Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General made a speech on the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan for the year 1429H. The following is the text of the speech delivered through the media by Minister of State, Cabinet's Member for Shoura Council Affairs and Acting Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Saud Bin Saeed Al-Mathami: “In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. “Praise be to Allah who says in the Holy Qur'an, “Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also Clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong.) And peace be upon Prophet Mohammed who says, “Whoever fasts in Ramadan in belief, his sins will be forgiven”. Dear brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and every year you are happy and prosperous. “The holy month of Ramadan comes and Allah makes it a month of blessing to fill us with mercy and forgiveness, to rekindle in ourselves the meanings of kinship and compassion and to renew the supreme values called for by this final religion. Allah revealed in this month the Holy Qur'an, making Ramadan, the master of All months as it is the month of the Holy Qur'an. This month strengthens cohesion and the feelings of compassion and love and builds Islamic society based on great and high morals. In this month, the doors of heavens are open to do the good and to be closer to Allah. Dear brothers and sisters, “As we welcome this holy month in pleasure, we recite the Prophet's saying to his companions congratulating them on Ramadan, “O people, a blessed month comes. Allah orders you to fast. A month when the doors of paradise are open; the doors of hell are closed; and demons are chained.” This holy month gives us great lessons which we see by eyes and insights. We see how a human being shows mercy to another one, how the rich feel the suffering of the poor, how Muslims race to win the consent of Allah. This month leads them to raise all the noble human meanings that form some of the features of the tolerant Islamic religion. “Dear brothers and sisters, “Our Islamic religion is a religion of love, mercy and tolerance. Its message is revealed as a mercy for human beings. Its way is the best for the good and construction. Its way is for dialogue, love and active participation in making human civilization. “Emanating from this standpoint, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has the honor of the service of the Two Holy Mosques, always senses its role, duty and responsibilities to defend Islam, to work in the service of the interests of Muslims and to embody their dialogue with the cultures, societies and other world religions to build an Islamic, close and supportive world, having a desire to strengthen the concepts of peace, justice and welfare for all mankind. This holy month renews in ourselves the commitment to these ideals, values and objectives. “Dear brothers and sisters, “We praise Allah as He pleases that we come to this holy month and we pray to Almighty Allah to help us in fasting and performing prayers, to forgive us, to bless the souls of the dead and to reward us.”
