TEHRAN -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said here on Monday that one of the most critical needs of the Muslim world is the consolidation of Islamic unity.

“Hajj should be the epitome of the determination of the Islamic ummah against all forces that are trying to foment discord and disunity in the Muslim world,” the Leader stated at a meeting with hajj officials and directors.
“During the hajj ritual, Muslims should be vigilant toward and aware of the acts of those ill-wishers seeking to tear down the high fluttering banner of Islam,” he added.
Ayatollah Khamenei described the hajj as an ideal opportunity for a pilgrim to improve his/her spirituality and humility before Almighty God.
Emphasizing the significance of Islamic unity under the current circumstances, the Leader said, “The bloody (terrorist) actions that are taking place in Iraq, Pakistan, and other Islamic countries are targeting the unity of Shia and Sunni Muslims.”
Ayatollah Khamenei urged Muslims to be vigilant in the face of the plots of the enemies of Islam, saying, “Hajj pilgrims should not remain indifferent toward what is happening today in the Islamic world, particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and parts of Pakistan.
“Those behind these wicked terrorist activities are directly or indirectly linked with foreign elements.”
During the hajj, Iranian pilgrims should familiarize other Muslim pilgrims with their deep culture, with its roots in the tenets of Islam, the Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei also advised the Iranian pilgrims to actively participate in congregational prayers and the ceremony for the disavowal of infidels.
Commenting on the desecration of Shia holy sites in Mecca and Medina, the Leader said, “Such immoral deeds, which have targeted the unity of Muslims, only serve the interests of the United States and the enemies of Islam.”
Ayatollah Khamenei also urged Saudi Arabian officials to seriously address the issue