Impact of Hajj on Muslim Unity Not Temporary: Scholar
Hojat-ol-Islam Mojtaba Heidari, a faculty member of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Research Center, made the remark in an interview with IQNA.
He said that after performing the rites of Hajj and returning to their homelands, Muslims view other Muslims with a positive perspective. “This positive feeling is then conveyed to other Muslims in their region, which, in addition to benefiting the individual, fosters widespread unity and its lasting continuity.”
Hajj is a form of worship performed collectively, in which all Muslims play a role, he said.
“The rituals of Hajj are designed so that all personal distinctions and privileges are set aside, and individuals carry out the rites on an entirely equal footing.”
He considered one of the key elements of performing the rituals of Hajj to be moving along the divine path and said what people focus on when carrying out the rites of Hajj is walking on the path of God, the Almighty, and this naturally brings the hearts of the believers closer together.
He identified the outcome of the Hajj rituals as the elimination of divisions and noted that in the eyes of everyone during Hajj, there is no superiority over one another.
“A characteristic of some of the Hajj rituals is that they help dissolve differences. For example, the Tawaf or the Sa’i between Safa and Marwah, during which an act called Harwala is also performed.”
Hojat-ol-Islam Heidari added that the Sa’i between Safa and Marwah during the rites of Hajj causes any arrogant person to become humble, and this humility does not mean being submissive before other people, but rather signifies reverence and devotion before the Almighty God.
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Regarding the impact of having diverse groups of people come together during the Hajj rituals, he said Hajj is not merely the gathering of the general public but it is an opportunity for politicians, thinkers, and influential individuals to come together, exchange ideas, examine major issues facing the Islamic world, and propose solutions to overcome these challenges. “These solutions are designed to benefit all Islamic Ummah, not just a specific nation.”
He added that the presence of such individuals is highly constructive becuase besides fostering unity and solidarity, it helps resolve many issues within the Muslim community.
“However, it is important to note that all these points are secondary—Hajj rituals must primarily be performed with the aim of addressing problems. Additionally, heed must be paid to the annual recommendations of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to the pilgrims of the House of God. Islam itself provides tools embedded within the religion for solving problems, and the environment of Hajj offers a platform to work towards these solutions.”
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Asked how concepts like Islamic brotherhood and the unity of the Ummah manifest during Hajj, Hojat-ol-Islam Heidari explained that Islamic fraternity is inherently intertwined with Hajj. “Hajj itself symbolizes the unity of Muslims. Of course, this unity and Islamic brotherhood must be further strengthened through the efforts and advocacy of Islamic governments.”
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