MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA JUNE 16:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000432

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RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2016
TAGS: KISL KWMN PREL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA JUNE 16:
GUIDELINES FOR AN ISLAMIC HOLIDAY SEASON

REF: JEDDAH 427

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

FROM THE EASTERN PROVINCE: AL-QAHTANI CRITICIZES MUSLIM
TRAVELERS FOR RELIGIOUS PRETENSE


1. (C) In contrast to the past few sermons in which he has
delivered strident lectures tinged with political and
sectarian meaning, on June 16, Shaikh Mohammad al-Qahtani
delivered a sermon from his pulpit at the Imam Ahmad bin
Hanbal Mosque in al-Khobar, applauded by our source,
censuring Muslims for displaying an excessively pious manner
while behaving in an irreligious way.


2. (C) Much of his sermon dealt with travelers. His lesson
began with praise for those who displayed Islamic stickers on
their vehicles. But he then warned his congregation against
cultivating the appearance of piety while behaving impiously.
He excoriated Muslims traveling to other countries for this
form of hypocrisy. He cited an example of a fellow passenger
from one of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries on a
flight abroad, who ostentatiously joined in reciting the
Dou'a al-Safar (the prayer of supplication upon embarking on
a journey) and then according to the imam, "was one of the
first to order and consume alcoholic beverages." The imam
stressed that when a Muslim prays, he asks God's help and
mercy, but he is also making a promise to obey the Lord and
to do nothing that will displease God. This man, the imam,
said, did exactly the opposite.

YOUNG ACCUSED OF IMPROPER BEHAVIOR IN OTHER LANDS


3. (C) Al-Qahtani then rebuked Saudi youth for their
behavior while abroad, saying "I have actually seen with my
own eyes how some of our young men and women conduct
themselves in neighboring countries" (The source interpreted
this reference to mean Beirut, Dubai and Cairo.). "They
engage in activities that would shame members of other
societies where it's permissible to do anything you want, no
matter how far-fetched or radical. These are the same women
who dutifully wear their abayas, pray five times a day and
act respectful when among us, yet behave like out of control
monkeys elsewhere. These are the same young men who dress
and behave like intelligent, God-fearing levelheaded members
of society, yet display unheard of radicalism in their
personal, public conduct in foreign lands." He then directed
his wrath against society for allowing the growth of such
attitudes, saying "Shame on our young, shame on their
parents, shame on society for letting this happen. Freedom
is one thing, but anarchy is another. I ask: Where is the
role of the parents, the school, the scholars: Is this what
Islam is all about--Hypocrisy?"

FROM MECCA: HOLIDAYS MUST BE UTILIZED PROPERLY AND IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES


4. (U) In recognition of the season, Shaykh Abd al-Rahman
al-Sudays devoted his sermon at the Grand Mosque in Mecca to
the summer holidays and proper behavior, as well. "For
Muslims," the imam preached, "time is precious and every
minute that is not utilized shows failure." Acknowledging
that summer is the traditional season for weddings, he spoke
against lavish ceremonies, instructing his listeners that:
"The Muslim must be economic in his needs, rational in his
money and business, and wise in his aims and hopes."


5. (U) Echoing other critics (reftel),he also called for
"setting up summer clubs or camps under reliable supervisors
to protect the young from sin and corruption and to raise and
educate them according to Islamic teachings." Before
concluding, he recommended "reading useful books instead of
wasting time watching indecent satellite television channels
or browsing lewd websites."

FROM MEDINA: FIVE PRINCIPLES FOR ISLAMIC TRAVEL


6. (U) At the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Imam Shaykh Husayn
Ibn Abd-al-Azia Al Shaykh also addressed the subject of the
proper way for Muslims to behave on their summer holidays,
stating that: "On these days, people travel a lot, which

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means that they must know the Islamic rules of travel to
organize their affairs and life." He distilled these
principles into five rules for travel: 1. A traveler must
fear God, do what he orders and avoid what he forbids. 2.
He must say travel prayers before setting off on a trip. 3.
He must bid farewell to his close relatives. 4. He can
combine prayers while traveling. His fifth and final guiding
principle for proper Islamic travel was: A Muslim woman must
not travel without a male escort. COMMENT: The rules appear
much less restrictive for a man traveler than for a woman.
END COMMENT.

PRAYER FOR AFFLICTED MUSLIMS IN PALESTINE AND IRAQ


7. (U) The sermon ended with the supplication: "O God
improve our conditions and those of all Muslims. O God,
support Muslims everywhere. O God, bring them relief. O
God, spare them afflictions and disasters. O God, bring
relief to our brethren in Iraq and Palestine from all
afflictions."
Gfoeller