A facelift for Saudi Arabia

Cultural and artistic events held across the Kingdom

JEDDAH: For the first time in its history, Saudi Arabia celebrated on February 22, 2022, the Founding Day, which dates back nearly three centuries, when the grandfather of the royal family, Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Bin Muhammad Bin Muqrin established the first Saudi state in Diriyah on February 22, 1727 AD.

It is worth mentioning that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman issued a royal decree that February 22 will be an official holiday in the country every year on the occasion of the Founding Day. The Kingdom will celebrate the Founding Day for the second time this year, after the Cabinet adopted the day to commemorate the country’s founding.

The Saudi Founding Day does not replace the Saudi National Day, which marks the occasion of the unification of the Kingdom that falls on September 23 each year. The celebration of the Founding Day was announced to define the beginning of the history of the Saudi state, which began on the day the first Saudi state was founded, as it will be a new occasion to recall the historical depth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On the historic occasion on February 22, 2022, the Saudi Monarch Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman saluted his citizens, reaffirming that it is to commemorate the “celebration of the history of a country, the cohesion of its people, and their steadfastness in the face of all challenges, while looking forward to a bright future.”

The Saudi Press Agency highlighted the keenness shown in establishing the first Saudi state, and not just the modern state alone. It was an early approach among the Saudi Kings decades ago, even though it was decided to celebrate the Founding Day only this year in the same pattern of the National Day.

Historical statements

In this regard, SPA monitored a number of historical statements that documented the interaction and interest shown by the previous Kings — over establishing their first homeland in Diriyah in the centre of the Arabian Peninsula — ever since the period of the modern Saudi Arabia’s Founder King Abdul Aziz, and all through the periods of his sons who succeeded him.

It was documented in the annals of history the following saying of King Abdul Aziz: “I have become the King of this country, which is under my authority, by the grace of God, and then by the Arab character. “Every member of my people is a soldier and a policeman, and I am with them as one individual. “I do not have any priority over them and I would be followed by them only while ruling them in a way that is good for them, as stated in the Book of God and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace be upon him).”

The saying of King Saud, who succeeded his father King Abdul Aziz, has also to be recalled in this respect: “We took over the rule of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and are proud of this glorious heritage that we inherited on the basis of seniority, and that was founded on piety and obedience to God. “Its constitution is the Holy Qur’an, and its pillar is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and on its foundations we are going ahead.”

The saying of King Faisal, who succeeded King Saud, also echoed in the same vein: “The faith of these people in God, their cohesion and devotion in serving their country and the struggle for its independence and freedom is the way that brought this people and this honourable country to what it is now.”

King Khalid, who succeeded King Faisal, considered that his father was able to establish this great entity with restoration of security in such a standard that others wanted to achieve for them too. “King Abdul Aziz was able to realise for his people the best levels of luxurious and stable human life, so that our country has become an exemplary model in pride, dignity and progress.”

King Fahd, the successor to King Khalid, said: “The first Saudi state was established more than two and a half centuries ago on the Founding of Islam, and on a clear approach in politics, governance, and propagation.”

King Fahd’s successor King Abdullah, said: “Our country, praise be to God, witnessed since its establishment a comprehensive civilized renaissance that targeted the Saudi man in his life, work, security, health and education.”

Extended history

The SPA also quoted the saying of the Saudi monarch, King Salman: “This state that was established nearly three centuries ago or more is the state of monotheism that was established on the firm foundations of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah.

“It was the unification of the vast Kingdom in a single entity where equality, justice and trust prevailed as the first model with firm pillars in the modern era in our region.” This is in reference to the fact that the great-grandfather of the Saud family, Mani’e Al Muraydi, who died in 1463 AD, preceded the establishment of the Emirate of Diriyah, the date of the establishment of the first Saudi state in the year 1727.

This historic fact was recently adopted after a long time since the writers of the political history of the state preferred to script the date upon the completion of the building at the hands of Muhammad Bin Saud, despite their acknowledgment that his family’s acquisition of authority over Diriyah happened much before that date. A researcher over the history of Bani Hanifa, from whom the Saudi royal family hails, says that the period of the emirate of the Saudi House dates back to 600 years.

Restoration of security and stability

Saudi researchers and historians, such as Rashid Al Asaker, believed that among the most important things that the Founding Day carried was the re-consideration of the founding on which the Saudi state was built from its first day, which is the unification of its entity by providing security and protection, under the authority of justice and law. Adhering to Islam is not a new matter as far as the people of the region are concerned even before the call for reform, by Sheikh Muhammad Bin Abdal Wahhab, though such a wrong impression was made by some historians with an aura of exaggeration.

The urgent need that everyone wanted was security and that was sought by Bin Abdal Wahhab from the founder of the first Saudi state as well as an inclusive political entity, which was non-existent in many areas of the region where the new state was established in the centre of the Arabian Peninsula, ever since the assassination of the third Islamic Caliph Othman Bin Affan.

The first Saudi state, as well as the second one faced serious challenges, which led to the collapse of the first at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish invader, and the second as a result of a political dispute incited by the Turks and with the support of their agents.

This was followed by the current third state, which was founded by King Abdul Aziz, who rebuilt it on solid founding and united the ranks of its people and civilised their desert in an epic that was highlighted by many Arab and Western historians such as Amin Rihani, John Phillip and Khayr Al Din Al Zirikli.

Courtesy: Saudi Gazette