King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, on Monday greeted citizens, pilgrims and all Muslims on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha. In their address, read out on media by Dr. Khalid Bin Muhammad Al-Anqari, Minister of Higher Education and Acting Minister of Culture and Information, the King and the Crown Prince laid stress on promoting the values of truth, goodness and integrity shunning hostility and animosity, SPA said. The following are excerpts from the joint address of the King and the Crown Prince: “Dear brothers and sisters. Allah's peace, mercy and blessings be upon you. “From this sacred land – the blessed Mina, the Mount of Arafat and the vicinity of the Holy Mosque, where pilgrims gathered in response to Allah's command, stood and circumambulated the Ka'ba, and from this great vast plain, we congratulate the pilgrims for performing the Haj and all its rituals. We pray to Allah Almighty to accept their Haj and make it a blessed one.” “Dear brothers and sisters: Haj rituals are linked to honor the time and place where the pilgrims – regardless of color and race and language – feel the spirit of this great Ummah, worshiping one God, at a time when one message binds them with bonds of love, unity and compassion. By performing Haj rituals, they (the pilgrims) fill the world, in fact, the entire world with mercy, tolerance, compassion and peace, promoting the values of truth, goodness and integrity while getting rid of all their hatred and animosities. Consequently, they will return to their home countries enriched with this kind of spiritual light which pushes human values to their peaks.” “Dear brothers and sisters: The pilgrimage to the Holy Mosque of Makkah is a great occasion for which every Muslim prepares with his full heart, mind and soul. As such, you ought to utilize these blessed moments in order to return as if you were just born, pure from sins and misdeeds, and to return to your families enriched with some of the rewards of Haj, well-guided and ready to guide.” “We wish you and all mankind safety and peace,” the King and Crown Prince concluded. Also, King Abdullah addressed a gathering of princes, sheikhs, ministers, military commanders and officers and Haj security personnel who came to greet him in Mina on the occasion of Eid Al
