The movements that have developed in the Middle East and North Africa during the past decade or so, undoubtedly, reflect upon the rise of awakening among the Muslim nations as well as their disapproval of the presence of the arrogant powers in the region. These movements, all of which share the three elements of being Islamic, anti-American and anti-Zionism, are aimed at a return to the noble Islamic identity of these nations and regaining the honor and dignity of the people of the countries involved. These popular uprisings are also indicative of the accumulated and suppressed anger of the people who are disgusted with the oppressions, injustices, and corruptions of their rulers and their relations with the imperialistic powers and believing that the main cause of the lack of development on the part of their societies is their tyrannical governments and they have set forth to confront the existing despotic regimes ruling over them. Their youths have overcome the fear of the intelligence-oriented ruling regimes and by conceiving the concept of “We Can” these youths have been able to play a significant role in the awakening of their nations through the modern means of communications and the internet and, thus, they may be regarded as the pioneers of Islamic awakening in the region.

Hajj, this grand and glorious congregation of believers, which is the symbol of the eternality of the religion of the Grand Prophet of Islam (PBUH), who is also the Seal of Prophethood, can play a major role in raising the level of the awareness of Muslim nations and pave the path for greater Islamic awakening. By its very nature, Hajj can serve as a center for conceiving Islamic precepts and a source of enlightenment for Muslims. Abrahamic Hajj refers to the struggle against despotic powers, restoration of the lost honor and dignity of the believers, negation of satanic powers, and expressing disapproval of polytheists; for Prophet Abraham (AS) said “I repudiate the polytheists”. Even though Laat, Manaat, and Uzza (the three popular idols of the era of ignorance) do not exist in our times they have been replaced by far more dangerous idols like money and might of the arrogant powers and their ignorant proxy regimes, which dominate the fate and destiny of the Muslims of these countries. Scrutinizing the Abrahamic Hajj reflects upon the importance of repudiating infidels, dominating powers of the world and their stooges, and a factor contributing to the anti-arrogance struggles of the Muslims. By the same token, Hajj can prepare the required grounds for the exchange of information among the Muslim nations over the common problems faced by the world of Islam including the usurpation of Palestine by the Zionist regime, confrontation with satanic powers, and struggles against the oppression inflicted on the people of certain Islamic countries.

Abrahamic Hajj has the potential of serving as a forum for the exchange of information and communication and expansion of awareness among Muslims as well as exposing and disclosing the dangerous ploys and devious plans of the imperialistic powers against Islam and Muslims. It provides the required incentive to withstand the psychological warfare of arrogant powers by strengthening the Muslims against such warfare initiated by their common enemy. This grand and glorious congregation has the power to forge closeness of hearts and unity among Muslims and unite them in confronting the deceitful strategy of divide and rule by the imperialists aimed at widening ethnic and sectarian divergence/differences. It is for this very reason that this Islamic gathering of the Muslim world can serve as a powerful means for reducing divergence and elevating Islamic convergence by emphasizing the existing commonalities that could eventually lead to the formation of a united Ummah; setting an example for all the nations of the world. The proposed unity, however, involves and recognizes the cultural identity of the nations and, as a matter of fact, is a perfect manifestation of unity in diversity and a new experience for the Muslim community to coexist and cooperate with each other free from communal and racial prejudices; a life away from the walls artificially made around them by vested interests. Therefore, it is incumbent on all Muslims to endeavor towards perceiving the philosophy of Hajj and the esoteric truths hidden behind its rituals in order to understand the importance of the historical lessons of Islam attributes for the humanization of the world, which can ensure man’s dignity, prosperity and salvation.

This year’s Hajj should be the manifestation of the strengthening of the unity of the Muslim Ummah and the rapprochement of different Islamic schools of thought side by side with a wave of Islamic awakening, truth-seeking, freedom-seeking, regaining the self-esteem of the Muslim nation and a response to the violent and oppressive attitude adopted by the despotic rulers of the region.

It is, thus, the responsibility of all the Muslim intellectual, cultural, academic, and media elites throughout the world as well as all the religious scholars, reformist thinkers, and astute and well-wishing believers to make every endeavor to come forth with solutions for expanding the new wave of Islamic awakening as well as helping the oppressed and truth-seeking Muslims and devising new plans for putting an end to the oppression and cruelty faced by Muslim nations. The Hajj atmosphere, both in its actual sense and its communicational sense, provides a great opportunity for sharing thoughts and views on the various ways and means through which freedom-loving Muslims can attain their rightful demands, withstand Western domination and eliminate the degradation imposed on them by dictatorial rulers and imperialistic power.