Al-Azhar harshly condemns attempted attack on Mecca, saying its security impacts 2 billion Muslims

Al-Azhar Al-Sharif has vehemently condemned an attempted attack on the holy city of Mecca, emphasizing that such an act is an abhorrent crime against the faith. In a statement released on Wednesday, the religious institution unequivocally denounced the threat to the Qibla and sanctuary that Muslims around the world turn to in their prayers and pilgrimage.

Al-Azhar emphasized that endangering the Holy City is a heinous act, a sinful assault on a place revered by God and Muslims alike. They warned against expanding the conflict to include Islamic holy sites, stating that it is unthinkable for Mecca to become a battleground or a source of threat. The sanctity of Mecca is an unshakeable tenet of the Islamic faith, a belief that must not be compromised by any means.

The institution reaffirmed that the security of the Two Holy Mosques is a matter of faith for the entire Islamic world, not a political or regional issue. Al-Azhar stressed that targeting the Holy City or putting it in danger provokes the feelings of two billion Muslims around the globe and is an assault on the sanctity of holy sites towards which Muslims pray, perform pilgrimage, and come together, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.

The statement underscored that safeguarding the sanctity of the Holy City and ensuring its security is a responsibility that transcends conflict and political calculations, applicable to both Muslims and non-Muslims.