Unity: The imperative interest of the Islamic Ummah during Hajj

"Hajj, beyond being a religious ritual, is a glorious manifestation of unity, awakening, and the collective return to self for the Islamic Ummah. Over many years, the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei (RA), with his profound and guiding insight, has consistently placed this divine obligation at the center of his attention and wise guidance.

Each year, he would deliver two important speeches focusing on Hajj: the first, in a meeting with Hajj officials, and the second, in the form of a message to the grand congress of Hajj, which was read during the ceremony of ‘Bara’at min al-Mushrikeen’ (Disavowal of the infidels).

In these addresses, he not only discussed the individual rulings and obligation of Hajj but also elucidated the political, social, and civilizational dimensions of this great ritual. These guidelines serve as a roadmap for transforming Hajj from a personal act into a grand uprising for the dignity and awakening of Muslims against arrogance and the challenges of the contemporary world.

In this section, we address the topic of ‘Hajj; The Factor of Unity,’ in view of the Leader of Islamic Revolution.

The Martyred Leader of Iran stated in a meeting with Hajj officials in 2024: "…But regarding the social environment, the issue is ‘unity,’ the issue is solidarity, the issue is seeing as one, the issue is connecting with all Muslims; this is a very important matter in Hajj. We have repeatedly said that God Almighty, through Prophet Abraham (PBUH), invited not just a specific group, but all people: ‘And proclaim the Hajj to mankind; proclaim Hajj to all people, to all of humanity.’

'The divine invitation to all people, within a specific few days, at a designated place, every year, what does it mean? It means that the Divine Will – the Divine Legislated Will – has decreed that Muslims should come closer to each other, know each other, think together, and decide together; this is our great void today: ‘decide together.’

They should gather in one place so that this gathering has a desirable outcome for the Islamic world, and indeed for humanity; this is what we seek. Of course, the prerequisite is understanding, transcending nationalities, and moving beyond religious and sectarian divisions.

There are various Islamic schools of thought, and they come together, all alike, all in one garment, all with one movement, all converging at one point [during Hajj]; this is the divine gathering, this is the Islamic gathering, this is the prominent and clear political aspect of Hajj.

These two points exist in Hajj: both the point of ‘remembrance’ and the point of ‘Islamic unity and solidarity.’ Of course, in the Quran, in the words of the noble Messenger of Islam and the elders of Islam, the issue of avoiding disunity is not exclusive to Hajj; ‘And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided,’ and numerous other verses in the Quran prohibit Muslims from division, animosity towards each other, and the like."

Embodiment of Spirituality, Unity, and Dissociation

In a meeting with Hajj officials in 1999, he also emphasized the issue of unity, demonstrating the significant place of unity in Hajj within his thought. He stated: “Hajj, on one hand, is an embodiment of spirituality, connection with God, the heart becoming acquainted with Divine verses, and the human being drawing ever closer to God. On the other hand, it is an embodiment of unity, the solidarity of the Islamic Ummah, the dismantling of walls and veils, filling the valleys and gaps that have arisen either by the hand of the enemy or through fanaticism and illusions, and also creating a step towards a singular Islamic nation. And on the other hand, it is an embodiment of dissociation from the enemies of God, dissociation from infidels and the non-believers. If, God willing, these three aspects are embodied and manifested in Hajj, Hajj will have served its purpose. First, you, the pilgrims, benefit from Hajj. In the second stage, it is the Islamic world, the Islamic society, and the Islamic Ummah that reaps this benefit.”

The Martyred Leader of Iran, in a meeting with Hajj officials last year (2025 - 1404 SH), said: “Hajj is a manifestation of Islamic unity; different colors, different complexions, different nationalities, different identities, different faiths, different tastes – all alongside each other, and alike. They all perform Tawaf together, perform Sa’i together, and stand together in Arafat and Muzdalifah; this unity is a very important matter… [The issue of unity] is one of the social aspects of Hajj.”

Unity: An Obligatory Prudence for the Islamic Ummah
On the occasion of the arrival of the Hajj season in 2020, the Leader stated: “Today, as always and more than ever, the obligatory prudence for the Islamic Ummah lies in unity; a unity that creates a single hand against threats and enmities, and thunderously declares its stance against the personification of Satan, the aggressive and treacherous America, and the Zionist regime, and bravely shields itself against bullying. This is the meaning of the Divine command: ‘And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.’”

In 2022, during a meeting with Hajj officials, the Leader said: “One of the things that can be a basis for unity [in Hajj] is the use of… respected reciters… Let these respected reciters go and recite, and let the listeners enjoy the recitation of God’s word. As for me, whenever I hear them, I truly derive immense pleasure from their recitation. This is one of the things that creates unity. The Quran is a source of unity among Muslims.”

The statements of Martyr Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with Hajj officials in 2019 also emphasize unity. The Leader, in this meeting, said: “It has been emphasized and encouraged in narrations transmitted from the Shia Imams (PBUT) to pray in Masjid al-Haram or Masjid an-Nabawi with those who are not Shia, to participate in their prayers, and to follow them in prayer; [these are] our narrations; this is affection, this is creating affection among Muslim brothers. The fact that I have heard some insist on holding congregational prayers at the locations of caravanserais, hotels, and so on, is not a correct policy, not a correct approach; they should go among the people, participate in the organized rows of prayer in Masjid al-Haram, in Masjid an-Nabawi, with the rest of the Muslims. The formation of an Islamic nation in the grand gatherings of Muslims is among the things that exist in Hajj.”