Speech [Philosophy of Hajj and its political dimensions]

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

I should thank the gentlemen for coming here to talk over some issues. I would like to tell them to some extent about some subjects and hope that all gentlemen will succeed in making this blessed journey in good health and triumph and return to their places of origin.

You perform Hajj in a year when the situation of the world and the region is as you see. The world has been afflicted by big powers, the deprived are suffering at the hands of satanic powers, and our region has been reduced to this situation due to intervention of big powers. You travel to the House of God at a time when due to disgraceful defeats of Saddam, he has targeted our residential areas and hits our cities with missiles. Recently, you observed what they did to Andimeshk. I express my condolences to the people and respected, brave residents of Andimeshk and hope that God Almighty may associate their martyrs with the martyrs of the early days of Islam, and grant their families health and patience.

You are making this blessed journey in a year when big powers in the region are engaged in corruption and plunder. On the other hand, the Soviet Union interferes in Afghanistan wherever it can and suppresses the oppressed Afghan people. Thank God, the people of Afghanistan have put up a manly resistance against that big power. Furthermore, the US is on top of the criminals, and interferes in, and transgresses upon all oppressed countries, particularly Islamic countries. The US has extended its hands from the other side of the world and oppresses the nations supposed to be independent. Unfortunately, these governments have succumbed to oppression.

One of the philosophies of Hajj is its political dimension. The hands of criminals from around the world work to crush this dimension.

Unfortunately, their extensive propaganda has also impressed Muslims many of whom consider Hajj journey a hollow ritual in blatant disregard of Muslims interests. Since its birth, Hajj's political significance has not been less than its devotional dimension. In addition to its politics aspect, it is also an act of worship.

Problems of people from different nation whose rich people and esteemed clerics are present should be reviewed in Hajj. The situation of Muslims should be considered. It should be examined how Islamic nations fare with their governments; how their governments deal with the satanic powers; how Islamic nations treat each other; a- how clerics in different countries deal with the issue of Hajj. These are the cases, which should be taken into account, and Hajj is just for these issues. In Hajj people should try to identify the problems facing Muslims during the year and then take action to overcome them.

At the court clerics in the region and elsewhere assert, Hajj should be devoid of its political aspect. In fact, by say in this they condemn the prophet of God, the Islamic caliphs and the Imams of Guidance. They do not know that Hajj is for such issues. It has been for people's uprising; for appreciating Muslim problems; for effort in solving these problems, and for creating amity and fraternity among Muslims.

Unfortunately, the propaganda of the enemies of Islam is and has been so vast and extensive in all Islamic issues that Muslims and clerics have come to believe that they should not interfere in politics. Many of the clerics have come to believe that clergymen should not interfere in politics and that clergyman should simply deal with non-political questions. Islam's political questions are several times as many as its devotional ones, because those political issues are devotional at the same time. Islamic literature and books on jurisprudence are full of political and social questions. Now a number of ignoramus people think that Islam, like other devious religions-, which were not like this in their pristine form, but were reduced to their present stateby the colonialists- expects clerics to. It is suggested that clerics should only sit and perform two rak`ats, go back home and take a nap until the time arrives for the other prayer. This propaganda has raged ever since the birth of Islam, gained strength at the time of Umayyad `Abbasid Caliphs, and subsequently fell into the hands of reactionary governments. Now, big powers take advantage of the same propaganda to isolate Islam and have succeeded in doing so. The Islam that fails to address the problems of society and problems of the state is an isolated Islam. The isolated Islam was limited to mosques. They have isolated Islam in the name of Islam and limited it to the walls of lifeless mosques. Masjid al-Haram and other mosques during the time of our nole prophet were war headquarters and political and social centers. It was not that in the mosque of prophet, they only performed devolution duties such as prayers and fasting; in fact political issues out weighted other aspects. Whenever the Muslim leaders wanted to send people to war and mobilize them for battles, they started these activities from mosques. Unfortunately, due to propaganda which started in early days of Islam and last up to our time, the mosques were converted into places in which Islam has condemned. It does not mean that people openly condemned Islam. Condemnation means trampling the Islamic rules in the mosque. Islam wants people to be active in mosques and consciously struggle for their interests and the interests of Muslims. Moreover, Hajj is among the practices whose political aspects are greater than its devotional ones. You gentlemen who will make a pilgrimage to the House of God should note that this colonized mentality ingrained in the mind of some even clerics in Islamic countries, should be rooted out. In your speeches and gatherings, remind people that the true essence of Islam is not what we are experiencing now. It is not true Islam to only make a pilgrimage to Mecca, to circumambulate the holy Ka`bah and perform other rituals, while you do not care what the arrogant powers are doing to the people and the Muslims, stay indifferent and condemn those who speak in the interests of Muslims. The damage Islam sustains from the court akhounds is worse than the damage inflicted on Islam by the US, because the former isolate Islam with an Islamic guise, while the latter cannot act thus. The latter impels the former. When Muslims make a pilgrimage to the House of God, they should perform a dynamic Hajj, a crushing Hajj and a Hajj in which Muslims should condemn the criminal Soviet Union and the criminal US. This Hajj is the one that is accepted. If we make a pilgrimage but fail to consider the interests of Muslims, act against the interests of Muslims, cover up the crimes, do not allow Muslims speak out the crimes committed against Muslims and refuse to highlight the crimes committed against Muslims by governments and big powers, this is not Hajj. It is a meaningless form.

The Hajj expected by God Almighty and by Islam is one in which Muslims from different nations are awakened and unified. You should make them understand why over one billion Muslims are under the pressure of two powers about a few hundred million people. All the problems are because Muslims have been derived from the path Islam has prescribed. Even if they converge, they don't do anything. Perhaps you have heard about the congregation of the clerics somewhere failing to condemn. They refused to denounce as wrong act the occupation of Afghanistan by Soviet Union by mere words. The Christian clergy were not ready to express their condemnation of Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. They were scared of even oral protest. This is the Christian clergymen. We thought the Christian clergymen were American. Now it became clear that they are both American and Russian. In addition, many Muslim clerics are on a par with Christian clergymen. Those who condemn any objection by Muslims against Zionists or the US. These Muslim clerics are like the Christian clergymen who say one should keep silent, or those clerics who support the US. They are also supporters of the US. Muslims should be awakened. This one billion Muslims should certainly be awakened and get rid of the two big powers and other powers that are indulged in corruption in these regions.

Is not it drying a shame that Islamic countries and governments are standing by while Israel is treating the Palestinians in that manner, and committing crimes in Lebanon? One billion Muslims are just like bystanders, what are they afraid of? Why are they incapable of doing anything? They have control over the lifeblood of the east and the west. Oil is their lifeblood. If Muslim countries cut oil for ten days, they will become humble. While this lifeblood is in the hands of so-called Islamic governments, they offer it in a begging way. Is not this disgrace? Is not it disgrace for Muslims to give everything they have sincerely to foreigner and beg them to accept their offer? When Muslims do not pay attention to the divine and Qur'anic issues, disregard proper Islamic rules and ignore Islam's call for unity, they will perforce offer all things and beg them to accept. Is it not time for us to be awakened? Should they not draw lessons from Iran? Today all big countries of the world ranging from the Soviet Union which is unceasingly helping Iraq to the US and is doing the same and France has turned into the center of corruption in the world claiming to be the cradle of freedom and other things has accommodated the terrorists, provides assistance to Saddam and take pride in this. Muslims should give them a punch in the mouth and if they become united, they will be able to do so. The world knows, though pretending to ignore it, that Iran has slapped the Soviet Union, the US and other big powers thanks to Islam. Islamic Iran will no longer let them find their way into this country. Those who are waiting for the US and Soviet Union to return are under illusion. They should not cherish this dream at least as long as we are alive. Up to then the US and Soviet Union cannot enter this country.

Now our youths go to the war from al over the country and put up heroic resistance on the fronts. As long as these youth are there, no one can do any harm to this country. Those who are retreating to their homes, say that people have grown exhausted of the war, and are tired of such and such should know that they themselves weary. They were weary from the outset. Who are the people? In Andimeshk whch has been bombarded people shout" war, war until victory" slogans. There is the same story everywhere, from Dezfoul to wherever you see. As soon as there is a case of corruption or and Saddam commits a crime people stand up and shout" down with this; down with that" and" war, war until victory." Are not these the people! Those people who congregate in mosques and Friday prayer venues shout a lot in support of war, and volunteer to go towards the warfronts- are not they Iranian? Have they come from Mars? The people of Iran consist of a number of individuals who are sitting idly and neither of them have gone to the battlefields, nor any of them have rendered any help to warfront despite the fact that some of have such and such things! Are the people of Iran and few individuals who only watch the country moving, God forbid, towards destruction if our youths show laxity? Are the people of Iran you few individuals who say that you have become weary of war? When have you been engaged in any battle to become tired? Which one of you has been in the battlefield so he might have a feeling of weariness? Which one of you has been ready to condemn the US and the Soviet Union? You are that sort of men who sit there and constantly nag about people. These are the nation. The nation consists of the people in the street and bazaar, the people of villages and- I do not know- towns and provinces. They are contributing to the war, the warfronts and home front. Their wives, children and entire members of their family are engaged with service. They are not exhausted. What is there to be weary of? Should they turn their back on Islam? Today we are engaged in a sacred defense. We are not at war with anyone. We are defending our country. A part of our country is still under the occupation of Saddam. If we who are defending Islam feel tired, it means that we are weary of the holy Qur'an and Islam. Which of these individuals in this country, excluding a corrupt minority, has been exhausted of these matters? Our youth know that if, God forbid, Saddam wins, what he will do to this country and people. Do these zealous youths who have such feelings sit at home and complain of being exhausted of war? What is there to be weary of? Have they been tired of defending their principles? Have they been tired of defending their country? Have they been tired of defending Islam? What has made them feel exhausted? A certain group has been sitting and criticizing every correct thing they done. They criticize any service rendered by the government. From the beginning they did not want this situation; they want to restore the situation to the times of pleasure when the youth idled away their time in coffee houses and cabarets and did such and such. The elderly liked to have winning and dinning parties. They want to enjoy themselves without restraint, but their dream will not be translated into reality. Your dream will not be fulfilled.

This nation is a living nation, a nation to be reckoned with in the world. This is the same Iran, which even its neighbors did not heed. This is the same Iran, which was introduced just in words of Mr. Aryamehr and beyond that, it has nothing. It was all dependence, all ruins. The entire country had fallen into ruin except major cities and primarily Tehran, which received attention, because there were nobles and aristocrats there who wanted to have fun. The villages, small towns and remote places were in disfavor. The poor people of these areas had to ride donkeys too go from this place to that place. They also had to carry their patient, many of whom would die on the way- on donkeys. Today, however, the government is busy building road, hospital, and school. Several thousands of schools have been made and several thousands kilometers of roads are been built. The gentlemen have been sitting at home growling that nothing has been accomplished. What do you want to be done? What has been done has been done at the time of Rida Khan and Muhammad-Rida who had transformed the streets into centers of corruption. Do you consider their achievements right? Review the achievements in the past few years from all aspects. Many developments have taken place in our youths: they were driven out of cabarets and steered towards battlefields; they were dragged out corruption centers and led into centers of improvement, prayer and supplication. Our women who had undergone oppression are today engaged in teaching, training, and struggle in the cause of God. What do you wish to be accomplished? Why you gentlemen have closed your eyes and opened your ears to the propaganda campaigns of the US and Europe? Open your eyes and see what has happened in Iran. Should others tell you? Of course, at times they call our attention to the transformations. You should promote Islam, the religion and this country and defend this country with your pen, tongue and other means. Instead, you nag and grumble all the time, why? What do you lack that causes you to complain? These people, the oppressed and the poor people living in slums across the country are making such sacrifices for Islam and they never complain of being exhausted. Now you see they move towards the warfronts in great numbers to defend Islam. Are not they from this nation? Are not the youths who go to the battlefields part of this nation? Do you expect these people to come from the US? Wake up a bit and pay attention to the developments a bit.

You gentlemen who are going to perform pilgrimage to the great House of God should try to tell rituals of Hajj to people, many of them aren't familiar with these rituals, before they decide to perform any one of them. Wherever you are, invite people and remind them of Hajj rituals in an orderly fashion; tell them about obligations, forbidden acts of this journey and other issues. Moreover, you should associate with pilgrims to exchange the issues with them. of course, you should do so in a good manner. You should make them understand the disadvantages of sitting idly while the US has stretched its hands from across the world in order to control you and the Persian Gulf. What are you up to in the Persian Gulf? Who are you to provide security of the Persian Gulf from remotest part of the world? We should do it. Is it your business? Muslims should do it. The Gulf States should do it. We would like to be on brotherly terms with all Islamic countries and all the governments if they redeem their crooked treatment and shake hands of brotherhood with us. We want everyone's interests and wish them to be honored. We want them not to be servants of the US. The US should not lord it over you from across the world, nor should the Soviet Union. You should be together. If your governments become together, the people will soon follow suit. If you treat people well, they will follow you. If you treated them well and observed Islamic rules, the nations will stay with you. Then you will be invulnerable. Today Iran's government is invulnerable because it is serving the people, people follow it and people protect it. When people saw Rida Khan in trouble or Muhammad-Rida Khan in trouble, they would get happy to see them having run trouble. Today, however, if a trouble befalls the government or the country, the people settle it. The government is their servant and should be so. Majlis is a servant and should be so. We all should be servants of this nation. We all should thank those managing the war despite all the pressures and while everyone is against us and wants us to be isolated. Thank God, Iran is reckoned with in the world and has the Muslims on its side. I hope this blessed journey will help you succeed in making the world Muslims the clerics from different countries and the court clerics who will not doubt come there aware of that why they should look for their glory in serving the US and the Zionists. You should find your dignity in Islam, obtain it from the House of God. Come together around the banner of Islam and the House of God and promise solemnly that your gatherings will not run against the interests of Islam and that all of them will be in conformity with the interests of Islam. It is hoped that you will curtail the influence of big powers. This great Islamic congregation will expectantly arrive at desirable conclusion for Islam and you will perform pilgrimage in good health and good luck. Pray for Islam and Muslims. Pray for Muslims and Muslim leaders to awaken and notice the interests of Islam. Pray for this nation who has offered all things sincerely and generously for Islam and is active. Pray God to guide the blind-hearted people occasionally found in Iran and elsewhere to return to the fold of Islam, to consider the interests of Islam, to stop obstructionism and to join the nation.

May God's peace and mercy be upon you!