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musa pembo
United Kingdom
154 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Oct 2008 : 01:32:09
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MAKKAH: Millions of Muslims all over Saudi Arabia celebrated Eid Al-Fitr yesterday(Tuesday 30/9/08) with peace and happiness, attending Eid prayers, organizing a variety of cultural and entertainment programs and visiting friends and relatives.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan and a large number of senior princes and Cabinet members joined Eid prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah where more than two million faithful had assembled for the event.
Most worshippers had occupied their seats in the mosque before Fajr prayers. Hundreds of thousands had to stand in streets leading to the mosque to join Eid prayers. Traffic and security officers were deployed all over the city to handle the unprecedented crowd.
Addressing the faithful, Sheikh Saleh Bin-Humaid, the imam and khateeb of the mosque, urged Muslims to stand united. “Eid is an opportunity for exchange of visits and to strengthen family bonds and friendship,” he said.
Bin-Humaid, who is also chairman of the Shoura Council, reminded the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims that their strength was in their unity. “All your differences including nationalism and tribalism melt down within the framework of the Islamic faith and Ummah ... This unity is like a safety belt for Muslims,” he pointed out.
The Makkah imam also spoke about the universality of Islam and its openness to other civilizations. “Muslims have embraced Eastern, Western, Asian, African, Arab, Persian, Turkish, Roman and other civilizations.”
The Holy Kaaba to which Muslims all over the world turn in prayer five times every day, Bin-Humaid, said was a symbol of Islamic unity.
“During Ramadan and Haj Muslim faithful from different parts of the world, including leaders and ordinary people with various races, colors and languages join together at the Grand Mosque in a marvelous scene of unity,” he said.
He congratulated philanthropists who spent their money to bring smile to the faces of the poor, orphans, widows, prisoners and patients, as well as those faithful who obtained maximum benefit from the holy month of Ramadan.
Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar, Col. Ahmed Al-Otaibi, director of traffic, Col. Jameel Arbaeen, director of Civil Defense, and Dr. Khaled Zafar, director of health, said their departments had successfully carried out their Ramadan plans, adding that no major accidents had been reported during the month.
In Madinah, Sheikh Ali Al-Hudaifi, the imam and khateeb of the Prophet’s Mosque, led Eid prayers attended by 1.5 million faithful. Delivering his Eid sermon, Al-Hudaifi urged Muslims to imbibe the message of the two Eids in Islam that come after fasting in Ramadan and Haj.
“Eid offers an opportunity for people to cleanse their minds, to be more tolerant to others and strengthen Islamic brotherhood,” the imam said and advised the faithful to do goodness to their parents and support the poor.
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh led prayers at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. He said Islam was sent down to establish security and stability, to protect wealth and honor and to end bloodshed. The mufti said Saudi Arabia was blessed with security as a result of its strict adherence to the Shariah. He cautioned against those who create division in the Ummah and promote extremism.
In Jeddah, Eid prayers were held at mosques and open grounds in many parts of the city. Makkah High Court Judge Sheikh Muhammad Al-Masoud led the prayers at Kilo-2 Eid ground.
Deputy Riyadh Gov. Prince Sattam joined the citizens and residents to perform Eid prayers at Imam Turki ibn Abdullah Mosque in Diriyah in the capital.
Later, Prince Sattam received princes, scholars, sheikhs, ministers, senior military and civilian officials, as well as groups of citizens who greeted him on the festive occasion.
Eastern Province Gov. Prince Muhammad bin Fahd and his deputy, Prince Mashaari bin Saud, performed Eid prayers with thousands of citizens and expatriates at Gharnata Eid ground in Dammam. Regional governors in Tabuk, Qassim, Baha and Asir attended Eid prayers in their capital cities.
Back in Makkah, King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan received a large number of princes, ministers, senior civil servants, military officers and religious scholars who came to greet him at Al-Safa Palace on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. The king and crown prince arrived in Jeddah later yesterday after spending the last 10 days of Ramadan in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque.
The weeklong Eid break has increased the traffic volume at Saudi airports with large number of citizens and residents taking off for various destinations in the past two days. The Middle East cities, such as Cairo, Beirut, Amman and Damascus, were among the favorite destinations.
“Last year, my family celebrated the Eid in Cairo. This time we are heading Istanbul,” said Aslam Raza Shah, a Pakistani executive, while leaving from Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz Airport. “We always explore new destinations during the Eid breaks.”
— With input by P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Md Rasooldeen & K.S. Ramkumar
Courtesy of Arabnews.
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