Source: AP
Saudi Arabia called on the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Friday to organize a meeting of Muslim leaders in the kingdom, aimed at healing rifts among Islamic nations.
Speaking at a reception attended by the heads of delegations of pilgrims who gathered in Saudi Arabia from all over the world to perform the annual Hajj, pilgrimage, Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz addressed the OIC, saying: "I address my brethren the leaders of Muslim countries through you so that we can overcome, with our faith in God ... the state of dismemberment and fragmentation" among Muslims. The Prince’s remarks were reported by the official SPA news agency.
Prince Abdullah asked Malaysia, current chairman of the 57-member OIC, to organize the summit.
The leaders' conference should be preceded by meetings among "the (Islamic) nation's thinkers and scholars ... to outline visions of the nation's future and thus assist the gathering of the leaders, which I hope will be held here, in this pure land," said the Prince.
The leaders would "search for common ground and strengthen the bonds" among Muslims, he added.
Nearly 2.5 million Muslims gathered in Mina for a second day Friday to throw stones at pillars symbolizing the devil, the final and often the most dangerous ritual of the annual Hajj.
The Saudi government adopted new measures this year, aimed at ensuring the safety of the pilgrims and to reduce congestion, which in previous years led to fatal stampedes at the holy site.
In Islam, every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to attend the Hajj is required to perform the pilgrimage at least once.
This year, about 2.5 million pilgrims from all over the world flocked to Saudi Arabia to perform pilgrimage.