MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA AUGUST 18: MECCA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000567 SIPDIS SIPDIS RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2016 TAGS: KISL PREL SA SCUL SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA AUGUST 18: MECCA AND MEDINA IMAMS RALLY THE FAITHFUL AGAINST A POWERFUL "ENEMY" REF: JEDDAH 547 Classified By: Consul General Tatiana Gfoeller, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). FROM MECCA: UMMAH MUST COME TOGETHER TO RESIST THE ENEMY ¶1. (U) Once again the sermon from the Grand Mosque in Mecca advocated that the Ummah unite to confront a nebulous enemy, which inevitably comes to mean the non-Muslim world. In a strident sermon, Imam Sheikh Dr. Saud Bin Ibrahim al-Sheraim, warned his listeners, "this age of materialistic civilization, seductions and tribulations have increased while the spiritual aspects of life has declined. Stability, security and safety are lacking." MUSLIMS MUST FIND STRENGTH IN THEIR BRETHREN ¶2. (U) "Wars and tribulations," said the imam, "facing the Muslim Ummah from time to time right under of the whole world necessitates awakening the Muslim conscience and promoting their brotherly feelings toward their Muslim brethren who are suffering in war and tribulation." MUSLIMS DEFEATED BY LACK OF FAITH ¶3. (U) Al-Sheraim sought to rally the congregation saying that "all of us must realize that the non-Muslims did not defeat us with their armies, horses and men but they defeated us because (of) our empty hearts and our succumbing to chaos and irresponsibility and our lack of what unites us. We have submitted to others voluntarily or by force as we have become dependent on the ideologies of the non-Muslims, their materialism and their hegemonic designs. The inevitable result was that our agony and wounds increased, our honor was violated and horror and weakness struck our hearts." ¶4. (U) "When the Muslim Ummah stands up," the imam assured his listeners, "to defend its occupied lands and honor and confront the most destructive weapons, they are branded with terrorism.... It is a big lie. The non-Muslims are accusing others of the evil that they themselves have (done.)" INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT GUARANTEE RIGHTS OF MUSLIMS ¶5. (U) As in a previous sermon (reftel),the imam suggested that international institutions did not ensure justice for Muslim peoples, telling the worshipers that: "These forces are committing big sins and usurping the rights and freedoms in the name of justice and civilization. They are discriminating. We do not find the guarantees promised by the charters of the alleged international justice, that purport to safeguard the security of all the peoples. This is more so especially when the Muslims or Arabs are a part to a conflict." ENEMIES LIE IN WAIT FOR UMMAH ¶6. (U) The imam demanded that the Ummah band together in the face of the hostility and injustice visited on it by the non-Muslim world. "Muslims must realize that there are enemies of the Ummah who are lying in wait for it everywhere. What angers them most is to see the Ummah in harmony and supporting one another and exerting all efforts to carry out resistance. What makes them happy is to see Muslims in a state of discord and division. Therefore, it is obligatory upon the Muslim Ummah to unify their ranks in word and deed." UNITY EXISTS ONLY IN THE HOLY BOOK, THE SUNNAH AND FAITH ¶7. (U) Finally, the imam claimed: "This unity cannot be achieved on the basis of language, color, or race, as societies through history have not been able to achieve unity on these bases. Hence, it is only one factor that is remaining which can unite the people and convince the minds after controlling the hearts as well as creating harmony among the desires and whims. It is the Holy Book, the Sunnah of the Prophet, and the stable faith and belief. This is the criterion for unity and its real basis." ¶8. (U) In his second sermon, he repeated the theme, telling JEDDAH 00000567 002 OF 002 the congregation: "O worshipers, fear God and know ye that the nation has enemies that are lurking for it from every direction. Nothing angers them more than seeing this nation united and doing its best to prepare for its power and resistance. Nothing pleases them more than seeing Muslims divided. Therefore, the Islamic nation must unite and harmonize with itself." FROM MEDINA: DEFENSE OF ISLAM AGAINST CHARGE OF FASCISM ¶9. (U) At the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Imam Sheikh Husein Aal al-Sheikh gave a sermon on injustice, but his injustice was the injustice suffered by the Muslims at the hands of aggressors. The imam began by telling the congregation that "the strong must not be unjust to the weak." But he quickly related this plea to the Middle Eastern situation saying: "We are asking mankind how long will the world live under the injustice of the powerful and the aggressor?" ISLAM RELIGION OF PEACE ¶10. (U) He continued that the lot of the Muslims "is a great injustice that is not approved by any religion or reason of the reality of history to overturn the concepts and accuse Islam of terrorism and fascism when it is the religion that is based on the principles of peace, justice, fairness and respect for the treaties and charters to the extent that it orders Muslims during war not to kill any woman, child, or old person, not to set ablaze any fruit-bearing tree, not to disturb a monk in his monastery, not to mutilate a dead body, and not to humiliate a prisoner. Meanwhile, the non-Muslims are carrying out aggressions and dropping their bombs on the weak women, innocent children and weak old people. They burn and destroy. Destruction is their goal and spoiling other people's lives is their intention. Neither inanimate (object) nor animal has been spared their corruption. Who is the terrorist then?" ¶11. (U) In his second sermon, he continued his defense, exclaiming, much as his Mecca colleague did: "O Muslims: It is a reversal of concepts and facts and deception of minds to call the resistance against occupation and aggression and the defense of honor and property terrorism and crime, while occupation and aggression, coercion and oppression among some are legal and desirable. God said: 'To those against whom war is made, permission is given to fight, because they are wronged'--and verily, God is most Powerful for their aid." ¶12. (U) No report was received form the Eastern Province this week. ¶13. (C) COMMENT: These increasingly harsh, critical sermons are likely to sway popular opinion and sow discord between Saudis and the West, as well as provide religious rationale and encouragement to extremists and those prone to violence. END COMMENT. Gfoeller