‘Don’t publish marital problems online’

September 7, 2014

Riyadh, Sep 7: The Kingdom’s Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, who is also president of Council of Senior Scholars, has warned couples against publicizing their marital problems on social networking sites, saying such publicity could complicate court cases and create scandal.

Marital problems“Marriage is a sacred matter in Islam since it has been decreed by God,” said Al-Asheikh. “Going public at times of crisis can only escalate issues, which should be resolved through wise counseling to avert divorce.” The grand mufti was speaking during a Friday sermon at a local mosque in Riyadh.

Al-Asheikh also warned men against engaging in verbal abuse, saying such behavior is un-Islamic.

“Islam maintains the rights of women. This includes kind treatment and alimony,” he said. “Wedlock is a moral and legitimate commitment between couples, who should not blow things out of proportion.”

“Marriage is sacred in Islam because it ensures the continued existence of mankind until the Day of Judgment. In fact, Islamic law regulates the marital covenant precisely so men and women can enjoy peace and stability. This is why couples should work hard at keeping their marriage alive.”

A healthy marriage has countless benefits, including bringing about religious, social, psychological, healthy and economic security, said the mufti, who warned family members against meddling in marital affairs, saying such interventions might complicate problems further.

Stay away from evil

Meanwhile, in his weekly radio broadcast, the grand mufti warned both Saudi and expatriate youth not to pay heed to those who advocate evil.

Commenting on the arrest of 88 suspects by the Ministry of Interior, most of them Saudis, the mufti said that citizens who engage in subversive activities at the instigation of others become traitors and devil’s advocates.

His observation came in the wake of information that suspects were planning to engage in sabotage and assassinations in the Kingdom.

“Such news will, no doubt, grieve and offend every right-thinking Muslim,” he said, adding that such an act is not in the interest of residents who have lived in security, stability and tranquillity under the leadership of the Kingdom.

“How would you allow those who are actually enemies of your country, your religion and your nation, who are, in fact, using you to destroy your own country, to get away with this?”

“Do we want chaos?” asked the grand mufti. “Do we want bloodshed and the destruction of nations or a barbaric assault to loot and scoot with funds?”

Al-Asheikh also directed his message to parents and guardians, asking them to cooperate with the government and monitor their children. “A Muslim who extends a helping hand to the enemy not only destroys his religion but also his country.”

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News Network
March 6,2020

Riyadh, Mar 6: Saudi Arabia on Thursday emptied Islam's holiest site for sterilisation over fears of the new coronavirus, an unprecedented shutdown state media said will last while the year-round Umrah pilgrimage is suspended.

The kingdom halted the pilgrimage for its own citizens and residents on Wednesday, on top of restrictions announced last week on foreign pilgrims to stop the disease from spreading.

State television relayed images of an empty white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba -- a large black cube structure inside Mecca's Grand Mosque -- which is usually packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims.

As a "precautionary measure", the area will remain closed as long as the umrah suspension lasts but prayers will be allowed inside the mosque, state-run Saudi Press Agency cited a mosque official as saying.

Additionally, the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque in the city of Medina will be closed an hour after the evening "Isha" prayer and will reopen an hour before the dawn "Fajr" prayer to allow cleaning and sterilisation, the official added.

A group of cleaners was seen scrubbing and mopping the tiles around the Kaaba, a structure draped in gold-embroidered gold cloth towards which Muslims around the world pray.

A Saudi official told news agency the decision to close the area was "unprecedented".

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia suspended the umrah for its own citizens and residents over fears of the coronavirus spreading to Islam's holiest cities.

The move came after authorities last week suspended visas for the umrah and barred citizens from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council from entering Mecca and Medina.

Saudi Arabia on Thursday declared three new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of reported infections to five.

The umrah, which refers to the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of year, attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe annually.

The decision to suspend the umrah mirrors a precautionary approach across the Gulf to cancel mass gatherings from concerts to sporting events.

It comes ahead of the holy fasting month of Ramadan starting in late April, which is a favoured period for pilgrimage.

It is unclear how the coronavirus will affect the hajj, due to start in late July.

Some 2.5 million faithful travelled to Saudi Arabia from across the world in 2019 to take part in the hajj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam as Muslim obligations are known.

The event is a massive logistical challenge for Saudi authorities, with colossal crowds cramming into relatively small holy sites, making attendees vulnerable to contagion.

Already reeling from slumping oil prices, the kingdom risks losing billions of dollars annually from religious tourism as it tightens access to the sites.

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Agencies
May 28,2020

Sharjah, May 28: The Ministry of Interior has warned the public against visiting wadis during bad weather conditions, including rainy seasons, to avoid the risk of getting caught in flash floods that could endanger their lives.

A video posted on its official Instagram account depicted several such incidents involving cars being swept away by floods.

The warning comes after four people were found dead this week in Sharjah's Wadi Al Helo, an area hit by floods during heavy rains that lashed the emirate, authorities said.

The National Search and Rescue Centre (NSRC) found the bodies as it conducted an operation to look for seven people who were reported missing amid the unstable weather conditions.

In a separate incident yesterday, 20 passengers of a bus that got stuck in Wadi Hatta's Umm Al Nosor area in Dubai were also rescued by police after their vehicle was swept away by floods.

The ministry urged the public to follow the directives issued for their own safety.

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News Network
April 29,2020

Dubai, Apr 29: Saudi Arabia reported 1,325 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 21,402, the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday (April 28).

Meanwhile, the ministry reported 169 recoveries today, with total recoveries in the kingdom at 2,953. There are 125 cases in intensive care.

The ministry also confirmed 5 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the kingdom to 157.

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