Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik. Labbaik, La Shareek Laka, Labbaik. Innal Hamdah, Wan Nematah, Laka wal Mulk, La Shareek Laka Labbaik.

On account of the enormous society of Muslims throughout the world, devoted and united, the Hajj ceremony is a huge international congregation. It can be the groundwork for a deep, meaningful connection among Muslims.

Muslims of the world who gather for the Hajj ceremonies can and should look into the difficulties of the Muslim world, strengthen unity among the followers of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), and seek solutions for the difficulties of Muslims. It is an opportunity to come to know the enemies of Islam and of Muslims.

Likewise, in the Ramyeh Jamareh ceremony (throwing stones at the devil) they must seek to exorcise the devil, paying heed that this devil is of two kinds: the devil that resides within the self, and the devil of oppression.

The face of the idol of our times is different from the idol of the origin of Islam. But in character, it is the same idol. Our present-day idol is materialism, which we must shatter in ourselves. And the outer devil is worldly oppression. This devil endeavors to cause a rift among Muslims, rendering them strangers and enemies to each other. It endeavors to widen differences among Muslims, lead them to wage war against each other, and cause them to use their capital in war rather than in the reconstruction of their societies. This kind of oppression seeks to plunder Muslims wealth and annihilate them.

It is up to Muslims in this great international gathering to deliver themselves from polytheists, false deities and global oppressors. Muslims should become united all the more and come to know their enemies better. This is the political side of the pilgrimage. This is why all oppressors oppose demonstrations at Makkah: they say that we must keep politics and religion separate; we say that to eschew oppression is part of our religion.

"A Hajj without bera'at-e-moshrekin (eschewing non-believers) is no Hajj". Imam Khomeini (R.A.)

Eid ul-Adha is second in the series of Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate across the world. It is also referred to as the "Big Bayram" (from Turkish) or "Big Feast." Eid ul-Adha is known as Hari Raya Haji in Singapore and Malaysia, and Tabaski in West Africa. In India, the animal used most often for sacrifice is the goat - which is why the occasion is spoken of in Urdu language as Bakrid or Eid-e-Qurban.

On this day Muslims sacrifice animals which have been deemed Halaal, or fit for sacrifice. They not only eat the meat themselves but distribute it amongst their neighbors, relatives and the poor and hungry.

It is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar, after Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia. The underlying flavor is the spirit of sacrifice or Qurbani, commemorating Prophet Abraham's great act of faith many centuries ago. Almighty God put Abraham to a most difficult trial, the details of which are described in the Qur'an. During this day, men, women, and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing. For the millions at Hajj, it is a big day. On this day, the pilgrims reach the grounds of Mina where they sacrifice an animal. It was here that Abraham is believed to have sacrificed his son Ishmael. The pilgrims then shave their heads.

The charitable instincts of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid ul-Adha by the concerted effort to see that no impoverished Muslim is left without sacrificial food during this day. Coming immediately after the Day of Arafat (when Prophet Muhammad pronounced the final seal on the religion of Islam), Eid ul-Adha gives concrete realization to what the Muslim community ethic means in practice.