In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
From Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al‑Faisal
To all governors and officials in the Saudi realm.
Peace be upon you, and God’s mercy and blessings.
To proceed: May God bless you. You know that God Almighty has entrusted us with the affairs of the Muslims. In the hadith of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—he said: ‘Each of you is a shepherd, and each shepherd is responsible for his flock.’ You are responsible for those under your authority, and you know that the heavens and the earth stand only by justice, as God Almighty said: ‘Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.’ It is also said in some traditions: ‘Justice is the foundation of governance; religion is strengthened by authority, and authority endures through religion.’
What I enjoin upon you—and upon myself—is the fear of God, Who knows the treachery of the eyes and what the hearts conceal; nothing is hidden from Him. In the hadith: ‘God does not look at your forms or your words, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.’ You, may God bless you, have under your care subjects for whom you are accountable before God regarding how you treat them and how you uphold their rights. He will recompense you for that—if good, then good; and if evil, then evil.
What I urge you to uphold is adherence to the Muhammadan Sharia in all matters of rights, disputes, and conflicts among people. Do not burden yourselves with what you cannot bear. God Almighty has commanded you to follow His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet—peace be upon him—for there is no fairness nor justice except through adherence to the Book and the Sunnah. That is what will save you from God’s punishment and from the responsibility of governance.
After that comes justice among people, fairness, and refraining from favoring the great over the small, or the rich over the poor. The weak are those who deserve care, for the strong and wealthy can take their rights and defend themselves, whereas the weak have no refuge except God Almighty and then the authority of the Muslims.
Thus I advise you and place upon you the responsibility before God on the Day you meet Him barefoot and unclothed—nothing will save you except your righteous deeds—that you fear God in the matters of the Muslims entrusted to you; that you establish justice among people; that you grant them fairness even against yourselves; that you show humility to the Muslims; that you refine your manners; that you treat the elder as a father, the middle-aged as a brother, and the young as a son; that you safeguard their religious and worldly interests; and that you monitor their conditions.
Whatever relief you can provide them, do so; and whatever matter is difficult for you, raise it to us. You will find, God willing, that my doors and my heart are open to my subjects. I pursue their welfare and ward off harm from them whenever I learn of it.
Do not withhold yourselves from addressing any matter you see as harmful to religion or to the interests of the Muslims. Verify it first with people of religion, goodness, and righteousness, then raise it to us. By doing so, your responsibility is discharged and you will have fulfilled your duty, for the affairs of the Muslims concern me greatly. Examine their conditions and support them; then uphold the commands of God and attend to those whom God has placed under your authority in ways that safeguard their religion and beliefs.
Strengthen the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice with wisdom and deliberation, as in the noble verse:
‘Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good exhortation, and argue with them in the best manner.’
Support the people of righteousness and make them your close advisors, for a person is shaped by the company he keeps.
Thus I have cleared my conscience and delivered to you the necessary instructions. My opinion of you, God willing, is good; had it not been so, I would not have entrusted you with the affairs of the Muslims. But it is my duty to advise and guide you toward what benefits my subjects and my country, and out of fear of my responsibility before God.
We ask God Almighty to grant victory to His religion, to exalt His word, to show us and you the truth as truth and grant us the ability to follow it, and to show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the ability to avoid it.
May God’s blessings be upon Muhammad, his family, and his companions.”**
“A Journey to Yanbu”
By Muhammad al‑Sallah, journalist and pilot — 1375 AH