Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh, General Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairman of Senior Ulema Commission and Religious Research Department, advised the pilgrims to avail themselves of the Hajj season to augment their loyal practices to Almighty Allah and increase whatever pleases Him and refrain from whatever outrages Him so that their Hajj turns to be a complete success. In an address to all Muslims on the occasion of Hajj of this year, the General Mufti cited a number of verses from the holy Quran and sayings of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) explaining the holiness of Makkah and Kaaba (the house of God). In both Makkah and Madinah, it is prohibited to kill any soul, cut any plant or hunt any animal, the Mufti said, citing Prophet Mohammed's instructions. Then he explained the significance of prayers in the Makkah-based Grand Mosque and Madinah-based Prophet's Mosque. One prayer in the prophet's mosque equals 1,000 prayers outside, except in the Grand mosque, the Prophet was quoted as saying, and adding that a prayer in the grand mosque exceeds one in my mosque by 100 points. --More
