King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on Tuesday graced the opening ceremony of the building of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta. The six-floor building covers an area of 10,000 sq. meters, containing 166 rooms and costs more than SR90 million. The King was received at the venue by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Aal Al-Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, Chairman of the Senior Ulema Council and Religious Research Department and Ifta; and Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Muammar, the Governor of Taif. In his speech, the Grand Mufti spoke of the founding of the state by Imam Muhammed Bin Saud and the accord with Sheikh Muhammed Bin Abdul Wahhab, who worked together to “establish the law of Allah and raise the banner of monotheism, to end polytheism and superstition, and to rule by Allah's law until our country became secure and stable while others disputed wars of division and killing”. The Mufti went on to recall the efforts of King Abdul Aziz in laying the foundations of “security and faith” and his sons after him who “rule by the Book of Allah and spread the religion of Allah.” The Mufti described the connection between the scholars and the leadership as bringing about stability, and “marking the point of retreat for those who seek to corrupt and lie in wait to damage this Ummah.” Aal Al-Sheikh said the post of Mufti was of great importance, as “the people are in great need of insight and responses and solutions to their doubts.” “The Board of Senior Ulema,” he said, “stands with the leadership and makes the utmost effort in pronouncing clear statements against what goes against Shariah law, and against all terrorism threatening the Ummah.”
