Grand Ayatollah Makarem: No Haj pilgrimage without honor, security

Top Iranian scholar denounced constant dishonesty of Saudi Arabia on Hajj and stressed Iran will perform Hajj only if the honor and security of pilgrims are maintained.

Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, senior Shia jurisprudent, at the beginning of his weekly teaching session in Qom Mosque, criticized dishonesty of Saudi Arabia in leading the annual Hajj pilgrimage proposed that the two mosques should be managed by cooperation of all Muslim countries.

He said,” Dishonesty of Saudi Arabia in Hajj is known to all and we are trying to provide the grounds for an honorable and secure pilgrimage while Saudi authorities seem to be disrespect our pilgrims due to their disagreements with us.”

The cleric stressed,” To confuse Hajj pilgrimage with political issues is a great mistake made by Saudi Arabia and our authorities will accept nothing but a ceremony performed in full honor and security.”

He noted necessity of resolving the issues related to the two mosques and said,” That will happen when a group of most knowledgeable experts on Hajj affairs are chosen by the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) out of which a member can be from Saudi Arabia.”

“History of past Hajj pilgrimages and painful disasters in Al Haram Mosque and then Mina prove that KSA is incapable of handling the ceremony.” Said the Iranian scholar and vowed to propose his plan for a better Hajj pilgrimage will soon be sent to prominent Muslim scholars from across the globe as well as Al Azhar University to be discussed in an international conference.

Ayatollah Makarem quoted a verse from Qur’an on equality of all Muslims in Al Haram Mosque and said,” Certainly this plan will be beneficial for KSA too and it will not be a violation of their sovereignty.”

Iranian cleric called Muslim scholars from across the globe to propose their views on how to observe Hajj pilgrimage.



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