Sheikh Saud Bin Ibrahim Al-Shuraim, Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, advised Muslims to be conscious of Allah Almighty and fear Him, urging them to abide by the Shariah in both private and in public. In his Friday sermon at the Grand Mosque, Al-Shuraim said Muslim should be righteous and follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him), warning them against any deviations from it and against heresies, discord and division. Sheikh Al-Shuraim said the Holy Ka'aba was an eternal symbol and the Qiblah for Muslims across the world throughout time and from one generation to another and from one era to another. Al-Shuraim said the prophets and messengers took the roads leading to it and raised their voices in repeating the Talbiyah in response to the call of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when Allah ordered him to call people to Haj. “You have entered into the state of consecration (Ihram) in an atmosphere characterized by spirituality bringing you closer to Allah and keeping you from sins,” he told pilgrims at the mosque. “The spirit of brotherhood, justice and equality should prevail, and you will be supplicating to Allah in this rite in different languages, and Almighty Allah gives no priority to one prayer over another, but accepts this pilgrim's prayer and forgives another and sees a third pilgrim's tears,” he said. “We should make the Haj a point of departure for the conveyance of its wisdom and lessons to all Muslims worldwide. Every pilgrim should carry in his heart the sense of unity, cohesion, brotherhood and justice, however different the languages and colors may be. All should abide by Allah's Book and the Prophet's Sunnah,” Sheikh Al-Shuraim said. Sheikh Abdul Mohsin Al-Qassim, Imam and Khateeb of the Prophet's Mosque in Madina spoke in his sermon on the merits of the Haj pilgrimage, saying it “cleanses the pilgrim of all sins and errors.” “The reward for an accepted Haj is paradise,” Sheikh Al-Qassim said. “Wearing clothes without seams recalls the shroud in which the dead are wrapped for burial. The Ihram reminds a person to be humble and avoid arrogance.” Al-Qassim said that Muslims should submit with humility to Allah. “On seeing the Holy Ka'aba, a Muslim should devote his deeds sincerely to Allah. The circumambulating (Tawaf) the Holy Ka'aba has an effect on hearts. There is no other place in the world in which the worshipper seeks to please Allah by Tawaf except the Tawaf around the Ka'aba. By kissing the Black Stone we are following Shariah, although the wisdom behind this has not been revealed.” Sheikh Al-Qassim urged Muslims to follow the Prophet's Sunnah and carry out the Haj rites properly. “Arafat Day is a blessed day of devotion and humility. Gathering at the holy sites during Haj reminds people of the Day of Judgment. The rites are acts of worship by which Muslims seek Allah's reward through slaughtering sacrificial animals. By shaving one's head, a pilgrim is submitting to Allah's greatness and showing humility to Him,” Sheikh Al-Qassim said.
