Royal speeches

HM the King, Commander of the Faithful, Sends Message to Moroccan Pilgrims Heading for Islam Holy Sites

HM King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, sent a message to the Moroccan pilgrims heading for Islam holy sites.

Here follows the full text of the message which was read out by minister of endowment and Islamic affairs Ahmed Taoufiq, on the occasion of the departure of the first group of Moroccan pilgrims, on Tuesday at the Rabat-Salé airport:

Honorable pilgrims,

As the first group of pilgrims is about to depart for the Holy Land, it gives me great pleasure, in my capacity as Commander of the Faithful and Protector of the faith who is entrusted with overseeing the performance of the rites of Islam in this safe country, to take this opportunity to send this message to you and to all those who will be performing the Haj rituals this year. As you embark on the journey of Haj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, I want to tell you how satisfied I am with you and to offer you my sincere wishes for an accepted Haj, for the best of rewards and for Almighty God's forgiveness.

You do know, I am sure, how much I care about religious matters and about spiritual security in this blessed Kingdom. Topping the list, in this regard, is the performance of Haj by Moroccan citizens in safe and secure conditions, fulfilling their sincere desire to complete the rites of Islam and abide by its principles.

It is befitting, on such an occasion, to remind ourselves that Haj is one of the greatest pillars of Islam. It is a distinct social and spiritual gathering that brings Muslims from all corners of the world to the sanctified house of Allah; it was the first house built for people to worship God in, thus avoiding any form of polytheism or the pursuit of worldly, material things. It reflects the equality of all believers, whatever their background or status. They come to respond to the call of the Lord of the Worlds, their hearts unified, chanting the talbiyah in one and the same language: 'Here I am. You have no partner. Verily all praise, blessings and sovereignty are Yours. You have no partner’.

Thus Muslims - regardless of their race, country, language or rite – show, in concrete terms, that they have but one qibla, one creed. Each year, the faithful attend the great Haj season to give substance to the values of Islam, namely equality, brotherhood, cooperation and solidarity; they thus shun division and disagreement and commit to unity and concord.

Those are the values to which the Moroccan people have been committed throughout the ages, within the framework of the Commandership of the Faithful. Through the bond of the bei’a, the Moroccan people express their commitment to that Commandership and to the clear, straight path it implies. They are thus committed to the Sunni, Maliki rite, to the Ash'ari doctrine, and to the moderation, temperance and openness characterizing them.

So, congratulations to all pilgrims - men and women - whom God has honored by enabling them to respond to His call and perform the Haj rituals, in keeping with the words of the Almighty: ‘And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to you on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways; that they may witness the benefits (provided) for them, and celebrate the name of Allah, through the Days appointed’.

When you are in the Holy Land for the performance of Haj and its obligations, sacraments and recommendable rituals, make sure, may Allah protect you, that you let no time pass by without performing tawâf, remembering Allah and seeking His forgiveness. You will thus earn God’s promised reward, which is an accepted Haj, in accordance with the words of my ancestor, Prophet Mohammad, may peace and blessings be upon him: "There is no reward for an accepted Haj except Paradise."

You need to be aware of these rules and prescriptions and to remember what our scholars and ulema have taught you. Make sure you understand and comply with the precious lessons and religious teachings they have given you. Pilgrims’ proper understanding of the Haj obligations, prescriptions and rituals is essential for the good performance of this great pillar of Islam. Just as important is the need to be kind, tolerant and respectful; Allah says: ‘For Haj are the months well known. If anyone undertakes that duty therein, let there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the Haj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is right conduct’.

In accordance with my instructions, my dutiful Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has taken the necessary measures to ensure your well-being throughout your journey, enabling you to accomplish the pilgrimage rituals in an optimal way. In this regard, I wish to commend the senior officials and staff of that Ministry for the efforts they make each Haj season to help our faithful citizens accomplish this great pillar of Islam in a serene atmosphere and in an orderly manner.

Honorable pilgrims,

I should like to remind you, in this regard, of the need to observe the instructions provided to you by the staff of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs who will be accompanying you during your Haj. You are also expected to comply with the measures taken by the Saudi authorities in charge of supervising the Haj season and of looking after the guests of the Almighty, in accordance with the instructions of my dear brother, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

I should like to take this opportunity to tell King Salman bin Abdulaziz, once again, how appreciative I am of his commendable endeavors to improve Haj services and amenities, to the satisfaction of all Muslims. May God reward him abundantly for his continuous efforts to serve the guests of the Almighty, for his commitment and dedication in ensuring the maintenance and preservation of the two Holy Places, and for constantly supporting the Muslim Ummah.

Having drawn your attention to your duties with regard to the performance of this great pillar of Islam, I must now remind you of your individual and collective obligations towards your beloved country. Indeed, you need to reflect your time-honored culture, with its many different constituents and the longstanding values that your ancestors have upheld and embodied since times immemorial. Chief among these is your commitment to the immutable, sacred values of the Moroccan State – a nation which is based on moderate Islam and the Sunni doctrine, as represented by the Maliki doctrine and the Ash'ari rite. This is the cornerstone of the Commandership of the Faithful on which the constitutional, democratic and social monarchy is based. I therefore want you to be ambassadors for your country during that great gathering and reflect the characteristic, longstanding traditions of Moroccans, namely those of brotherhood, solidarity, moderation and openness.

Honorable pilgrims,

You are undoubtedly looking forward to the spiritual fulfilment characterizing the Haj season, especially when you visit the Prophet’s Mosque in al-Madina al-Munawwara, at the beginning or the end of your journey, and when you stand, showing deep reverence and veneration, before the best of Allah’s creations and the seal of all prophets and messengers, my revered ancestor, Prophet Mohammad, may peace and blessings be upon him.

Therefore, do keep in mind the reverence, devotion and deep respect required there, at the fountainhead of mercy and blessings, and seek the reward promised by the Almighty to all those who say ‘peace and blessings be upon the Prophet’, for Prophet Mohammad said: ‘Whoever sends a prayer upon me, Allah will send ten upon him’.

In each one of those holy places and at each moment of the sincere, spiritual journey you are about to undertake, remember to pray for your King, who is entrusted with ensuring your security and your well-being as well as your country’s unity, sovereignty, dignity and rightful status in the region and within the Muslim Ummah. Pray that He may make me ever satisfied with our beloved Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Moulay El Hassan, and all members of the Royal family. Pray that He may shower His blessings upon my esteemed grandfather, His Majesty King Mohammed V, and upon my revered father, His Majesty King Hassan II - may they rest in peace. Pray that He will guide my steps so that I may lead Morocco towards further progress, prosperity and glory.

Before concluding, I should like to wish you, once again, Haj mabrûr. May the Almighty accept your pilgrimage, reward you for it and bring you back home safely.

He is All-Powerful. He can answer prayers.

Wassalamou alaikoum warahmatoullahi wa barakatouh

MAP 08 August 2017