JEDDAH, 31 August 2003 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd yesterday expressed hope that Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem will one day return to Muslim control, in a keynote address at the opening session of the Supreme World Council for Mosques.
“Saudi Arabia, which is honored to serve the two haram mosques, looks forward to the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque,” King Fahd said in his address to the conference.
He highlighted the role of mosques in spreading peace and security in societies and promoting cooperation and piety among people.
“The Kingdom supports the dissemination of the noble Islamic values by constructing mosques,” he added.
The Saudi leader condemned all forms of terrorism and said terror networks were using misguided Muslim youths to further their interests.
“By playing into the hands of terror networks, these youths have tarnished the image of Islam and Muslims and opened the door for smear campaigns,” the king said.
King Fahd underscored the role of mosques in changing the present situation of the Muslim world by spreading the moderate teachings of Islam.
However, he warned that those who “make trouble” in the country would be punished, in accordance with Shariah.
The king commended the efforts of the Makkah-based Muslim World League, the organizer of the conference, in confronting the smear campaigns against Islam and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The conference was opened by Abdullah Al-Fayez, undersecretary at the Makkah governorate.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, who is chairman of MWL’s constituent council, said mosques must be used as a forum to spread good.
Textbook Review
In Riyadh, Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh stressed the need to revise university and school textbooks which “promote excessiveness.”
He gave the Council of Dawa and Guidance a one month deadline to draw up a plan to combat excessiveness at mosques, dawa centers and Qur’anic schools.
Saleh Al-Asheikh urged the council members to set out clear plans to confront extremism.
“Authorities at universities, the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques’ Affairs and other educational agencies are in need of revising some of the activities and syllabuses, because it has been observed that some textbooks of universities and schools under the Qur’an memorization societies and under the presidency contain material that promotes excessiveness,” the minister said.
