MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 28:

C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000339 SIPDIS SIPDIS RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; PARIS FOR ZEYA; LONDON FOR TSOU; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016 TAGS: KISL PREL SA SCUL SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 28: REF: JEDDAH 000304 Classified By: Tatiana C. Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). FROM THE EASTERN PROVINCE: FOLLOWING POSSIBLE ARREST OF REGULAR IMAM, SYRIAN CALLS MUSLIMS TO ACTION AGAINST CRUSADERS ¶1. (C) Imam Sheikh Al-Qahtani was absent from this weeks' prayers, reportedly because of his father's death. Prior to the commencement of the sermon, however, many in the congregation attributed Sheikh Al Qahtani's absence not to the death of his father but to his possible arrest by the Mabahith (Saudi internal security services) following comments he made during last week's prayers describing certain Arab leaders as American pawns (see reftel). ¶2. (C) In his place, an un-named imam speaking with a Syrian accent spoke of ways that Muslims can "market" themselves in the eyes to followers of other faiths. He called on Muslims to volunteer their time to benefit the poor, the elderly, the frail, and children. He said that the enemies of Muslims will not rest until they annihilate Islam; thus, the faithful must counter this assault through deeds, not words. The sermon was followed by a series of supplication prayers, which included a call for the destruction of extremist followers of Christianity, dubbed "salibiyin" (crusaders). FROM MECCA: CALLS AGAINST THE SPLINTERING OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY ¶3. (C) During his April 28 sermon at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Sheikh Saud bin Ibrahim Al Shuraym decried his perception of the splintering of the umma (worldwide Islamic community). "Here is history repeating itself," said Al Shuraym. "Muslims were one nation from east to west, but when they failed, disputed, and disobeyed their creator, their large number did not help them. God changed their high status to a low one, their richness to poverty, and their power to weakness." He called on the faithful to fear God and to strictly follow His rules, which are eternal and unchanging. In his second sermon of the day, Al Shuraym asked God to support the Muslims and the mujahidin, particularly those in Palestine, and to humble the unbelievers. FROM MEDINA: FINDING CENTRISM THROUGH ADHERENCE TO GOD'S LAW ¶4. (C) Sheikh Salah bin Muhammad Al Budayr emphasized that Islamic centrism is derived from the Koran, the Sunna and shariah law during his Friday sermon at the mosque in Medina. "Centrism in Islam is the resort to standards that forbid extremism and fanaticism on religious affairs, politics, peace, war, Islamic call, education, reform, behavior, and worship." ¶5. (C) At the same time, Al Budayr cautioned that centrism did not mean encroaching on traditional Islamic values or religious duties and that new generations of Muslims should be careful not to reject religious restrictions and be tempted by "instincts and lust." He led worshippers in prayers of support for the Palestinians against the Jews and Zionists, saying "O God, defeat their armies and pound their thrones. O God, kill them with their weapon and burn them with their fire...O God, cleanse Al Aqsa Mosque from the filth of the Jews." He concluded by calling for God to assist "our brothers in Iraq." Gfoeller