The Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan’s address to this country (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

Question:
May Allah preserve and honor this country, and praise be to Allah, for it has been blessed with the two Noble Sanctuaries and with countless blessings that cannot be counted or enumerated. These blessings deserve our gratitude and praise of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Praise be to Allah. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may Allah preserve him, and his Crown Prince and his Deputy Crown Prince, have blessed and visible efforts in serving Islam and the causes of Muslims, and in standing with the people of truth and repelling the unjust Houthis who have spread corruption and oppression on earth. Perhaps you have a word to say at the beginning of this meeting.

Answer:
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows: This country was, like other parts of Najd, a place of plunder and robbery, insecurity, and raids and vendettas between countries and between tribes. Then, when Allah bestowed upon it the call of Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him)—the call of tawhid (the oneness of Allah)—and the support of Muhammad ibn Saud, these two Muhammadan imams, Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab and Muhammad ibn Saud, pledged allegiance to one another; the one from the scientific side and the other from the political and authority side. Their efforts combined, and Allah established through their hands a unified country upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, from the desert of Sham to the farthest part of Yemen, to the borders of the land of Yemen, and from sea to sea in the east and west, including its cities, villages, and tribal deserts. All of it was unified upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The creed was purified in it, and the Shari'ah was made the law among them, after they used to judge by tribal customs. They began to rule by the purified law of Allah. Thus, this country was unified in their era upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and it continued thus from generation to generation. Whenever there was a decline or a difference or a dispute in it, it would return to its original state of chaos, but it would not long remain so before returning to its era and to the Book of its Lord and the Sunnah of its Prophet, to this day—praise be to Allah. It also cares for the House of Allah the Sacred and those who visit it, such as pilgrims, those performing 'Umrah, and those in i'tikaf (spiritual retreat), and for the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and those who visit it to pray in it and perform i'tikaf in it. It has stood firm in this, securing the roads and providing the necessities of life for everyone who comes to this country safely and with peace of mind, in accordance with His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He) to His friend Ibrahim and his son Isma'il: "So purify My House for those who circumambulate it and those who stand in it and those who bow and prostrate." This is from the grace and favor of Allah upon the Muslims that He established for them a state that cares for the two Noble Sanctuaries and cares for the Muslims who come to them from the east and west of the earth. This is from the grace of Allah, and Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) provided for it sustenance and opened for it the treasures that strengthen it to implement these great projects that enable the residents, the visitors, and those who stand in it and bow and prostrate. This is from the favor of Allah upon this country—praise be to Allah—and it is a distinction it has over the countries of the world. The security of this country is security for the entire Muslim world, for its pilgrims and its residents, and for the inhabitants of the two Noble Sanctuaries and those around them. This is from the favor and generosity of Allah, and it is due to making the purified law of Allah the judge, correcting the creed from what is attached to it, and judging by what Allah has revealed. All of this is from the favor of Allah upon this country, and it has caused security and stability to be available for it, and provided for it a comfortable life, and everything that Allah has bestowed upon this country, which is apparent and visible, praise be to Allah and thanks be to Him. We thank those in charge of this country, its rulers who have succeeded one another and preserved it by the preservation of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and established the law of Allah in it, and gave the oppressed their rights from the oppressor, until it became calm and stable. We ask Allah for it to continue, for it is the very eye of the Muslim world and the coolness of the eyes of the Muslim world. Its security is security for Muslims in every place, and Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has provided for it this by His favor and generosity, in response to the supplication of Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him): "My Lord, make this a secure land and provide for its people from the fruits," and "My Lord, make this land secure and keep me and my sons from worshipping idols." These are the supplications of the Friend (peace and blessings be upon him): "Our Lord, and send among them a Messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The supplication of my father Ibrahim." "Our Lord, and send among them a Messenger from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them." This has been fulfilled, praise be to Allah and thanks be to Him, and we continue to proceed in its light and in its footsteps. We ask Allah to guide those in charge of this country, to guide them to continue their efforts and exert themselves, and they are doing so, if Allah wills. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad.