Saudi cleric allows visits to non-Muslim places of worship, social media use

Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Suleiman al-Manee, member of the Board of Senior Ulama and Adviser to the Royal Court, told Saudi university students in Malaysia that they are allowed to visit worship places of other religions and encouraged them to heavy usage of the social media, Al Riyadh newspaper reported online on Monday.

Dr. Abdullah explained to the recipients of H.H. the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques foreign scholarship program, that he doesn’t object visiting worship places of non-muslims and watch their rituals, even if they have to pay entrance fees, as this will strengthen the muslim’s attachment to his religion and shows the ignorance of the followers of other religions.

He was speaking in Malaysia at the Saudi Students club in Malaysia, in presence of H.E. Fahed Bin Abdullah Al-Rasheed, Saudi Ambassador to Malaysia, and Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Mohamad Fousayyal, the saudi cultural attaché, and Mohamad Omar abou Sabaa, head of the students’ club.

Dr. Abdullah encouraged Saudi youth to use heavily all available social media tools, namely facebook, twitter, emails and what’s app, in order to spread the message of Islam as “We need to reach the people in modern and suitable means”.

According to Arriyadh Newspaper, he reminded students about the importance of spreading the message of tolerance in face of the fierce attacks against Islam, and refrain from any violent reactions, and be messengers of peace.