(Umm al‑Qura, Issue 1784 — 8 Rabi‘ al‑Awwal 1379 / 11 September 1959)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
My beloved people,
I praise before you God, the Almighty, and ask Him to protect us and you from missteps, to illuminate for us the paths of righteousness, and to grant us abundant gratitude for His many blessings.
The heartfelt sentiments with which you received me today upon my return to our dear homeland and noble people are matched only by the flood of telegrams and letters that poured into the Royal Court inquiring about my health during treatment, and seeking news of my journey as I moved through Germany for rest and recuperation. This fills me with gratitude to God, and then to you, for the mutual affection He has placed between us, the sincere loyalty we share, and the genuine desire to work together for the advancement of this country in which we live, and the nation whose identity we collectively form.
Today I return to you reassured regarding my health, and renewed in strength and vitality through God’s grace. I pray that He enables us to use this renewed energy in service of your nation, the upliftment of your people, and the protection of your land from all adversity.
During my return, I had the opportunity to meet my brother Gamal Abdel Nasser, President of the United Arab Republic, in response to his invitation. We discussed various matters concerning our two countries and the Arab world at large. I am pleased to inform you that our discussions were marked by complete harmony, and that our views aligned fully on what serves the interests of Arabism and Islam. We hope that this will mark the beginning of a new era of unity and cooperation among all our Arab peoples—so that we may face our political circumstances as one, and work together for the welfare of our Arab community.
As I share this with you with great satisfaction, I also express my gratitude and appreciation for the warm reception I received in Egypt from its government and its brotherly people. I ask the Almighty to guide us to what benefits our country and all its people.