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Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs to Asharq Al-Awsat: Qaradawi’s Fatwa on Hajj Stokes Sedition

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia on August 16, 2018. (Reuters)
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia on August 16, 2018. (Reuters)
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Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs to Asharq Al-Awsat: Qaradawi’s Fatwa on Hajj Stokes Sedition

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia on August 16, 2018. (Reuters)
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia on August 16, 2018. (Reuters)

A fatwa issued by Muslim Brotherhood cleric Youssef al-Qaradawi about the annual Hajj pilgrimage has sparked condemnation from across the Muslim world.

The Qatar-based cleric tweeted that “Allah has no need for the Hajj. Any duty that He imposed is aimed at enriching his followers so that they can transcend to their maker on the spiritual, moral and psychological levels.”

“Seeing Muslims feeding the hungry, treating the sick and sheltering the homeless are better viewed by Allah than spending money on the Hajj and Umrah every year,” he added.

Doing the above would grant Muslims greater spiritual gratification than circumambulating around the holy Kaaba, he remarked.

Performing the annual Hajj is among the five main pillars of Islam that every able Muslim is expected to perform at least once in their life.

Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif al-Sheikh condemned Qaradawi’s fatwa, saying that he has long worked on sowing sedition among Muslims.

He deemed his latest tweets as “one of hundreds of terrorist fatwas.”

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that those who know Qaradawi’s history and methodology and have read his books and listened to his sermons are aware that he loves to create division among Muslims and spark strife among them.

He accused him of exploiting his latest fatwa to achieve political and partisan goals.

The fatwa falls in line with the calls made the Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite channel and the terrorist leaderships of the Muslim Brotherhood, continued the minister.

His fatwas have given rise to violent extremist groups, stated al-Sheikh.

Qaradawi’s fatwa is aimed at “bending religion to serve the Safavid and Brotherhood approaches that are allied against Islam,” declared the minister.

Qaradawi made his tweets soon after the Kingdom hosted yet another successful Hajj whereby the pilgrims were able to perform their duties with the greatest of ease and amid great security.

They all thanked the Kingdom and its people for all the facilitations they have been provided.

Qaradawi was placed on the terrorist blacklist by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt on June 8, 2017.

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Gulf

Albudaiwi: Stability of the Gulf Is Now a Common Int’l Interest

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi speaks at the panel in Prague on Saturday. (GCC)
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi speaks at the panel in Prague on Saturday. (GCC)
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Albudaiwi: Stability of the Gulf Is Now a Common Int’l Interest

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi speaks at the panel in Prague on Saturday. (GCC)
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi speaks at the panel in Prague on Saturday. (GCC)

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stressed on Saturday that the latest developments demonstrate that security of the Middle East and Europe are "unprecedentedly" connected.

He said the GCC member states consistently seek to bolster security, stability, development, and prosperity to serve the mutual interests of the people in the region and entire world, noting the rapid geopolitical shifts and growing security and economic challenges facing the globe.

Albudaiwi was speaking at a panel session on GCC-European strategic links on the sidelines of the GLOBSEC Global Security Forum 2026 in Prague.

"The GCC General Secretariat’s participation in the GLOBSEC Global Security Forum 2026 embodies its keenness to maintain an active presence in regional and international forums," he continued.

"This engagement aims to bolster communication and exchange perspectives with international partners, decision-makers, and experts, thereby supporting efforts to maintain regional and international security while keeping pace with rapid global changes."

On the conflict in the Middle East, he said: "GCC states have sustained their continuous diplomatic efforts to de-escalate and defuse tensions in the region, promoting paths of dialogue and diplomacy to protect regional security, stability, and the safety of its peoples."

He underscored the paramount importance of protecting the security of air and maritime corridors, ensuring freedom of navigation, the safety of supply chains, and the stability of global energy markets.

"The stability of the Gulf region remains a fundamental pillar for the stability of the global economy and international maritime security," added Albudaiwi.

Furthermore, he explained that recent developments have proven that the security of Europe and the Middle East has become unprecedentedly interconnected.

"Any disruption in the Gulf region and its surrounding maritime passages directly affects the European economy, global energy security, supply chains, and international stability as a whole," he remarked.

"Gulf stability is no longer merely a regional matter, but has become a shared international interest," he continued.

Discussing the future of Gulf-European relations, he said that both sides aspire to elevate their ties to broader horizons.

The upcoming GCC-EU Summit will help in cementing cooperation across numerous fields and achieving the mutual interests of both parties, he added, while underlining the significance of reaching tangible results that serve both sides and elevate their ongoing cooperation.

Gulf

Saudi FM, Arab and Islamic States Condemn Israeli Actions against Gaza Flotilla Activists

Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Saudi FM, Arab and Islamic States Condemn Israeli Actions against Gaza Flotilla Activists

Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Logo of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye strongly condemned the appalling conduct of extremist Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir against activists in the Gaza-bound flotilla while they were held in Israeli detention.

The ministers stressed that Ben-Gvir’s deliberate public humiliation of detainees constitutes a disgraceful affront to human dignity and a blatant violation of Israel’s obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

The ministers further condemned in the strongest terms the illegal and extremist acts of incitement and violence by Ben-Gvir and other Israeli officials directed against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The ministers warned that Ben-Gvir’s provocative actions fuel hatred and extremism, and obstruct efforts to advance a just and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution.

The ministers demanded accountability for the actions of Ben-Gvir and called for concrete measures to end his repeated provocations, incitement, and violations. They also urged steps to prevent him from posing further threats, and to ensure that such actions are neither tolerated nor repeated.

They further stressed the imperative of protecting human rights, safeguarding the dignity and humane treatment of all detainees, and ensuring full respect for international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Gulf

Hajj Pilgrims Flock to Mina on Day of Tarwiyah

Pilgrims flock to Mina for the Day of Tarwiyah. (SPA)
Pilgrims flock to Mina for the Day of Tarwiyah. (SPA)
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Hajj Pilgrims Flock to Mina on Day of Tarwiyah

Pilgrims flock to Mina for the Day of Tarwiyah. (SPA)
Pilgrims flock to Mina for the Day of Tarwiyah. (SPA)

Hajj pilgrims will complete their arrival to Mina on Monday to complete the Day of Tarwiyah amid an integrated system of services prepared by Saudi authorities to ensure that they have a smooth journey throughout their pilgrimage and stay in the Kingdom.

Saudi Health Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel stressed that no diseases or viruses were detected at the Hajj, easing concerns over the Hantavirus that has captured headlines in recent weeks.

There is no need to be alarmed and pilgrims are in good health, he assured.

Thousands of security forces are on the ground to ensure that the pilgrims flock to Mina safely through dedicated routes. The holy sites in the Makkah are connected through several roads, tunnels and dedicated walking paths.

The pilgrims were making their way from Makkah to Mina without incident thanks to the integrated transportation system made available by the authorities overseeing the Hajj.

The Health Ministry has issued guides for the pilgrims on the optimal use of their umbrellas amid the high temperatures and to avoid heatstroke and UV rays, especially as they make their way to the holy sites.

Meanwhile, the Al-Mashaaer Al-Mugaddassah Metro line operated its first ride on Sunday. It will transport pilgrims across the holy sites, including Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. Each of the nine trains can transport 3,000 passengers. This year’s operational plan for the Hajj is aiming to transport over 2 million passengers over 2,000 trips.

The train plays a pivotal role in ensuring the transport is smooth across the holy sites. It has also helped ease traffic after over 50,000 bus rides were cancelled in favor of the use of the trains.