His Eminence Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais
Visits the United Kingdom
Dr. Mozammel Haque
His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the
Office of the Presidency of the Grand Mosques of Makkah and the Prophet’s
Mosque in Madinah came in the United Kingdom on 15 July 2016. The Sheikh
al-Sudais, the Imam of the Grand Mosque of Makkah, who was in the United
Kingdom for more than two weeks, was received by His Royal Highness Prince
Mohammad bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom and
Ireland in the afternoon of 15 July 2016 at his office in the Embassy of the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. London.
During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks, wishing
to Sheikh Al-Sudais success in his current visit. At the end of the meeting,
souvenir was presented to the imam of the Grand Mosque of Makkah, Sheikh
al-Sudais.
Inaugurate the Al-Salam Masjid and Madrasah
Sheikh Al-Sudais went to Preston, Blackburn and inaugurated
Al-Salam Masjid and Madrasah on 18th of July, 2016. Next day, on 19th
of July 2016, he visited Ibn Baz Mosque at Banbury town.
Inaugurate the Masjid Ali in Birmingham
The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah, went
to Birmingham and inaugurated Masjid Ali on 20th of July, 2016.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais
visited Islamic Cultural
Centre, London
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais visited the Islamic Cultural
Centre, London & the Regents Park London Central Mosque on Thursday, the 21st
of July, 2016. During his visit, His Eminence Sheikh Al-Sudais met with
religious scholars and community leaders of the Muslim Community of Britain and
the staff of the Islamic Cultural Centre, London. During this meeting, Dr.
Ahmad al-Dubayan first of all introduced the religious scholars and community
leaders of the Muslim community of the UK as well as the staff of the Islamic
Cultural Centre, London and gave a presentation on the background and
activities of the Centre and the services provided to the community.
Meeting with Lords and Baroness
After this meeting, His Eminence Sheikh Al-Sudais met
separately with Lord Sheikh and Baroness Manzila Uddin, Peers of the House of
Lords of the British Parliament and discussed different aspects.
Sheikh also met Mr. Yousef Ali Al-Khater, Ambassador of the
State of Qatar in the United Kingdom, Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Wasil, Deputy
Chief of Mission, Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United
Kingdom, Mr. Khalid al-Jarman, Head of Communications and Research, Embassy of
the United Arab Emirates, London and the chairman of the Islamic Cultural
Centre Trust, besides a large number of community leaders, religious scholars,
imams, diplomats and media personalities.
Reception at ICC Conference
Hall
There was a reception at the Conference hall of the Islamic
Cultural Centre after the meeting with the Lords and Baroness. The reception
was attended by His Eminence Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, President of the
Office of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, Ambassador Yousef Ali
Al-Khater, Dr. Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-Wasil, Mr. Khalid al-Jarman, chairman of
the Islamic Cultural Centre Trust, besides a large number of community leaders,
religious scholars, imams, diplomats and media personalities.
While welcoming His Eminence Sheikh al-Sudais to the
Islamic Cultural Centre and to the Muslim Communities who were representing
many organisations, centres and mosques from different parts of the United
Kingdom, Dr. al-Dubayan also introduced the members and chairman of the Board
of Trust of the Islamic Cultural Centre & Regents’ Park London Central
Mosque. Dr. Al-Dubayan also welcomed them to the Centre. While referring to the
trustees, Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned, “They are our trustees. They are
welcome to the Islamic Cultural Centre,” and while referring to Sheikh
al-Sudais, Dr. al-Dubayan mentioned, “You are
welcome to the Muslim communities who are represented today with us from many
organisations, mosques and centres.”
The
Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre, Dr. Al-Dubayan, also
mentioned, “I know everyone of us is very keen and would like to see His
Eminence Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais. I think this is a good occasion, really
a good time that we got together.” He expressed his thanks and gratefulness to
all those who came from different parts of the country in order to listening to
Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais.
Speech of Sheikh Abdul Rahman at the Reception
His
Eminence Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais, Imam of the Grand Mosque of Makkah
addressed the gathering in Arabic and Imam Khalifa Ezzat of the Islamic Cultural
Centre, London, translated that into English. He said, Sheikh al-Sudais
referred to the following points:
Sheikh
al-Sudais expressed his pleasure to be with the Muslim community of the United
Kingdom and conveyed the greetings and Salams from the people of Makkah and
Madinah.
His
Eminence Sheikh al-Sudais said that now-a-days we are in urgent need of unity
and cooperation. We are in need to gather and meet under the banner of Islam,
under the teachings of Islam at this hard time when Islam is subjected to
attacks and defamation at various levels, Sheikh mentioned.
The
Imam of the Masjid al-Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah, Sheikh al-Sudais mentioned,
unfortunately, at this time, we have two groups of people from the Muslim
community; some groups have the concept of ifrad and tafrid. There are those
who are extreme in faith and there are those who neglected the faith, said
Sheikh al-Sudais and added, “It is important nowadays for Muslims to come
together and to avoid division which is a big problem for the Muslim community
today.”
Sheikh
Al-Sudais urged Muslims to come together at this hard time to achieve the main
objectives of the Shari’ah even if they follow different Madhabs and different
schools of thought.
The
Imam of the Grand Mosque of Makkah, Sheikh al-Sudais advised Muslims to come
together to tackle and face those extremist group who kill innocent people. “It
is the duty of the imams and scholars of this country to come together and to demonstrate
the real image of Islam which is vilified by some groups,” said Sheikh
al-Sudais.
The
Imam of the Masjid al-Haram, Sheikh al-Sudais urged the Muslim community by
saying, “The real image of Islam should be demonstrated by you, by the scholars
and imams. To demonstrate the religion Islam is not the religion of ifrad and
tafrid. But it is the religion of moderation.”
Sheikh
Al-Sudais referred to another important point. He said, “Islam is the religion
of co-existence and co-operation; the religion of co-existence with all people
- Muslims, non-Muslims and even with those who have no faith.” Then he referred
to the verse of the Holy Qur’an: ‘O mankind; we created you from a single Male
and female, and make you into nations and tribes in order to know each other,
not to despise each other.’” He said this is the general principle of Islam to
live together and to invite and call other people who have different faiths.
Referring
to the differences and divisions, Sheikh Al-Sudais urged Muslims to come
together and avoid differences and divisions.
Referring
to the scholars, community leaders and imams of mosques, organisations and
centres, the Imam of the Grand Mosque of Makkah al-Mukarramah said, “Brothers
and sisters here in this country and the
scholars, imams and community leaders of mosques, schools and many other
organisations make great efforts to serve the Muslim community and to help them
as much as they can and I saw this myself in many centres, many imams and many
scholars do lots of great jobs serving the Muslim community as much as they
can.”
Sheikh
al-Sudais expressed his thanks to the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and other
Muslim countries that are doing great jobs and efforts to serve the community
here in this country.
Then
the Sheikh expressed his thanks to the Islamic Cultural Centre and the Dawah
Office, London who make great efforts to serve the Muslim community under the
supervision of Dr. Ahmed al-Dubayan, Director General of the Centre, and Mr.
Abdul Aziz al-Harbi; they do great jobs in this country.
At
the end, the Sheikh also thanked the gathering for their coming and listening
to him and then the Sheikh concluded his speech with dua and supplication for
the community, Muslims in general and convey the message of peace from the
people of Makkah and Madinah.
After
this, Dr. Ahmed al-Dubayan presented gift from the Islamic Cultural Centre to
the Sheikh Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais.
Imam of the Masjid al-Haram
led Maghreb Prayer
at London Central Mosque and
talk with people
After the Sheikh al-Sudais’s reception with the Muslim leaders,
scholars and Imams, the Imam of the Masjid al-Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais led the Maghreb prayer at the London Central
Mosque. After the Maghreb prayer, Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais addressed the gathering:
Sheikh al-Sudais said we are united by the Word of Allah
and we recite the Ayah of Allah. We all came from Allah.
Sheikh Abdul Rahman mentioned the importance of a person in
this life; be positive contribute to the society
The Imam of the Masjid al-Haram said, “Muslims in this
country are representative or ambassador of Islam. Islam is a moderate
religion; not extreme religion. The basic teaching of Islam is based on mercy;
it is a religion which is based upon co-existence and cooperation.”
The Imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah al-Mukarramah,
Sheikh al-Sudais, said, “Muslims living in this country, especially those
people who are living in the West, they have a great obligation to be united
under the Book of Allah, under the teachings of Islam; and on the Traditions
and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and stick and attach to
the methodology of Islam.”
Sheikh al-Sudais urged Muslims to seek the beneficial
knowledge and call others to Islam with wisdom (Hikma).
At the end, Sheikh Abdul Rahman said, “United you should
all be together and you should not be divided.” Then he said he is very happy
when he sees this country and the Muslims came from different parts of the
country and then he conveyed the greetings and Salams from the people of Makkah
and from the people of Madinah. He said,
“They (the people of Makkah and the people of Madinah) sent their greetings and
their supplications for all the Muslims living in the West.”
Imam of the
Masjid al-Haram led
Jumah Prayer at
ICC on 22 July, 2016
Imam of the Masjid al-Haram, Makkah al-Mukarramah, visited
Islamic Cultural Centre & The Regents Park London Central Mosque on Friday,
22 July 2016 and delivered Khutba (Friday sermon) and led the Jumah prayer
(Khutba which was translated into English by Imam Kazi Luthfur Rahman, Imam,
London Central Mosque and prepared by Dr. Mozammel Haque) was published earlier.
The Sheikh Abdul Rahman also visited King Fahd Mosque in
Scotland.
He left the United Kingdom in the first week of August,
2016.
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