Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH172
2006-02-26 05:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA: FEBRUARY 17 -
how-toVZCZCXRO8895 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHMOS RUEHPW DE RUEHJI #0172 0570510 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 260510Z FEB 06 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8853 INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1298 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1372 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 6209 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000172
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARPI;
PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: KISL PREL PTER SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA: FEBRUARY 17 -
MAINTAIN ISLAMIC MORALS AND SOLIDARITY
Classified By: Acting Consul General Hector Morales, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
FROM MECCA, IMAM CALLS FOR ISLAMIC MORALS AND UNITY AND TO
ABJURE NON-MUSLIM FESTIVALS
C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000172
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARPI;
PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: KISL PREL PTER SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA: FEBRUARY 17 -
MAINTAIN ISLAMIC MORALS AND SOLIDARITY
Classified By: Acting Consul General Hector Morales, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
FROM MECCA, IMAM CALLS FOR ISLAMIC MORALS AND UNITY AND TO
ABJURE NON-MUSLIM FESTIVALS
1. (U) On Friday February 17, the sermon from the Holy
Mosques in Mecca and Media dealt with Islamic identity and
the importance of ethics in Islam. From Mecca, Shaykh Sa'd
Bin-Ibrahim al-Shuraym delivered a sermon regretting the
current state of affairs in the Islamic world saying "Those
observing the Muslims' state of affairs and principles will
undoubtedly judge that Muslims have to reconsider and correct
their situation and to be a nation that is followed by others
rather than a nation that follows others."
2. (U) The imam also lamented the fact that the media
revolution and culture conflict have influenced and derailed
Muslims from the pillars of their religion, although Muslims
have their own doctrines and legislation. As a result, he
says, the influence of the imported media has increased and
some Muslims "are eager to receive everything new and strange
without considering its negative aspects." He warned that
"the foreign invasion" has deprived some Muslims "of their
moral and ideological identity."
IMAM CALLS FOR FAITHFUL TO REJECT INSIDIOUS FOREIGN
CELEBRATIONS
3. (U) The imam continued, warning Muslims against
participating in non-Muslim festivals "such as the so-called
Valentine Day or Mother's Day." He asserted these pose
dangers to Muslims' doctrines and ethics and violate the
Prophet's teachings, describing Muslims who participate in
such festivals as simple-minded. The imam also said that
Islam is the religion of love in all times and places and
that it is wrong for Muslims to participate in such
non-Islamic festivals.
FROM MEDINA: CALL FOR MUSLIMS TO EXHIBIT GOOD BEHAVIOR
4. (U) In a sermon broadcast live from the Holy Mosque in
Medina, Shaykh Ali Abd al-Rahman al-Hudhayfi delivered a
sermon praising God and the messenger. He admonished his
listeners to be of good character and conduct, and to carry
out their duties toward God and protect people's rights.
Technical difficulties prevented the remainder of the sermon
from being heard.
FROM THE EASTERN PROVINCE: SOLIDARITY OF THE UMMA BRINGS
STRENGTH
5. (C) At Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque in Khobar, before
more than 500 worshipers, Shaykh al-Qahtani extended his
commentary concerning the Danish Cartoons for another week.
The imam praised the Muslim community for the powerful
message it was sending the world. He said all Muslims,
regardless of sect, national affiliation or background, even
those that he described as "borderline" Muslims, should be
proud of their achievements in the past weeks. "If there's
one positive outcome of this crisis, it's the fact that the
Danes have succeeded where others have failed by unifying
Muslim ranks across the wide spectrum. Those cartoons have
outraged even those who rarely, if ever, perform their
religious duties and are Muslims in name only. The love for
faith and for the Prophet Mohammed has driven us all to go
out to the streets. This same love has also united us." He
then called from Muslims to remain unified and to invest the
goodwill that is a direct result of the cartoon crisis to the
benefit of the Umma (the Muslim community) and its followers.
Morales
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARPI;
PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2016
TAGS: KISL PREL PTER SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA: FEBRUARY 17 -
MAINTAIN ISLAMIC MORALS AND SOLIDARITY
Classified By: Acting Consul General Hector Morales, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
FROM MECCA, IMAM CALLS FOR ISLAMIC MORALS AND UNITY AND TO
ABJURE NON-MUSLIM FESTIVALS
1. (U) On Friday February 17, the sermon from the Holy
Mosques in Mecca and Media dealt with Islamic identity and
the importance of ethics in Islam. From Mecca, Shaykh Sa'd
Bin-Ibrahim al-Shuraym delivered a sermon regretting the
current state of affairs in the Islamic world saying "Those
observing the Muslims' state of affairs and principles will
undoubtedly judge that Muslims have to reconsider and correct
their situation and to be a nation that is followed by others
rather than a nation that follows others."
2. (U) The imam also lamented the fact that the media
revolution and culture conflict have influenced and derailed
Muslims from the pillars of their religion, although Muslims
have their own doctrines and legislation. As a result, he
says, the influence of the imported media has increased and
some Muslims "are eager to receive everything new and strange
without considering its negative aspects." He warned that
"the foreign invasion" has deprived some Muslims "of their
moral and ideological identity."
IMAM CALLS FOR FAITHFUL TO REJECT INSIDIOUS FOREIGN
CELEBRATIONS
3. (U) The imam continued, warning Muslims against
participating in non-Muslim festivals "such as the so-called
Valentine Day or Mother's Day." He asserted these pose
dangers to Muslims' doctrines and ethics and violate the
Prophet's teachings, describing Muslims who participate in
such festivals as simple-minded. The imam also said that
Islam is the religion of love in all times and places and
that it is wrong for Muslims to participate in such
non-Islamic festivals.
FROM MEDINA: CALL FOR MUSLIMS TO EXHIBIT GOOD BEHAVIOR
4. (U) In a sermon broadcast live from the Holy Mosque in
Medina, Shaykh Ali Abd al-Rahman al-Hudhayfi delivered a
sermon praising God and the messenger. He admonished his
listeners to be of good character and conduct, and to carry
out their duties toward God and protect people's rights.
Technical difficulties prevented the remainder of the sermon
from being heard.
FROM THE EASTERN PROVINCE: SOLIDARITY OF THE UMMA BRINGS
STRENGTH
5. (C) At Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque in Khobar, before
more than 500 worshipers, Shaykh al-Qahtani extended his
commentary concerning the Danish Cartoons for another week.
The imam praised the Muslim community for the powerful
message it was sending the world. He said all Muslims,
regardless of sect, national affiliation or background, even
those that he described as "borderline" Muslims, should be
proud of their achievements in the past weeks. "If there's
one positive outcome of this crisis, it's the fact that the
Danes have succeeded where others have failed by unifying
Muslim ranks across the wide spectrum. Those cartoons have
outraged even those who rarely, if ever, perform their
religious duties and are Muslims in name only. The love for
faith and for the Prophet Mohammed has driven us all to go
out to the streets. This same love has also united us." He
then called from Muslims to remain unified and to invest the
goodwill that is a direct result of the cartoon crisis to the
benefit of the Umma (the Muslim community) and its followers.
Morales