His Majesty King Saud’s Address to the Scholars, Judges, and Officers of Public Morality in the Dhahran Region — 1953
“I have invited you, on the occasion of our departure, to ask that you be the finest example of the guidance we hope for our nation. I have always known you—praise be to God—to be trustworthy in your duties.”
His Majesty continued:
“The noticeable increase in population, activity, and movement in this region has required us to strengthen its public services and government departments—foremost among them the religious institutions. Rest assured that we will spare no effort in raising the standard of our people.”
“You have seen the projects we initiated during our stay here—projects we hope will contribute to achieving the social justice we seek for all members of the nation, guided by the teachings of God and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace be upon him.”
“Know that one of the greatest commands of our religion is enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. It is therefore our duty to uphold it, convey it sincerely, and carry it out with gentleness and wisdom.”
His Majesty then declared:
“The Book of God is our religion and our reference, and the Sunnah of His Messenger is our guide. In them lies all the insight, goodness, and guidance we need. We shall, God willing, strive to uphold them, follow them, and apply them in all matters.”
“With God’s help, we will work to provide the means of goodness for all members of the nation. I ask you to cooperate in establishing truth, righteousness, and piety. In the noble hadith: ‘All creation is God’s dependents, and the most beloved to God are those who are most beneficial to His dependents.’ God has granted us the opportunity for this great virtue.”
“Therefore, be sincere. Recognize the truth and follow it; recognize wrongdoing and avoid it. We thank God who has granted us His support and enabled us to do good.”
“Know that righteous deeds are the strongest path to success: ‘Whoever does good, it is for his own soul.’ And evil always brings ruin—may God protect us and you from all harm.”
His Majesty emphasized the importance of inner struggle:
“We must constantly strive against our own souls, turning them away from evil toward good. This is the greater jihad, for the soul commands wrongdoing if left unchecked. This is what the Prophet, peace be upon him, meant when he said upon returning from the Battle of Hunayn: ‘We have returned from the lesser jihad to the greater jihad — the jihad of the soul.’”
He added:
“This is our path, and it is what we always call you to. God will support us with His spirit so long as our intentions remain pure. What matters is sincerity, not outward appearances. In the hadith: ‘God does not look at your forms or your words, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.’ If intentions are sound, conditions will be sound; if they are corrupted—God forbid—the outcome will be corrupted.”
At this point, the scholars responded:
“God has chosen you to support His religion and granted you success in raising its banner, spreading its teachings, and upholding its laws. You have earned His pleasure and His support. We shall, God willing, work to fulfill all that clears our conscience before God, seeking only to remain worthy of your trust.”
His Majesty concluded:
“We expect good from you and trust that you will fulfill your duties in the best manner. We ask God Almighty to guide us and you to all that is good, to protect us from desire and misguidance, and to grant us a blessed outcome. God is our helper.”
(Jumada al‑Akhirah 1372 — 16 November 1953)