Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH339
2006-05-03 12:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
MOSQUE SERMONS FROM SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 28:
how-toVZCZCXRO2339 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHMOS RUEHPW DE RUEHJI #0339 1231248 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031248Z MAY 06 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9126 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1364 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1442 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 6465 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 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
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
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