Main Challenges of the Islamic Civilization

B) Social Aspects of Hajj

Hajj, the Manifestation of Unity of Islamic Ummah

In the opinions of Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei, Hajj is a manifestation of consolidation of Islamic unity and an expression of integrity of the Islamic ummah. Commenting on the issue, Imam Khomeini states:

"One of the most important pillars of the philosophy of Hajj is creation of understanding and consolidation of fraternity among the Muslims." 36

Elsewhere, the Imam states: "We should bear in mind that one of the significant reasons for gathering of [all Muslims] from across the world in the this sacred place is solidarity of the Muslims of the world, consolidation of unity among the followers of the holy Prophet of Islam and the holy Quran against the illegitimate rulers of the world." 37

Commenting on the same issue, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei says:

"Hajj is the manifestation of unity and solidarity of the Muslims. Now the Almighty God calls all the Muslims and those who are able [to travel] to this particular point, at a particular time and assembles them besides each other during certain nights and days to participate in certain rites and practices which are the manifestation of coexistence, discipline and coordination. Its first manifest impact is injection of the feeling of unity and congregation in each of them and demonstration of the glory and splendor of the congregation of Muslims to them as well as nourishing their mind with the feeling of grandeur." 38

Hajj, a Platform for Solving the Problems of the Muslims

Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei consider Hajj occasion as an opportunity for proximity among the world Muslims as well as an occasion for discussing the problems and shortcomings of various Islamic societies and an occasion for reaching a consensus to solve these problems. Imam Khomeini states:

"Now that it is the occasion of House of God and the Muslims from across the world have gone on pilgrimage to the House of God, it is necessary that during the performance of Hajj ceremonies they pay attention to one of the greatest reasons for this great assembly, that is, paying attention to the sociopolitical conditions of the Islamic countries and becoming aware of the problems of their brother-in-faith and try to solve them in accordance to their Islamic, humane duties. Paying attention to the affairs of the Muslims is among the important obligations." 39

**C) Political Dimension of Hajj

Propagation and Awakening**

The founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, who was the political, cultural leader of the Islamic society, considered the Hajj occasion as an appropriate time for enhancing the awareness of the Muslims and awakening of the Islamic ummah. In this regard, he laid emphasis on the role of the ulema, thinkers and writers of the Islamic world:

"O speakers and writers, during the great congregations in Arafat, holy Mecca, etc. describe the social and political problems of your regions for your brothers-in-faith and seek each other’s assistance. O pilgrims of the House of God, explain the plots of the plundering, aggressive US and criminal Israel for the world people and realize the crimes of these criminals and beseech God for the improvement of the condition of Muslims and severance of the hands of the criminals." 40

Addressing all the Muslims, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, lays emphasis on spreading information and enhancing awareness about the international issues during the Hajj ceremonies: "During great congregations, particularly that of Hajj, the Muslims must discuss the problems of the world of Islam."

Imam Khomeini also underlines the political aspect of Hajj, "One of the great philosophies of Hajj is its political dimension." 41

Elsewhere, the Imam says: "political dimension of Hajj is very significant." 42

Ayatollah Khamenei too lays emphasis on the political dimension of Hajj: "Anybody who tries to segregate the political identity of Hajj from these ceremonies is either ignorant or biased; God will not forgive those who are prepared to achieve their own impure, trifle objectives by depriving the Islamic Ummah of their greatest weapon against the global infidelity and arrogance." 43

Chapter 2 : Arrogance: Greatest Challenge of the Islamic World

Introduction

The political history of Islam is replete with incessant struggles of veracious followers of Islam and true believers against the tyrannical rulers, power-wielders, infidels, and all manifestations of illegitimate rule and arrogance.

The struggles and holy wars of the holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions against the symbols of infidelity and polytheism, ignorance, reactionary forces, oppressors, and power-wielders, on the one hand and all-out protection of the sanctities of the liberating religion of Islam, rights of the disinherited and downtrodden of the society, as well as righteous struggles of the Imams and great leaders of Islam and the sufferings they endured in this way, on the other, are the strongest evidence in this regard. In fact the history of Islam is full of struggles, campaigns, self-sacrifices and martyrdoms.

In contemporary political history of Islam, intolerable struggles, continuous campaigns to enhance the awareness of the Muslims, and sagacious leadership of a descendent of the righteous people led to the revival of genuine ideas of Islam (genuine Mohammedan Islam), revival of Islamic life, and reverberation of the voice of Islamic unity in the world of Islam.

Relying on the religious teachings and the power of faith of the Muslim ummah, the founder of the Islamic Republic launched a struggle against all manifestations of ignorance, tyranny and arrogance and tried to purify Islam from the dust coated on the religious concepts and rites by the joint effort of the enemies of religion and the ossified figures who had transacted religion with the worldly gains. The Imam tried to represent religion to the seekers of truth and justice as the Prophet (PBUH) of Islam had depicted it.

The efforts and struggles and resistance of Imam against various plots of the camp of arrogance finally led to the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and establishment of a religious government in the Iranian society. The Iranian revolution was undoubtedly unique with regard to its popularity and its impact on the ideas and outlook of the peoples of the world as well as from the viewpoint of its impact on the political literature and equations of the world.

The victory of the Islamic revolution and the establishment of the religious government which was naturally in contradiction and confrontation with the interests and avarice of the global arrogance was the beginning of a new round of struggles and confrontations with the plots, aggressions, colonialism and exploitation of the camp of arrogance. The global arrogance and the sworn enemies of the Islamic system found it a threat to their illegitimate interests and considered their survival subject to the destruction of the religious government. Hence they did not spare any effort to overthrow the popular, sacred Islamic government and do not spare any effort now.

Their efforts encompassed a range of activities including military invasion, full-fledge war, economic sanctions, and terrorist acts. But the honorable resistance of the Islamic government " with the least available equipments and with reliance on the weapon of faith " against all the plots hatched by the camp of arrogance, not only led to the victory of the Islamic system, but also could demonstrate the grandeur and magnificence of Islam and the capabilities of the Islamic culture and religious political thought particularly for the disinherited and downtrodden.

Today, the righteous successor of Imam Khomeini " Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei " is at the held of the leadership of the Islamic system. Through his sagacious leadership he is strongly leading the society against the plots and mischief of the arrogant powers. Through his leadership the Islamic Republic is performing its mission of protection of the rights of the oppressed, spread and export of the Islamic revolution, and rejection of inequity, ignorance and arrogance.

Commenting on the plots of the global arrogance against Islam particularly the Islamic government, Ayatollah Khamenei states:

"Today one of the main issues of the Islamic world is the frantic, vengeful animosity of satanic front, particularly the Great Satan, against Islam and Islamic concepts and beliefs. Although the planned, all-out animosity against Islam has its roots in the early years of emergence of colonialism, and colonialists during the recent decades have the turned the Islamic countries into an arena for their plunder, robbing, massacre, and aggression, they considered Islam a hurdle and a strong bastion against their plots and hence launched their political,

cultural attacks against it. They implemented some plans to separate the Muslims from Islam and Quran and through their diabolic tricks, including spread of moral corruption, promiscuity, and licentiousness, they try to achieve their goals, but ever since the volcano of the Islamic Revolution dashed their hopes to the ground, raised hopes in the hearts of the Muslims, and heralded the revival of Islam in the world,

the arrogant powers launched an all-out, hurried, frantic attack against Islam and of course it was not far from expectation that the divine traditions would be definitely realized, leading to their defeat and fiasco." 44

Palestine, Main Challenge of Islamic World

"The most clear image one may depict of the Zionist regime is a combination of savageries, atrocities, racism, apartheid and unbridled political aggressions under the pretext of legal defense and struggle for existence. Invasion and occupation of an Islamic territory, the savageries of the occupiers by resort to the most sophisticated weapons and instruments and clever resort to widespread false propaganda to project themselves innocent and distort the facts, as well as the oppression of the Muslims of the occupied territories, their depravation of the least defensive facilities and amenities of life would indeed injure the feelings of every Muslim." 45

Without any doubt, since the formation of the usurper Zionist regime, the religious ulema and Muslim thinkers of the Islamic societies have considered the issue of Palestine a great challenge in the way of safeguarding the perimeters of the Islamic territories, preservation of the dignity and honor of the Muslims of the world, and protection of the rights of the oppressed, particularly the oppressed Muslims. They have therefore considered the Zionist regime and its main supporter, the United States (the leader of the arrogant camp), as the main enemy of Islam and stress on the need to confront the enemy until the complete elimination of Israel from the international arena.

The issue of Palestine in the viewpoint of Imam Khomeini was so significant that from the very beginning of his social-political struggles against the tyrannical monarchical system, he paid attention to he issue of Palestine and laid stress on the necessity of struggle against the arrogant powers until the total destruction of the Zionist regime. The Imam states:

"I have frequently invited the Islamic governments to unity and fraternity against the aliens and their agents, I have repeatedly warned the governments, particularly the government of Iran against Israel and its dangerous agents. This source of corruption which has been created in the heart of the Islamic countries with the support of the great powers and whose corrupt roots regularly threaten the Islamic countries, should be uprooted with the efforts of the Islamic countries and great Muslim nations.

Israel has waged an armed uprising against the Islamic countries; it is the duty of the Islamic governments and nations to exterminate it. Assistance to Israel " either sale of arms or explosive materials, or oil " is unlawful and is against Islam. Relations with Israel and its agents, either commercial or political, are unlawful and are against Islam. The Muslims must refrain from using Israeli goods." 46

Also in the midst of his struggles against the monarchical regime and on the threshold of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Imam categorically announced his stance on Israel:

"Bait-ul-Muqaddas [Jerusalem] must be returned to the Muslims, the Israelis are usurpers." 47

The Imam did not stop his support of the rights of the oppressed Palestinians until the end of his blissful life and through his incessant efforts tried to perform his divine duty of illuminating the Muslims and awakening of the Muslim Ummah. He states:

"Defending the Muslim people, defending the Islamic territories and defending all aspects of life of the Muslims is an obligatory issue and we should prepare ourselves for the defense of divine objectives and defending the Muslims. Particularly, under the circumstances when true children of Islamic Palestine… and revolutionary Muslims of the usurped territories through sacrificing their bloods and lives are crying "O Muslims". We should stand against Israel and the aggressors with all our spiritual and material power and should resist all those atrocities and brutalities and should assist them [the Palestinian fighters] ." 48

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, like the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has categorically hoisted the flag of struggle against occupiers of the Qods. He is a harbinger of campaign for introducing the rights of the oppressed Palestinians to the world and is a pioneer in exposing the atrocities and savageries of the Zionist regime. The Leader clearly considers the Palestinian issue as the first problem and most significant challenge of the World of Islam:

"Palestine is the top issue of the World of Islam; besides political, economic and security aspects, the issue is a religious, Islamic duty and above all it is a divine issue." 49

In the viewpoint of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the only proper way to confront the occupying regime of the Qods is struggle and holy war until the total destruction of Israel from the international arena. In line with Imam Khomeini’s stance, the Ayatollah Khamenei states:

"The slogan of the elimination of the cancerous gland of Israel which was put forth by the honorable Imam and the great leader of Islam, Imam Khomeini (PBUH), regardless of the viewpoint of the compromising political actors, should be forwarded with strength and should be converted into the public voice of the Muslims during the Hajj ceremonies." 50

The Leader also insists on his stance emphasizing no the necessity of total destruction of Israel:

"Regarding the issue of Palestine, the objective is total destruction of Israel and there are no differences between the territories occupied before 1967 and after that. Every speck of the Palestinian territory is a speck of the house of Muslims and any ruling system except the sovereignty of Islam and the Palestinian people is a usurper regime." 51

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also forwards a practical solution to the Palestinian problem, that is, a practical, comprehensive, goal-oriented solution in line with the dispatch of assistance by all Islamic countries to equip the Palestinian fighters and oppressed Palestinian people. Moreover, the Leader believes that there should be comprehensiveness, unity, and coordination of efforts under the supervision of experts, scholars and policymakers and planners of the Islamic countries in order to achieve the goals with regard to the Palestinian issue.

Commenting on this issue, the Leader states:

"The duty [of Islamic governments towards Palestine] includes assistance in various forms, political, financial, and international assistance. This [issue] must be decided by he officials and influential figures of the Islamic world. If the rulers of the Islamic countries do not decide, then the Muslim nations will feel that it is their direct duty." 52

Having full trust in the power of faith of the Muslim masses and Muslims societies, the Leader states: "All Muslim nations from bottom of their hearts support the liberation of Palestine, the intellectuals of the world of Islam, the ulema of the world of Islam, the distinguished figures, as well as a number of politicians, heads and officials of the Islamic world think so." 53

________________________ 36 Sahifeh-e Nour, Vol. 9, P. 176. 37 Ibid., Vol. 19, P. 202. 38 Hadith-e Wilayat, Vol. 7, P. 147. 39 Shifeh-e Nour, Vol. 2, P. 172. 40 Ibid., Vol. 10, P. 222. 41 Sahifeh-e Nour, Vol. 18, P. 66. 42 Ibid., Vol. 19, P. 43. 43 Ayatollah Khamenei, Hajj Message, July 1989. 44 Ayatollah Khamenei, Hajj Message, July 1989. 45 [^45] Haj Aqajani, Mohammad Javad, Palestine, the Throbbing Heart of the Islamic World, PP. 4-5. 46 Sahifeh-e Nour, Vol. 1, P. 139. 47 Ibid., Vol. 3, P. 105. 48 Ibid., Vol. 20, P. 184. 49 Ayatollah Khamenei, Second Friday Prayers Sermon, International Day of Qods, December 31, 1999. 50 Ayatollah Khamenei, Interview, Keyhan, May 30, 1990. 51 The Issue of Palestine and Zionism (From the Viewpoint of Ayatollah Khamenei) (Tehran: Islamic Propagation Organization), P. 99. 52 Ayatollah Khamenei, Speech on the Feast of Appoint of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) October 24, 1993. 53 Ayatollah Khamenei, Speech, July 12, 1998.