King calls on Moroccan pilgrims to be ambassadors of their homeland, its ancient civilization, openness & tolerance

King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, has called on Moroccan pilgrims to be ambassadors of their homeland, its ancient civilization and identity, based on the values of openness and tolerance.

“Be the ambassadors of your religion, showing Islamic brotherhood and moderation in belief and conduct, and rejecting all signs of radicalism, extremism or any cause of discord or strife,” said the Sovereign in a message addressed Friday to the first group of Moroccan pilgrims heading to the Holy Places of Islam for the pilgrimage of the year 1444 A.H.

In the royal message, read out by Minister of Habous & Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq, the King urged pilgrims to show piety as “there is no better provision for this journey than devoutness.”

The Sovereign called on Moroccan pilgrims to show exemplary morality during this grandiose gathering, where Muslims are obliged to bear in mind two fundamental and complementary truths: their proclamation of faith in the Oneness of God the Most High, and their desire to illustrate their unity and unanimous adherence to God’s unshakeable Law.

In Islam, pilgrimage symbolizes the equality of the faithful who, on the occasion of the Hajj, find themselves gathered in a single place: the Sacred Kaaba, Mina and Arafat, wearing the same emblematic cloth of Ihram (the solemn entry into the sacred universe of the Hajj) and blending in with one another without any distinction of title or status, said the King.

He reminded pilgrims that their stay in the Holy Places requires the utmost discipline and the sincerest observance of the obligations and canonical rules of pilgrimage.

The Sovereign said he is certain that pilgrims have duly prepared for this spiritual journey and urged them to devote all their time to invoking God and imploring His forgiveness, multiplying acts of devotion to enter into the Lord’s good graces, while avoiding all kinds of trivialities and transgressive behavior.

“Therefore, do make sure – honorable pilgrims – to perform your rituals in compliance with the teachings of your religion. Remember to praise and glorify Almighty God, with sincere reverence for Him, so that you may achieve the ultimate goal of pilgrimage, which is to obtain forgiveness and the utmost reward promised by the Almighty, as indicated by Prophet Muhammad – may peace and blessings be upon Him”, said the Sovereign.

He urged pilgrims to comply strictly with the measures taken by Saudi authorities to ensure best conditions for the guests of the Almighty. The goal is to make sure that the Hajj season takes place in a climate of discipline, security, and safety in accordance with the instructions given by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, said the royal message.