King Fahd orders distribution of Qur'an copies

RIYADH - Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz has ordered provision of 194,000 copies of the Holy Qur'an to a number of governmental authorities, Saudi embassies and Islamic organizations in Saudi Arabia and abroad.

The copies, which are printed at the Madinah-based King Fahd Holy Qur'an Printing Complex, include copies with translation and its meaning in English, Indonesian, Tagalog (Filipino), Urdu, French, Persian, Malabari, Tamil, Bengali, German, Turkish and Malaysian. Under the directives of King Fahd, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh said the recipients of the copies of the Holy Qur'an will be the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, the Health Ministry; the General Presidency for Youth Welfare the Muslim World League (MWL), the Agency of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance for publications affairs, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, the Saudi Bin Laden Group, the Saudi embassies in Khartoum, Prague, Accra, Tunis, Washington, Ottawa, London, Madrid, Rome, Bonn, Damascus, Mamako; the Saudi Consulate in Karachi, and the office of the Saudi Cultural Affairs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition, the Foundation of Ras Al-Kheima in the UAE the Jordanian Directorate of Public Security the Council of the Islamic Education in Kerala, India, the University of the Islamic Education in Pakistan and Hadrat Ayesha School in Pakistan will be provided with copies of the Holy Qur'an. - SPA

Dr. Al-Turki highlights universal nature of Islam during Hajj

MAKKAH - The inaugural session of the MWL Cultural Season, which was held at the Conference Hall of the Muslim World League headquarters here on 17 Dhul Qa'dah (20 January), called for more support for the Islamic banks and their function. It also called upon them to adhere to Islamic economic system and legislate financial rules and regulations, besides other things that concern the life of a Muslim individual and society.

The Secretary-General of the MWL, Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, inaugurated the Cultural Season, which the MWL holds every year on the occasion of the Hajj season. He welcomed the dignitaries and the participants who came to attend the inaugural session of the MWL Cultural Season.

In his inaugural speech, the MWL secretary-general said that Islam is a universal religion and its message is distinguished with the universal nature of its addressing the people. Other prophets (peace be on them) were sent to particular nations, whereas Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was sent for the entire humanity.

"The universal nature of Islam is evident from its aims and laws that regulate the human life everywhere. The world needs them for the reformation of human life and for extermination of corruption and evils. They are of universal nature because they do not belong to a particular race, complexion or nationality, and present solutions to human problems, most important of which, in this age, are the problems of peace and security," he said.

Dr. Al-Turki explained that Islam's universal nature emerges more vividly during the Hajj, which urges the Muslims of all nationalities, complexions, races and countries to perform the Divine duty and assemble near the Great House of Allah. Hajj invites all the peoples to embrace Islam and know its teachings that the humanity needs because they cover every aspect of human life.

Finally, Dr. Al-Turki urged Muslims to propagate among the human beings the universal message of Islam and its great human objectives through dialogue equipped with knowledge, wisdom and beautiful approach.

General President of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Saleh Ibn Abdur Rahman Al- Hussayin delivered a lecture on "Islamic Banking" in the beginning of the cultural season.

While delivering his lecture, Sheikh Al-Hussayin reviewed the deteriorating situation of financial transactions in the Muslim countries and presented solutions to their problems in the light of Islamic Shari'ah.

Makkah Governor performs ritual of Ka'bah washing

MAKKAH - Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed oversaw the washing of the Holy Ka'bah on 18 January, ahead of the annual pilgrimage.

The ceremony, during which the cube-shaped Ka'bah was washed with the Zamzam water, mixed with rose water, was attended by other princes, ministers, dignitaries and diplomats.

"Islam is in need of those who follow its noble teachings, which aim for the betterment of the whole humanity, Prince Abdul Majeed said on this occasion.

He urged all officials to extend the best possible services to the guests of Allah (pilgrims).

The Ka'bah, with a black stone set in the eastern corner, is not an object of worship, even though Muslims pray facing it, but a sanctuary and a spiritual centre.

It is washed twice a year, once for Ramadhan and once for the Hajj, which is expected to run from 9-13 February this year.

The Ka'bah is covered by a black cloth (Kiswah) which is replaced every year before the Hajj, which every year attracts over two million pilgrims.

Some 450 kilograms of silk and 15 kilos of gold thread are used to make the 658 square metre Kiswah.

All Muslims are required to make the pilgrimage to Makkah, one of the five pillars of Islam, at least once in their lifetime, if they have the means to do so. - SPA

MWL blasts Israeli atrocities

RIYADH - The Muslim World League (MWL) on 26 January strongly condemned Israel for carrying out acts of genocide against Palestinian civilians and urged the international community to intervene. "The MWL condemns acts of brutal terrorism being carried out by Israel through a policy of genocide against civilians, which contravenes the UN resolutions and basic principles of human rights," a statement said. - SPA

MWL's contribution to preserve sanctity of Hajj

THE sanctity of Hajj is ordained by Almighty Allah and the Muslim World League (MWL) strives its best to enlighten the Hajj pilgrims and other Muslims about the sanctity of Hajj, which brings Muslims together from all parts of the world and unites them as Muslim Ummah. The message of Hajj is universal goodwill, commitment, justice and equality enhanced by the Islamic faith and its values.

The MWL, during the seminars and lectures of its cultural season, emphasizes the sanctity of the Hajj pilgrimage as well as the importance of its being far away from the factional and political loyalties, especially the loyalty for other than Allah.

The MWL, through its press statements which it issues during the Hajj season every year, urges the Hajj pilgrims to devote themselves for worship.

It also urges the pilgrims, who come to the holy sites from distant parts of the world, to benefit from this great opportunity to devote themselves for the Hajj rituals in the light of the guidance laid down by Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him).

The MWL has been explaining to the pilgrims that the Hajj has the sanctity of time and place also, and the days of Hajj are great in the sight of Allah. Every pilgrim should be aware of this sanctity and follow the way of Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) while performing the great worship, which Almighty Allah has made obligatory for Muslims.

The statements, issued by the Muslim World League every year, remind the Hajj pilgrims that there are various levels of requisites for the Hajj pilgrimage, which they should be acquainted with all of them and must not deviate from them.

It is important that their Hajj is acceptable by Almighty Allah and the Hajj pilgrims return their homes as innocent from sins as they were at the day of their birth.

Any deviation from the Hajj rituals would nullify this worship and harm other pilgrims as well as undermine the noble objectives of the Hajj, as Allah says: "...and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong (i.e. practise polytheism and leave Islamic Monotheism), We shall cause him to taste from a painful torment." (The Qur'an 22:25)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) also avoided such activities while performing his Hajj and explained to Muslims in his Farewell Hajj Khutbah, about the sanctities of time and place as he said: "O people, your lives, property and honour shall be as inviolate as this holy day, holy month and the holy city. Those who are present here should convey this message to those who are absent. O My Lord, I have conveyed your message. Be witness to it."

The MWL has appreciated the efforts of the Saudi government to provide the suitable atmosphere during the Hajj days through its instructions and procedures which the sanctity of these great days call for.

Moreover, it is the duty of the Hajj authorities to prevent anyone who wants to divert the auspicious Hajj occasion to political or other activities so that the pilgrims perform their Hajj rituals, seeking the Divine forgiveness and mercy, and return to their homes after achieving success with a blessed Hajj.

IN BRIEF

Dr. Al-Turki receives Chinese Hajj Team

MAKKAH - The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Muhsin Al-Turki received here on 26 January the head of the Chinese Hajj delegation Sheikh Muhammad Ali.

During the reception, they discussed the efforts of the MWL to coordinate with Islamic societies to look after the Muslim minorities.

The Chinese official expressed thanks and appreciation tot he government of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz for its services and facilities to serve the pilgrims. - SPA

Al-Namlah praises IIRO's Charitable works

JEDDAH - Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Saudi Arabia Dr. Ali Ibn Ibrahim Al-Namlah has lauded the efforts exerted by the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) and its role in charitable works and its participation in the development of the Mslim communities.

He made these remarks after the recent release of IIRO's latest annual report, highlighting its activities.

The report disclosed that IIRO has spent an amount of SR123,746,929 on charity work and projects, benefiting 4,331,342 people from 95 countries. - SPA

Muslim-Croat state gets new president

SARAJEVO, (Bosnia-Herzegovina) - The parliament of the Muslim-Croat federation - one of the two components making up postwar Bosnia - elected on 27 January the mini-state's new president and his two deputies. For the next four years, Niko Lozancic, a Bosnian Croat, will be the president.

His two deputies are Sahbaz Dzihanovic, a Bosnian Muslim, and Desnica Radivojevic, a Bosnian Serb. It is the first time after the 1992-1995 Bosnian war that a Bosnian Serb also has been elected to public office of what was originally designed as a federation only run by Muslims and Croats.

A peace agreement in 1995 divided Bosnia into two ethnic-based halves - the Muslim-Croat federation and the Serb republic.

But the country's constitutional court ruled last year that all citizens must have equal rights in both mini-states, erasing the ethnic divsiion from the constitution.

Eelections were held in October last year when three naitonalist parties - a Muslim, a Serb and a Croat - won. - AP