King calls on pilgrims to avoid anything that could tarnish pilgrimage

Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Tuesday urged the Moroccan pilgrims to behave in accordance with the precepts of Islam and avoid any situation that could tarnish their pilgrimage to Mecca (Saudi Arabia).

"Be the model to follow in matters of good morality, behavior, conviviality and coexistence, and avoid anything that could tarnish the ritual prescribed to the pilgrim," said the Moroccan monarch in a message to the first batch of Moroccan pilgrims, read out on his behalf by minister of Habus (Islamic endowments) and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq.

The king who bears the title of "Commander of the Faithful," also called on the pilgrims to "pray God for the stability, progress and prosperity of their home country and the whole Islamic nation."

The pilgrimage, the monarch went on, "strengthens the unity and solidarity of the Islamic Umma (nation)."

Up to 20,000 Moroccans (according to a quota set by Saudi authorities) perform every year the annual major pilgrimage known as Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, celebrated by Muslims all over the world.