Imams of Islam’s Holiest Mosques Urge Firm Approach to Fighting Evil Terrorism

Mecca, Medina, 04 Syawal 1437/09 July 016 (MINA) – Imams of the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina and the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Islam’s two most sacred sites, today urged a firm and tough approach to fighting the “forces of evil” that are seeking to wreak chaos and destruction and violate the all the sanctities of Islam, undermine security and spread corruption.

Terrorist attacks hit the three Saudi cities of Medina, Qatif and Jeddah last week. In Medina, the attack targeted the mosque built by the Prophet Mohammed. The mosque also houses the Prophet’s tomb.

In the Friday sermon, Sheikh Khalid Ali Al Ghamedi, the imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque of Grand Mosque of Makkah (Masjid Al Haram) said terrorism is a an outlandish phenomenon for Islam and in particular for Saudi Arabia, home to the two holiest mosques, WAM reported.

The greatest and most appalling of all sins, the scholar said, is for anyone to deliberately and premeditatedly sheds the blood of innocent people… wreak chaos and havoc and undermine security and stability in order to achieve the evil goals of criminal gangs and sectarian terrorist organisations.

Al Ghamedi urged scholars, politicians, intellectuals and the media to expose this “deviant ideology” and “immunise society and people” against it.

In Medina, the imam and preacher of the of the Prophet’s Mosque, Hussain Al Shaikh, described the perpetrators of the recent attacks in Saudi Arabia as “the deviant group”.

“The most powerful weapon being used by the enemies of our nation is to stoke division and have the youth break away from the group and consensus.” In doing so, the enemies claim that they are serving this religion, he added. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)