Iranian cleric hails Hajj rituals as unifying

Grand Aytollah Hassan Alemi, representative of Khorasan Province in the Assembly of Experts, in an interview with RASA News Agency called Hajj as an important opportunity to create unity in the Islamic nation calling Islamic solidarity as a part of philosophy of Hajj, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

He referred to the same dressing code, single motto and same place for pilgrimage as the different aspects which turn the ritual to a unifying event for Muslims.

Representative of Khorasan Province hailed the unity behind all Hajj rituals and slammed some countries for their intriguing role in Muslim communities expressing hope for a true Abrahamic pilgrimage which calls all Muslims to solidarity, unity, purity, monotheism and piety.

Ayatollah Alemi hailed Hajj as a great religious mandate which is a purification process for the pilgrim.

He called Muslims not to ignore the privilege and stressed,” This is while in cases the mandate should be lifted if the pilgrimage would jeopardize the life of a pilgrim.”

Iranian cleric noted that authorities should schedule the event in a way that the people make use of the opportunity in full security.

After a one-year halt in sending Iranian pilgrims to the annual Hajj pilgrimage due to Mina incident the first group of pilgrims departed Iran for Saudi Arabia.

Hundreds of Iranian pilgrims were killed in Mina stampede during Hajj 2015, a reason for the Islamic Republic to freeze its participation in the event until the hosting Arab country vows the security of the pilgrims.

KD