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King Abdul Aziz

A staunch believer and protagonist of world peace
KING Abdul Aziz built the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the strong foundation of tho oneness of God and Submission to the Judgement of God's Holy Book and the Traditions of His Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Saudi Arabia's quest for a better life took off under his leadership, racing against time and setting new economic records. And, consequently within a few decades the Kingdom took its legitimate and prominent place in Ihe comity of nations.
King Abdul Aziz built a vast State occupying four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula and called il in 1351H (1932AD). "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.* He named it, having unified its component parts and brought Ihe people together in peace, with justice and security. He set this day, 23 September, to be the National Day of his Kingdom. The nation celebrates tins day every year and recalls with pride the deeds andachievementsof its Great Founder.
King Abdul Aziz followed in the footsteps of Ihe leaders of the two Saudi states that rose and foil in this region. The first Saudi state emerged In the middle of the eighteenth century through tho alliance of the ruler of Diriya, Imam Muhamamed Bin Saud wilh Ihe Islamic reformer Sheikh Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab. The alm of ' the alliance was Io spread true Islam and
punfy the faith and rid It of the superstitions and heresies that attached themselves to It over centuries of ignorance. The first fruit of that era was Iho unification of the disparate regions, the gathering of the tribes and the acceptance of the rule of God's law. A just society living in peace over vast areas of Ihe Arabian Peninsula and beyond. Eventually, the state came under the pressure of foreign Interference and wars, leading to its demise and the return of Ihe Peninsula to its former chaolic condition. The situation pained Abdul Aziz who was living wilh his family in Kuwait. He swore to regain his heritage at all cost At last on 5 i8hawwah1319 H (15 January 1902 AO) he succeeded in recapturing Riyadh, which turned out to be the springboard for the unification of Ihe country. He fought battles after battles. and strove for nearly 31 years to bind the nation together and proclaim Ihe establishment of Ihe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The people of Peninsula saw Ihe nobility of his cause and flocked together under his banner.
Strong Belief In God.:Abdul Aziz, driven by a strong belief in God, strong will and an instinctive understanding of the needs of the hour and aspirations of his people, succeeded In overcoming obstacles and laid the foundation of the young slate under the banner of:
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"Thore is no divinity but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.' He then set about the task of building the structures of a modem state. He began to open the doors Io a bright future for his people. One of his acts was Io Implement a scheme to settle nomadic bedouins into settled communities; he called 'Al-Hijir' to which he brought Instructors, teachers and experts in many fields. He began Io release the productive potential of the people, being careful to heed the needs and aspirations of all the people of the Kingdom.
The security of Hajj (Pilgrimage) roads was one of his main objectives. Pilgrims to Makkah and visitors to the Mosque of the Prophet in Medinah feared for their lives when undertaking those journeys. He took stem measure against the miscreants and secured a safe passage for travelers to the Holy place.
Attention to Holy Place: King Abdul Aziz paid special attention to the Holy places.
During his reign, Al-Haram Mosque In Makkah was renovated and vastly improved while Iha Mosque of the Prophet in Medinah saw a substantial enlargement to accommodate the ever Increasing number ofvisitors,
King Abdul Aziz was Ihe first to call Islam! solidarity. He believed in the unity and cooperation between the peoples of the Muslim world, for the good of humanity as a whole. He set up the first. Islamic Conference in Makkah in 1346 H (1926 AD). His young state had an intimation of good fortune when oil was discovered In the Eastern Province in 1938. Then the meagre Income from oil helped the Kingdom to accelerate development in the country. Many projects came to fruition, such as the rail line connecting the capital Riyadh with the Eastern Province, opened In 1371 H (1951 AD); the establishment of a national airline in 1945, the Inauguration of broadcasting, and several other projects. Spread of Education: The King paid
special attention to education. He sought the spread of learning to all parts of the Kingdom. Ha paid generous grants to students and Initiated the production and free distribution of textbooks. He set up the General Directorate of Education in 1926 and entrusted it with the task of opening and administering schools. In the sama year Ihe Saudi Scientific Institute was set up.
This is an establishment that produced much of the talents that was to ran government departments and the private sector. A school to prepare students for foreign scholarships was established. By early 50s Ihe Kingdom's first two colleges were opened. These were the College of Humanities and the College of Sharia in Makkah, whose main task was to tutor judges and teachers. Young Saudis were sent abroad to study at universities In Western countries.
Education was not the King's only concern; he also built roads, opened hospitals and Introduced modem methods of government
'Simultaneously King Abdul Aziz paid attention to the Kingdom's position among Iha nations of the world and sought to enhance it on the Arab, Islamic and International levels. He entered into treaties and established relations with all nations. Saudi Arabia was a founder member of the United Nations Organization whose charter the Kingdom signed in San Francisco in 1945. King Abdul Aziz took on and vigorously defended the just causes of the Arab and Islamic worlds.
A protagonist of world peace: The Kingdom was a founder member of the Arab League that saw the light in 1944. King Abdul Aziz stood side by side with Arab stales straggling to rid themselves of colonialism and foreign Interference. He put all his weight behind the Palestinian cause and his famous meeting with America President Roosevelt in 1945 and the exchange of letters with him about Palestine are notable examples of his efforts on behalf of Ihe people of Palestine and the straggle
for their legitimate rights and their usurped homeland. He sought to secure world peace by ensuring and human rights (brail.
Arab and Foreign historians have placed King Abdul Aziz among the world’s great leaders. Volumes have been written eulogizing his heroism, his many talents and his unique personality. Ho was a great and pious leader and an astute politician. He passed away on 2 Rabi Al-Awwal 1373 H (9 November 1953). In his death the Arab losta great statesman, and the world lost one of the greatest humanitarians and protegonistsof peace.
The people of Ihe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as they enjoy today Ihe fruits of his labor and shelter under his great legacy, they remember with pride their leader's striving and his victories. His sons, who trod the same path, have succeeded In achieving what he strove so valiantly for, that is, progress, peace, prosperity and welfare of the people.