JULY 14 FRIDAY SERMONS AVERT STRONG WORDS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000487

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2016
TAGS: KISL SA PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: JULY 14 FRIDAY SERMONS AVERT STRONG WORDS ON
MIDEAST CONFLICT


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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Mecca sermons focused on the need for
brotherhood amongst all Muslims and its importance in
combating the enemies of religion. The Medina sermons
addressed the importance of optimism in times of crisis and
made mention of the tyranny of the Jews over Palestine, but
made no mention of the conflict in Lebanon. Riyadh's local
sermons avoided the topic of the current situation
altogether, to the dismay of the worshippers. However, both
Jeddah and the Eastern Province reported discussions in the
local mosques of the violence in the Middle East. END SUMMARY.

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MECCA: Brotherhood Among Muslims
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2. (C) Mecca sermons focused on the bond of brotherhood among
Muslims. In the first sermon, Imam Shaykh Usamah
ibn-Abdallah Khayyat quoted extensively from the Koran on
verses urging all Muslims to band together and not be
divided. He talked about fighting amongst Muslims, citing
the verse: "If two parties among the Believers fall into a
quarrel, make ye peace between them; but if one of them
transgresses beyond the bounds against the other, then fight
ye (all) against the one that transgresses until it complies
with the command of God. But if it complies, then make peace
between them with justice, and be fair; for God loves those
who are fair and just."


3. (C) The second sermon in Mecca dealt with the bond of
brotherhood as a necessity to overcome global challenges.
The Imam stated, "(Muslim brotherhood) led the hordes of
Muslims in the past to victory in this world and God's
pleasure in the hereafter, and it can help the nation face
the challenges around it and achieve victory and might." He
proceeded to invoke prayers to destroy the enemies of
religion and to unify Muslims. Although these sermons did
not directly reference the conflict in Lebanon and Israel,
they indirectly addressed the issue of Shi'a versus Sunn'a
Muslims as well as the need to jointly overcome their
opposition.


4. (C) Although the main mosques are tightly controlled and
therefore do not tend to deviate much from the instructions
of the Grand Mufti, local mosques often do, particularly in
times of stress and conflict. A Meccan scholar, however,
reported to ConGenOffs that there was no mention of the
Israel-Lebanon contact in the Friday sermons in the local
mosques. He claimed that although there were expectations of
its discussion, they neither addressed the violence nor the
SAG reaction to the conflict.

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MEDINA: Virtue of Optimism
--------------


5. (C) The Medina sermons focused on the need for optimism
among Muslims. In the first sermon, Imam Shaykh Abdulbari
bin Awad al-Thubayti talked about the disasters, trials and
tribulations plaguing Muslims worldwide and urged them not to
despair. He pontificated about the virtues of optimism and
states that "the basis of optimism is trust in God and
acceptance of His will." He further states, "The optimist we
are talking about is the one that renews vigor, resolve and
action." The Imam continues to talk about the need for
optimism and hope in order to "remove from the nation the
sense of humiliation," fearing that one without hope "hates
people and does not trust anyone. He might commit suicide or
resort to violence and killing, which, he thinks, is the best
way out."


6. (C) The second sermon in Medina focuses on the need to
alleve pessimism in order to create strength. He said that
focusing on the strength of the infidels can lead to weakness
and despair in the nation. He ended the second sermon with
prayers for the safety of this and other Muslim countries.
He asked for support for the brothers in Palestine, giving
them victory over the tyranny of the Jews. He also asked for
support for the brothers in Iraq, to protect them from every
evil and distress. As with the Mecca sermons, the Medina
ones did not mention the current conflict, but alluded to the
need for strength and unity during this current conflict.

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RIYADH: Summer Vacations Overshadow Mideast Conflict
-------------- --------------


7. (C) The Friday sermons at local mosques in Riyadh did not

discuss, to the dismay of the worshippers, the conflict in
Lebanon and Israel. Instead, they concentrated on the
general topic of spending leisure time fruitfully, such as by
engaging in religious studies, instead of watching forbidden
movies, listening to music or traveling abroad. Some mosques
stressed the need to pray for all Muslims, and one made a
supplementary prayer calling for the victory of the
Mujahedeens in Palestine, Kashmir and Chechnya, and for the
defeat of those who want to perpetrate evil against Muslims.


8. (C) Many Muslims in Riyadh expressed unhappiness about the
Friday sermons during private gatherings and in internet chat
rooms throughout the week. They felt that there was a lack
of interest in the calamity befalling their Muslim brothers
in Palestine and Lebanon, and that the Imams wasted their
time by discussing trivial matters instead of the current
crisis.

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EASTERN PROVINCE: Muslims Worldwide Must Band Together
-------------- --------------


9. (C) Shaykh Mohammad al-Qahtani's sermon this Friday
focused on the current state of affairs in the Islamic world.
In his first sermon, the Imam began with the history of
Muslims, praising their endurance for the harsh condition in
which they lived. He compared them to modern-day Muslims,
whom he criticized for behaving immaturely and ungratefully
even though they live in absolute splendor and comfort. He
talked in sadness and despair about the current state of
Muslims and claimed that they must exhibit more fortitude,
courage, gallantry, motivation, leadership, conviction,
presence of mind, initiative and understanding of their
surroundings and of their enemies if they are ever to measure
up to their ancestors. He condemned the so-called
"Jihadists" as cowards who only target Muslim countries and
innocent people. He claimed that true "Jihadists" are the
heroes who fight on the enemy's doorsteps, and that the fight
does not necessarily have to occur through violent means.


10. (C) The second part of the sermon focused on the current
military confrontation in the Middle East. He described it
as a well thought out plan to drive Muslims from their homes
and their land using any and all pretexts and excuses. He
added Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Sudan to the list of
Muslim nations that he said are targets of American and
Zionist attacks. He added that it is a pity that Arabs and
Muslims are not banding together to confront the embargoes,
besieges and attacks on their nations and their economies.
The sermons of the Eastern Province openly focused on current
conflict unlike the rest of the Kingdom, and this reaction
signifies their feelings of unity with the Shi'a outside of
Saudi Arabia.

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JEDDAH: Mideast Conflict Addressed
--------------


11. (C) ConGenOffs received reports that the Israel-Lebanon
conflict was addressed in some Friday sermons in Jeddah. The
reports indicated that the Imams stressed the unjust actions
of Israel.
Gfoeller