MARAWI CITY: Thousands of Maranaos gave a warm welcome to an Imam (cleric) of a mosque in Saudi Arabia who arrived in this city as part of his weeklong visit in the country.

Haram mosque’s Sheikh Maher bin Hamad Al-Mueaqly was delighted to see children from Balo-i town holding colorful flags and chanting the traditional and oldest Islamic song entitled Tala’ al-Badru ‘Alayna lined up the streets.