Head of Iranian Pilgrims at Hajj Conference in Qom Province: Hajj Is an Opportunity to Strengthen Bond of Islamic Nation and Support the Oppressed

At the Hajj 1404 conference of pilgrims in Qom province, Hojjat al-Islam Seyed Abdolfattah Navvab also emphasized the efforts to realize this year's Hajj slogan: "Hajj, Quranic conduct, Islamic convergence, and support for oppressed Palestine."

According to the Hajj Information Base, Hojjat al-Islam Seyed Abdolfattah Navvab, the head of Iranian pilgrims, at the educational conference for Hajj pilgrims in Qom province, which was held today, Friday, Ordibehesht 5, 1404, at the Great Prophet (PBUH) Stadium in Qom, referring to the slogan of this year's Hajj, entitled 'Hajj, Quranic Conduct, Islamic Convergence, and Support for Oppressed Palestine', stated, "We hope that the proud banner of victory will be bestowed upon the oppressed and suffering nation of Palestine, and that this year's Hajj can convey the message of unity and empathy of the Islamic Ummah with the Palestinian people to the ears of the world."

According to this report, the representative of the Supreme Leader for Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs, emphasizing the importance of the Quranic conduct in the slogan of Hajj 1404, said: Before traveling, pilgrims should prepare their cognitive and spiritual ground for this spiritual journey by reciting and reflecting on the Holy Quran, especially the chapters of Hajj, Ibrahim, and the verses related to Hajj in Surah Al-Baqarah. He added: Last year, the Supreme Leader of the Revolution also emphasized the need to pay attention to the teachings of Prophet Abraham (PBUH) during Hajj.

Referring to the first sermon of Nahjul-Balaghah, Hojjat al-Islam Navvab pointed out the role of divine will in selecting individuals for the Hajj journey and added: Imam Ali (AS) says: “Then they stood in the positions of His prophets”; God chooses those for this journey who pay more attention to divine commands and stand in the places of the prophets.

Hajj, the land of the presence of prophets and divine saints

The head of Iranian pilgrims, pointing out that the Kaaba is the place of worship and worship of the prophets (PBUH) and the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH), continued: Imam Sadiq (AS) used to sit next to the Kaaba and answer people's questions. Some narrations state that the bodies of some divine prophets are buried near Hijr Ismail.

Referring to verse 97 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, Hojjat al-Islam Navvab clarified: The Kaaba is the source of the uprising and stability of society. If a person implements the goals and instructions of Hajj correctly, a stable, strong and purposeful society will be formed.

Hajj is a journey towards God

He said, citing a narration from Imam Sadiq (AS), that people who are in the world of Barzakh wish they had the success of a Hajj journey in this world. This narration shows the extraordinary importance and value of this divine journey.

The representative of the Supreme Leader for Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs, quoting the statements of Imam Khomeini (RA), stated: The pilgrim must know where he is going, whose invitation he is accepting, and who his guest is. This journey is not a foreign or recreational journey, but rather a migration towards God. If a pilgrim sets out for Hajj without a plan or purpose, he will not benefit from it.

Coexistence in Hajj, a model for society

Criticizing some selfish behaviors in caravans, he emphasized the importance of the spirit of sacrifice, cooperation, and giving priority to others during the Hajj journey, and said: In this divine journey, special attention should be paid to other pilgrims, especially the disabled, the elderly, and those in need.

The servant of the pilgrims of the House of God is in fact the servant of God, and such service has a great reward.

Referring to the experience of communal life and coexistence in the Hajj environment, the representative of the Supreme Leader for Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs said: During the Hajj, pilgrims with different cultures, colors, and languages ​​worship together. This valuable experience should extend to the individual and social lives of Muslims.

Hajj, a school of simplicity and self-control

He considered simplicity to be another lesson of the Hajj and added: The pilgrim of the House of God worships alongside millions of other people wearing two simple, white clothes, without color or stitching. This simple appearance is a sign of humility and simplicity and can be a model for personal and family life.

Referring to the teachings of the Quran about humility, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution's representative stated: If a person boasts about others because of the laces of his shoes, this behavior is not consistent with the spirit of serving God and religious teachings.

The head of the Iranian pilgrims continued by citing the verse "Let there be no corruption, debauchery, or quarreling in the Hajj." He noted that lying, debauchery, and quarreling should be avoided during the Hajj. If these behaviors are also prevalent in daily life, we will have a healthier society.

Pilgrims should benefit from the caravan clergy

The representative of the Supreme Leader in Hajj and pilgrimage affairs advised pilgrims: Take advantage of the presence of the caravan clergy and be sure to ask your questions about the practices and rituals of Hajj. Sometimes ignorance leads to shortcomings in the practices, which will be very difficult to correct.

He gave an example: During the Corona period, a pilgrim realized that his actions were incomplete after returning to Iran, and in order to correct it, it was followed up for months until someone from the Saudi residents performed the Tawaf on his behalf.

Reducing the number of agents to increase the capacity of pilgrims

In another part of his speech, referring to the management changes in the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, Hojjat al-Islam Navvab said: In order to increase the capacity to send pilgrims, the number of clerics and caravan agents has been reduced to enable the presence of a larger number of Hajj enthusiasts.

Planning for Iranian pilgrims abroad

He also announced: This year, two special caravans have been planned for Iranian pilgrims living abroad and the necessary plans have been made to send them.

In conclusion, the head of Iranian pilgrims stated: The administrative structures of Hajj have improved significantly in the years after the Islamic Revolution, and efforts to improve the quality of services provided to pilgrims continue.