Saudi Arabia celebrates Eid with religious zest

[al-Hasani]

Saudi Arabia celebrates Eid with religious zest

JEDDAH: P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS STAFF

Published — Friday 9 August 2013
Last Update 9 August 2013 3:15 am

Millions of Muslims across Saudi Arabia Thursday celebrated the first day of Eid Al-Fitr attending Eid prayers at specially arranged grounds, visiting relatives and friends, consoling patients at hospitals and organizing various cultural, entertainment and sports programs.
Sheikh Abdul Haleem Al-Abdullatif, who led Eid prayers in Buraidah, north of King Abdullah Sports City, urged Muslims to follow the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah to be successful in this world and the hereafter.
“We have to strengthen our family bonds, perform the compulsory five-time prayers, pay the Zakat and encourage people to engage in virtuous acts and prevent them from vices and cooperate with one another in righteous and good things,” the imam told the faithful.
“We should also show mercy toward the poor and extend them with all possible assistance,” Al-Abdullatif said. The prayer in Buraidah was attended by Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Deputy Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal and a large number of Saudis and expatriates. At the prayer ground in Dammam, Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif and Deputy Gov. Prince Jelawi bin Abdul Aziz attended Eid prayers, which was led by Sheikh Yousuf Al-Afalik, deputy chief justice of the Court of Appeal in the province. Al-Afalik urged the faithful to fear God and compete with one another in humanitarian activities.
Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Humaid, a Shariah consultant at the Asir governorate, led the Eid prayers in Abha. He highlighted the significance of the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims in the past had achieved several victories. He urged Saudis to strengthen their patriotism and their relationship with the leadership, rejecting deviant ideologies.
Asir Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khaled and senior government officials attended prayers along with a large number of citizens and residents.
In Tabuk, Gov. Prince Fahd bin Sultan attended the prayers along with thousands of citizens. Sheikh Muhammad Al-Jadaan, head of the general court in the region, led the prayers. He urged the faithful to perform the five-time prayers strictly and take care of old parents.
“We should improve our relations with others, spread peace and harmony in the society and keep away from words and deeds that would hurt the feelings of others,” Al-Jadaan said.
Meanwhile, Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister defense, on Thursday received Gen. Hussein Al-Qubail, chief of staff, commanders of the armed forces and regional commanders.
Prince Salman congratulated Prince Salman bin Sultan, the newly appointed deputy minister of defense, for winning the confidence of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, and wished him every success in his new career.
Also on Thursday, Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman received Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Faleh, deputy chief of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques for Prophet Mosque Affairs, and imams of the mosque, and a group of citizens who came to greet him on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.
Islamic Development Bank President Ahmed Mohammed Ali, attended the reception, General Auditing Bureau chief Osama Faqeeh and other senior officials attended the reception.
Najran Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah conveyed the Eid greetings of King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman to the region’s border guard officers. Addressing a Eid ceremony at the security training center, the governor commended the security forces for their contributions to preserve the Kingdom’s security and stability.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/460705

Let me use this opportunity to wish all of the members here a blessed, happy and spiritual Eid.

May Allah (SWT) bless us all.