A)Characteristics of Hajj and Its Spiritual Status

Commenting on the spiritual and ritualistic aspects of
Hajj, Imam Khomeini emphasized on the interconnection of this aspect with other
aspects:

“Spiritual position of Hajj, which is an eternal asset and
brings about closeness of man with horizon of monotheism and purity, will not be
achieved unless the ritualistic principles of Hajj are properly performed and
its political aspect is not fulfilled unless its spiritual and divine aspects
are accomplished.

… your labaiks (yes O Lord) should be a response to
the call of the Almighty God and wear the pilgrimage garment in order to get
close to the threshold of the Court of the Lord. While chanting labaik
migrate from self " a great source of infidelity " towards the Lord, glorified
is He.”

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The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali
Khamenei, describes Hajj as an eternal source, a divine spring and a clear
rivulet for the Islamic ummah:

“Thanks be to Allah Who has ordained Hajj as an eternal
source, a divine spring and a clear continuous rivulet for the eternal ummah.”

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Elsewhere, he comments on the interrelations between spiritual, ritualistic
aspects of Hajj and its political, social dimensions: “Hajj is a worship and
chanting of prayers and repentance, but it is a worship and a repentance aimed
to resuscitate the pure life of the Islamic ummah and liberate it from the
chains of colonialism, dictatorship and mammons of wealth and power... It is a
Hajj which is among the pillars of religion and in the Nahj ul Balagha, the
Commander of the Faithful has called it the banner of Islam, the holy war of
every powerless, remover of poverty and destitute, and a source of proximity of
the believers to each other.”

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The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei
and Imam Khomeini both lay emphasis on the importance of the city of Mecca and
the House of God (Bait ullah al Haram) " where the greatest culture and
civilization of the history of mankind was formed. Commenting on the issue, Imam
Khomeini stated:

“The holy Mecca
and the holy sites are the mirror of great events of the movements of the
prophets, of Islam and mission of the holy Prophet of Islam. Every spot of this
territory is a place of emergence of great prophets, the trusted Gabriel and
reminder of the years-long sufferings and hardships the Prophet (PBUH) endured
in the way of Islam and humanity. Presence in these holy sites while bearing in
mind the difficult, intolerable conditions of the appointment of the Prophet
acquaints us with the responsibility of preservation of the achievements of this
divine movement and mission.”

Commenting on the same issue, the Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei, states:

“In this place, the pivot and center of every sanctity is
God and circumambulation, running between Safa and Marva, and staying

[in holy
sites]
as well as other rituals of Hajj each is a demonstration of attraction to
God and rejection, denial and deliverance from the enemies of God.”

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