Abdullah congratulates Muslims on Eid Al-Fitr, calls for Islamic unity

JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan yesterday congratulated Muslims all over the world on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr and hoped that the Eid would usher in a new era of peace, progress and prosperity in the Islamic world.

The king and the crown prince also greeted the hundreds of thousands of foreign pilgrims who had come to Makkah from different parts of the globe to perform Umrah and attend special nighttime prayers during Ramadan, seeking Allah’s blessings and forgiveness. The Royal Court announced yesterday that today (Tuesday, Sept. 30) would be the first day of Shawwal and Eid Al-Fitr after the Supreme Judiciary Council confirmed the sighting of the new moon yesterday evening by reliable persons in a number of countries.

In their Eid message, which was read out on Saudi Television by Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani, King Abdullah and Prince Sultan also called upon Muslims to strengthen their unity and solidarity.

“From the land of the two holy mosques, the light of Islam spread all over the world ... Muslim men and women have been fasting and performing prayers (over the past month) and spreading love and peace,” the message said.

“We are living in an age that demands from Muslims to strengthen their relations with God, their love toward the Prophet (peace be upon him), their commitment toward their religion and their brethren in faith and their tolerance toward others,” the message said.

“We congratulate those faithful who have set a good example to others of a true Muslim like their forefathers did,” the king and crown prince said. They also remembered the Saudi security officers who fell martyr while fighting terrorists and extremists in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah and Prince Sultan received telephone calls and messages from world leaders, congratulating the two on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.