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IMAM and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sudais, in his last Friday s sermon, advised Muslims to be God-conscious and God-fearing as it is the best way for a Muslim to achieve the objectives and keep away from sins.

Sheikh Al-Sudais focused on Haj and urged pilgrims to devote their time to prayer, supplication and doing good deeds. He said that the pilgrims who have come from far and near should thank Allah for enabling them to reach the holy lands and getting started on the rituals of Haj, the fifth pillar of Islam.

Sheikh Al-Sudais said that Haj signifies the solid physical and spiritual unity with which all trials and tribulations and tragedies disappear. He pointed out that the Haj emphasizes unity and practically urges Muslims to unite and keep away from the state of weakness and disunity they are in. He said it is high time that the Muslim Ummah made the Haj an occasion for forging their unity and observing Monotheism (Tawheed), that is, to worship Allah alone and not to associate anyone with Him.

Sheikh Al-Sudais said that among the great objectives and benefits of Haj is to achieve Monotheism. The Talbiyah (glorifying Allah), which the pilgrims repeat, shows Tawheed and belief in Allah and indicates humble obedience to Him. Unfortunately, despite the clarity of Tawheed some people still insist on adulterating their Haj with what clouds its purity. He questioned the benefit of supplicating to the dead people in graves and rubbing the stones and walls of the burial places and praying to them to achieve one s wishes and ward off evil. He said the condition of some Muslims now brings one to tears.

He said that the pilgrims and Muslims coming to the Grand Mosque should set a good example of worshiping Allah alone correctly and adhering to moderation in Islam. He said Allah endowed the holy lands with special characteristics including security, safety and peace of mind.

Sheikh Al-Sudais called for maintaining security. He also called for imbibing the qualities of mercy, compassion, peace, love, forgiveness, harmony and the ideal implementation of human rights in a world, which is in turmoil due to anxiety, fear, violence and terrorism. He said that the arrogance, intransigence and terrorism displayed by the Zionist aggressors in the Muslim Palestine - so close to the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque - and the racist separation wall they intend to build is but a gloomy example of racial discrimination and hatred among peoples. It is also an example of going to the extremes in applying deception in regard to the Muslim sanctities and capabilities.

He urged the pilgrims to protect these pure holy sites and bounties. He warned them against doing anything that beclouds or disturbs the security, safety, tranquility, peace of mind and stability of the holy sites. Sheikh Al-Sudais stressed that the sanctity and security of the two holy mosques and the security of the pilgrims are a basic and well-established concept and principle that do not admit of any argument, debate or bargaining and they are not subject to concession and compromise. He warned against chanting or writing slogans or engaging into wrangling during the Haj and at the holy sites. He said that the pilgrim must devote his time to praying sincerely to Allah and keeping away from hypocrisy and doing things for the sake of earning worldly fame. He added that they should make use of their spiritual purity and preparedness by performing the Haj with obedience to Allah and devoting their time to glorifying Allah and supplicating to Him.

Sheikh Al-Sudais urged the pilgrims to get ready for performing the Haj rites by gaining useful knowledge on the rules and jurisprudence (Fiqh) of Haj and ask the Ulema about whatever matters they have questions on. Furthermore, they should abide by good manners in dealing with their Muslim brethren. They should avoid all that is not consistent with good conduct in worshipping and supplicating to Allah and in dealing with their Muslim brethren. The pilgrim should perform his prayers regularly on time, recite the Qur an and supplicate to Allah a lot. He said the pilgrim should keep busy in achieving the noble objective for which he has come.

Sheikh Al-Sudais said that the spirituality and lessons to be derived from the Haj are the best panacea for the shortcomings and ailments of the Ummah and for confronting the currents of conflicts and division. He said that they are the best means for realizing the Ummah s pride, glory and civilization.

Speaking about the importance of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, he urged Muslims to double their efforts in doing good deeds during these days. They should fast, devote their time to prayer and supplication, give alms, observe filial dutifulness, visit and call on relatives, glorify and thank Allah, recite the Qur an, give good advice, be patient, call people to Allah with kind persuasion, be kind and merciful to the pilgrims and help them in whatever they need and repeat the Takbeer.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hussein Aal Al-Sheikh, Imam and Khateeb of the Prophet s Mosque in his sermon dealt with the merits of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.

Aal Al-Sheikh said that the first 10 days of Dhul Hijja represent a great season and an opportunity for winning recompense from Allah by doing good deeds.

They are among the greatest days to Allah full of countless merits and have the greatest reward. To win reward from Allah during these days, a Muslim must redouble his efforts multifold in performing prayers, fasting, giving alms, performing Haj and reciting the Holy Qur an.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that whoever performs Haj and does not have sexual intercourse or use obscene language or act immorally or sinfully, returns as if he was born anew. The reward for an accepted Haj is the abode in paradise.

Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that there were four things that the Prophet (pbuh) never used to leave; i.e., fasting on Ashoura (10th of Muharram), the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, three days every month and performing two rak at at dawn (Fajr). According to some of the wives of the Prophet (pbuh), he used to fast on the 9th of Dhul Hijja.

Sheikh Aal Al-Sheikh said that among the characteristics of the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah is to praise, thank and glorify Allah a lot.

Deprived from the rewards of Allah is he who has deviated from obeying Allah and working hard to please Him especially during these days.

Sheikh Aal Al-Sheikh warned against spending these meritorious days in committing sins and doing immoral acts. He called upon Muslims to grab this opportunity and do good deeds of all kinds. Whoever wants to conclude the 10 days by slaughtering an animal as a sacrifice, must not cut or pluck any of his hair or nails or remove his skin until he slaughters his sacrificial animal, he said

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