Hajj sermon: Terrorists are destroying Islam's image, says Saudi grand mufti

Urges Muslims to put efforts to spread the real message of Islam as the religion of peace

Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz said the terrorists have gone astray and destroying the image of Islam, Radio Pakistan reported.

In an apparent hint at the Islamic State (IS) terror group, the grand mufti cautioned the Muslims about the menace of terrorists using the religion name while sabotaging peace, saying that these terrorists have not even left mosques and peaceful citizens.

Hajj pilgrims gather to perform noon and afternoon prayers at Namira Mosque in Mount Arafat, southeast of the Saudi holy city of Makkah, on September 23, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

While delivering the Hajj sermon in Masjid-e-Nimra at Maidan-e-Arafat, where this year around two million pilgrims have arrived to perform Hajj, Aziz urged Muslims on to put efforts to spread the real message of Islam as the religion of peace, love and brotherhood.

Read: Hajj pilgrims pray for peace in Muslim countries wracked by war

Cautioning about the conspiracies being hatched by enemies to undermine the image and strength of Islam, the grand mufti urged Muslims to forge unity in their ranks to foil enemies’ designs.

Read: 2.5m pilgrims perform Hajj today

Talking about the issue of killings taking place across the world in the name of religion, he said that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had declared all kinds of injustices forbidden (haram), adding that injustice was destined to be eradicated sooner or later.

Hajj pilgrims gather to perform noon and afternoon prayers at Namira Mosque in Mount Arafat, southeast of the Saudi holy city of Makkah, on September 23, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

Urging the youth not to listen to those spreading anarchy, the grand mufti asked them to direct all their energies towards spreading true message of Islam.

Towards the end of his sermon, Aziz implored Muslims to stand united in the face of extreme threats as the enemies of Islam were getting united to weaken the Islam.