New Delhi

Respect for other faiths and harmony among religions were central themes in this year’s Arafat sermon delivered by the head of the Makkah-based Muslim World League at Nimrah Mosque, where one million pilgrims had gathered for Hajj.

Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League said, ”Muslims should praise the Almighty and become ambassadors for Islam by always following its precepts on good behavior, n his Arafat Day sermon delivered at Namirah Mosque on Friday.

Addressing the pilgrims and Muslims around the world, he said good deeds would guarantee happiness in this life and ensure Allah’s rewards in the hereafter.

Al-Issa, who delivered the Arafat sermon for the first time, emphasized the importance of Islam’s five pillars of faith.

He also urged Muslims to continue to carry out good deeds and treat others well, including those of other beliefs. “All people, whether Muslims or not, respect those with good manners, for sound conduct is a high human value,” he said. He urged the faithful to distance themselves from actions that can cause disharmony, hatred and division.

“Love and compassion should prevail in our dealings, and it is part of our faith that we all together unite,” he said, adding that cooperation can preserve the Muslim community’s cohesion.

“This proves the fact that Islam is an all-encompassing spirit that includes goodness to all humanity. Our Prophet has said: ‘The best people are those who are the most beneficial to people.’”

He concluded by urging the pilgrims to take advantage of their time at the holy sites to supplicate and seek forgiveness from Allah for their sins.

“Dear worshippers performing Hajj at Allah's sanctified house; dear Muslims: Among the values taught by Islam are avoiding all that leads to dissent, animosity, or division; and instead, ensuring that our interactions are dominated by harmony and compassion,” Dr Sheikh Mohammed Al Issa told the faithful in Arafat.

“These values come at the head of what adhering to the Quran and Sunnah means … It is that unity, brotherhood, and co-operation which constitutes a fortification of safety that protects our Ummah and its togetherness, and also contributes to maintaining sound interactions with others,” he said.

Muslim pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat, about 20 kilometres from the Kaaba on the Arafat plains — on Friday to participate in the most important ritual of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Al Issa was Saudi Arabia’s minister of justice before he was appointed to lead the Muslim World League. He is also a member of the Council of Senior Scholars in Saudi Arabia.

He also led a historic high delegation interfaith visit of Muslim religious leaders in 2020 to the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.

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The Hajj sermon were tranbslated in 14 languages including Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and Tamil.