Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH567
2006-08-26 07:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA AUGUST 18: MECCA

Tags:  KISL PREL SA SCUL 
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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

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