Al-Sudais visits Lahore
Imam of the Holy Mosque of Makkah Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais has prayed to the Almighty Allah to save Pakistan from miscreant elements.
Touching moments were witnessed during Dua (prayer) that the Imam of the Holy Mosque led after leading Fajr prayers at Jamia Ashrafya Lahore Wednesday.
He told the people, who offered prayers in his lead, that he is thankful to the Almighty Allah who gave him a chance to meet them. He prayed for Ummah's victory, saying heaven is our destination, and we be saved from sins.
Al-Sudais prayed for the prosperity of Pakistan, and said Pakistan's enemies be destroyed while Pakistanis be fulfilled with the love of faith in Islam, saying that united Muslim Ummah can thwart conspiracies against Islam.
Later, he went to the house of Jamia Ashrafya's patron after Fajr prayers.
On this historic moment, people who came to see him, once were extremely excited, as they believed that those unfortunate Pakistanis who have not visited Makkah yet for Hajj, had a heavenly opportunity to offer Fajr prayers in his lead.
The Jamia Ashrafya administration had made arrangements for 70,000 people, while more than 100,000 people showed up, standing in and outside the mosque, to offer prayers in his presence.
Al-Sudais flew into Lahore Tuesday night to a rousing welcome and was received at Allama Iqbal International Airport by Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, PML Secretary General Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Muhammad Ejazul Haq, members of the Punjab cabinet, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh Asseri and Lahore Mayor Mian Amir Mahmood.
Speaking at a dinner last night hosted by Shujaat Hussain, Al-Sudais stressed the need for forging unity among the ranks of Muslim Ummah to thwart the nefarious designs against Islam.
He said solution to the problems confronting the Muslim countries rests with complete unity, solidarity, harmony, cohesion and strengthening of bonds of Islamic brotherhood.
Al-Sudais said all Muslim countries are tied in everlasting relationship of Islam, which is complete code of life. He said the Muslim countries have identical point of view regarding the propagation and promotion of Islamic values in the world.
He said with the special blessing of Allah, entire Muslim Ummah will solve their problems in line with the cardinal principles and teachings of Qur'aan and Sunnah.
In his brief welcome address, Shujaat Hussain said: We will soon send a high-level inter-faith harmony delegation, comprising people from all schools of thought, to various western countries to highlight the concept and philosophy of Qur'aan in true perspective.
Al-Sudais said the Holy Quran teaches us the lesson of complete unity which he added is key factor for addressing the problems of Muslim Ummah. He said all Muslim countries are tied in everlasting relationship of Islam which is complete code of life.
He said all Muslim countries have identical point of view regarding the propagation and promotion of Islamic values in the world. He said with the special blessing of Allah, entire Muslim Ummah will solve their problems in line with the cardinal principles and teachings of Quran and Sunnah.
Al-Sudais said Saudi rulers and its people always attached great importance to our Muslim brethrens in Pakistan and pin high hopes that Pakistan will continue to play its due role in bringing harmony among all Muslim countries.
He said he is proud that all Pakistanis love Saudi Arabia and following the Islamic tenets in their practical lives.
Al-Sudais expressed his gratitude to Shujaat Hussain for providing an opportunity to visit Pakistan. He said such meetings will further cement and strengthening bilateral relations between the two brethren countries.
Al-Sudais will arrive in Islamabad from Lahore on Thursday and will lead Friday prayers at the grand Faisal Mosque.