RIYADH: Friday sermons in Riyadh focused on telling parents to guard their children against vicious influences trying to mislead them on the wrong path.

The Friday sermon followed the bomb blast on Thursday where 12 security officers and three employees of the Special Emergency Forces Center in Asir were killed, and another seven were injured in a suicide blast targeting a mosque for emergency forces during the Dhuhr prayers.

“Keep an eye on your children and their associations with their friends,” the imam at the Al-Noor Mosque in Al-Suwaidi district said, pointing out that there are parties who influence children against all Islamic principles. “These forces try to brainwash the youths to mislead them to the wrong path so that their own vested interests can be served.”

He said that behind these forces one sees the enemies of Islam and mischief makers who want to disturb the peace and stability of the country.

He said a sound religious foundation will not allow such influences to damage society. Therefore, he stressed that parents should give their children a proper religious education and guide them on a path where they can successfully meet challenges in society.

Imam and preacher at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Sheikh Abdul Mohsen bin Mohammed Al-Qasim Al-Muslim, said people should not be misled by those who try to push their ideas into our minds. “Have faith in Allah and follow the policies and principles of His region which allows a Muslim to follow the right path and benefit him in the hereafter too,” he added.