MAKKAH: For the first time in 35 years Saudi Arabia's top cleric will not give a traditional hajj sermon to pilgrims from around the world, a newspaper reported on Saturday.
Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has annually addressed the faithful from the Namira mosque in Mount Arafat for the peak of hajj, which this year falls on Sunday.
Okaz newspaper, citing anonymous sources, said Al-Asheikh, "will step down from delivering the sermon on the day of Arafat, due to health reasons."
He was appointed Grand Mufti in 1999 after the death of his predecessor Sheikh Abdel Aziz bin Baz.
But Okaz said Al-Asheikh had for about two decades prior to that given the annual address to the hajj throng at the site where Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h) is said to have delivered his final sermon.
Okaz said the mufti spent about two months preparing for each address.
Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has annually addressed the faithful from the Namira mosque in Mount Arafat for the peak of hajj, which this year falls on Sunday.
Okaz newspaper, citing anonymous sources, said Al-Asheikh, "will step down from delivering the sermon on the day of Arafat, due to health reasons."
He was appointed Grand Mufti in 1999 after the death of his predecessor Sheikh Abdel Aziz bin Baz.
But Okaz said Al-Asheikh had for about two decades prior to that given the annual address to the hajj throng at the site where Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h) is said to have delivered his final sermon.
Okaz said the mufti spent about two months preparing for each address.
