King Salman consults citizens, urges unity

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman consulted with former ministers, military officers and citizens at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday, and said the country remained unified and peaceful despite disturbances on its border. “I am delighted to meet and see you. Thank God you are fine and your country is flourishing, enjoying security and stability. We pray to Allah Almighty to bless us, to be grateful for His grace, and keep what we have inherited from Abdul Aziz and his sons.” The king said the Kingdom is at peace because it was founded on the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace be upon him. “It is the same principles that brought you together from all countries, from all the tribes, as a single hand to strive for good,” King Salman said. “Thank God, all your troops, all armed forces are manned by your sons and brothers, and all of them are like one hand. This places your country ahead of all other people. They all see, thank Allah, that this is the country which Allah has honored by making it the land of the revelation, and the starting point of Islam,” he said. “This is the country of Allah’s Messenger and the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and also the origin of the Arabs from the Arabian Peninsula, most of which is part of the Kingdom. This is a blessing from Allah but it also places a responsibility on all of us,” the king said. The king said that citizens have a responsibility to protect the country. “As you see, despite the disturbances in some places, there is security and peace prevailing in our country.” He said the first state was established by Muhammad bin Saud on the foundation of Islam. “Then, after that first epoch was over, Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Saud, established the state as his grandfather did,” he said. “Then our father Abdul Aziz and after him all his sons, from Saud to Faisal, Khaled, Fahd and Abdullah, fulfilled the trust placed on them by their father. And now we are all servants of our nation and servants of our religion,” the king added. He said it is an honor for the king in this country to be called the custodian of the two holy mosques. “It is because the House of God is where all Haj and Umrah pilgrims, and visitors, make their destination.” He said Madinah and Makkah are safe and peaceful. “I tell you our doors are open, our ears are open, our cell phones are open for anyone among you who has a view or need, may Allah prolong his life,” the king said at the conclusion of his speech. Those who attended the event included Crown Prince Muqrin, deputy premier, Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad bin Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior, and Khaled Ayyaf, undersecretary for army affairs at the National Guard. -Arab news