Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH646
2006-10-10 13:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA SEPTEMBER 15:

Tags:  PGOV PINR PREL KISL SA SCUL 
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RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000646 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; PARIS FOR
WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KISL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA SEPTEMBER 15:
MECCA, MEDINA, AL-KHOBAR


Classified By: Acting Consul General CB Toney,
for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d)

-----------------------------------
MECCA: PRAISE COULD LEAD TO CONCEIT
-----------------------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000646

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; PARIS FOR
WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KISL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA SEPTEMBER 15:
MECCA, MEDINA, AL-KHOBAR


Classified By: Acting Consul General CB Toney,
for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d)

--------------
MECCA: PRAISE COULD LEAD TO CONCEIT
--------------


1. (C) Shaykh Saud Ibn-Ibrahim al-Shuraym delivered the
sermon at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on September 15. The
sermon focused on the idea that Muslims should give sincere
advice. The imam said, "One meets three types of people; a
type that praises him, a type that criticizes him, and a type
that advises him. The best of these three is the last." The
imam warned, however, that praise is a serious weapon since
it may drive the praised individual to conceit and the
praising one to hypocrisy. The imam continued that the
potential pitfalls of one who receives much praise is that,
"His heart pulsates only when he is praised. He only
breathes with praise. And, he only accompanies those who
praise him. He has no room for elders to consult with."
(Comment: This seems to be a warning to all those in
positions of authority to avoid arrogance and to always
remain humble enough to take criticism, correction, and
advice. End Comment.)


2. (C) The imam outlined how a person criticizes out of
malice, adding that such people are "a scourge on their
societies and evil." Quoting the prophet he said, "The most
evil among those who have a lower rank on the Day of Judgment
is the one who has been abandoned by people to avoid his
obscene language." The imam concluded with a prayer for the
prophet, his four caliphs, family members, and companions.
He prayed, "O Allah, support Islam and Muslims, humble
non-belief and unbelievers. O Allah, support your religion,
book, the sunnah of your prophet, and your faithful
subjects."

--------------
MEDINA: CALL TO ALMSGIVING
--------------


3. (C) The sermon at the mosque in Medina was delivered by
Shaykh Ali Ibn-Abd-al-Rahman al-Hudhayfi. The imam spoke of
the religious duty of almsgiving and called on Muslims to
perform this duty so as to be rewarded by Allah. He said,
"Almsgiving is akin to praying. A subject,s praying is not
accepted until he performs almsgiving." The imam hailed the
month of Ramadan and urged Muslims to welcome it with joy and
worship to Allah.

-------------- --------------
AL-KHOBAR: PRAY FOR ALLEVIATION OF HUMAN SUFFERING
-------------- --------------


4. (C) The sermon at the Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque was not
delivered by the usual imam, Shaykh al-Qahtani, who is
currently on his annual vacation. (Note: Shaykh al-Qahtani,
or the "political imam" as he is known by some, usually
returns from his annual vacation with the start of the Saudi
school year. It is currently unknown why his leave has been
extended. End Note.) The imam who gave the sermon is
believed to be a judge assigned to the Shari,a Court in
al-Khobar. His name is unknown. The imam spoke of a change
in human nature that has affected interpersonal and
international relations. He said that people have become
meaner and more willing to commit acts of evil, murder, and
other sins for the sake of worldly gains. The imam explained
that mayhem and human suffering in the world is an indication
of God's displeasure.


5. (C) The imam called for others to join him in prayer for
salvation. He said that for the Creator to help, humanity
must first show that it is worthy of help, by helping itself.
"We have to do what is in our powers to alleviate human
suffering. We have to work against hatred and to bridge
human misunderstandings." (Comment: The imam's message of
the importance of alleviating human suffering and bridging
misunderstandings is very positive. It will be interesting
to see whether al-Qahtani, upon his return, will continue
with this sort of message or abandon it for a more political
message. According to our contact, al-Qahtani is known for

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delivering particularly anti-American political sermons. End
Comment.)

TONEY