WANA (Jun 05) – Simultaneously with the standing of pilgrims in the plain of Arafat and the recitation of the Arafah Supplication (part of the Hajj rituals in Islam), the Iranian caravans present in the 2025 Hajj, with more than 17,000 Iranian pilgrims, also held the “Disavowal from Polytheists” ceremony.

 

This ceremony during Hajj was held for the first time in 1979 with a message from Imam Khomeini— a ritual that over the past four decades has become a fixed part of the political approach of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Hajj and has always been accompanied by sensitivities at the regional and extra-regional levels.

 

According to reports, the tent of the Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran in Arafat reached full capacity before the official start of the ceremony due to the wide reception by Iranian pilgrims, and those present around the tent participated in the ceremony with temporary canopies.

 

The ceremony began with the recitation of verses from Surah At-Tawbah—verses in which the annulment of covenants with polytheists and the declaration of disavowal are mentioned. After that, supplications from Nahj al-Balagha and slogans such as “Allahu Akbar,” “La ilaha illa Allah, America is the enemy of God,” “O Muslims, unite, unite,” and “Gaza is drenched in blood” filled the atmosphere of Arafat.

“Disavowal from Polytheists” ceremony. Social media/ WANA News Agency

These voices, contrary to the official rules of the Saudi government prohibiting any political stance during the Hajj rituals, carried clear messages against America, Israel, and the normalization of relations with Tel Aviv.

 

Disavowal; An Iranian Innovation on a Saudi Platform

The Disavowal of Polytheists (declaring dissociation from domination and treaties with polytheists) is a Quranic concept that the Islamic Republic of Iran has turned into one of its pillars of Hajj over the past four decades. The founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, considered this ceremony complementary to Hajj and believed that Hajj without Disavowal lacks the “political spirit of Islam.”

 

This approach has always faced opposition from the Saudi government—a country that strives to keep Hajj free from any political use. For this reason, the Iranian Disavowal ceremony is usually conducted within limited frameworks and mostly concentrated in the tent of the Iranian delegation. Nevertheless, the symbolic and media weight of this ceremony is so high that it can resonate up to the level of regional conflicts.

 

A Bloody History; From 1987 Until Today

The historical turning point of this dispute was the year 1987; at that time, during the Disavowal ceremony, a march of Iranian pilgrims was confronted with repression by Saudi security forces, resulting in the death of more than 400 people, mostly Iranians. This incident marked one of the bitterest chapters in the history of Hajj and Tehran-Riyadh relations and led to Iran being barred from participating in Hajj for several years.

 

Iran calls this event the “Bloody Friday Tragedy of Mecca” and considers it a symbol of the suppression of Muslims’ rightful voice. Saudi Arabia, however, interprets it as a security action to control unrest. These two contradictory narratives continue not only regarding the 1987 event but also concerning the overall role of Hajj in the politics of the Islamic world.

 

After that, the Disavowal of Polytheists continued to be held in a more limited format. However, its content and purpose—that is, protest against global American dominance, support for Palestine, and criticism of Israel—remain intact and were even reiterated this year in the form of an official resolution. In this statement, Iranian pilgrims called for the expulsion of the Israeli regime from all regional and international organizations.

“Disavowal from Polytheists” ceremony. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Hajj as a Geopolitical Tool

The Islamic Republic of Iran considers Hajj not only as an act of worship but also as a geopolitical opportunity. Unlike official foreign policy channels that face censorship, sanctions, or isolation, the Hajj season has turned into a rare opportunity for public diplomacy; a space in which the messages of the Islamic Republic are directly conveyed to the Muslim communities of various countries.

 

Among this, what adds complexity to the situation is the coincidence of this year’s ceremony with the new wave of Israeli attacks on Gaza and global protests at Western universities against these attacks. Iran seeks to interpret this atmosphere in favor of the “Axis of Resistance” and to link the Hajj as part of this narrative.

 

In the final statement of this year’s ceremony, they called for the expulsion of the Israeli regime from international organizations; a position that is openly in conflict with the process of normalization of relations between some Arab states and Tel Aviv, such as the UAE and Bahrain within the framework of the “Abraham Accords.”

 

Despite opposing the politicization of Hajj, Saudi Arabia in recent years has tactically acquiesced to some extent. The holding of Iranian ceremonies in a limited form and under close supervision is considered a way to manage an unavoidable reality. The Saudis try to transfer these activities from the public sphere to confined and controlled spaces and prevent the creation of a wide media or security wave.

 

For Iran, the Hajj is an opportunity to redefine the boundaries of diplomacy, even under Saudi restrictions. While the Saudis try to push Arafat toward silence, Iran has turned it into a podium for shouting—and the Disavowal is the loudest shout of this season.