Makkah, Nov 5: Asking Muslims throughout the world to unite and be mutually helpful, the Grand Imam of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh Saturday warned Islamic Ummah of a media and cultural invasion that seeks to weaken their faith.
He said while Islam is the solution for the problems of Muslims, the mass media in Islamic countries should play proactive role in character building “as global media is bent on damaging Muslim society.”
Delivering the Hajj sermon at the historical Nimra Mosque at Mount Arafat where millions of pilgrims have gathered to perform the key rituals of the annual pilgrimage, the Grand Mufti said Islam is facing challenges and divisions. He urged Muslims to solve the problems only through peaceful means away from bloodshed.
The Grand Mufti urged Muslims to solve their problems “without interference from their enemies,” condemning those who want to “provoke hostility between you and your leaders.”
He said killing any innocent people is forbidden in Islam and Muslims should respect the rights of other Muslims.
"To the people I say: solve your problems by dialogue not through bloodshed and to the leaders I say: you must consider God's dictation when you deal with your people," the Grand Mufti said.
He urged Muslims to avoid evil thoughts and actions and take guidance from the Holy Quran and Sunnah. He said that Muslims should be united and they should be mutually helpful. The Grand Mufti said Muslim governments should prevent crimes, injustice and poverty. They should not use weapons against their own people, instead the rulers should act in accordance with the Sharia.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz said that Sharia guides economic transactions as well and Islam has forbidden interest therefore the business community should try to get rid of this menace.
Shedding light on the importance of Hajj, he said that it cleanses all evils that a man commits in his lifetime.
He urged the channels of the Muslim countries to play their role and build character as global media is bent on damaging Muslim society.

3 MILLION PERFORM HAJJ
Meanwhile, a sea of pilgrims estimated to be around 3 million in number, including 100,000 from India, converged on the vast plains of Arafat in Saudi Arabia for the final day of the annual Hajj tomorrow.
Wearing white seamless robes, the millions of Muslims from every part of the world, started descending on the plains of Mount Arafat early yesterday after spending the night in the city of Mina, 10 kms from Arafat.
The people took buses or the new Mecca Metro and some even came on foot to flock to Arafat where Prophet Mohammad delivered his famous final sermon.
The Chinese built Metro is operating for the first time this year at its full capacity of 72,000 people per hour to ease congestion and avoid stampedes which have previously killed hundreds.
The gathering on Arafat symbolises the peak of the pilgrimage which concludes with Eid al-Azha that will be celebrated in Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
Pilgrims in white seamless clothes started heading for Arafat early yesterday after finishing other rituals, including the 'Tawaaf' or moving seven times around the Kaa’ba, treading back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah, and stoning the symbolic 'Satan'.
The chants of 'Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik' (Oh God, here I am answering your call) resonated as the sea of humanity descended on Arafat. This last leg of the Hajj pilgrimage will culminate into the 'Day of Sacrifice' when Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid Al Azha. Eid will be celebrated in the Gulf region tomorrow.

KHAMENEI FOR INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC BLOC
Meanwhile, supreme leader of Iran and the country’s spiritual head Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Saturday called for the formation of an international Islamic power-bloc.
“Men and women throughout the Islamic world should make the most of the emerging global phenomenon especially in Muslim countries for the formation of an international Islamic power-bloc,” Khamenei said I his message on Hajj.
He said the West, the United States and Zionism are weaker today than ever before because of economic troubles, successive failures in Afghanistan and Iraq, deep-running public outrage in America and other Western countries, with its daily widening scope, the struggles and sacrifices of the people of Palestine and Lebanon, and “all these are a good omen for the Islamic Ummah especially for revolutionary nations.”
Khamenei said it will be worthy of the Hajj pilgrims at this great assembly of the Islamic Ummah to address the most important issues of the Islamic world. The uprisings and revolutions in some Islamic countries are at the head of these issues. The events that have taken place in the Islamic world in the interval between the previous and the present Hajj pilgrimages can change the destiny of the Islamic Ummah; these events speak of a bright future accompanied with dignity and progress, both material and spiritual.
“Camped at Mecca and Mina, Arafat and Mash'ar are the fortunate human beings who, having responded to the call of "proclaim the Hajj to all the people", are being honored with the hospitality of the Allah. Here is the blessed Ka’bah and the source of guidance from which manifest the signs of divinity and here is where a canopy of safety is set up,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 6 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST