King Salman Holds Annual Reception for Heads of State and Islamic Dignitaries who Performed Hajj Rituals

King Salman bin Abduaziz Al Saud shake hands with the guests as well as other attendees in the annual reception for heads of state and Islamic Dignitaries who performed Hajj rituals.

Mina, MINA – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud held at the Royal Court at Mina Palace here today the annual reception for heads of state, Islamic dignitaries, guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, guests of government bodies and heads of delegations and pilgrim affairs offices, who performed Hajj rituals this year.

At the outset of the reception, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques shook hands with Sudan s President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, Gambia s President Adama Baro, Comoros President Osman Ghazali, Yemen s Vice President Ali Mohsen Al-Ahmr, Egypt s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, Egypt s Grand Mufti Shawki Allam, Prince Hamzah bin Al-Hussein, Iraq s Representatives Council Speaker Salim Al-Jubouri, Jordan s House of Representatives Speaker Atef Tarawneh, Nigeria s Senate President Bukola Saraki, Niger s National Assembly President Ousseini Tinni.

Also present Mauritius Vice Prime Minister Showkutally Soodhun, Prince Hashim bin Al-Hussein, Bangladesh s Former President Hussain Mohammad Ershad, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Ilyas Umakhanov, Afghanistan s former Vice President and current Chairman of High Peace Council Mohammad Karim Khalili, Comoros Vice-President Abdallah Sarouma, Lebanon s former Prime Minister Najib Mikati and senior officials from a number of Islamic countries.

The reception started with a recitation of verses of the Holy Quran.

Then, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques delivered the following speech:
“In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Gracious.
Praise be to Allah who says in the Holy Quran “For Hajj are the months well-known. If anyone undertakes that duty therein, let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Hajj”.

Peace be upon Prophet Mohammed, his family and companions.
Dear brothers, pilgrims of the Grand Holy Mosque,
Dear Muslim brothers all over the world,

Dear audience,
May Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.
I welcome you from these holy places to which the hearts of all Muslims are inclined. I congratulate you on the blessed Eid Al-Adha, praying to Allah Almighty to accept pilgrims’ Hajj and prayers, praising Him that pilgrims perform their Hajj rituals in tranquility, security and ease.

Allah Almighty honored this country and its people with the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors who come to perform Hajj and Umrah rituals. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has utilized all its human and material potentials to enable pilgrims to perform Hajj easily. We are determined – with Allah’s help – to proceed in achieving the highest level of services for the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites within an integrated system aiming to increase the facilitation of Hajj performance and the safety of the visitors of the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Holy Mosque. We are completing in our works the gigantic efforts exerted by the kings of this blessed country since the era of its founder late King Abdulaziz (May Allah bestow mercy upon his soul).

Dear brothers,
The arms of terrorism have sought to harm the holy sites without any consideration to their sanctities. However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – with Allah’s help and in cooperation with the Kingdom’s brothers and friends – have achieved great successes in eradicating terrorism and drying up its sources firmly and persistently.

Dear brothers,
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represents the heart of the Muslim world. Therefore, it senses the hopes and pains of Muslims everywhere, strives to achieve unity, cooperation and solidarity in our Muslim world, and achieves security and peace in the whole world.

I pray to Allah Almighty to help our brothers the pilgrims of the Grand Holy Mosque to complete Hajj rituals and return home safely.
I wish that you are well every year. May Allah’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.”

Then, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh bin Taher Benten, delivered a speech in which he congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; the Crown Prince and the Arab and Islamic nations on Eid al-Adha, praying to Allah Almighty to repeat it to all in peace, progress and prosperity.

He said that “The leadership of our blessed country since the era of the founder late king Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Faisal and so far, bears with all honesty, faithfulness and sincerity the honor of the responsibility of serving the Two Holy Mosques and their care as well as serving the pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors to enable them perform their ritual easily and comfortably. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)