Maranaos welcome Saudi cleric visit

From the Manila Times (Nov 7): Maranaos welcome Saudi cleric visit

MARAWI CITY: Thousands of Maranaos gave a warm welcome to an Imam (cleric) of a mosque in Saudi Arabia who arrived in this city as part of his weeklong visit in the country.

Haram mosque’s Sheikh Maher bin Hamad Al-Mueaqly was delighted to see children from Balo-i town holding colorful flags and chanting the traditional and oldest Islamic song entitled Tala’ al-Badru ‘Alayna lined up the streets.

In his speech at the provincial capitol, Mueaqly discussed the       true essence of Islam as a peaceful religion.

Mueaqly, the first Imam from Saudi Arabia to visit the country also made the rounds of local mosques including the Golden Mosque in Manila, urging Muslims to be righteous and to respect the co-existence of Muslims, Christians and the Jews.

Mueaqly’s visit is part of a propagation mission organized by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance. He arrived in Manila on October 31 and has given lectures in Cotabato City and Davao City.

Mueaqly, a Sunni Muslim, had issued various fatwa or Islamic ruling and labeled the Sunni extremists Islamic State in Iraq and Syria as “enemy of Islam.”

http://www.manilatimes.net/maranaos-welcome-saudi-cleric-visit/139997/