Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat – On Thursday, for the second day running, thousands of well wishers in Saudi Arabia visited government centers to pledge allegiance to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and the Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz. The crowds also offered their condolences and expressed their grief for the death of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz.

This display of support was replicated around the Kingdom as regional

governors, their deputies, and government representatives met with thousands of citizens including tribal leaders, leading figures, officers in the armed forces and the police, and other officials who expressed their grief and swore allegiance to King Abdullah.

It is estimated 2.5 million Saudis pledged allegiance in Riyadh alone,

with thousands more congregating in regional towns and cities, convinced that pledging allegiance was their duty and a way of thanking the royal family for its rule which has brought them high standards of living, progress, and prosperity.

In the capital, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Riyadh, received a number of mourners who offered their condolences on the death of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the late King Fahd bin Abdulaziz.

The visitors included Sheikh Hamad bin Sabah al Ahmad al Sabah and an accompanying delegation, representatives from the Kuwaiti business community, led by Sami al Badr al Qinai, Qatari Sheikh Nasser bin Abdullah al Atiyyah and his sons, and former Chief of the Courts in Qatar, Sheikh Abdulrahman al Mahmoud.

Meanwhile, senior clerics and jurists from across the Kingdom swore

allegiance to King Abdullah at the al Hakam Palace in Riyadh on Wednesday morning. The General Mufti Sheikh Abd al Aziz Al al Sheikh offered his condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and swore his allegiance to King Abdullah as King of Saudi Arabia according to the Quran and the Sunna, the deeds and utterances, of the Prophet Mohammed.

The oath of allegiance (or Bayaa) represents one if the important pillars of the system of government in the Saudi Arabia , a country that follows Islamic Sharia (law).

General Mufti Sheikh Abd al Aziz Al al Sheikh addressed his follower late Wednesday and publicly offered his condolences for the death of the late King Fahd and declared his obedience to King Abdullah bin

Abdulaziz.

Sheikh Ahman bin Baz, son of the former Mufti Sheikh Abd al Aziz bin Baz, explained, “The pledge is part and parcel of Islamic Shariaa. The Companions of the Prophet pledged allegiance to the Messenger of God, may peace be upon him, and the Caliphs who succeeded him shook his hands as token of their loyalty and obedience.”

Sheikh Salih bin Hamadm Chairman of the Shura Council (consultative council) and Saudi jurist, said clerics and jurists pledged allegiance because “they are the most knowledgeable amongst citizens and are an example to follow, especially as Saudi Arabia follows Islamic Sharia.”

For his part, Sheikh Abdullah bin Abd al Muhsin al Turki, Chairman of the MuslimWorld League, said “Undoubtedly, the oath of allegiance is a fundamental pillar in the Islamic state system. In the first instance, it is the rulers and decision makers who make it, that is, the princes, clerics, and jurists in Saudi Arabia. This is a direct allegiance, unlike the one from ordinary folk which can be made to representatives of the new ruler.&#34

When asked how the clerics and sheikhs make the pledge, Sheikh al Turki said, “There is no single definitive ritual but several ones.” Usually, the Sheikh added, the cleric shakes the King’s hand and declares, “We pledge allegiance to you on the Quran and the Sunna of the Prophet and undertake to obey you at all times.”

Sheikh bin Hamad added that after taking the oath, the cleric and jurisprudent advised the ruler, depending on the situation. “If there are large crowds and limited time, the procedure is speeded up.” In such a case, religious leaders say, “We have made you our ruler and we will obey you.” He added, “ Saudi Arabia is governed according to the tenants of Islam.”

For Sheikh al Turki, King Abdullah’s televised speech on Wednesday night contained the monarch’s reply to the oaths of his people and his agreement to rule and manage their affairs according to the Quran and the Sunna of the Prophet.