The Imam of the Grand Mosque in Mekkah, Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, yesterday urged Saudis and all Muslims to rally behind the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, strengthening the country and countering local and foreign challenges. “We renew and affirm this legitimate pledge of allegiance to our leaders, may God grant them success,” he added. In his Friday sermon Sudais also commended the great services rendered by King Fahd to Islam and Muslims throughout the world. The expansion of the Two Holy Mosques would remain an outstanding landmark of King Fahd’s services to Islam and Muslims. During King Fahd’s reign, the Kingdom spent more than SR70 billion on the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques and the development of Mekkah and Medinah.

The imam also noted King Fahd’s contribution to the establishment of mosques and Islamic centers in major cities of the world and the distribution of millions of copies of Holy Qur’an and its translation in different languages. In a voice filled with emotion, the imam prayed for King Fahd saying “may Allah grant him place in paradise.” He expressed his delight over the smooth transition of power to King Abdullah, which disappointed the enemies of Islam, and prayed for his success.

All foreign Umrah pilgrims who spoke to Arab News praised King Fahd for his services to Islam. King Fahd supported Muslims all over the world whenever they faced problems, said Sajjad Ali, from Pakistan. He hoped that King Abdullah would follow Fahd’s example and take the Kingdom to new heights.

“We in Nigeria were shocked to hear the news of King Fahd’s death,” said Garba Masallachi, a businessman from Kano. He believed Abdullah would do more for the welfare of Muslims and to strengthen Islamic unity.

Hussein Al-Asheikh, Imam of the Prophet’s Mosque in Medinah, said in his Friday sermon that King Fahd was a great and wise leader with political acumen, who helped Muslims all over the world and supported their causes. He was a great supporter of the Palestinian cause. He said that the King Fahd complex for the printing of the Holy Qur’an is a remarkable project that Muslims will cherish forever. Al-Asheikh said that swearing allegiance to King Abdullah is a legal and religious duty.

Sermons in Riyadh mosques also stressed the need to pledge allegiance to King Abdullah and support him, while paying tributes to King Fahd’s great services to Islam.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Saudi citizens from all walks of life continued yesterday to pour into local governorates or make the journey to Riyadh to offer their allegiance to King Abdullah.

Note: How King Abdullah will cope with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qaeda threat will be his greatest test. It gathered momentum under King Fahd’s rule.