(Um al‑Qura, Issue 1588 — 11 Rabi‘ al‑Awwal 1375 / 28 October 1955)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to God, by whose grace righteous deeds are completed. May prayers and peace be upon Muhammad, His servant and Messenger—the guiding light and bearer of the banner of truth and justice—and upon his family, his companions, and all who follow his path and emulate his example.
My brothers, I greet you with the best of greetings, and I thank God for granting us this happy occasion that has brought us together in the finest of places and the most virtuous of cities after the Sacred House of God.
My brothers, the city of the Messenger—peace be upon him—holds in our hearts a love and reverence untouched by the passage of time. It is a love rooted in faith and spirit, and faith is the most precious and powerful possession a person can hold. 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 expert Muslim architects to examine the matter and address it at its roots. I had the honor of laying the foundation stone. And once the situation became clear to me, I resolved that the mosque should be expanded to accommodate the greatest possible number of worshippers and visitors.
I praise God that all this has been completed during my reign, and that I have the great honor of inaugurating it today in the presence of this gathering representing Muslims from all regions. My joy is further deepened by the presence of religious scholars from across the Muslim world. And it is a fortunate coincidence that the completion of this reconstruction and today’s celebration coincide with the anniversary of the Prophet’s migration—peace be upon him—to this very city in the month of Rabi‘ al‑Awwal.
On this blessed occasion, I am pleased to convey to the Islamic world the news of our project to expand the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, following the same beautiful architectural harmony. A permanent committee has been formed to oversee the implementation 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 country to the level befitting its position in the world. He is the All‑Hearing, the All‑Responsive.