Al-Watan After Iran boycotted the Haj pilgrimage this year and prevented its people, including non-Persians who live on its territory, from performing the fifth pillar of Islam, the regime in Tehran has started spreading allegations on the one hand and making direct and indirect threats on the other. Their aim was to undermine Haj security and defame the Kingdom. Tehran's Haj boycott was solely aimed at achieving its political interests and that decision was taken while the two countries were about to sign a Haj agreement. Iran's spiritual leader refused to sign the accord and asked the country's delegation to return to Tehran immediately. That sudden change in Tehran's policy was to disrupt the annual Haj pilgrimage, the largest gathering of Muslims in the world, and influence other Muslim countries, using its huge information machinery. It has launched a massive anti-Saudi propaganda in different languages. Everybody has seen Iran's media blitz against the Kingdom, just before the Haj season. Iranian leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials led the campaign with the support of writers and media persons to discredit the Kingdom. It was a spiteful and malicious campaign, to say the least. The Iranian smear campaign's intensity reached its peak with the approach of the annual pilgrimage in the beginning of the Hijri month of Dhul Hijjah to the extent that you would not see the front pages of Iranian newspapers and news agencies belonging to the regime and revolutionary guards without a nasty report or article attacking Saudi Arabia that takes care of the two holy mosques. This underrated media and political work of the Iranians shows Tehran's endeavors to harm the Kingdom with its entire means. But Saudi Arabia did not respond to the Iranian smear campaign in the same coin and continued its services to the guests of God, mobilizing its human and material resources in order to help them perform the Haj rituals with ease and comfort. Everybody knows that Saudi Arabia is capable of launching a similar media attack against Iran but Riyadh remained restrained and unemotional while dealing with the Iranian propaganda machinery, as it rightly believed that nobody would believe Tehran's allegations against the Kingdom. Riyadh's response to the Iranian campaign reflected the message of a poem written by Imam Shafi'i. The stupid talks to me with hatred; But I hate to become his friend; When his stupidity reaches its peak; I try to become more reasonable; Like Oud that gives its best When it burns intensely. The Kingdom gave an indirect reply to the Iran's allegations and its attempts to mobilize the Islamic world's support against it. All government departments, which participated in the Haj operation, performed well, on the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, making the annual event a resounding success. Pilgrims moved smoothly between the holy sites of Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah performing their rituals in a peaceful atmosphere without any major incidents or accidents, thanks to God. For the last three decades, the Iranians have been attempting to undermine Haj security and disrupt its smooth operation by Saudi Haj managers. The Iranian pilgrims, especially those sent by the Revolutionary Guard, come to Makkah not to perform Haj but to engage in subversive activities as Tehran wants to prove that Saudi Arabia is incapable of managing the annual pilgrimage. Over the past several years, Saudi Arabia has proved its ability in successfully managing Haj affairs. The Kingdom is proud of extending the best possible services to the guests of Allah, ensuring their security and comfort, and considers it as an honor. By the Grace of Allah, Saudi Arabia was successful in managing this year's Haj affairs in the best manner by mobilizing all its resources at the service of pilgrims. On the other hand, the Iranian anti-Saudi campaign failed to mobilize support of not only Islamic countries but also its own people as there were no takers for the false Iranian claim that Riyadh is incapable of managing Haj. Tehran's smear campaign has exposed its political agenda and its move to politicize Haj pilgrimage in violation of the Qur'anic instruction: "Whoever sets out to observe Haj shall refrain from sexual intercourse, misconduct, and arguments throughout Haj." (2:197) Hajis are not allowed to raise political slogans during the pilgrimage as it would create division among pilgrims and distract them from worship. The most catastrophic move by Iran was its call to Muslims to visit Karbala instead of the holy city of Makkah. Who is this spiritual leader to make such a false and misleading call? The Iranian regime has become a laughing stock as a result of this meaningless call, which was the peak of its foolishness. In fact, our Iranian neighbors deserve a better condition than this. Isn't there a wise man to save Iran and its people from this abyss? Only the Iranians can give a befitting answer to this important question.
