King praises Saudi-US ties

Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman sent congratulations to President of the United States of America Barack Obama on the anniversary of his country's independence.
King Salman expressed, on behalf of the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, most sincere congratulations and wishes of best health and happiness to the president, the government and the people of the United States of America, wishing them further progress and prosperity.
The king praised the relations between the two countries and the development witnessed in all fields of cooperation. Separately, one hundred Islamic personalities who were guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques while they performed Umrah left the Kingdom after a visit which lasted 10 days.
Abdullah bin Midlej Al-Midlej, supervisor of the secretariat general of the program, and several other officials were present during the farewell.
Islamic figures, consisting of muftis, heads of Islamic associations, universities, academics and advocates and coming from 22 countries in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Balkans and Central Asia, expressed great satisfaction with and gratefulness for having performed Umrah and meeting the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, thanking him for hosting them and praying that God will reward him for his hospitality.
They concurred that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Umrah is very important as it helps bring together Muslim scholars. The program, they said, gave them the opportunity to get to know each other while gathering in the purest place on earth, Makkah, next to the Holy Kaaba.
They also met with Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, the general supervisor of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Haj and Umrah and visit program.
Their meetings, they said, were an opportunity to further promote relations between the Kingdom and their countries in various areas of Islamic action.
They also discussed ways of spreading the Islamic call, addressing the challenges faced by the Islamic nation, and the role of Muslim scholars in facing threats to the Muslim nation’s security, stability and youth.
In this regard, they underlined the great role scholars and preachers should play, saying that it is their duty to direct and guide young people in all their endeavors, thus ensuring that they and their faith are protected from any lurking dangers.

Source: Arab News