Founding Day is an important memory in the Saudi national memory, and holds great importance in the course of its founding.
And last month, a Saudi royal decree was issued that February 22 of each year be a day to commemorate the founding of the Saudi state, and it becomes an official holiday, to be added to the National Day holiday.
In detail, the Saudi monarch, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, issued a royal order that the day (February 22) of each year be a day to commemorate the founding of the Saudi state, in the name of (Foundation Day), and it becomes an official holiday.
He pointed out that the selection of this date is due to the fact that "the middle of the year 1139 AH corresponding to February 1727 is the beginning of the era of Imam Muhammad bin Saud and his establishment of the first Saudi state."
The founding day (February 22) differs from the National Day, which Saudi Arabia celebrates on September 23 of each year and is also an official holiday, and there is no conflict between them.
Both of them chronicle historical days and pivotal stations in the history of the Kingdom, which led to the prosperous present that the Kingdom is currently witnessing, and the prosperous future that awaits it, under the leadership of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Founding Day
The establishment of the first Saudi state began with Imam Muhammad bin Saud assuming the rule of Diriyah in the middle of 1139 AH (February 22, 1727) and he was 30 years old at the time, as he was born in Diriyah in 1697.
During that period, the Arabian Peninsula was witnessing political chaos, and its countries and regions were divided and dispersed, and the fighting and wars were constant among them.
Despite his young age, he had an administrative sense and a future vision for the establishment of a civilization that would flourish through the centuries. He raised the slogan of unity, and started with his city "Diriyah" and united its two parts, and made it under one rule, after the rule was divided between two centers.
With the beginning of his reign, he began a new phase in the Arabian Peninsula, where he laid the building block and unit that united most of its parts, and Diriyah became the capital of a sprawling state.
Achievements continued during the era of this state, including: spreading stability in the state, which witnessed great stability and prosperity in various fields, and political independence and not being subject to any influence in the region or outside.
During the reign of Imam Muhammad bin Saud, who died in 1765, and after him among the imams, the city of Diriyah became the capital of a sprawling country, and a source of economic, social, intellectual and cultural attraction.
Many scholars migrated to Diriyah in order to receive the education that was prevalent at its time, which led to the emergence of a new school in calligraphy and Naskh.