“This blessed month has taught us many lessons. We have to contemplate them to learn how people should be compassionate to their fellow beings, how the rich feel the suffering of the poor, and how Muslims compete with one another to win the pleasure of God,” the king said in his Ramadan message. In their joint message to Saudis on the advent of Ramadan, King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, also urged Muslims to imbibe the true spirit of Islam, which is a religion of love, mercy and tolerance and promotes goodness, reform and dialogue.
The Royal Court announced on Tuesday that the fasting month would start in the Kingdom on Wednesday (Aug. 11), after several people sighted the Ramadan crescent in different parts of the country.
In their message, the king and crown prince called upon Muslims to participate actively in the creation of a human civilization. In this respect, the message referred to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to promote dialogue with followers of other religious faiths and cultures.
“Our interfaith dialogue initiative was aimed at building a civilized world bringing people closer in order to work for establishing peace and justice and enhancing the welfare of the whole humanity,” said the message that was read out on Saudi Television by Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja.
King Abdullah and Prince Sultan highlighted the significance of Ramadan being the month in which the first verses of the Holy Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as guidance to mankind and a criterion to differentiate between right and wrong. “Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward from God will have his past sins forgiven,” they said quoting a saying of the Prophet.
They also emphasized the role of Ramadan in deepening the qualities of kindness, forgiveness, mercy and showing sympathy to those who are less well off. “It revitalizes the high values that our religion has taught us,” the message said. “It’s a month when the doors of the Heaven will be kept open and of Hell remain locked.”
King Abdullah and Prince Sultan, meanwhile, sent cables of Ramadan greetings to heads of Muslim states.
