JEDDAH, 2 February 2004 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, yesterday called on Muslims all over the world to strengthen their unity and shun extremism and terror.
“The meanings of the Eid in Islam are many. ... They include uniting the Muslim nation on goodness, away from extremism and terror,” said the Saudi rulers in a message marking the start of Eid Al-Adha celebrations.
The message, which was read on state television by Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy, said, “The graces of Islam are many and they include the sight of pilgrims moving around in great numbers and in peace and security.”
According to official figures released yesterday, 1,892,710 pilgrims — including 1.4 million who came from abroad — performed Haj this year. A statement issued by the Statistics Department of the Ministry of Economy and Planning said the majority of the domestic pilgrims were expatriate workers.
The Haj climaxed on Saturday as the pilgrims stood on the plain of Arafat beseeching God’s forgiveness and blessings. They slaughtered animals yesterday to commemorate the readiness showed by the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son Ismail to God.
Muslims all over the Kingdom celebrated Eid Al-Adha, holding Eid prayers in the morning and organizing recreational and cultural programs.
At the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais led the prayers. Later, addressing the faithful, the imam lashed out at Israel and urged Muslims to unite against those who oppress them.
“In Palestine, the Muslim suffers under oppression and Al-Aqsa Mosque buckles under occupation ... how can we live peacefully while our holy lands ... are being tarnished by a band of infidel Zionists?” said Sudais.
“They (Israelis) are multiplying their aggression everyday by building new settlements and separating walls.”
Sudais warned Muslims in his sermon, which was broadcast live on Saudi television, that the enemies of Islam are everywhere.
The imam called upon Muslim women to continue to wear the hijab and reject the wanton calls for their liberation. “Wearing of the hijab will not prevent them from making scientific or social progress.” He objected to any reforms that would contradict with the teachings of Islam and urged Muslim leaders to work out strategies to face political, economic, cultural and intellectual challenges.
“We should incept an awareness program in many languages to deal with ignorance about Islam’s moderate teachings and get rid of unilateral and individual views and edicts,” the imam said, backing a similar call made by the Muslim World League.
In Madinah, Sheikh Hassan Al-Sheikh, the imam of the Prophet’s Mosque, led the main Eid congregation. He recalled the salient points in the Arafat sermon of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), especially the prohibition of the killing of innocent people.
“If Muslims had followed the teachings of their religion and practiced them in their life, there would have been no need for police, courts and prisons,” the imam told the faithful.
Sheikh Hassan also cautioned about the dubious intent behind the calls to “liberate” Muslim women. “The condition of women in Islam is far better than in other cultures,” he said, adding that Islam holds them in high honor and protects their rights.
Riyadh Governor Prince Salman joined citizens and expatriates in offering Eid Al-Adha prayers on the Eid prayer site near Dira Mosque yesterday morning. The prayers were also attended by members of the royal family, religious scholars, ministers and a large gathering of citizens and expatriates. Thousands of Muslims congregated at 20 other Eid prayer sites and 352 mosques. Prince Salman later exchanged Eid greetings with members of the royal family and citizens in the Riyadh governorate.
In Abha, Asir Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal joined Eid prayers held at King Faisal Mosque in Khalediya with a large number of worshipers.
The main Eid prayer in the Eastern Province was held in Dammam with the participation of a large number of faithful including Governor Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd, other princes and senior officials. In his sermon, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Suleiman stressed the need to root out terrorists who attempt undermine the Kingdom.
In Alkhobar, Bayouni, Ahsa, Jubail and Khafji, thousands of Muslims offered Eid prayers in open grounds and a number of mosques.
Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Majed joined prayers at the Old Airport ground in the city. In his address, Sheikh Raafat Al-Jedaiby called upon Muslims to strengthen their relations by promoting the qualities of tolerance and forgiveness.
Telephone lines were jammed throughout the day as the citizens and expatriates were trying to call their relatives and friends. Saudi Telecom Company is offering a discounted rate of 50 halalas on SMS compared to the normal charge of 70 halalas.
