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). --More
