In a message on the occasion of this year's Hajj season, Ayatollah Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, described the pilgrimage and its enlightening lessons as the remedy for the pains of the Islamic world today. Referring to the crimes and atrocities of the Zionist regime in Gaza, he declared the most important duties of Islamic governments to be preventing the continuation of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and pressuring the United States, as the regime's leading supporter, to stop its aid and support of the Zionist regime. Moreover, he requested Muslim nations to demand that their governments fulfil this duty.
In his message, the Leader of the Revolution described the Hajj journey as an exercise in migrating from ordinary life to a monotheistic one. Enumerating the main elements of a monotheistic life, he said: "The Hajj ritual encapsulates symbolic examples of monotheistic life, introduces the pilgrim to such life, and invites the pilgrim to it. One must hear the invitation, learn from it, and be resolved to apply its lessons."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Islamic world needs to apply the lessons of Hajj more than ever. Pointing out that this year's Hajj is the second Hajj season to coincide with the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza, he raised the question of who should stand against this flagrant humanitarian disaster, adding: "Undoubtedly, Islamic governments must be the first to address this obligation, and Muslim nations must demand that their governments act accordingly."
Ayatollah Khamenei called the United States a definitive partner in the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza and emphasised: "Muslim governments must block all lines of assistance to the acrimonious Zionist regime and prevent the criminal from continuing its barbarous behaviour in Gaza. Moreover, 'America's associates in the region' must force the arrogant American government to halt its support of the Zionist regime."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed out that the astounding resistance of the people of Gaza has brought the Palestinian cause to the forefront of the attention of the Islamic world as well as all free people of the world. He noted that it is necessary for spokespersons and those holding social positions to inform and awaken nations and to expand their demands for the Palestinian cause! The virtuous pilgrims should also pray to Almighty God for victory over the Zionist oppressors and their [evil] supporters. The text of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution's message is as follows.
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the best of Allah's creation, Muhammad -the Chosen One, his infallible family, as well as his selected companions and all those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
Hajj is indeed the ultimate aspiration of believers, the festival of the yearning ones, and the spiritual sustenance of the fortunate ones. If accompanied by an understanding of its profound mysteries, it is the remedy for the major sufferings of the Islamic nation and all humanity. The Hajj journey is unlike other journeys undertaken for trade, tourism, or various other purposes in which acts of worship or good deeds are sometimes performed. The journey of Hajj is practice for migrating from the ordinary life to the desired life, a monotheistic one the chief and enduring components of which are perpetual circumambulation around the axis of truth [haqq], constant striving amidst challenging peaks, continuous stoning of the evil Satan, standing in prayer mixed with remembrance and supplication, feeding the needy, poor, and the wanderer, seeing all human beings as equal regardless of colour, race, language, or geography, being ready to serve at all times, seeking refuge in God, and raising the banner of defence of the truth [haqq]. The rites of Hajj symbolise the components of a monotheistic life, acquaint the pilgrim with it and invite them to it.
This invitation must be heard. One's physical as well as spiritual heart and eyes, must be opened. One must learn [the lesson of Hajj] and resolve to apply it steadfastly. Anyone within their capacity can take a step on this path – scholars, intellectuals, and holders of political and social positions more than others.
Now more than ever, the Islamic world needs to [profoundly] apply these lessons. This is now the second Hajj season to coincide with the tragedies in Gaza and West Asia. The criminal Zionist gang ruling Palestine, with its astounding savagery, unparalleled cruelty and wickedness, has brought the catastrophe in Gaza to an unbelievable point. Now, more Palestinian children are dying from thirst and hunger than from bombs, bullets and missiles, and the number of grieving families bereaved of loved ones, young people, and fathers and mothers, is increasing day by day. Who will stand against this human calamity?
Undoubtedly, Muslim states are the first to be addressed by this obligation, and the people must be the first to demand that their governments act on this issue. Muslim states may have differing political opinions on various issues, but this should not prevent them from agreeing and cooperating to stand together against the terrible circumstances of Gaza. These differences should not prevent them from defending the most oppressed group of people in the world today. Muslim governments must obstruct all avenues of assistance to the acrimonious Zionist regime and cut off the criminal's hand from perpetrating its abominable behaviour in Gaza. In addition, all of America's associates, in this region as well as other Islamic regions, must heed the call of the Quran to defend the oppressed and force the arrogant American government to stop this cruel behaviour. The ritual of strongly condemning oppression [marassim bira'at] during Hajj is a step in this [right] direction.
The amazing [and astonishing] resistance of the people of Gaza has raised the Palestinian cause to the forefront of the attention of the Islamic world and all free people of the world. We must take advantage of this opportunity and rush to the aid of this oppressed nation. Despite the efforts of the arrogant and the supporters of the Zionist regime to erase the name and memory of the Palestinian cause, the evil nature of the leaders of this regime and their foolish policy has caused the name of Palestine today to shine more brilliantly than ever, and public loathing of the Zionists and their supporters is greater than ever. This is an excellent opportunity for the Islamic world.
Spokespersons and those in social positions need to inform and awaken nations and must expand their demands for the Palestinian cause! Moreover, YOU, the blessed pilgrims, should never neglect the opportunity to pray, and supplicate Almighty God for victory over the Zionist oppressors and their [evil] supporters.
May God's peace and blessings be upon the Holy Prophet of Islam and his holy family, and peace and blessings be upon His Excellence al-Mahdi (atfs).
Wassalam alaykum wa rahmat ul-llahi wa barakatuh!
Sayed Ali Khamenei
9-Khordad-1404
30-May-2025