Mina, November 08: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah congratulated all Muslims in the world in an address to the pilgrims on Monday.
“From the land of the sacred message and revelations, I congratulate you and Muslims everywhere on the occasion of the Eid Al-Adha,” the king said in his speech.
The king also prayed for the Muslim Ummah’s security and stability and to make its leaders strive for stability and security for their citizens, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“When security and stability prevails, societies grow, the economy prospers and the Ummah moves forward. Muslim societies should use Haj as an occasion to learn. Among the great aims of Haj are unity, solidarity and getting rid of dissent and hatred,” the king said.
The huge number of pilgrims coming from different corners of the world to fulfill their fifth obligatory rite convinces anyone of the importance of ideas such as diversity, tolerance and dialogue, the king said.
“The true image of the unified Ummah emerges during the Haj. They all have assembled with only one objective and in response to the call of Allah and in sincere devotion to the Almighty. Wherever we go we hear nothing but the sound of Talbiya (the declaration of ‘We are here in response to the call of Allah, the One’),” the king said.
King Abdullah added that an important lesson to be learned from Haj is that pilgrims are ready to suffer anything when they go out in response to the call of Tawhid (belief in the oneness of God). The king said he learned a lot from watching the pilgrims every year.
“I look at them during their walking and wandering around. I gain a lot from looking at them and I draw a unique energy from those huge crowds. I admiringly watch the look of satisfaction and tranquility in their faces. They also enjoy the blessings of security and serenity prevailing in this country. They are calm and quiet, the older ones are sympathetic to the young, the rich helps the poor,” he said, adding that such a scene could be observed only in the holy land.
“This good land on which pilgrims and visitors converge, with Allah’s blessing, enjoys security and stability as a result of the prayer of our father Ibrahim (peace be upon him). His prayer was ‘My Lord, make this a city of peace and security, and protect me and my sons from worshipping idols’ (Holy Qur’an Surah: Ibrahim, Verse: 35).”
The king also said serving the pilgrims is a great honor for the Kingdom. “We only seek the reward and help from Allah Almighty for undertaking the responsibility of serving the pilgrims,” he said.
—–Courtesy:Arabnews