Saudi Gazette report

MAKE the best use of the remaining days of Ramadan in doing good deeds, keeping away from sins and continue beseeching Almighty Allah to forgive their past sins, imams of the Two Holy Mosques told thousands of faithfuls who offered Friday prayers in Makkah and Madinah under sweltering heat.

In his sermon in the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Sheikh Faisal Ghazzawi stressed on adhering to the correct creed. “The supply of correct aqeedah (creed) never depletes and it is a spring that does not dry up,” he said.

Emphasizing the traits of a good Muslim, the imam said a strong believer has signs indicating his perfect and ideal personality. The signs include: Taking the initiative to do good deeds and work hard in acts of worship and those that bring the believer closer to his Creator. He said: In Ramadan, a staunch believer makes sure to gain moral excellence and virtues by doing good deeds and even simple recreation does not distract him from this path.

Stressing the virtues of patience, the imam said a fasting Muslim should be even-tempered and have full control over his tongue and feelings. One should not lose his temper easily, the imam said.

The imam cited a Hadith which says: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said a mujahid is the one who always controls himself and be obedient to Almighty Allah and keeps away from sins.

Exhorting the faithful to compete with one another in doing good deeds, Sheikh Ghazzawi said Muslims should vie with one another in offering non-obligatory prayers, reading of the Holy Qur’an, and engage themselves in acts of charity.

In the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Sheikh Salah Al-Budair said it was strange that some people indulge in useless recreation even after getting an opportunity to fast, offer prayers, read the Qur’an regularly and do acts of charity. “It is very odd to note that even after doing such wonderful things, some people's habits do not change,” he said.

The Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has been providing all necessary services to the large number of visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan so that they can pray in ease and comfort. Enough copies of the Holy Qur’an have been provided, water sprayers are cooling the outer courtyards, visitors are being guided to entry gates and the huge crowd is being properly managed during prayer times. The provision of iftar meals in the squares of the Prophet’s Mosque and Zamzam water to visitors enhances the sublime atmosphere.

The Makkah Emirate, Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, mayoralties, Haram Security Forces Command, police, traffic, Civil Defense, and all other departments and agencies have swung into operation to facilitate the smooth flow of pilgrims and visitors to Makkah and Madinah.

All the floors and courtyards and King Abdullah Expansion Project in the Grand Mosque were full of worshipers and the rows of worshipers spilled over to the streets of the Central Haram Area.