"A people achieve glory by holding fast to the noble values of their culture. In the absence of such values, deviant ideologies threatening global peace and stability emerge," Al-Sudais said while addressing hundreds of thousands of worshippers that filled the Grand Mosque and its squares for the Eid Al-Adha congregation and the millions watching around the world Tuesday morning. Eid congregations were held in mosques and special grounds across the Kingdom.
Explaining the concept of moderation in Islam, Al-Sudais said: "The moderation in faith means that a man should take a middle path in between the two extremes of negation of God and believing in many gods.
Moderate faith means belief in one God, the Lord, the Sustainer with all His supreme qualities."
The imam also warned against being the victims of the global media controlled by Zionist extremists.
He cited the strategy of the global media, which is under the influence of the Zionist lobbies, to downplay or ignore the suffering of the Palestinians worsened day after day by occupation forces that deny them food and medicine, raze their homes and Judaize the features of Islam and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The imam also stressed the significance of the call of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah aimed at healing the wounds of internal strife in Iraq.
The imam also stressed the role of religious scholars in addressing the issues springing from ideological deviations.
He said Eid Al-Adha is a day of forgiveness. Al-Sudais drew the attention of the worshippers to the merit of sacrifice on the day of Eid Al-Adha as it is an example set by the Prophet Ibrahim and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them.
At the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, Sheikh Salah Al-Budair led the Eid prayers, which was attended by Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed and other dignitaries alongside hundreds of thousands of worshippers who flocked to the holy city from across the Kingdom.
In Riyadh, Prince Sattam, acting governor of Riyadh province, joined hundreds of thousands of citizens and expatriates in offering Eid Al-Adha prayers on the old Deira Eid Ground.
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Asheikh, deputy imam and khatib of Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque, led the prayers.
In his sermon, Al-Asheikh called upon Muslims "to imbibe the true spirit of Islam in order to face the challenges ahead." He urged the worshippers not to forget the plight of their unfortunate brethren amid Eid festivities.
Several royal family members and high-ranking officials, including Prince Sultan bin Salman, chief of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, and Riyadh Mayor Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf Al-Muqrin were among those who attended the prayers at the Diera Ground.
After the prayers, Prince Sattam received well-wishers and exchanged Eid greetings with them at a reception attended by a number of princes, senior officials, military personnel and a group of citizens.
Abdulrahman Al-Jeraisy, chairman of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was also present.
On the very first day of Eid, about 50,000 heads of sheep, goats and camels were sacrificed in different parts of Riyadh city alone.
But, with many on vacation, the city was noticeably free from the usual traffic snarls. After the prayers, families started flocking to amusement parks, said Waleed Jameel, a Pakistani college student.
The big draws in parks continued to be the dodg-em cars, swings, rides and the roller-coaster sending shivers down the spine.
The Riyadh zoo will remain open for the visitors during the Eid holidays.
All city hospitals, public as well as private, were also open to enable relatives to meet with patients and exchange Eid greetings.
