King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has called on Islamic scholars across the globe to make efforts for the unity of the Ummah. “I hope that Muslims will return to Allah's Book and the Prophet's traditions. This is our religion and this is our faith, which advocate that disunity is the first seed for deterioration and isolation. In fact, disunity is our first enemy for it causes the Ummah's disintegration and weakness.” “I need not mention that unity and solidarity is the principle foundation for the progress and happiness of the Muslim Ummah so they should beware of discord and hence reconcile among themselves,” he said. The King in his speech delivered by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, at the opening of the International Islamic Conference lauded the efforts of Muslim World League in unifying the Ummah. Prince Naif opened the three-day conference titled ‘the Reality and Exploring the Future' organized by the Makkah-based Muslim World League as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations on behalf of King Abdullah and read out the King's speech. Reading the King's speech, Prince Abdul Aziz welcomed the participants, who are meeting near the Holy Mosque, the land of revelation in Umm Al-Qura. In his speech, King Abdullah said the conference provides an opportunity for Muslim scholars to learn more about the Muslim World League and exchange views about its programs. The King said the League has been created to serve the message of Islam, spread its great principles and follow Muslims' affairs throughout the world. “The efforts being made by the League have been effective in helping handle Muslims' problems and unifying their ranks,” the King's speech said. “The MWL has also been correcting the distorted image of Islam and addressing the menaces, foremost of which is the extremism, fundamentalism and terrorism, which have found their way into some Islamic societies.” “In fact, its role is not limited to this, but it has also been contributing a lot in the service of humanity, especially in the area of dialogue, which is intended to boost understanding and cooperation between the nations of the world,” the King said. The speech said the Kingdom, which has welcomed the establishment of the Muslim World League on its soil, feels pride over its Islamic methods and calls on Muslims for solidarity, cooperation and unity, in addition to urging its scholars to exert all efforts to achieve Muslims' ambitions and aspirations in reforming their affairs, maintaining their unity and restoring their glory. The King's speech related that since its founding, the Kingdom has placed Muslims' unity among its top priorities “thus our father, the founder of the modern Kingdom, said in his famous speech ‘I am a Muslim and I love unifying ranks. Thus there is nothing I love more than the achievement of unity.'” “This was his stand and method (may Allah shower mercy on him) in inviting the Ummah's scholars to meet in the first Makkah conference 86 years ago, during which he addressed the scholars,” the King said. In his address, he gave his opinion and vision on the Ummah's conditions and set a guideline the Ummah should follow. King Abdullah's speech said the Kingdom strictly abides by this method and it has always been determined to apply Shariah in letter and spirit and make all efforts in the service of Allah's faith and achieving Muslims' cooperation and solidarity. As such, the Muslim World League's objectives meet the Kingdom's approach, plans and work, which makes the organization trustworthy to represent Muslim nations and occupy this leading position among world organizations, a matter that led to the United Nations giving it the “certificate of the messenger of peace.” Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Aal Al-Sheikh, the Kingdom's Grand Mufti, and chairman of the MWL Constituent Council, and Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, MWL secretary general also spoke. Earlier, Prince Naif was received by Dr. Abdullah Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, MWL secretary general, the league's assistant secretaries and prominent figures from within and outside the Kingdom.
