RIYADH, 27 October 2003 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, yesterday urged Muslims to stand united in the face of challenges and adhere to the moderate teachings of Islam.
“Hold fast together the rope of God,” the king and the crown prince told Muslims in their Ramadan message.
“The nation of Islam is in greater need of unity than at any time before,” the Saudi leaders said. “The Islamic faith instructs us to follow the principles of wisdom and moderation,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted them as saying.
King Fahd and Prince Abdullah congratulated Muslims all over the world on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. They also reminded Muslims of the greatness of Ramadan and advised them to compete with one another in doing righteous deeds.
“The blessed month has come... when the doors of Paradise are kept open and the doors of Hell are closed and the devils are chained... There is a night which is better than a thousand months,” the message said quoting a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Makkah-based Muslim World League urged Muslims to make good use of the month “which is a school for good deeds — for worship, steadfastness, morality and good social relations.”
King Fahd, Prince Abdullah and Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, received messages of Ramadan greetings from world leaders. They also received calls from Arab leaders and exchanged Ramadan greetings.
