Hajj a Powerful Platform to Unify Muslims: Parliamentarian

IQNA – An Iranian lawmaker has described Hajj as a vital opportunity to promote unity among Muslims worldwide and to strengthen collective efforts against common challenges.

Iranian Member of Parliament Hojat-ol-Islam Esmail Siavoshi has emphasized that the annual Hajj pilgrimage serves not only as a spiritual journey but also as a powerful symbol of Islamic unity and solidarity.

“Hajj is a grand religious, spiritual, political, and social gathering for Muslims,” he told IQNA, describing the pilgrimage as a moment when pilgrims are drawn closer to truth and divine purpose. “When pilgrims enter the state of ihram, they begin thinking about truth and righteousness. By symbolically stoning the devil during Ramy al-Jamarat, they aim to purify their minds and align their thoughts with God.”

Each year, millions of Muslims from across the world travel to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, to perform Hajj. It is obligatory at least once in a lifetime for all financially and physically able Muslims. The rites are performed over several days, including circling the Kaaba, the symbolic house of God.

Siavoshi, a member of the Parliament's Cultural Commission, stressed the deeply unifying nature of the pilgrimage. “When Muslims perform tawaf, circling the Kaaba, it sends a message: unity must form around God as the central axis,” he said.

“Men and women of all races and backgrounds wear the same clothes and follow the same path. This is a clear sign of unity, spirituality, and a rejection of polytheism, hypocrisy, and arrogance.”

He argued that if the full meaning of Hajj were embraced, it could serve as “the best program for uniting the Islamic Ummah, the greatest tool for coordination against the enemies of Islam, and the most valuable benefit for the Muslim world.”

Siavoshi also noted that pilgrims are not just attendees but carry a representative role. “Pilgrims do not come just to listen to speeches or declarations,” he said. “Through their presence and actions, they become part of the message of diplomacy and representatives of their nations. Every pilgrim can convey their people’s message through their conduct.”

He added, “If all Islamic and Arab governments were united, it would be a disgrace for the Rafah crossing to remain closed, for the people of Gaza to die from hunger, while these governments still claim to represent Islam.”

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