Egypt's Al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni Islamic learning, strongly condemned the "despicable" terrorist attacks that struck two Saudi Arabian cities Monday.
The Islamic authority affirmed in a statement late Monday the sanctity of human life and religious places of worship, condemning "efforts by terrorists and extremists to involve mosques in their conflicts."
Four people were killed in a suicide bombing outside the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Islam's second holiest site.
Also Monday evening, at least one suicide bomber and a car exploded near a Shia mosque in the eastern city of Qatif, several hours after a suicide bomber struck near the U.S. Consulate in the western city of Jeddah. Two security officers were wounded in the attack.
The prestigious religious institution extended condolences to Saudi King Salman, reaffirming it "stands by Saudi Arabia in the fight against terrorism" while urging international unity in the face of extremism.
