Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH264
2006-04-05 11:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

MOSQUE SERMON FROM SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 31: IMAMS

Tags:  ECON KISL PREL SA SCUL 
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DE RUEHJI #0264 0951106
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 051106Z APR 06
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9003
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1329
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1403
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 6354
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 000264 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2015
TAGS: ECON KISL PREL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMON FROM SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 31: IMAMS
CHARGE MUSLIMS: ARE VICTIMS OF THE WEST, SHOULD ENDURE
MISFORTUNE, INCLUDING BEAR MARKETS, AND SPREAD VIRTUE


Classified By: Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

FROM EASTERN PROVINCE: WEST VICTIMIZES MUSLIMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000264

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2015
TAGS: ECON KISL PREL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMON FROM SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 31: IMAMS
CHARGE MUSLIMS: ARE VICTIMS OF THE WEST, SHOULD ENDURE
MISFORTUNE, INCLUDING BEAR MARKETS, AND SPREAD VIRTUE


Classified By: Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

FROM EASTERN PROVINCE: WEST VICTIMIZES MUSLIMS


1. (C) In his March 31 sermon to an audience of more than
500 at Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque in Khobar, Imam Shaikh
al-Qahtani returned to a subject on which he frequently
speaks: the historical confrontation between Muslims and the
West. He criticized Western nations for their poor treatment
of Muslims, singling out Germany and the United States for
special condemnation. As an example of his allegations, he
informed his congregation that poor facilities are assigned
to members of Muslim communities for use as prayer rooms and
mosques. He complained that many of those facilities are not
fit to serve as storage rooms, let alone for worship. The
imam said this treatment was evidence of the West's
continuing war against Islam. He insisted that this war will
not end until the West achieves its historical objective--the
annihilation of the Muslim faith. According to the
informant, the imam appeared unwilling or incapable of
offering any remedy to this apparently insurmountable
problem, or providing any reasons for this conflict.


2. (C) COMMENT: The informant relates that the mayor of
Khobar was near him in the congregation. He notes that it is
very unusual to see community leaders or government officials
praying at this mosque; they usually attend much larger
mosques. END COMMENT.

FROM MECCA: MUSLIMS SHOULD REMAIN PATIENT IN MISFORTUNE


3. (U) In a sermon from the Holy Mosque in Mecca on March
31, Imam Shaykh Usamah al-Khayyat preached that the faithful
Muslim is to "praise God for His graces and remain patient in
misfortune." He cited the example of their ancestors who
praised God and endured misfortune, and ultimately triumphed.


COMFORT FOR INVESTORS INCLUDED


4. (U) Relating his lecture to the recent plunge in the
Saudi stock exchange, the imam asserted that "any person who
incurs loss in his trade, or suffers in the shares he had
bought, or suffers in an accident or loses his job or becomes
heavily indebted and desperation takes him over and doesn't
find any outlet, yet he should be patient and try to overcome
the difficulties and continue to supplicate Allah for his
divine help.

DISSUASION FROM SUICIDE


5. (U) The sermon then touched on the usually forbidden
subject of suicide. This part of the homily ended with the
admonition: "But if he thinks to give away his life by
committing suicide then he falls into the trap laid by
Satan." COMMENT: Although suicide has traditionally been a
forbidden subject in Saudi Arabia, this reference suggests
that the demands of modern life are driving Saudis to
consider suicide, prompting this religious prohibition. END
COMMENT.


6. (U) The lesson ended with a prayer asking "God to support
Islam and Muslims, protect religion, destroy the enemies of
all tyrants and corrupt and unite Muslims... and the security
and safety of this and all Muslim countries."

FROM MEDINA: FAITHFUL MUST SPREAD VIRTUE AND FIGHT VICE


7. (U) Imam Shaykh Husayn Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al-Shaykh,
speaking from the Prophet's Mosque in Medina on March 31,
called on the faithful to spread virtue and fight vice, to
fulfill the heavenly commandment to ensure the well-being of
society. He lectured that "whoever instigates the people to
cause trouble to others dwell in the Fire of Hell," but
"those who call people to good deeds--both the doer and those
who guide--will be given virtues from Allah."
Gfoeller