Manama: Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud said his country would continue to protect the society from the ominous effects of sectarian tensions and sedition.
“With the help of Allah Almighty, we are shielding our country and citizens against sedition, unrest and sectarian tensions,” King Salman said.
“We emphasise our total rejection of sectarian categorisation and we are aware of its dangers to national cohesion in our country,” he said in a message read out on the eve of Ramadan, the holy month of Muslims.
Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise until sunset and engage in greater acts of piety, charity and devotion throughout the month.
Confidence
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, as the Saudi king is called, said that he had full confidence in Saudi citizens.
“We also emphasise that our confidence in the Saudi citizen has no limits. We will not tolerate those who are negligent, and we will hold accountable whoever attempts to undermine our security and our religious and national values,” he said in the message carried by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Saudis last month faced very critical challenges when two suicide bombers on two successive Fridays blew themselves up amid Shiite worshippers, causing 22 deaths in the first explosion and four in the second.
Cohesion
However, the explosions failed to trigger standoffs or confrontations between Sunnis and Shiites amid strong assurances and uncompromising commitments from all parties that national unity and social cohesion were sacred.
“Our religion is the religion of love, compassion and tolerance and its message was revealed as a mercy to the people. Its path is the path of goodness and construction; and its approach is that of moderation, dialogue and intimacy. Our religion unifies rather than separates. Our religion renounces violence and terrorism,” King Salman, who assumed power in January, said.
“This holy month," the monarch said, with its noble meanings does give us the commitment to abide by these noble ideals, values and objectives. On this basis, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - which Allah Almighty honoured with serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors - is always aware of its role, duties and responsibilities towards protecting this religion and serving the interests of Muslims everywhere."
He added: "From this perspective, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been, since it was founded by the late King Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, responsible for the deployment of moderation in religion, the support of the oppressed and the relief of the distressed in all parts of the world. This commitment emanates from its belief in the bonds of brotherhood and humanity,” he said.
King Salman stressed that Ramadan should be used to boost religious and professional commitments.
“Ramadan, a month of goodness and blessing, has come to fill us with mercy, forgiveness and to strengthen in us the meanings of empathy and compassion. We receive this holy month with pleasure, following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) who used to congratulate his companions on the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan. This holy month teaches us great lessons,” he said.
“The month of Ramadan is not a month of rest and relaxation. There are many virtues in the Holy Month of Ramadan that motivate us to carry out good deeds such as fasting, praying and doing charity work. For Muslims, these include perfecting one's work and dealing with others decently and benevolently,” he said.
