Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz praying in front of the pulpit of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in Al-Rawdha Al-Shareefa in the Prophet's Mosque in Madina, Wednesday, after delivering a lecture at the Islamic University. (Photo by Prince Bandar Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz) MADINA: There are no social classes in Saudi Arabia because everyone is equal in terms of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, said Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Riyadh and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Abdul Aziz Darat, in a lecture at the Islamic University of Madina Tuesday. He added that the elders interact with the young people and appreciate their views and advice. “This has been the case since the foundation of the modern Kingdom by the late King Abdul Aziz. Our leaders listen to advice and accept criticism,” Prince Salman said. “We don't have social classes in our society and we take pride in our country and history. What we are proud of the most is that we are in the Land of Revelation and the House of the Ansar.” “The historical and intellectual principles of the Saudi State are derived from the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's Traditions. These are the principles on which the first Islamic State was established. This shows that the Saudi State has been following the great principles of the Islamic State based on the banner of monotheism which had called for pure religion not adulterated with innovations which have nothing to do with the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's Sunnah.” Describing the conditions of the Arabian Peninsula before the Saudi State, he said: “There was a state in every region and in every tribe there was a state and inside every one of these states there was a warring state. This was the situation until the historical allegiance between Imam Muhammad Bin Saud and Sheikh Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab was made on the basis of the sound Shariah method which finds its roots in, ‘There is no God but one God'.” He regretted that some use the term “Wahabism” to describe this alliance, arguing that this is done to distract and deviate Muslims from the State and its correct principles. He said people should refer to the heritage of Sheikh Muhammad Abdul Wahab to see if there is anything that contravenes the Book of Allah and the Prophet's Sunnah. He quoted the late King Abdul Aziz who said that the term Wahabism was being used as if this was a special doctrine. “By doing so they commit a grave mistake. This mistake is based on the false propaganda uttered by some groups in order to satisfy their ulterior motives. It should be understood that what we are advocating is not a new principle or faith. It is because our Faith is that of the trustworthy ancestors based on the Holy Qur'an and Prophet's Sunnah. We respect the Imams of the four schools of thought. We don't differentiate between Malik and Al-Shafi or Ahmad and Abi Hanifa.” He concluded that the legality and legitimacy of the State is based on sound faith and not on promoting anarchy.
