemy,” the Leader’s official website quoted him as saying.

“By ignoring the definite duty of saving Palestine, we Muslims are busy with the domestic wars in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya and Bahrain, and confronting terrorism in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the like.”

The Leader noted that hajj can be used as a good opportunity to open the eyes of Muslims to the bitter realities of the world and prepare them to deal with challenges.  

Ayatollah Khamenei said dignitaries and officials in Muslim countries have heavy responsibilities on their shoulders, particularly to forge unity and prevent internal disputes from turning into crises, stop catastrophic incidents in the Muslim countries and inform the nations of methods and machinations of their adversaries.

“Most importantly, [they have] the responsibility of defending Palestine and offering unconditional cooperation and assistance to a people who have been fighting for their usurped country for nearly 70 years,” he said.

Hajj is required of all able-bodied Muslims of financial means once in a lifetime.

Around two million people from across the world, including 86,000 faithful Iranians, are currently performing the ritual.

Iranians were absent in last year’s hajj, after Tehran and Riyadh failed to reach agreement on security arrangements following a tragic stampede during the 2015 hajj that killed thousands of worshippers, including 464 Iranians.

This year’s agreement came in March, when Tehran said the other side provided “written assurances” it would meet all conditions regarding the security of pilgrims.