The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud held at the Royal Court at Mina Palace here today an annual reception ceremony for Islamic officials and heads of Hajj missions performing Hajj rituals this year. The ceremony was attended by Malaysian King Motassem Billah Moheb-Eddin Tuango Al-Hajj Abdulhalim, President Professor Alpha Conde of Guinea; Indonesian Vice President Dr. Bodiono; Iraq's Vice President Tareq Al-Hashemi, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Raja Pervez Ashraf and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti Dileita Mohamed Dileita. The ceremony was attended by Prince Miteb bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense; Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Makkah Region and Chairman of Central Hajj Committee; Prince Abdul-Ilah bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, Interior Minister and Chairman of Hajj Supreme Committee; Prince Faisal Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Kabeer; Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, adviser and special envoy to the King; and a number of princes. It was also attended by senior scholars, ministers, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Secretary General of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States; senior officials and ambassadors of Arab and Islamic countries. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques delivered the following speech: In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful, Praise be to Allah who said in the Holy Quran: ' The first house (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka; full of blessing and of guidance for all the worlds. In it are signs manifest; the station of Abraham; whoever enters it attain security; pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, - those who can afford the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.'. [Al Imran : 96-97] And peace and blessings be upon the seal of prophets and messengers whom Allah sent as a mercy for all mankind, our prophet Mohammad who said: 'He who performs hajj, without committing obscenity, nor wickedness, will return home free of sins such as on the day he was born. Dear brothers, sisters, and pilgrims to the House of Allah: Dear brothers and sisters, citizens of our Islamic nation everywhere: Assalam alaikom warahmato Allah wabarakatoh: From the holy shrines, the sacred shrine of Mina, and from the neighborhood of holy Arafat, from these Holy Sites, where Talbya, Takbeer and Tahleel echo, and from the vicinity of the Ancient House where pilgrims perform Hajj rituals, from this land where faith has prevailed, I congratulate you and all of the Islamic nation, praying to Allah to accept Hajj from all who came to this sacred House, and forgive all their sins, and to return them safely to their homelands, after Allah Almighty has honored them with the performance of the fifth pillar of Islam and the honor of standing in these sacred places, holding firmly to the guidance of the Holy Quran and Prophet's Sunnah (PBUH). Dear brothers and sisters: Contemplating the Hajj to the sacred House and the pilgrims' movement, makes me think deeply about the purpose of this rite and its meaning. On this blessed land where pilgrims repeated Talbiya , Tahleel and Takbeer, the meaning of monotheism is clearly manifested, as if Allah kept this sacred land to let the faithful renew their pledge toward Him, century after century, generation after generation, and year after year. Whenever the humanity deviates from the guidance of its Lord, we find in these sacred places, what makes humanity return to the right path. That makes the pilgrim forget everything in the mundane life, and respond to the Great Quranic call: 'And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj)' [AL-Hajj : 27] And soon the pilgrim responded to the call and said; Labbayka allahoma labbayk, Labbayka la shareek laka labayk, Inna alhamda wal-nimata, Laka walmulk, la shareek lak, When pilgrims come to this holy land and the holy Ka'ba, circumambulate the Ka'ba, make Sa'ei between Safa and Marwa in the Holy House, ascend to Mina, stand on Arafat, and then move from Arafat to the Holy Site, in a unique view of faith, leaving behind them their families, wealth, homes and their accustomed types of life, they pledge to Allah Almighty- the unity of faith, repeating the word of the unity of the creator: 'Say: truly my prayer, And my service of sacrifice, My life and my death, Are (all) for Allah, The Cherisher of the worlds'. No partner hath He: This am I commanded, And I am the first of those who submit to his will'. [Al-An`am 162-163] Dear brothers and sisters: During Hajj, the values of brotherhood and tolerance and the rejection of rancor appear clearly, since Allah wished the Muslim to lead a life which is an example of purity, and Hajj reflects the above mentioned values, in submission to Allah's Almighty saying in His Holy Quran: 'For Hajj are the months well known. If any one undertakes that duty therein, Let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj. [Al-Baqarah 197]. Then come forgiveness and tolerance. All the atmosphere surrounding the pilgrims makes them feel that the mission of the true Muslim is to spread security and peace, not only with the human being, but also with birds, trees and stones. This ultimate aim to which a Muslim yearns, is to contribute to the reform of the earth and populate it. On this blessed site, prophet Mohammad (PBUH) whom Allah sent as a mercy to mankind stood preaching pilgrims, explaining to them the sanctity of souls and property, and laid down the highest sense of brotherhood, saying: 'Oh people: Your blood and wealth are sacred to you such as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this country of yours. I have informed you and my lord stands as witness'. 'Oh people: Your God is one, your father is one, All of you belong to Adam, And Adam was created from earth, The most honored of you are the most pious, There is no favor for an Arab over a non-Arab except through piety. I have informed you, and my lord stands as witness'. Dear brothers and sisters: Hajj has many lessons to consider, and many aims. And that provides a chance for the pilgrims who came from remote areas to devote themselves to Allah -Most High be He- in order for them to return back home free of sins such as on the day they were born, and have been given a new chance to reform themselves and be useful members of their societies. During Hajj many types of sympathy prevail on this earth. There is no difference between one language and another, nor between one race and another. The rich help the poor, and the strong help the weak. All hearts are united on one call to Allah, and the unity of the nation is achieved, so that the sublime social purpose which Islam sought will be fulfilled: 'O mankind! We created You from a single (pair), Of a male and a female, And made you into Nations and tribes that Ye may know each other, Not that ye may despise, (Each other). Verily, The most honoured of you, In the sight of Allah, Is (he who is) the most, Righteous of you, And Allah has full knowledge, And is well acquainted, (with all things). [Al-Hujurat - 13] Dear brothers and sisters: We are in dire need of true solidarity which maintains the unity of the nation, protects it from fragmentation, division, and prohibits the bloodletting which Allah has made sacred. Indeed this is the message of Hajj which calls for unity of ranks and the rejection of fragmentation. We beseech Allah Almighty to help leaders of Muslim states for the good of our homeland and societies. We also call on Muslim leaders to fear Allah while dealing with their peoples and countries. We are responsible before Allah for our peoples and nation. As renaissance and progress are achieved through prosperity and security, we Muslims, nowadays, are in dire need of dialogue with the others and ourselves, in order to put an end to dissent, ignorance, extremism, (Gholow), and injustice which threaten the aspirations of Muslims. Out of this vision, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is still calling for dialogue between religions and cultures. It is following this path for the good of the Islamic nation and humanity as a whole. The Kingdom, which Allah has honored to serve The Two Holy Mosques, pilgrims and visitors, feels the great responsibility bestowed upon its shoulders and exerts every effort to achieve this mission to enable pilgrims to perform Hajj in ease and comfort. Dear brothers and sisters: We pray to Allah Almighty to accept your righteous deeds, Hajj, forgive your sins and to return you safely to your homelands. Once again, I renew congratulations to you on the blessed Eid al-Adha and beseech Allah to return it and our nation and homeland enjoy prosperity, security and stability. Wassalam alaykom wa rahmatu alla wabarakatu.
