TEHRAN, Iran: Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his message to hajj pilgrims has said the hajj is a journey of self-discovery for Muslims that shows the ummah their rightful place in the world.

He said: ‘As a symbol of Islamic unity and honor and the emblem of monotheism and spirituality, the Holy Kaba, during the hajj season, is host to the ardent and hopeful hearts, who come hurrying from all over the world to the birthplace of Islam in response to the call of the Glorious Lord. At this time, the Islamic ummah can have a bird’s-eye view of its own great extent and diversity, seen through the eyes of its envoys who gather here from all over the world, and be witness to the profound faith that rules over the hearts of the followers of the True Religion, and appreciate its great and peerless heritage.’

This self-discovery of the ummah enables us as Muslims to become aware of the position which is worthy of them in the world, today and tomorrow, and to keep moving towards it.

‘Today the major duties of the elite of the Islamic ummah are to provide help to the Palestinian nation and the besieged people of Gaza, to sympathize and provide assistance to the nations of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Kashmir, to engage in struggle and resistance against the aggressions of the United States and the Zionist regime, to safeguard the solidarity of Muslims and stop tainted hands and mercenary voices that try to damage this unity, and to spread awakening and the sense of responsibility and commitment among Muslim youth throughout Islamic communities.’