RNA – “The issues pertaining to the two Holy Shrines in Makkah and Madinah need to be resolved one day this can be accomplished only when a committee of experienced and skilled individuals regarding the issue of the Hajj pilgrimage is selected by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to superintend the affairs of the two Holy Shrines in Makkah and Madinah. In such a case, Saudi Arabia can also have a member in that committee,” Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi has stated.
The following is His Eminence’s statement:
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
It is now completely clear to everyone that the Saudis constantly seek to sabotage the Hajj pilgrimage and obstruct issues related to it. Just like all other Muslims, we Iranians also want to perform the Hajj in a safe environment and under conditions where our dignity and honor is preserved. However, there is evidence indicating that the Saudis, due to its political disagreement with us, is taking every measure it can to rob our pilgrims of their dignity and honor and to humiliate them during their visit to Makkah for the Hajj pilgrimage. However, the Saudis have no right to stain the issue of Hajj with its corrupt political pursuits and if they do such a thing, it will be a grave mistake on their part. Obviously, the Iranian officials will only agree that their citizens travel to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage only when they receive enough assurances that the Hajj pilgrimage will be safe for the Iranians and that their honor and dignity will be preserved by the Saudi regime.
What is important is that one day, the issues pertaining to the two Holy Shrines in Makkah and Madinah need to be resolved once and for all; this can be accomplished only when a committee of experienced and skilled individuals regarding the issue of the Hajj pilgrimage is selected by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to superintend the affairs of the two Holy Shrines in Makkah and Madinah. In such a case, Saudi Arabia can also have a member in that committee. The reason for this proposal is that the Saudi regime has demonstrated again and again its ineptitude in properly managing this great ritual and act of worship. Needless to say that the Saudis’ inability in properly managing and organizing the Hajj was completely evident in the tragic incidents which occurred in Masjid al-Haram as well as Mina during last year’s Hajj season.
I have a proposal in this regard which, after finalizing it, will be sent to the great scholars of the al-Azhar and also other great Muslim scholars to study. We will then invite these great scholars to convene in a conference held with regard to this proposal to provide us with their feedbacks and to finalize the plan together.
We will then work together to find proper ways in which to put this plan into practice and to put pressure on the Saudis to accept it.
Indeed, the implementation of this plan will be to the Saudis’ benefit as well and it will have no conflict with the sovereignty of their country. The Holy Quran has explicitly stated the following in this regard:
“سَوَاءً الْعَاكِفُ فِيهِ وَالْبَادِ”
“We have made (the Masjid al-Haram open) to (all) the people - equal is the dweller there and the visitor from the country” (al-Hajj: 25) .
There is no doubt that, one day, this plan will be put into practice and we hope that it will be done in very near future, because the current circumstances, where the Saudis behave in a way as if they are the owners of the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah, is unacceptable to everyone. We also welcome any and all suggestions from Muslim thinkers and scholars which can help complete and finalize this plan.
May peace be upon those who follow the path of guidance,
Naser Makarem-Shirazi
April 28, 2016
R111/112/E