My brothers, I greet you with the finest of greetings, and I thank God for granting us this blessed opportunity to gather in the noblest of places and the most honored of cities after the Sacred House of God.
The city of the Messenger of God—peace be upon him—holds in our hearts a love and reverence that no passage of time can diminish. It is a love rooted in faith and spirit, and faith is the most precious and powerful possession of humankind. From this radiant city, the strength of Islam grew, and its light spread across all horizons.
God knows the alarm that struck us when my late father learned that some of the mosque’s pillars had weakened. He immediately summoned Muslim experts to examine the matter and address it at its roots. I had the honor of laying the foundation stone. Once the situation was stabilized, I resolved to expand the mosque so that it might accommodate the greatest possible number of worshippers and visitors.
I praise God that all of this has been completed during my reign, and that I have the great honor of inaugurating it today in the presence of this distinguished gathering representing Muslims from every land. My joy is further deepened by the presence of scholars and religious leaders from across the Islamic world. It is a fortunate sign that the completion of this expansion coincides with the anniversary of the Prophet’s migration to this blessed city in the month of Rabi‘ al‑Awwal.
On this auspicious occasion, I am pleased to announce to the Islamic world our project to expand the Sacred Mosque in Mecca according to a similarly beautiful and harmonious design. A permanent committee has been formed to oversee the execution of this project, which concerns us and the entire Muslim world.
I ask God to guide our steps in serving our religion and elevating our nation to the level befitting its place in the world. He is All‑Hearing, All‑Responsive.
3 Rabi‘ al‑Awwal 1375 — 21 October 1955