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The Message of his Eminence
Ayatollah ol Ozma Khameneyi,
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution,
To the pilgrims of Beyt-Ullah el Haram
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
و الحمد لله رب العالمين و الصلاة
علي سيد المرسلين و علي آله الطيبين و صحبه الصادقين
In the Name of God
Once again the Hajj season is back
with its spiritual tidings, and again it presents a precious
opportunity to the Islamic world. While many eager hearts aspire to
be there, only a fortunate few can actually realize their dream.
This is the reason for the perpetuity of this flowing spring.
On the one hand, the annual
encounter of the brothers at the House of the Beloved, reconnects
the hearts with the Qibla of Creation, on the other hand, the
friends who have been detached from one another, find an opportunity
for the meeting of hearts. It also brings elation and jubilation to
the body of the Muslim Ummah, both in its spiritual and political
dimensions.
Redemption and freedom from material
impurities, and finding oneself in presence of Allah in all deeds
and all places, even though for a few days, is a great Provision for
Man. All the rituals and ceremonies of Hajj are to provide the
pilgrim with an opportunity of gaining a spiritual experience and
sensing this joyous feeling within his soul.
In the area of politics, the
principal axis of Hajj is to show the united identity of the Muslim
Ummah. Detachment and separation among the brothers will open the
door to those who bear malice towards us and serve as a breeding
ground for the seeds of discord among Muslims.
Muslim Ummah embraces various
nations, races and followers of different divisions of Islam. This
diversity and the vast geographical stretch of the Ummah, in the
sensitive and important part of planet Earth, can be a source of
strength. This diversity can enrich and enhance the Ummah's
common heritage, culture, history and their effectiveness in the
vast part of the globe, and enable them to benefit from all forms of
talents along with human and natural potentials.
From the very first days of their
entry into Islamic nations, the western colonialists have taken
account of this diversity and have consistently attempted to arouse
divisive sentiments.
The colonialist politicians knew
well that if a united Islamic identity is formed, the door will be
closed to their political and economic domination. Therefore, they
have planted seeds of division and discord by employing their
concentrated and enduring
efforts; and to succeed in carrying out this wicked policy and to
advance their goal of domination over the Islamic countries, they
have taken advantage of the unawareness of the populace and weakness
of the of the political and cultural leaders in Islamic countries.
Suppression of liberation movements
in the Islamic countries over the past century, the success of
colonialists powers in consolidating their domination over these
countries, creation or strengthening of authoritarian regimes,
plundering of their natural wealth and destruction of their human
resources, and consequently keeping Muslim nations behind the
caravan of progress in science and technology have all been achieved
under the shadow of disunity and annihilation that in some cases,
reached the levels of animosity and fratricidal conflicts.
With the prelude of Islamic
awakening which reached its peak with the emergence of the Islamic
Republic in Iran, the Western camp faced a formidable threat. The
failure of political schools of thoughts of East and West, the
recognition of the falsehood and the collapse of the values that
were represented by the colonialists as the only road to humanity's
happiness, helped self-awareness among Muslim masses to take root,
and successive frustrations of the arrogant powers in covering and
extinguishing this divine radiance have sprung up the seedlings of
hope in the hearts of Muslim nations.
A glance at today's Palestine which
has a government that has come to power committed to the
unchangeable principle of " liberation from Zionist occupation
", and comparison of the present situation with the seclusion,
isolation and weakness of Palestinian people in the past; a glance
at Lebanon in which the Muslims put their lives on the line to
defeat the equipped Israeli army with all the help that it received
from the U.S, the West and other hypocritical powers, and its
comparison with the Lebanon that the Zionist could encroach upon and
move forward without any real obstacles; a glimpse at Iraq, in which
its proud people humiliated the pompous America, and bogged down an
army and politicians that boasted of having a free hand in Iraq,
entangled now in a quagmire of political, military and economic
problems, and its comparison with an Iraq, of not so long ago, which
its bloodthirsty leader had brutalized and suffocated its people
with the support of America; a glance at Afghanistan in which all
the promises of the U.S and the West have turned out to be lies and
the unprecedented military expedition of the united front of Western
countries have produced nothing, except destruction, poverty,
carnage and the growing power of the narcotics Mafia and finally, a
glance at an ever increasing generation of youthful populations of
the Islamic countries, with a growing tendency towards Islamic
values, and the rising sentiments against the U.S and the West;
looking at all these developments provide us with a clear and true
picture of the falling fortunes and the failed policies of the
arrogant powers, specially the United States, and augur well for the
emergence of the united Islamic identity.
The American government, the
domineering capitalism of the West and the corrupt Zionist political
lobbyists have begun to sense the living truth of the Islamic
awakening, and by admitting that their military might is useless
against this truth, they are using all their power to employ
political ploys and tactics.
The entire Muslim Ummah, whether the
political, cultural and religious elites, or the masses of people,
must remain vigilant more than ever before, and try to identify and
foil the conniving schemes of the enemy.
One of the most effective schemes of
the enemy is to incite the flames of discord and division. By
spending money and rushing to put to use whatever they have in their
power, they try to keep Muslims occupied in feuding and quarreling
over their differences and once again, to set us against one another
by exploiting our negligence, narrow-mindedness and prejudices.
Today, any divisive action in the
Islamic world is a historical sin. Those who maliciously use Takfir
to declare large groups of Muslims as unbelievers, those who insult
the sanctities of various divisions of Islam, those who betray and
put a dagger in the back of the Lebanese youth who are the source of
honour for Muslim Ummah, those who speak of the fabricated threat of
Shiite crescent, in order to please Americans and the Zionists,
those who incite fratricidal insecurities and lawlessness in Iraq to
defeat its Islamic and popular government, and those who put
pressure on the popular elected Hamas government in Palestine,
whether intentionally or unintentionally, will be regarded as
criminals, detested by history and future generations and looked
upon as mercenaries of the brutal enemy.
Muslims all over the world must know
that the era of humiliation and backwardness of the Islamic world
has come to an end. We are all witnessing the coming of a new era.
The flawed frame of mind that Muslim countries will remain
enthralled in the cultural and political claws of the West, and will
continue to emulate them in their individual and collective
behaviours, have been eradicated from the minds of Muslim masses by
the hands of the Westerners themselves, as the result of their
excessive arrogance and conceit.
The West, particularly after the
arrogant leadership of the United States, with evident oppressions,
irrational behaviours and infinite pride is now seen as an
anti-value in the Islamic world. Their treatment of the Palestinian
people compared to their treatment of the bloodthirsty Zionist
regime, their position with respect to the admission of the Zionist
regime, on possession of nuclear weapons, against their position on
civilian use of nuclear energy by Iran, their support for the
military aggression against Lebanon and their political and military
assistance for the aggressor, their hostility towards the defenders
of Lebanon, who were prepared to sacrifice their lives, relentlessly
blackmailing the Arab governments, and constant surrender of the
western governments to the demands of the Zionist regime, supporting
the insulters of sanctities of Islam and even open defamation of
Islam by high-ranking authorities in the West, including the Pope,
while making any inquiry into and questioning of Holocaust or
the formation of the Zionist regime, being considered as a
punishable offense, military attacks against Iraq and Afghanistan
and the killing of civilian population under the name of Democracy,
while conspiring against democratic governments of Palestine, Iraq
and in Latin America and in fact, anywhere that their stooges do not
come to power, all the hue and cry on the war on Terror, while
clandestinely talking to and supporting brutal terrorists in Iraq,
etc, etc…
These irrational and malicious
behaviours have provided clear proofs to Muslim nations, and have
helped strengthen the Islamic awakening. Whether they like it or
not, today a profound and deep-rooted movement has begun in the
Islamic world. This movement, in its own time, will lead to the
independence, dignity and rejuvenation of Muslim Ummah.
This is a decisive juncture in
History. The elites and the scholars and the intellectuals have a
huge responsibility on their shoulders. Any weakness, wavering,
misguided actions and negligence on their part will lead to
disaster.
Ullema [ scholars ] should not
remain silent in face of divisive actions, nor the
intellectuals
should shirk their responsibility to impart spirit of hope in our
youth; and politicians and leaders should not distance themselves
from the people and must rely on them. And the Islamic governments
should strengthen their ranks and solidarity and use the power of
the people to overcome the threats of the domineering powers.
Today the intelligence services of
the U.S and Britain in Iraq, Lebanon and in countries of North
Africa and wherever they can, are spreading the virus of religious
division and discord. The congregation of Hajj keeps us immune from
this deadly virus, and places this sacred Qur'anic verse in full
view:" And obey Allah, and His Messenger, and do not quarrel, for
then you will be weak in hearts and your power will depart, and be
patient; surely Allah is with the patient. "[ Anfal-46 ]
Today, to express resentment against
the Moshrikin is the heartfelt desire and the call of all
Muslim nations. The season of Hajj is the only opportunity when this
desire can be expressed with full force.
I seize this opportunity to pray for
Allah's Grace and Favor on all Hajj pilgrims, and pray for the
earliest coming of His Holiness Imam of the Age.
Cleanse yourselves in this vast
ocean. I pray for your success and happiness and for the acceptance
of your Hajj.
Seyyed Ali Khameneyi
Dhul'hajja 3rd 1427
Dey 3rd 1385
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