ReligionSaudi ArabiaIslam haj

Hajj Sermon: 'Islam Forbids Terrorism,' Says Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh

Top Islamic Leader Condemns Terrorism In Hajj Sermon
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Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, the Saudi grand mufti listens to a speech of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the Consultative Council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, March 24, 2009. King Abdullah formally opened the fifth session of the Consultative Council on Tuesday, the closest thing the kingdom has to a parliament. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

One of Saudi's top Islamic clerics, the Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, came out in no uncertain terms to condemn terrorism during his Hajj sermon on Monday.

“Islam does not allow terrorism at any cost. Islam condemns all violence and terrorism plaguing the world today. Muslims should demonstrate a love for peace and unity,” he said, reports Dawn News.

Though he did not explicitly mention the turmoil of the Arab Spring, he called on the global Muslim community to avoid sectarianism and come together.

“Oh Muslims be God-fearing, adopt the taqwa (fear of Allah), shun from earning money through unislamic means, hold fast the rope of Allah and don’t be divided into diverse schools of thoughts, get united against injustice,” he said, according to The Nation.

Dawn News reports that around 1.5 million pilgrims descended on Mount Arafat as part of the Hajj rituals, where the Grand Mufti delivered the sermon from a nearby mosque.

He also addressed the global economic crisis, saying, "Muslims should support the community by investing in their businesses."

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Before You Go

Muslim Leaders Condemn Terrorism
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf(01 of06)
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“The truth is that killing innocent people is always wrong — and no argument or excuse, no matter how deeply believed, can ever make it right. No religion on earth condones the killing of innocent people, no faith tradition tolerates the random killing of our brothers and sisters on this earth. ... Islamic law is clearly against terrorism, against any kind of deliberate killing of civilians or similar ‘collateral damage.’ ” -What's Right With Islam Is What's Right With America, via The New York Times (credit:Reuters)
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.(02 of06)
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“We will never allow ourselves to be hijacked by this attempt, and we will not allow the perception to be that there is any religion in the world that condones the taking of innocent life,” said Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. (credit:Getty Images)
Saudi's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh(03 of06)
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“Islam does not allow terrorism at any cost. Islam condemns all violence and terrorism plaguing the world today. Muslims should demonstrate a love for peace and unity."-Hajj Sermon 2013 (credit:Getty Images)
Jordan's King Abdullah II(04 of06)
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"We condemn the criminal and terrorist act that targeted a church in Baghdad", Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh told a news conference Monday. "We condemn all forms of terrorism, particularly targeting civilians. Jordan supports all efforts seeking to enhance Iraq's security," he pointed out. Judeh said King Abdullah II hd expressed his sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the victims of the attack and wished the injured a speedy recovery. -Aina.org (credit:Jordan Pix via Getty Images)
Shaykh Yusuf Qaradawi of Qatar(05 of06)
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Shaykh Yusuf Qaradawi, Qatar; Tariq Bishri, Egypt; Muhammad S. Awwa, Egypt; Fahmi Huwaydi, Egypt; Haytham Khayyat, Syria; Shaykh Taha Jabir al-Alwani, U.S.: “All Muslims ought to be united against all those who terrorize the innocents, and those who permit the killing of non-combatants without a justifiable reason. Islam has declared the spilling of blood and the destruction of property as absolute prohibitions until the Day of Judgment. … [It is] necessary to apprehend the true perpetrators of these crimes, as well as those who aid and abet them through incitement, financing or other support. They must be brought to justice in an impartial court of law and [punished] appropriately. … [It is] a duty of Muslims to participate in this effort with all possible means.” Statement of September 27, 2001. (credit:FAYEZ NURELDINE via Getty Images)
Worldwide(06 of06)
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See more statements from Muslim leaders from around the world hereAnd hereHereAlsoAnd here. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb7d9b4e4b0159c28b3f3a6" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="9">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/63651050@N00/9980658376" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="tomaszd" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb7d9b4e4b0159c28b3f3a6" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/63651050@N00/9980658376" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="10">tomaszd</a>)
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