A most timely and historical guideline was given Saturday by Leader of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei for the Muslim Ummah. The guideline was issued on the occasion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage being performed in the holy city of Mecca today to be followed by the Eid-al-Azha festivities all over the world depending on the sighting of the moon.

One of the prominent authorities in the Islamic world, Ayatollah Khamenei has covered almost all important problems confronted by the world today particularly focussing on the chronic issues of the Islamic Ummah. Very rightly, the Leader has underlined the bitter fact that the entire world due to the world politicians' is divided into the weak and the powerful, the oppressed and the arrogant.' He drew the attention towards the Muslim Ummah and recalled that during the last two centuries, the same arrogant powers did all they could to sow the seeds of discord among the Muslims because they are afriad of their unity.

The same unity is one of the most essential elements missing from the Ummah. If unity is attained then prosperity, peace and progress will be the order of the day not only among the Islamic Ummah but also in the entire world. Islam is a religion that touches upon each and every aspect of human life. This is the religion that teaches the Muslims to respect the dignity of human society.

However, the arrogant powers not only kept the Muslim nations far from each other but also distorted the facts about the most rational religion which is Islam. Once, the Founder of the Islamic Republic, the late Imam Khomeini rightly remarked that Islam has been oppressed' by the enemies of Islam who are none but the oppressors. The guideline issued by the Leader will be aired today in Mecca where some two million Muslims of different colors, creeds and races will perform their most significant religious obligations.

The Hajj is more a political and social affair rather than simply a religious obligation. As the Leader said it provides the best possible opportunity for the Islamic world to cultivate brotherly attitude' and bring about unity among the Muslims. That attitude' if genuinely harvested can yield a real and natural phenomenon for which human beings were created by the Almighty to obey Him and serve the human society.

The crux of the guideline of Ayatollah Khamenei is a call for unity among Ummah and to make this world beautiful and peaceful.