In a statement addressed to around 1.6 million students marking the start of the scholastic year, King Abdullah said in Islam there have always been “minarets of science providing humanity with scholars and scientists who were pioneers in serving the best interests of the international community.”

“The world, particularly our Arab and Islamic world, is now witnessing sinful attacks by extremists and terrorists, especially those hiding under the shroud of Islam... seeking to distort this faith's image by spreading destruction in the world,” the King said in the message which is due to be read out in schools throughout the Kingdom today.

The King's message comes one day after a terror attack in the Gulf of Aqaba killed a Jordanian soldier and wounded another. On Friday, three rockets were launched at a US warship in the Gulf of Aqaba.

In the message, His Majesty voiced support for the Kingdom's 81,000 teachers and instructed the Ministry of Education to provide them with a decent living.

King Abdullah referred in the letter to the Amman Message, which was launched in November last year in defence of Islam as a faith of moderation and tolerance that rejects extremism and terrorism and believes in dialogue.

In response to the King's letter, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khalid Touqan called on education departments across the Kingdom to read the letter on the opening day of school.