King Salman

:: Saudi King Salman congratulated Hajj pilgrims and the Islamic nation on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha on Friday and paid tribute to members of security forces, who lost their lives protecting the Kingdom.

King Salman received at Mina Palace on Friday Saudi princes, the grand mufti, scholars, sheikhs, ministers, military commanders, scout leaders and senior Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) officials, who came to greet and congratulate the monarch on Eid Al-Adha. “I congratulate you and the pilgrims of the Grand Holy Mosque on the blessed Eid Al-Adha, praying to Allah to accept the good deeds and return the Eid to the Islamic nation with goodness and blessings,” said the king. “Your continuous blessed efforts to serve the pilgrims of the Grand Holy Mosque, spend sleepless nights for their rest, facilitate their movement and maintain their safety are the source of our pride, and an embodiment of what Allah honored our country with the service of pilgrims and visitors of the Grand Holy Mosque. We will continue to provide what pilgrims need of security, tranquility and comfort. This is the approach of this country from which it will not deviate, praying to Allah Almighty to help us,” he added. “The great sacrifices, the honored works and heroism that you carry out to protect the security of our country and defend its sanctities and capabilities reflect your faith, patriotism and nobility. Our country will never hesitate to protect its security, maintain its stability and safeguard its interests,” the king continued. “We recall today our martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for their religion and homeland. Their sacrifices will not be absent and their heroism will not be forgotten, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow mercy upon their souls and the high status in paradise, and a speedy recovery for the injured. We also pray to Allah Almighty to make his religion victorious, uphold his word, protect our country and Islamic countries from any harm, and perpetuate security and stability for all.”

King Salman also congratulated the Islamic nation on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, expressing his honor to be serving pilgrims. “We thank God who enabled this country to serve God’s guests, and for witnessing Eid Al-Adha. May God accept pilgrims’ Hajj rituals and Eid Mubarak,” said the king on his official Twitter account.

Gen. Saeed bin Abdullah Al-Gahtani, assistant interior minister for operations who is supervising public security, then delivered a speech on behalf of officers taking part in Hajj.

He congratulated King Salman on the advent of Eid Al-Adha, noting the honor bestowed on the country to serve the guests of God.

Al-Gahtani said the Interior Ministry has strictly followed the king’s instructions to provide the best services to pilgrims, preserve their security and safety, and facilitate their performance of rituals.

He added that pilgrims enjoy the care and interest of the king; Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, deputy premier and defense minister; Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud, interior minister and chairman of the Hajj Supreme Committee; Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, adviser to the king, governor of Makkah region and chairman of the Hajj Central Committee; and Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, governor of Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah region and chairman of the Madinah-based Hajj Committee. Al-Gahtani wished the monarch and crown prince long life and continuous happiness and health, and the Kingdom steady progress, stability and prosperity.

On Thursday night, the eve of Eid Al-Adha, King Salman arrived at the holy site of Mina to review the services provided to pilgrims, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

As of Thursday, the total number of local and foreign pilgrims reached 2,352,122, according to statistics from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Saudi security forces turned away hundreds of thousands of pilgrims lacking Hajj permits.

Over 2 million worshippers, from nearly every country, arrived in the Kingdom for the five-day ritual, which is a once-in-a-lifetime religious duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford the journey.

King Salman