11-05-2025
Hajj Can Be Catalyst for Muslim Unity, Resistance
In an exclusive interview with Tasnim News Agency, Dr. Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, the president of Malaysian Islamic Organizations Consultative Council (Mapim), emphasized the untapped potential of the Hajj pilgrimage as a force for Islamic unity and resistance against oppression. As this years Hajj unfolds under the theme: "Hajj: A Quranic Journey, Solidarity, and Support for the Oppressed Palestine,"he shared strategic insights on how the pilgrimage can serve as a platform for reform, dialogue, and collective action across the Muslim world.
The following is the full text of the interview with the Malaysian scholar:
Tasnim: In your view, what are the key capacities of the great Hajj congregation in promoting Islamic unity, advancing the progress of Muslim countries, strengthening friendships, and reducing conflicts?
Abdul Hamid:The Hajj is a divine convergence of the global Ummah. It brings Muslims of every race, language, and culture together in a single act of devotion. It holds immense potential to foster Islamic unity by dissolving the divisions of nationhood, ethnicity, and sect. In that sacred space, we are reminded of our shared qiblah, shared faith, and shared destiny.
Hajj offers a rare platform for dialogue among leaders, scholars, and common pilgrims. It is a space where collective solutions to economic injustice, political fragmentation, and moral decline can be collectively imagined. It strengthens friendships by building people-to-people solidarity and reduces conflicts by reviving the ethos of fraternity, mercy, and justice that defines Islam.
Tasnim: Do you believe the Islamic world has fully utilized the immense potential of Hajj in past years? If not, what has been missing?
Abdul Hamid:No, the Islamic world has not fully utilized the spiritual and strategic potential of Hajj. For too long, the pilgrimage has been confined to its personal rituals, while its role as a collective spiritual congress of the Ummah remains underdeveloped. Whats missing is intentional coordinationstructured platforms for intergovernmental, civil society, and scholarly dialogue during Hajj.
The absence of joint action plans, political consensus, and intellectual exchange has deprived Hajj of its historical role as a vehicle for reform and unity. There is also a lack of integration between the spiritual experience and social responsibilities of Muslims post-Hajj.
Tasnim: What practical strategies would you suggest to better harness the Hajj for improving relations among Islamic nations and peoples?
Abdul Hamid:First, we need to institutionalize a Hajj Dialogue Summita parallel gathering of scholars, youth, civil society actors, and leaders to discuss the challenges facing the Ummah.
Second, we must develop Pilgrim Diplomacy by facilitating structured intercultural exchanges and solidarity circles among pilgrims from various regions and schools of thought.
Third, Hajj should be used as a platform to issue joint declarations and resolutions by using the momentum of Hajj to release moral declarations on unity, justice, and peace to guide global Muslim action.
Finally, we should create Hajj Legacy Programs to equip pilgrims to act as ambassadors of peace and unity in their communities after returning, turning Hajj into a launchpad for reform movements.
Tasnim: How do you think this years Hajj can contribute to supporting the oppressed people of Palestine? What do you believe are the expectations of the people of Gaza from this year's pilgrims?
Abdul Hamid:This years Hajj must carry the spirit of resistance and solidarity with Palestine. Pilgrims must raise global awareness through symbolic gestures, coordinated dua, wear unified symbols of support, and advocate for the liberation of Al-Aqsa, which is deeply connected to the Hajjs spiritual geography.
The people of Gaza expect pilgrims to remember them not as an act of pity, but through courageous action. They hope for voices to be raised, for leaders to be moved, and for Hajj to not remain silent while their blood is shed. Hajj can be a sacred protest against occupation and injustice.
Tasnim: What special initiatives have Islamic countries including yours planned this year to utilize the capacities of Hajj? What is your key advice to pilgrims?
Abdul Hamid:While many Islamic countries have focused on logistical improvements and health protocols, there remains a need for spiritual and strategic mobilization. In Malaysia, there are growing calls for Hajj missions to include educational modules on global Muslim issuesespecially on Palestine.
My key advice to pilgrims is this: let your Hajj be not just a personal journey of purification, but a renewal of your commitment to the Ummah. Let your ihram be a declaration of solidarity. Let your tears at Arafah include the pain of Gaza, Kashmir, and Uyghur Muslims. You return not just purified, but as a bearer of a sacred responsibility.
Tasnim: What potential does Hajj hold for enhancing unity between Shiiteand Sunni Muslims? In your opinion, how can we best benefit from this opportunity?
Abdul Hamid:Hajj dissolves all human divisions before the oneness of Allah. In the plain of Arafah and the Tawaf around the Kaaba, no Sunni or Shiitelabel mattersonly that one is Muslim. This is a powerful opportunity to cultivate mutual respect, dismantle prejudice, and emphasize shared beliefs. To benefit, we must encourage open, respectful engagement between scholars and pilgrims of different schools, promote common rituals and spiritual experiences, and reject all sectarian provocations. The Hajj must be a zone of sacred unity, not politicized hostility.
Hajj offers one of the most powerful platforms for reconciling differences and strengthening unity between Shiite and Sunni Muslims. When millions of believersregardless of sectstand shoulder to shoulder in ihram, perform the same rites, and call upon the same Lord, it is a profound reminder that our shared faith far outweighs our differences.
The potential lies in these three key aspects:
Spiritual Common Ground Hajj brings focus to the core tenets of Islam: Tawhid, Prophethood, and the Day of Judgment, which all Muslims uphold. In that sacred space, the emphasis returns to submission to Allahnot sectarian identities.
Human Interaction and Fraternity Pilgrims from all backgrounds interact closely. If guided properly, this proximity can dismantle stereotypes and build mutual respect. Human warmth often triumphs where polemics fail.
A Symbol of Ummah Unity In a time when the Ummah is deeply fragmented, Hajj visually and spiritually demonstrates the unity that is possibleand commanded by Allah.
To benefit from this opportunity, we must:
Encourage cross-sect pilgrim dialogues and shared educational sessions during Hajj.
Discourage inflammatory rhetoric and promote the ethics of ikhtilaf (respectful disagreement).
Establish a Pan-Islamic Pilgrimage Charter promoting inclusion, tolerance, and solidarity among all madhahib.
Ultimately, the Hajj can serve as a healing groundnot to erase diversity, but to celebrate it under the banner of Tawhid and mutual compassion. If we approach it with humility and sincerity, Hajj can be the bridge that leads to a united Ummah.
