Sheikh Aziz urges Muslim youth not to listen to those who are spreading anarchy
Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh denounced the conspiracies hatched by enemies of Islam to undermine its strength and urged Muslim Ummah to forge unity in its ranks to foil their designs.
He was delivering Haj sermon from Masjid-i-Nimra in Arafat where over two million pilgrims have converged to perform the main ritual of Haj, Waqoof-i-Arafat.
In an apparent condemnation of the Islamic State (IS) group, the grand mufti cautioned Muslims against those who are misusing the name of Islam and indulging in sabotage and terrorist activities.
“They have not spared even mosques and peaceful citizens. These elements have gone astray and are strengthening hands of enemies of Islam,” said Sheikh Aziz.
They are disfiguring the image of Islam and serving the cause of its enemies, he said while urging the Muslim Ummah to make concerted efforts in their individual and collective lives to spread true message of Islam as religion of peace, love and brotherhood.
The grand mufti said the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) declared all types of injustices as forbidden (Haram) and added that no human being would take life of another human being. He said injustice is destined to be eliminated sooner or later.
In his Haj sermon, Sheikh Aziz specially addressed the youth and said they should not listen to those who are spreading anarchy. Instead, they should “direct their energies towards constructive pursuits and spread the true message of Islam”.
We should make our lives as beacon of light for people living around the world, he added. The grand mufti also urged the rulers of Islamic world to take care of the needs of their people and concentrate on efforts to promote unity in the ranks of Ummah.
Sheikh Aziz also called upon media to discharge its professional responsibilities in an honest manner, putting across what is right and inculcating the sense of unity among Ummah.
He said there is dire need for Muslims to create unity in their ranks as their enemies are getting united. He specially referred to plans to divide Masjid-i-Aqsa and said our efforts to liberate the Qibla-i-Awwal have weakened.
The grand mufti asked Muslims in distress all over the world to demonstrate patience and perseverance and time is not far off when their difficulties would be over.
On this occasion, prayers were offered for well being and unity of the Ummah.
Earlier the pilgrims reached Maidan-i-Arafat to listen to the Haj sermon of Sheikh Aziz.
The pilgrims, after the Waqoof-i-Arafat, will spend whole night in open sky at Muzdalfa where they will offer their Maghrib and Isha prayers.
Tomorrow, the pilgrims will return back to Mina and perform Rami and sacrifice animals.
They will put off their Ihrams after sacrificing animals, and shave their heads followed by Tawaaf-e-Ziara which could be performed within three days. This practice will formally complete the Haj rituals.
Over two million Muslims including 143,368 from Pakistan are performing Haj this year.