Both the Kingdom and the Muslim world have lost a distinguished scholar. Sheikh Abdulaziz dedicated his life to science, Islam, and the welfare of Muslims. King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered their condolences to his family and the global Muslim community.

Sheikh Abdulaziz also served as the President of the Council of Senior Scholars, promoting Islamic values and community harmony.

Funeral prayers will be held at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. King Salman has directed absentee prayers in Mecca, Madinah, and across the Kingdom’s mosques following afternoon (Asr) prayers.

His legacy will inspire future generations, highlighting his profound impact on many lives.

This is no figure of speech. The Saudi leadership quite literally does not sleep during Hajj.

Year after year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms its unparalleled ability to uphold the sacred trust bestowed upon it by God — the responsibility of organizing the Hajj and serving the guests of the Almighty. In doing so, it has become a global benchmark for managing the largest annual human gathering on earth, marked by precision, professionalism, and utmost safety.

At the heart of this unparalleled effort lies the unwavering commitment of the Saudi leadership — led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, may God preserve them. The title “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques” is not a mere ceremonial designation. It reflects the essence of Saudi leadership, which dedicates all its resources to serving pilgrims, with the full support and pride of the Saudi people.

Each year, the world watches a remarkable scene unfold as the Kingdom welcomes millions of pilgrims and oversees the Hajj rituals with a unique model of care, logistics, and humaneness — a system that reflects the Saudi leadership’s devotion to the sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques and to the dignity of the pilgrims.

It is no surprise that the Kingdom is globally hailed as a model in managing this colossal annual event. For Saudi Arabia, Hajj is not only an honor but a historic and religious duty, passed down through generations of leadership and upheld with national vigor and responsibility.

The Two Holy Mosques lie at the very core of Saudi Arabia’s identity — a cornerstone of its spiritual and civilizational mission since the unification of the Kingdom by its founding father, King Abdulaziz, may God have mercy on him.

This devotion manifests in every detail of Hajj management. Ministries, security forces, medical units, and service sectors operate in seamless coordination to provide a deeply spiritual, safe, and smooth experience for pilgrims from all corners of the world.

What stands out year after year is the meticulous and direct supervision of the Saudi leadership. King Salman personally oversees preparations, while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman follows the developments minute by minute, issuing instructions to ensure the utmost comfort and security of the pilgrims — tirelessly and without delay.

This is no figure of speech. The Saudi leadership quite literally does not sleep during Hajj. Real-time decisions, instant adjustments, and swift implementations are hallmarks of a flexible and efficient system — all aimed at ensuring that the guests of God fulfill their rites in peace and safety.

Security remains the foundational pillar of Hajj operations. The Kingdom spares no effort in protecting pilgrims from all potential risks — organizational, health-related, or security threats. Thousands of security personnel are strategically deployed across the holy sites, backed by advanced monitoring technologies, real-time tracking systems, and crowd management strategies designed to swiftly respond to any emergency.

Yet beyond safety, the Kingdom offers pilgrims peace of mind — a palpable sense of care and protection that enhances the spiritual serenity of the Hajj experience.

The massive expansion projects in the holy sites are a clear testament to this dedication. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has implemented the largest expansion in the history of the Grand Mosque, alongside the development of Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat. Modern transport systems, bus lanes, and the Mashair Train have all contributed to reducing congestion and facilitating the pilgrim flow.

Saudi Arabia has also established a robust medical infrastructure, with hundreds of clinics, field hospitals, air ambulances, cooling stations, air-conditioned tents, and water and food distribution points — all functioning 24/7 as part of a fully integrated logistical network.

Nor has the Kingdom been left behind in the digital age. On the contrary, technology has been seamlessly woven into the Hajj operation. Smart applications now guide pilgrims, provide real-time assistance, issue fatwas, and help locate services. Artificial intelligence and multilingual service robots offer on-the-ground support, making the pilgrim experience smoother and more accessible.

This digital transformation is not about technological showmanship, but rather about achieving the ultimate goal — easing the physical and emotional burden on every pilgrim.

In alignment with Vision 2030, the Kingdom has made pilgrim service a national priority. The “Guests of God Service Program” is a flagship initiative aimed at upgrading every aspect of the Hajj and Umrah journey — from arrival to departure — by expanding capacity, enhancing quality, and enriching the spiritual experience.

This reflects not a seasonal commitment, but a long-term, strategic pledge to make the pilgrimage not only spiritually fulfilling but also welcoming, dignified, and memorable.

What distinguishes the Saudi model is its dedication to constant improvement. After each Hajj season, thorough reviews are conducted, feedback is analyzed, committees convene, and plans are updated to address challenges and refine processes. Lessons learned are actively incorporated into future operations.

This proactive approach sends a clear message: the safety and service of pilgrims is a red line for the Kingdom — a responsibility never taken lightly, and never compromised.

Hajj in Saudi Arabia is not merely an event. It is a grand narrative of dedication and accountability, orchestrated by leaders who remain alert, teams who think ahead, and hands that serve with sincerity.

Yes, no human operation is perfect. Minor lapses are natural in an event of such scale. Yet unfortunately, some exploit these rare instances to spread negativity or distort reality. Saudi Arabia, with its transparent governance and quiet confidence, does not answer with rhetoric — it responds with action, consistent upgrades, and the undeniable testimony of millions of satisfied pilgrims.

Credible voices across the Arab, Islamic, and global media landscape have praised Saudi Arabia’s Hajj management as a model of service, discipline, and sincerity — a standard to aspire to.

Year after year, the Kingdom continues to prove that it is most worthy of this sacred trust — not just capable, but exemplary. In doing so, it transforms one of the world’s greatest logistical challenges into a shining symbol of compassion, order, and excellence.

We pray to Almighty God to bless our wise leadership and grant continued success to all those serving this Hajj season. May the Kingdom and its people remain forever safe and prosperous.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not reflect Milli Chronicle’s point-of-view.

Abu Rahal was one of more than 2 million haj pilgrims expected to attend the 2023 pilgrimage season this week in Mecca and Medina, defying global inflation and higher prices for haj services.

Palestinian pilgrim Abu Anas Abu Rahal was hoping to find cheaper lodgings for a week-long stay in Islam’s holiest sites in Saudi Arabia, as the minimum cost for the haj pilgrimage climbed to 26,000 riyals ($7,000) this year. His options were limited.

The 65-year-old struggled to pay the bill despite choosing the cheapest-offered package, which included travelling to Saudi Arabia by land and sharing hotel rooms with other pilgrims.

“I was asking for a fourth option, with a farther hotel which could be half cheaper. The prices and the choices that have been given are embarrassing to be honest,” Abu Rahal said, adding that pilgrims last year paid the same price for a package that included flights.

“For the sake of the holy mosque and seeing the Kaaba… everything is worth it, but the economic conditions are really tough,” he added.

Abu Rahal was one of more than 2 million haj pilgrims expected to attend the 2023 pilgrimage season this week in Mecca and Medina, defying global inflation and higher prices for haj services.

Authorities in the kingdom said more than 1.6 million pilgrims had already arrived for the pilgrimage as of Sunday. The gathering officially starts on Tuesday.

Haj, a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it, is a major source of income for the Saudi government from worshippers’ lodging, transport, fees and gifts.

The kingdom earned about $12 billion annually from the 2.6 million pilgrims that used to visit Mecca and Medina for haj, and another 19 million visitors for the umrah, according to official data for 2019, or the last year before the pandemic hit the global travel industry.

Umrah is another form of pilgrimage which can be carried out at any time of the year.

Vast crowds of men wrapped in white and women mostly in black circled the Kaaba in Mecca’s Holy Mosque as security officers walked among pilgrims, watching closely the ritual.

Green barriers were set outside the mosque to direct the crowds and prevent stampedes that killed hundreds in the past.

Many pilgrims said they were happy to take the spiritual journey and buy gifts for their family members despite high prices.

“Even if I had to sell everything to come (to haj), I would have done it… I have been trying for three years already,” said Alameer Eid Al-Omar, a 52-year-old pilgrim from Egypt.

Such devotion provides business for the merchants of Mecca.

“The demand for prayer beads is way higher than in the previous years, including before the pandemic,” said shop manager Abdullah Abbas.

“All nationalities buy beads,” he added.

According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, President of the Affairs of the Grand Holy Mosque and Prophet’s Holy Mosque, inaugurated four of these new devices on Tuesday. These will keep the mosque and its yard clean.

Artificial intelligence-enabled devices will sweep carpets, clean the stairs, escalators, and floors inside the mosque while also collecting dust. 

According to the SPA article, this is a part of the endeavor to deploy artificial intelligence systems for the benefit of the Two Holy Mosques and its tourists.

A video along with an unverified Urdu voice-note, seemingly of a Pakistani dialect claimed that Saudi Arabia has permitted followers of Judaism to perform Umrah in the grand mosque of Mecca. The claimant also quoted Pakistan’s late radical preacher Israr Ahmed, who claimed that ‘Arabs will be doomed’, and ‘Jews are accursed nation’.

As a matter of fact, the pilgrims in the video are not Jews but Sufis, apparently from the Turkish or Uzbek background, who were making Sufi ‘dhikr’ or God’s remembrance while making strange sounds.

The Jewish Kabbalah and Sufi mysticism share a lot of commonalities in terms of mystic rituals—which has eventually confused South-Asian Muslims to conclude Sufis to be Jews.

Jewish law permits its followers to face east towards Jerusalem during prayers, while Muslims have to face west towards Mecca during five daily prayers. In fact, Mizrah in the Jewish synagogues face east, while Mihrab in the Muslim mosques face west.

Furthermore, disinformation campaigns possibly harm the peace prospects of the region, hence, people are requested to verify the social media content before promptly relaying it to others.

The vehicle was carrying four Saudi citizens (two men and two women) and a Yemeni woman. All the passengers were in their forties.

SPA reported that, “Initial legal measures have been taken against them, and they have been referred to the competent authority”.

No further details have been provided by the authorities.

Saudi security forces thwart such attempts on a regular basis, especially in Jizan, Tabuk and the Eastern Province.

Iran had its eye on shrines since the fall of the (Iraqi) regime in 2003…

In September, a senior Iranian commander made an unannounced visit to one of Shia Islam’s holiest sites in the southern Iraqi city of Kerbala.

Hassan Pelarak, a top officer in the Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force, had recently been sanctioned by the US for weapons smuggling. He was checking in on a construction project led by a firm he owns together with other Revolutionary Guards, a foundation linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader. This foundation too is under US sanctions.

The vast, $600 million expansion at the Imam Hussein shrine, which is revered as the place of martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, will swell the capacity of what is already the world’s largest annual pilgrimage, dwarfing the Hajj to Saudi Arabia’s Mecca. It is the biggest development at the shrine in 300 years.

An Iraqi worker at the site sent Reuters pictures of Pelarak, wearing a hard hat and sporting a blue surgical mask, having his temperature taken before entering. The visit, confirmed by an Iraqi employee of the foundation, was not reported by Iranian or Iraqi media. But his visit was not unusual. Pelarak and other Guards commanders overseeing the project freely drop in, workers say, and are given quick tours by the exclusively Iranian companies and engineers they have contracted to carry out the work.

Qassem Soleimani, the late Quds Force commander who spearheaded Iran’s military and political strategy across the region, was filmed touring the project in 2018, 18 months before he was killed by a US drone strike. His successor, Esmail Ghaani, made an unannounced visit to the shrine two weeks after Pelarak, said an Iranian source in Kerbala.

Day and night, Iranian laborers fill in a 40-metre deep, 50,000-square-metre crater next to the shrine with steel girders and cement brought from Iran. The multi-story buildings they are erecting will contain ablution stations, a museum and a library. Millions of predominantly Shia pilgrims from across the Islamic world will access the Hussein shrine via a large road tunnel.

It is one of the largest of the multi-million dollar projects that the Revolutionary Guards-owned Kawthar foundation (Kowsar in Persian) is leading to develop religious tourism in Iraq and Syria – with more in the pipeline.

For this report, Reuters paid five visits to the Kerbala project site, examined public information from the shrines and companies and interviewed at least 20 Iraqi and Iranian workers, engineers, businessmen, religious and political officials. The examination reveals how Iran’s close involvement in religious tourism is bringing Tehran soft power and cementing a presence in Iraqi religious centers that are the nexus of Shia regional influence.

Control of shrine development also deepens trade ties and is a target of potential economic opportunity for Iran: Religious tourism is worth billions of dollars a year in Iraq, the second-largest earner of revenue for the country after the oil sector.

“Iran has long penetrated the Iraqi deep state,” said Bangen Rekani, a former Iraqi housing minister with knowledge of the projects. Increasingly, he said, “Iranians use their soft power and religious ties, which can be more important than political ties.”

Iraq’s government grants religious projects special privileges, including tax exemptions on imports of Iranian cement, steel and other materials. According to multiple sources, many of these goods are brought into Iraq ostensibly for shrine development but are then sold elsewhere in the country. Reuters couldn’t determine the extent of this trade, which helps counter Western sanctions on Iran.

The development of Shia shrines is being spearheaded by Iran’s Holy Shrines Reconstruction Headquarters, a body set up by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and run by the Revolutionary Guards’ appointees. In March, Washington sanctioned the Headquarters and Kawthar, its Iraq-based engineering wing. Pelarak was among officials targeted. The Americans alleged the Headquarters and Kawthar were involved in “lethal aid” to proxy militias in Iraq and Syria, intelligence activities and money laundering. A Treasury spokesperson told Reuters that Iran sought to expand its influence and exploit Iraqi financial and business sectors.

Khamenei has condemned US sanctions as an attempt to destroy Iran’s economy and overthrow its ruling system. Reuters sought comment for this article from the Iranian government, the Revolutionary Guard, its engineering wing Kawthar and Pelarak, but didn’t receive a response. An Iraqi government official said he couldn’t comment about Kawthar’s activities in Iraq because he didn’t have details, a remark echoed by a spokesperson for the Iraqi state body that administers religious sites.

A spokesman for the Hussein shrine, Afdhal al-Shami, told Reuters that Iran’s involvement was needed because “Iraq’s economy is such that we can’t undertake a project like this on our own.”

“Iranians love the shrines. When this money comes in from Iranian donors, through an official body, that’s a psychological boost and good publicity at home and abroad for the Iranian government,” he said in an interview.

“Down to the mirrors, it’s all Iranian”

Iran built power in Iraq after the 2003 US invasion that toppled Sunni ruler Saddam Hussein and brought rule by Iraq’s Shia majority, especially parties supported by Tehran. The Revolutionary Guards grew a military-business empire in Iran, then expanded their influence across Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. They created a corridor to support militia allies across the region and dominate land borders, overground trade, and expand their presence at Shia holy places.

But now the Islamic Republic’s attempts to expand influence in Iraq are facing new challenges. Iran is distracted by the coronavirus pandemic at home and dissent against the political parties and militant groups it backs in Iraq and Lebanon. Iraq’s top Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has supported calls for political reform and long opposed foreign interference, including that of Iran. The United States and its allies are trying to roll back Iranian influence with sanctions, assassinations of military commanders and a new alliance between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. For the first time in years, an Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, has sided with the United States. Kadhimi’s appointment was opposed by Iran-aligned militia groups.

Pelarak’s September visit to Kerbala was the latest sign that despite US pressure on the Revolutionary Guards’ activities in Iraq, the Guards press on with Kawthar’s work.

The US Treasury’s sanctions in March said Kawthar “served as a base for Iranian intelligence activities in Iraq, including the shipment of weapons and ammunition to Iranian-backed terrorist militia groups.” An Iraqi customs official told Reuters Iran did not need Kawthar, an organization focused on trade and soft power, to transfer weapons. “There are other ways of doing that – their proxy militias control the borders from the Kurdish north to the south of Iraq,” he said.

Kawthar carries out shrine development on behalf of the Holy Shrines Reconstruction Headquarters using a number of specialized Iranian companies. Kawthar is owned by Pelarak and at least two other Guards-linked officials, including a Quds Force commander based in the southern Iraqi holy city of Najaf, according to the US Treasury.

Iraqi traders and officials described how during Iran’s economic downturn Kawthar has become more important because of its grip on development of religious sites.

“Iran had its eye on shrines since the fall of the (Iraqi) regime in 2003,” said Dhiaa al-Asadi, a former lawmaker close to Najaf-born Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

The Hussein shrine, visited by up to 50 million pilgrims each year, is housed within a vast, golden-domed mosque decorated with ornate entrances, wooden gates and glass – all from Iran, according to former Iraqi housing minister Rekani and several other government sources. “Down to the mirrors in the shrines, it’s all Iranian,” Rekani said.

The faithful eat for free in adjoined dining halls and pray on carpets while drilling and other sounds of upkeep punctuate an otherwise quiet reverence.

A Reuters reporter visited a Kerbala hotel leased out by the Hussein shrine to host engineers working on the project. The hotel lies on a secured street monitored by cameras. In the reception, a calligraphic sign commemorates the assassinated Soleimani. Engineers dropped by reception on their break to collect packed lunches of rice, chicken and barberries, typical Persian fare. Iranian workers occupy two more hotels in the city and temporary cabins next to Kawthar’s nondescript offices, which overlook the shrine expansion project.

There, Iranian workers wearing the overalls of the companies contracted by Kawthar toil next to health and safety signs in Persian. The engineers in hard hats are often graduates of Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, according to an Iraqi contractor working with Kawthar. The university is on Western sanctions lists for alleged involvement in nuclear weapons research. Iran’s science minister has said its activities have nothing to do with atomic weapons research.

The construction site, half empty about a year ago, has quickly been filled with the skeletons of buildings. Pelarak signed a nearly $650 million contract in 2015 with the Hussein shrine for Kawthar to build the extension, named the Sahn al-Aqila Zeinab, the Courtyard of Zeinab, Hussein’s sister.

The Headquarters lists at least 17 projects it is overseeing at important shrines in Najaf, Kerbala, Baghdad and the northern city of Samarra. These contracts are often years-long and worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

In Najaf, Kawthar and the Headquarters have repaired the Imam Ali shrine’s golden dome and facade, and are carrying out a $500 million infrastructure expansion there too. In Baghdad, they have built ornate windows at the shrines of two Shia imams and have been repairing a minaret that is leaning because of swelling groundwater, according to a shrine official. The Headquarters is also working on an expansion of the al-Askari shrine in Samarra.

Pelarak is eyeing more work. He told Iranian semi-official news agency Fars in August he hoped to carry out an expansion at another site in Kerbala, the Imam Abbas shrine, part of a plan “agreed by Iraq’s housing ministry” but not yet requested by the shrine. A spokesman for Iraq’s housing ministry said he couldn’t comment because, “there is no accurate information available on this.” The shrine didn’t comment.

Several Iranian firms carry out the work, serving as contractors. A tunnel, foundation and water specialist called Abtaban is working on the Kerbala project, according to the Revolutionary Guards-linked Tasnim news agency. Padideh, a civil engineering contractor, and Mana, a construction firm, are involved in both the Kerbala project and the development of the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, according to Iranian news and company websites. Padideh says on its website it is aiming to increase its work in the region.

Reuters found no link between these companies and the Guards beyond the contracts with Guards-run organisations, and the firms are not under US sanctions. The companies did not respond to requests for comment.

An Iraqi government official said Kawthar’s activities and finances are not shared with any Iraqi government departments.

A spokesman for the Iraqi state body that administers Shia religious sites said: “We can’t discuss any topics related to the work of Iranian companies because we do not intervene or have specific details on their activities. They work in holy cities but other than that we don’t know anything.”

Shami, the spokesman for the Hussein shrine, said “if Kawthar has other activities, we don’t know about this.” He said he was also unaware of US sanctions against Kawthar.

Special status

The Iraqi state funds the initial buying up of private and public land at the sites through budget allocations to Shia religious authorities which make the purchase, said Rekani, the former housing minister.

For the Sahn al-Aqila, part of the Kerbala project, religious authorities paid some $170 million to buy at least 300 properties, according to shrine officials. The Hussein and adjacent Abbas shrines plan to take over more land nearby, the officials said.

Mohammed Musawi, who used to live where the Sahn al-Aqila is being built and owned two hotels there, said the demolition of his properties brought a handsome fee but erased his business and a generations-old family property.

“I didn’t want to sell the house, but when the shrine decides to expand, there’s nothing you can do,” he said. “People receive a lot of money to sell, and if they refuse are given a court order.”

The shrine paid Musawi and his six siblings nearly $1 million for their property. He now runs a corner shop and relies heavily on the pilgrimage business.

After land acquisition, shrine projects are then fully funded by Iran – ostensibly from donations by devout Iranian Shia and through charities linked to Shia shrine organizations, officials at the Hussein shrine said. An Iranian employee of Kawthar, who declined to be named, said much of the money came from Iranian state coffers, but he didn’t know what proportion. A project costing in excess of $600 million “can’t just come from donations, you need a state behind that,” he reasoned. Other Iranian and Iraqi sources supported this view.

Shrine projects get special status under Iraqi law, meaning they are overseen by the shrine organisations, not by the state. There are customs exemptions for all materials coming from Iran for religious, donor-funded projects.

An engineering official at the Hussein shrine declined to say how much steel, cement, wood and other imports are brought from Iran for the project. An Iraqi trader who has worked with Kawthar said large quantities of Iranian steel and cement are imported tax-free under the guise of shrine projects, but then sold via middlemen onto the Iraqi market, where prices are higher than in Iran. A senior Iraqi official with direct knowledge said firms involved in shrine projects “often order several times the required amount” of building materials.

Shami, the Hussein shrine spokesman, maintained that it would be difficult to siphon off goods in this way because they are inspected by Iranian and Iraqi customs officials then transferred straight to the shrine’s warehouses. He didn’t rule out the possibility that some imports had forged shrine documentation, however. “Everything is possible in Iraq,” he said.

The firms have had their workers bussed in from Iran even when the borders are closed, as during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. One Iranian employee of Kawthar told Reuters that when the borders first closed there were problems getting into Iraq, “but the Hussein shrine intervened to get exemptions.” He estimated there were around 200 Iranian workers currently, down from 2,000 earlier.

Shami said he didn’t know if the shrine had sought travel exemptions for Iranian workers.

The Iraqi customs official and an Iraqi contractor said Kawthar is also involved in other infrastructure projects, including energy. Among these projects, according to the contractor, is a power plant in Basra. The power plant project was led by an Iranian energy company called Mapna, which has also been sanctioned by the United States. Mapna is building power plants in Najaf and Baghdad, as well as one of Kerbala’s largest hotels, a Reuters review of official filings found. Mapna didn’t respond to a request for comment.

A long game

Workers in Kerbala say they see evidence that US sanctions are hurting Iran, and Kawthar. The Iranian Kawthar employee told Reuters he used to take home $1,100 a month, paid in the stable Iraqi dinar, but since the sanctions kicked in, he gets only around $200 because he is now paid in the weak Iranian rial. Work on the site for local Iraqis has all but dried up. An unemployed Iraqi engineering graduate, who used to get regular labor at the shrine, told Reuters he now spends his days hoping for work. He struggles to support a young family.

For the Islamic Republic, its involvement in Iraq’s Shia shrines is a long game. It brings an enduring presence in Shia centers of power, where Iran hopes to influence the succession of Iraq’s most powerful Shia cleric, Sistani. The Guards are regularly in Najaf, where Sistani is based. Sistani’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Sistani’s edicts sent Shia Iraqis to the polls for the first time in their lives in 2005, created an amalgam of Shia paramilitaries to fight Islamic State in 2014, and toppled an Iraqi government last year. Sistani stands against Iranian and other foreign interference in Iraq, and opposes the theocratic model of rule by Khamenei. The Iranian pick to succeed the 90-year-old Sistani died in 2018 in a setback to the Islamic Republic’s plans for Iraq.

Though Iranian influence is resented by large sections of Iraq’s Shia population, religious ties run deep. At the Hussein shrine, bullet holes from where Saddam’s soldiers gunned down Shia rebels in 1991 are framed. At the time, Iran was a haven for Shia opposition to Saddam, a Sunni.

The pilgrimage to commemorate Hussein, slain in battle in 680, is closely associated with the martyrdom of today. Next to images of Hussein on Iraqi highways are posters of Shia militiamen killed fighting Islamic State, which counted Shia Muslims among its most bitter enemies and considered them heretics. Next to them are pictures of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the godfather of those militia groups, killed alongside Soleimani by America.

Abu Mahdi and Soleimani featured this year on a banner at one stall next to the Hussein shrine offering pilgrims free tea and juice, run by Kawthar employees. Just next to the stall were the flags of Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces, the state paramilitary grouping dominated by Iran-aligned fighters. At Baghdad’s Kadhimiya shrine, one donation box is for the Forces.

Iran uses its presence to project regional strength to Sunni Muslim rival Saudi Arabia and bolster its legitimacy at home as a defender of Shia holy places, said Iraqi officials and Iran experts. Saudi officials did not comment for this article.

“Iran wants economic, religious and political influence. The best place to do that is Kerbala and Najaf,” said Mohammed Sahib al-Daraji, a lawmaker on Iraq’s finance committee. “Iran is weakened, but it’s stronger than America in Iraq.”

Ordinary Iraqis say they find themselves once more in the middle of the contest between Iran and America. The Iraqi engineering graduate, who looks older than his 30 years and wears a frayed baseball cap, resents that the only work he’s ever found in his hometown is run by the Revolutionary Guards. But he also resents that when US sanctions kicked in, that work began to dry up.

He spends most days looking for menial jobs. When he’s bored, he borrows for his bus fare and travels to Baghdad with other out-of-work engineers to hold protests demanding jobs and railing against Iraq’s ruling elite – and Iran.

“I’m now working a few days here and there on the shrine project, whenever I can get it,” the worker said. “They’ve reduced my pay by half. But I’ll work for the Iranians if it puts bread on the table – what else is there?”

Living in a society in which different religions, cultures, languages and behaviours exist is a need of a human being. This kind of living in unison with different societies is known as Unity in diversity.

God has originated human beings to live peacefully, lovingly, without hatred and jealousy. We can learn from the life of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), how he lived in Mecca peacefully and united with the tribes of Mecca. Even in Medina he lived with the Jews to sustain peace among them.

We have to be tolerant and work along with the people who differ with us. There will be differences among people. But we have been ordered to keep up with them within the purview of Islamic Sharia rulings. If not then injustice, corruption, chaos, wrong doings and falsehood will prevail. Human societies based on pluralism will face problems of religious differences, cultural diversity and differences in values and ethics, due to the diversity of the institutional backgrounds of this plurality.

Problems can be dealt practically with awareness which will transform contradiction into integration, collision into coexistence, and intolerance into tolerance, or it can be dealt by manipulating with the emotions of the people, which will only add fuel to the fire and lead to destruction.

What is Coexistence?

Coexistence is that you are open-minded and pleased with the person who lives with you, that he lives by his doctrine, or his religion, or his group.

Establishing Peaceful coexistence—Realistic knowledge of self and of others

Man is an enemy of which he has no knowledge of and lack of knowledge makes one fanatic and irritable. Verily there are many incidents happened due to the lack of proper assessment like self-conceited attitude and belittlement of the others.

Some scholars said, “Verily we gathered many forums for religious conversations with Christians, so it made us realize that we did not understand each other properly, as we deal with them on the basis of what we know about them from our books, while many developments have occurred in their ideas and beliefs. The misunderstanding between us has complicated the crisis and expanded the split. It is our lack of understanding of others that puts us in systematic errors, and resulting in strategic mistakes”.

Tolerance

In this multicultural society, it is necessary for one to live with tolerance. We should not harm the people of other religion nor make their lives difficult whereas, we should tolerate with each other and live in peace.

God says in Quran (6:108), “Do not abuse those who invoke other than Allah, because they will abuse Allah in ignorance out of spite”.

Positive Dialogue

The only way to achieve this reconciliation (establishment of harmonious relations), is through dialogues, and dialogue is not through philosophical discourse, or winning over other’s opinion, and to triumph over it, and wanting the others to be defeated.

The dialogue that we propose and support is so, that we reach ideas that coexist in them without compromising on basic fundamentals of each group. The idea is to keep the fundamentals intact and come to terms with the others to live peacefully.

Dialogue is a legal matter, and it is derived from the Noble Quran. The term dialogue is mentioned thrice in the Quran. This shows the importance of dialogue and it is considered a fixed origin of the Islamic civilizations and a fundamental of Sharia law.

Civilization deals with tolerance, freedom, peace and tranquillity with all those who entered it. Therefore, it has made pluralism as a characteristic. Pluralism in religion, languages and sects and as a result of that a new culture has been evolved over time.

Any civilization in the world and any major country will accept pluralism, because if they intent to wipe out another civilization or other language or other religion, it will be self-destructive action. The downfall of any civilization begins when it eliminates the minorities in it. The power of great states or any civilization comes from the power of the minorities in them.

Importance of dialogue cannot be denied. Not only it is used for self-defence but rather as a step towards a peaceful mankind and building a single civilized conception for an integrated world. Positive and effective dialogue is achieved when both the parties opens up to each other and clears all the misunderstandings.

Coexistence is the building of the human civilization that we live in it. We live in this land, whether we are Muslims or non-Muslims, there is no difference in this. We all eat, we all drink, we all sleep, we all study, and we all learn and we all have our own rights in humanitarian matters.

Goals of Dialogue

Some of the important goals in dialogue are:

1. Search for commonalities with others to solve existing problems, or lessen their effects on man in our mission in essence.
2. Ensuring access to the truth, narrowing the gaps in the dispute as much as possible, and bringing views closer.
3. Responding to suspicions and appeals against Islam. In order to show Islam as it is of perfection and beauty.
4. Benefiting from the scientific achievements and civil progress of others.

Communication between religious groups

Knowledge about coexistence and communication deepens when one practically knows and experiences the culture of others, because the actual reality is more informative than theorizing, as many people take their positions on the basis of incomplete information and they are wronged and oppressed. And they may testify based on that information that is part of the truth, not all of them.

The media, for example, convey the information from their available angle, that is, of the cameraman or the viewer’s point of view, but there are still other angles that the media has not been able to access.

Genuine information about the people of any culture requires personal touch and to connect with the real people to know and understand the reality of their culture. Therefore, one of the means of consolidating (bringing together) a culture of joint coexistence is the exchange of visits and entry into the society concerned to know the rules that are based on it, and the systems by which it manages its affairs. 

Collaborative Activities

There are various fields which provide joint work among diverse people irrespective of their belief, culture, ethnicity, like human knowledge, economic activities, humanitarian aid for the war, natural disaster victims etc.

Implementing the joint programs by mutual cooperation with those who are affiliated to different religions, cultures and ethnicities will definitely give a practical model for co-existence. Such programs indeed broke many barriers and crossed many hurdles. 

Resolving conflict

That which strengthen the idea of co-existence is the strong resolve to be present between the people. Because lack of resolve is a reason for incoherence, conflict, division and disagreement.

And the need for peaceful coexistence should be a concern to everyone; be it an educator, preacher, citizen, journalist or politician. We all are required to be as much responsible in this regard.

One of the most important things is to establish a culture of tolerance, which is to know the factors of conflict and the causes of conflict and get rid of them so that the way is clear towards relations based on trust and sustainability.

Good neighbourliness

Peaceful coexistence is a great asset. One of the ways by which it can be promoted is by understanding the importance of good neighbourliness. Being good to the neighbour is necessary for living in a cohesive society. 

God says in Quran (4:36), “Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbour, the neighbour farther away, the companion at your side, the traveller, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful.”

Good neighbourliness brought out the characteristics of the Muslims. Their kindness, behaviour and refrainment from harming their neighbour which made other people realize and bond with the Muslims.

Fulfilling the promise

It is important that every group of the society fulfils the agreement that was discussed among themselves for a peaceful living.

God says in Quran (17:34), “And fulfil [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned”.

The Threats of Coexistence

Just as there are factors that promote peaceful coexistence, there are threats to it that must be recognized and addressed consciously. Among these are the following:

First Threat: Cultural Superiority

When a group of citizens exercise superiority over other groups on the basis that they have the sole right to the homeland and that their culture is superior over all others, this attitude would threaten the social fabric where others feel inferior to the dominant culture, and this would lead to the small groups’ apprehension because of its weakness, lack, strength, and abundance of others, for fear of absorption and melting, which makes them apprehensive of any activity carried out by others, interpreting it as targeting it and seeking to eradicate it.

Supremacy may be apparent or implied in social culture, it may be real or dead, and in all cases, it will be an obstacle and threatening the unity of the social fabric.

Second Threat: Inequality in Rights and Duties

If the state distinguishes its citizens according to belief, culture, race, or any difference other than giving, then this is considered the greatest threat to coexistence.

Third Threat: Provocation

A normal person respects and appreciates others because he has self-respect, and treats people as he likes others to treat him, just as he does not accept humiliation, and offense to himself. It is natural from him not to insult others and humiliate others. In any society, people need to respect each other. If people start to humiliate each other then it is difficult to live in coexistence and peace.

Once while a Jew was selling something, he was offered a price that he was not pleased with. So, he said, “No, by Him Who gave Moses superiority over all human beings!” Hearing him, an Ansari Muslim man got up and slapped him on the face and said, “You say: By Him Who Gave Moses superiority over all human beings although the Prophet (Muhammad) is present amongst us!”

The Jew went to the Prophet and said, “O Abu-l-Qasim! I am under the assurance and contract of security, so what right does so-and-so have to slap me?”

Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) asked the other, “Why have you slapped”. He told him the whole story.

The Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) became angry, till anger appeared on his face, and said, “Don’t give superiority to any prophet amongst Allah’s Prophets, for when the trumpet will be blown, everyone on the earth and in the heavens will become unconscious except those whom Allah will exempt.

“The trumpet will be blown for the second time and I will be the first to be resurrected to see Moses holding Allah’s Throne. I will not know whether the unconsciousness which Moses received on the Day of Tur has been sufficient for him, or has he got up before me. And I do not say that there is anybody who is better than Yunus bin Matta”.

Reference of this incident is the Hadith book of Sahih al-Bukhari. In this narration, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) prevented his companion to prefer him over Moses in order to respect the feelings of the Jew and not to hurt him. 

Fourth Threat: Discrepancy in discourse within one group

There should be unity among the people who follow a particular religion. If differences exist among themselves, then it is difficult to live in coexistence with the people of the other religion.

Desired Coexistence

It has been proven that the difference is a universal reality and a divine will that cannot be abolished. Pluralism is a social necessity, and citizenship is a human right. We have to deal with this reality consciously, achieving unity in light of diversity and complementarity with pluralism and cooperation in the common denominations. To trust the following:

1. That the state in all its institutions embody the diversity upon which society is based.
2. Commitment to citizenship rights for all.
3. Ensuring freedom of belief and worship and preaching to all.
4. Establishing institutions for collaborative joint activities.
5. Adherence to the principles and values of the nation.
6. Justice in the distribution of rights.
7. Equal treatment.
8. Respect for excellence and quality in work.
9. The use of dialogue as a means to settle disputes.
10. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Freedom is priceless in the life of man. He should have freedom of religion, freedom of thought and expression and in his dealings. No one has the right to force or impose one’s thoughts on others.

Second caliph of Islam Umar al-Khattab said, “Since when did you start enslaving people, when their mothers gave birth to them free?”

Some practical steps to establish a peaceful society

1. Apart from religious programs, conducting workshops or seminars that focus on national issues in which personalities from all the communities take part.
2. To invite dignitaries of the community in our occasions like marriage and school functions.
3. Making our neighbours of the other religion as a part of our family occasions.
4. Paying a visit to their sick. 
5. To have good relations with the police and the members in the government.
6. Inviting them over to our iftar parties.
7. Organizing Eid Milan parties on Eid-ul-Fitr.
8. To distribute water bottles to the Police officers when they are in duty especially during summer.
9. There should be a committee to eradicate the misconceptions of Islam prevalent in the society by meeting the required people in person in order to throw light on the reality of Islam.
10. There should be a Peacemaker Committee in each and every area of the cities and the villages in our country, which consist of important personalities from various religions. 
11. Establish human rights centres.
12. Spread the welfare activities, feed the people, as food brings cultures together.

Conclusion

Abdullah bin Salam, a resident of Medina at the time of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) narrated that, “When the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) arrived in Medina – the people came out to meet him. It was said that the Messenger of Allah had arrived, so I went among the people to get a look at him. When I gazed upon the face of the Messenger of Allah, I knew that this face was not the face of a liar. The first thing that he spoke about was that he said: ‘O you people! Spread the Salam, feed (others), and perform Salaat while the people are sleeping; you will enter Paradise with (the greeting of) Salam”.

Dr. R.K.Noor Mohammad is from south-Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He is PhD in Hadith Sciences from Islamic University of Madina, Saudi Arabia. He was awarded Gold Medal by the University for his research in 1991.