MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA JUNE 2: EASTERN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000408

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2016
TAGS: KISL PREL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA JUNE 2: EASTERN
IMAM CONTINUES [MODERATED] ATTACK ON SHI'A; MECCA IMAM
PREACHES TOLERANCE, ALTHOUGH NOT TO TYRANNY; MEDINAN
ADMONISHES CONGREGATION TO FULFILL RELIGIOUS DUTIES TO
ATTAIN PARADISE

REF: JEDDAH 399

Classified By: Acting Consul General Hector Morales, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

FROM EASTERN PROVINCE: SECOND INSTALLMENT OF ANTI-SHI'A
SERMON TONED DOWN


1. (C) At the Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque in al-Khobar,
Shaikh Mohammad al-Qahtani kept his promise of last week
(reftel) and gave a second sermon condemning Shi'as as
unworthy to be called Muslims and prejudiced against Sunnis.
However, in the opinion of the source, the mood of this
speech was quite different. Absent was the more incendiary
language he employed the preceding week. Nor did he charge
the Shi'a with betraying Islam or allying themselves with the
West against Islam. This week he limited his accusations to
hypocrisy, accusing the Shi'a of contradicting themselves in
their speech and actions. He again denounced them for their
hostility toward Sunnis and their theologically-based
criticism of companions of the Prophet and other historically
important figures in Sunni theologQ He declared that this
enmity toward revered figures disqualified Shi'as from
inclusion in the Muslim community. He concluded with the
almost conciliatory statement that: "The Shi'ite leaders who
sowed so much misunderstanding and discord have all gone.
Other Muslim leaders are gone, too. Even the purest of them
all--the Prophet Mohammad--is gone. Islam, though remains
and shall remain so. Only God is Omnipresent."

FROM MECCA: IMAM CALLS FOR TOLERANCE AND FORGIVENESS,...


2. (U) In the Grand Mosque in Mecca on June 2, Shaykh Salih
Bin-Abdalah Bin-Humayd delivered a cry for tolerance and
forgiveness, reminding the congregation that "people have
different opinions, ideas, and beliefs and that people can
establish strong relations with one another only if they
renounce prejudice. Tolerance and forgiveness," the imam
continued, "create noble feelings in enlightened hearts, turn
enemies into close friends, and spare nations the dangers of
internecine fighting." Then the imam prayed "O' Muslims,
this is a talk on tolerance, gentleness, good heartedness,
and love for justice and mercy at a time when the nation
experiences feelings of distress between the enemy's
injustice, the friend's harshness, and obstacles on the way
to reform, the retrieval of rights, and the unity of ranks."
He also told the listeners that tolerance "is a constructive,
noble power, reflecting appreciation for others and their
opinions."

...BUT TOLERANCE AND FORGIVENESS ONLY GO SO FAR


3. (U) Then Humayd informed the worshipers that "tolerance
is stronger than revenge and enmity, does not encroach on
rights, and means coexistence with enemies and friends and
recognition of equality, justice and pluralism. Tolerance,"
the imam warned, "does not mean that we can tolerate the
non-application or the wrong application of the Islamic law
to people, although the rules of Islam are based on tolerance
and are implemented in atmospheres of tolerance. Tolerance
does not mean blasting the memory of history and ignoring
usurped rights, the tyranny of the possessors of smart bombs,
and the brokers of the nuclear wastes buried under the feet
of weak nations who are unable to do anything. Tolerance
cannot prevail while one camp tries to develop weapons of
mass destruction, (yet) asks others to develop laundry
powder, and may even force them to import it instead of
manufacturing it. (It is) the powerful," according to the
imam, "who should be asked to be tolerant because weak and
defeated nations have no choice."

PRAYER FOR MUJAHIDIN IN PALESTINE AND ELSEWHERE


4. (U) Humayd's sermon closed with a prayer to "strengthen
Islam and Muslims, humiliate atheism and atheists... protect
us in our homelands and give wisdom to our imams and
leaders." He also asked God to grant success to the Saudi
leader and "support mujahidin in Palestine and elsewhere and
to deal with the Zionist occupiers."

JEDDAH 00000408 002 OF 002

SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA JUNE 2: EASTERN
IMAM CONTINUES [MODERATED] ATTACK ON SHI'A; MECCA IMAM
PREACHES TOLERANCE, ALTHOUGH NOT TO TYRANNY; MEDINAN
ADMONISHES CONGREGATION TO FULFILL RELIGIOUS DUTIES TO
ATTAIN PARADISE


FROM MEDINA: GOOD DEEDS IN LIFE ARE THE PATH TO PARADISE IN
THE AFTERLIFE


5. (U) Speaking from the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Imam
Shaykh Ali Abd-al-Rahman al-Hudhayfi reminded Muslims that
they will die soon and go either to Paradise or Hell. Good
deeds, he asserted, are the way to success in life and in the
hereafter. He cautioned Muslims not to be tempted by the
lures of life. The best deeds he averred, "are worship and
fear God, to have faith in God and to carry out religious
duties." He also concluded his lesson with a prayer for God
to strengthen Islam, protect the homeland and grant success
to the Saudi king.
Morales