TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has addressed travelers beginning this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, highlighting the unifying and empowering nature of the Islamic rituals. 

The full text of the message was read out to pilgrims at the "Renunciation of the Polytheists" ceremony in the Arafat desert near Mecca. The Leader’s website, khamenei.ir, released excerpts of the message on Thursday. 

“When one contemplates this magnificent gathering and the complex Hajj rituals, they are a source of reassurance and increase the confidence for the Muslims, while being intimidating and a cause of trepidation for enemies,” the Leader said in the message.

The Leader’s message also pointed to Bara’at min-al-Mushrikeen, a Qur’anic institution, which is an integral part of each year’s Hajj pilgrimage and translates into “Renunciation of the Polytheists.”

“This year's bara'at must continue beyond the time and place of Hajj to all Muslim countries and cities worldwide. It must continue beyond just the Hajj pilgrims and be extended to the general populace,” it read.

“Brothers and sisters, bring your thoughts and actions closer and closer to the truths and luminous teachings of Hajj, and bring back to your homes a reformed identity infused with these lofty concepts. This is the valuable, real souvenir of your Hajj journey,” the message concluded, addressing pilgrims.

The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, involves a series of rituals performed over five days in Mecca and surrounding areas of Saudi Arabia.

This year’s annual Hajj pilgrimage is taking place in the shadow of the grim and devastating war that has been raging in Gaza for the past 8 months. Over 37,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have so far lost their lives as a result of Israel’s brutal killing campaign backed by Western states. Arab governments, except for Yemen and Lebanese Hezbollah, have largely remained impotent against the regime. 

Many Muslims visiting Mecca this year were planning to use the opportunity to call for action against Zionists. Saudi Arabia’s officials, however, have warned that no “political slogans” would be tolerated. The decision has ignited a firestorm of criticism against Saudi rulers.