Hajj unites Muslim Ummah: Senior Shia Cleric

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Iranian religious leader Qazi Asgar, representative of Wali-e-Faqih (religious guardian) in Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs Department on Tuesday termed Hajj as an event that unites Muslim Ummah. Speaking at International Hajj Conference at a local hotel he said that whole Muslim Ummah is experiencing a new wave of awakening. He said that unity is the key to success of Muslim Ummah adding that western countries are hatching conspiracies against Muslims. Iranian religious leader added that Hajj is an event that brings unity among Muslim Ummah. He urged the Muslims to shun their differences to counter anti-Islam conspiracies. He added that many conferences had been held in the Iranian Hajj unit at Macca. He said that on next Hajj the Iranian unit would continue to hold such conferences. He called upon the Muslim countries to extend their help to people affected by floods in Pakistan. Qazi Asgar said that Iranian Hajj pilgrims raised 200.000 $ last year for Pakistani flood victims. He asked Islamic Development Bank to help Pakistani flood victims in every possible way. He said that Muslim world should also help the people suffering in Somalia. Iranian cleric Muhammad Muhammdi Iraqi appreciated the holding of conference by Pakistan. He said that nowadays Muslim Ummah is passing through a wave of Islamic awakening. “Hajj unites Muslim Ummah”, he said. He said that during Hajj we see religious fever in whole Islamic world. He asked youth of Ummah to be united and work for the stability of Muslim Ummah. He said that father of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini had shown a new path to Muslim Ummah and revived true spirit of Islam. Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mashallah Shakeri expressing his views said that Kabah is the center of whole Muslim Ummah and Hajj brings unity in Muslim Ummah. He welcomed the new wave of awakening in Muslim world. He added that Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has always talked about the rights of Muslim Ummah. He said that Muslims nowadays are successful because of their awareness. Pakistani Religious Affairs Secretary Shaukat Hayat Durrani welcomed the role of Iran in protecting the rights of Muslim world. He urged for bringing unity among Muslim Ummah to counter western conspiracies. He said that Muslims should solve their problems themselves. Mehboob Ullah Jan Pakistani Parliamentary Secretary for religious affairs said that Hajj provides an atmosphere for Muslim Ummah. “It unites Muslim Ummah”, he added. He lauded the role of Iran for the rights of Muslim Ummah. Delegations from Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and India are participating in the two-day conference. The issue of pilgrims’ security will remain a focal point of this conference./129