Mina, Asharq Al-Awsat – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, addressed an audience he held with a number of princes; the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom; scholars; sheikhs; Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] state guests; ministers; commanders; security officers and hajj pilgrims in Mina yesterday.

The following is the text of the address:

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful;

May Allah’s prayers and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammed and his family and companions;

My Brothers, the men of all sectors of the armed forces;

May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon you.

I congratulate you and the people of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the blessed Eid Al-Adha and pray to Almighty Allah to shower more blessings on our country and the Muslim Ummah.

Dear Brothers:

I thank Allah for bestowing on us the honor of serving the pilgrims. I can only pray to Allah Almighty to help you.

Dear Brothers:

You are the shield protecting this nation. No doubt, you are aware of the state through which our region is currently passing through. The Ummah’s enemies are waiting in ambush for your nation. They have no other goal but to disrupt our nation’s safety and unity, which were achieved with the struggles of King Abdul Aziz and your forefathers, may Allah be pleased with them.

We are surrounded by seditions which can only be deterred by depending on Allah Almighty and standing in the face of whoever contemplate tampering with the security, unity and sovereignty of our country. Therefore, we should shoulder our responsibility.

Sedition is surrounding us from all sides, there is nothing to protect us from this except to stand firm, with total reliance on Allah, against anyone who contemplates tampering with the security, unity and sovereignty of our country

May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon you.’