Prince Khalid Al-Faisal: Pilgrims send message of peace

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region, Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, announced the success of this year's Haj season. He thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for the care and guidance he gave to ensure the safety and security of this year's Haj season.

This came during the final press conference for this year's Haj season which was held today at the Principality headquarters in Mina. Prince Khalid thanked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense; and Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, for their continued follow-up of the work progress during this year's Haj season. He said that more than two million pilgrims had stood at Arafat, asking Allah Almighty for forgiveness. They represent more than 1.8 billion Muslims on earth, sending the message of Islam peace.

Prince Khalid pointed out that what is happening now of sedition, wars, disputes and conspiracies among human beings does not please the Creator and does not honor the human. He also thanked the pilgrims who contributed to the success of this year's Haj season, hoping that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has offered them what they deserve of respect and service.

Prince Khalid said in response to a question on the most important files that will be discussed from this year's Haj season to the next one that these files will discuss the reports that are transferred to us by the field workers during this year's Haj season, as they are closer to the event. He added that the Kingdom is taking new measures every year to develop services in Haj and to develop holy sites, noting that the incidents that occurred during the past years are the responsibility of the security authorities and their outputs will be announced on time. He stressed that Haj is exceptional in all aspects of services and ways taken in service, administration and implementation of orders, instructions and culture, as the culture of pilgrimage evolved from the cultures of pilgrims or culture of service culture and there is the spirit of tolerance, the spirit of right Islam and the spirit of love and faithfulness. "There is no religious tourism in Makkah, as it is a place for Haj and worship," Prince Khalid Al-Faisal said in a comment on the upcoming plan to expand religious tourism in Makkah.

On the measures taken by the Kingdom towards the Iranian pilgrims and their call for the politicization of Haj, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal explained that "The Iranians are Muslims and this country is open to all Muslims to perform Haj rituals and we did not prevent the Iranians nor anyone else from any part of the world from performing their rituals or visiting the Holy Land and Makkah. They all are invited, like other Muslims, to come to these places for Haj and the visiting of Makkah and Madinah to perform their rituals, but we beg everybody that when comes to these place to come for Haj and worship only because this is a land of worship; a land for all Muslims to perform their duties and rituals divinely ordained upon them by Allah Almighty.
He stressed that the Kingdom did not prevent the Iranians or others, but required from that the their visit to be for worship only and not for politics, because Haj is not for politics, and there is no politicization in Haj, and the Kingdom rejects any use this time or this place for something other than worship.

Answering a question about some Iranian pilgrims attempting to raise sectarian and political slogans in the Grand Mosque, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal said that the Kingdom does not allow to do such things, but there are some people doing such things and this put out in time. He stressed that this country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not allow anyone to interfere in its own affairs and it does not interfere in the affairs of other countries in any way, but when the pilgrim or visitor comes to this country, the Kingdom provides him with all possible assistance to meet his religious needs.

Asked about the assessment of the level of services offered during this year's Haj season and the increase of pilgrims in the coming years, he said that the number of pilgrims in this year increased by 30% and in the coming years, the Kingdom has a vision to upgrade the level of services being offered to pilgrims to be always to the fullest. Moreover, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal reaffirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's steadfast stance towards Haj ritual and to be distanced from dealing with voices seeking to provoke any matter or cause confusion about this ritual and the religious obligation that should be respected and to be only for serving Muslims, stressing the Kingdom's absolute rejection of exploiting this great religious obligation of Haj in any political, economic or other matters, describing it as a mission honoring the Kingdom and a responsibility and a trust that must be carried out sincerely, in a manner that guarantees Muslims to perform it with ease, comfort and reassurance. 

Prince Khalid attributed the success of this year's Haj season to the Kingdom's employment of all its human, physical and technical potential and capabilities to serve the pilgrims, expand and develop the two Holy Mosques and the holy sites.
He asked the global media in all its various means and tools to convey a noble message from the two million male and female pilgrims that Islam is a religion of peace, love and tollerance, and that all those who belong to this religion extend their hands to all for building up the universe not to destroy it.

On the budget allocated to serve the holy sites and pilgrims, the Governor of Makkah region explained that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia never felt boast of the huge funds it pumps in this regard, and deals with this matter as one of its fixed principles.
At the conclusion of the conference, Prince Khalid revealed an integrated plan for the development of the holy sites, to be announced in a timely manner that will accommodate more and more pilgrims, including the services provided. (SPA)

source:bna