King: Don’t shun modernity

MAKKAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday urged Muslims to acquire strength in order to protect themselves and their faith.
Addressing a conference organized by the Makkah-based Muslim World League, the Saudi leader also advised Muslims to reject calls to shun modernity.
King Abdullah urged Muslims to strengthen their unity and get rid of divisions. “We are one nation and it is the duty of the whole Ummah to put out the fires of conflicts and division among us,” he said.
In his speech, which was read out by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, King Abdullah referred to the tragic situation in Syria, adding that the Arabs and the international community have failed to end the crisis.
The reason for the weakness of Muslims is their detachment from Islam and Shariah apart from deep divisions in their ranks, the king added.
The conference titled “The Muslim Society: Solid and Changing Values" is attended by more than 400 delegates including scholars, researchers and Islamic propagators from different parts of the Islamic world.
The inaugural function was also addressed by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Abdullah Al-Turki, president of the Islamic Fiqh Council of Sudan and Esamuddin Albashir, who delivered a speech on behalf of the participants.
King Abdullah praised the MWL for selecting an important subject for the annual conference and emphasized the importance of dialogue between Muslim groups as well as with followers of other religious faiths and cultures.
“In light of these well-established Islamic values we are pinning hope that you would present us with viable solutions to the bloody conflicts raging in many parts of our Muslim land," the king said in his speech.
King Abdullah prayed to the Almighty that He might help the millions of pilgrims who have come for Haj this year to perform their rituals with ease and comfort.
Al-Asheikh urged Muslims to follow the teachings of Islam in all walks of their lives and support one another.
“Ours is a great society, which is based on the concept of one single Ummah. The members of the Ummah help each other with compassion. The Ummah is like a human body, where pain in one part affects the whole body," the mufti said.
"We have been taught to take care of our parents, orphans, the poor and the society in general. These are the values the Islamic society is based upon. These values are permanent and eternal. We have to catch up with the changing times, but at the same time we have to save these divine values, he added.
The MWL chief stressed the need to enlighten the Ummah to distinguish between established and changing values. He thanked King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman for their continuous encouragement and support to MWL.
Albashir underlined the sacredness of the place where the conference is held and urged the participants to find solutions for the problems facing the Ummah. He spoke on "civilizational partnership” to explore common grounds to strengthen world peace and security.