MAKKAH/MADINAH – Sheikh Dr. Saleh Bin Abdullah Bin Humaid, imam and khateeb of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, has stressed that the pious ritual of Haj should not be used to further the vested political interests of any group or any nation. The Kingdom’s stand on the issue, he said, is very unequivocal: It strictly forbids turning the pilgrimage into political activities where ideologies, parties, sects, schools of thought and systems of government compete with each other to gain some brownie points on any given issue.

Delivering the Friday sermon to the thousands of pilgrims converging on the Grand Mosque from across the globe, Bin Humaid reiterated that engaging in such political activities, seriously compromises with the noble and high religious sanctity attached to the Haj pilgrimage, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Sheikh Bin Humaid said the Kingdom does not allow exploitation of religion by any one in the holy sites for it diverts the pilgrims’ attention from their main goal which is to spend all their time and effort in worshiping Almighty Allah and carrying out their Haj rites with devotion and sincerity of purpose.

Politicization of Haj rites, he said, will not bring any good to the Ummah which is already suffering from discord and differences.

The Kingdom is entrusted with providing all services to the pilgrims and caring for them. It is all responsible for taking strict and firm measures to safeguard the security of the country, people, citizens, expatriates, Haj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors, he said.

The security of the country and the holy sites does not permit any action that clouds this spiritual atmosphere, harms the public interest or causes disrespect to the general sensibilities of Muslims, he said.

The government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, state officials and Saudi people spare no effort to serve the Haj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors, just to gain Allah’s pleasure and expecting suitable reward from Him. The responsibility of providing best possible services and facilities to the pilgrims has been divinely entrusted on the Saudi government and its people and they are doing their best to perform this task diligently and sincerely, he said.

Sheikh Bin Humaid further said that the Kingdom has a constant policy. It does not prevent any Muslim from visiting the Grand Mosque in Makkah or the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah irrespective of his political stance or sectarian affiliations. On the contrary, it welcomes all and is hospitable to all. He stressed that the only slogan in Haj is the slogan of monotheism “Labbaika Allahumma labbaik” (O God here I am! O God here I am!).

Meanwhile in his sermon, Sheikh Salah Al-Budair, imam and khateeb of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, focused on the merits of the Hereafter. He said that this worldly life is transitory; the real and eternal life is the life of the Hereafter, which is more important and everlasting. Therefore, he said, a Muslim must ensure that his aim is to please Allah Almighty, ask His forgiveness and earn an abode in paradise.