Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al-Sheikh has affirmed that the time of preachers who were trading in religion is over in the Kingdom.

“The time of preachers who are agitators, actors, wrestlers, self-styled reformers and reckless activists has come to an end irreversibly,” he said.

The minister made the remarks during an inspection visit to the headquarters of the ministry’s branch in the Eastern Province on Wednesday. “We have distinguished preachers from among the people of this country who fear God and who have abundant knowledge. They are keen to present what they have of legal knowledge according to the methodology of the Book of God and the Sunnah (Tradition) of His Messenger,” he noted.

Al-Sheikh highlighted the importance of the role played by preachers in strengthening belongingness to the homeland and its rulers, and joining hands to protect the homeland from any blemish that taints it, and enable everyone to work to warn against evil preachers and advocates of sedition who harm our security. We have to work together so that there is no one among us who provokes or stirs up strife,” he said.

The minister thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for their support to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, where 42,000 Saudi men and women have been newly employed in a short period of time.

Al-Sheikh stressed the importance of serving the Houses of God, spreading the message, and achieving what should be accomplished in serving the people. He noted that the ministry has reached very advanced stages in its work and performing its duty through monitoring of preachers in mosques and preventing extremists from misusing the pulpits.

The ministry also curbed financial waste and mismanagement and thus managed to save a huge amount of money to the tune of SR5 billion over the past four years. This money was spent on debts that the ministry owed for years in terms of the rights of retirees and others, in addition to spending on new projects implemented by the ministry.

Al-Sheikh emphasized that the ministry will not tolerate anyone who is negligent in achieving the mission of the ministry and preserving the sanctity of the Houses of God. The ministry will also preserve its assets from "weak souls" after it monitored encroachments on mosque properties and facilities during inspection tours.