MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA, SEPTEMBER 29:

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SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA, SEPTEMBER 29:
MECCA, MEDINA, AL-KHOBAR


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

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MECCA: MUSLIMS SHOULD DETERMINE THEIR OWN DESTINIES
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1. (C) Shaykh Abd-al-Rahman al-Sudays delivered the sermon at
the Grand Mosque in Mecca on September 29. The sermon
largely dealt with the significance of Ramadan for piety and
purification of the soul. The imam added that Ramadan has
come "while our nation is unaware of the plotting and
challenges posed by the enemies, who tell lies against the
prophet." The imam exhorts Muslims to determine their own
destinies "with pride and bravery, especially the Palestine
question, by standing firmly against the continuation of the
sinful Zionist aggression against the blessed land of
Palestine; achieve security and unity in the land of the two
rivers (Iraq); carry out reconstruction in Lebanon; and
defend the issues of our brethren who are oppressed in their
religion everywhere. We shall return the Islamic nation to
its past glory, loftiness, and leadership."

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SATELLITE MEDIA SPREADING VICE DURING RAMADAN
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2. (C) In the second sermon, the imam criticized what he
termed "dissolute space channels that have chosen to violate
virtues and spread vice in the month of Ramadan." He
appealed to the media industry to conclude a "professional
code of honor" that upholds principles and values. The imam
also called for the confrontation of "biased media campaigns
against Islam and its prophet and its book, countries, and
personalities."

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PARENTS MUST INSTILL ISLAMIC VIRTUES AND MORALS
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3. (C) The imam called on parents to protect their children
against "subversive ideologies and bad manners, instill in
their hearts religious virtues and Islamic morals, and stop
them from spending their time in the streets and malls or in
front of the television sets."

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PRAYER TO MAKE OPPONENTS OF ISLAM "BOOTY FOR MUSLIMS"
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4. The sermon concluded with prayers, "O Allah, support our
brother Muslims who are oppressed in their religion
everywhere...support them in Palestine against the occupier,
usurper, and aggressor Jews...maintain security and stability
in the land of the two rivers and all Muslim lands...deal
with your enemies, the enemies of religion...disperse their
assemblies and make a lesson for others and booty for
Muslims."

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MEDINA: 27TH DAY OF RAMADAN IS NIGHT OF POWER
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5. (C) Shaykh Abd-al-Bari bin-Awad al-Thubayti delivered the
sermon at the Mosque in Medina on September 29. The sermon
dealt mainly with Ramadan and its numerous blessings. The
imam spoke of the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr),which,
according to religious sources, falls on or about the 27th of
Ramadan and is when God answers all prayers.

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FASTING IN RAMADAN PARDONS ALL SIN
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6. (C) In the second sermon, the imam cited a tradition by
the prophet that says that whoever fasts during Ramadan will
have all his sins forgiven. He concluded with a prayer, "O
Allah, humble the infidels...deal with the enemies of Islam
and Muslims...defend the sanctity of your beloved
messenger...whoever does him harm busy him with himself, make
fate turn against him, and make him a lesson for the

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world...support the sunnah of the lord of the prophets
everywhere...spread the light of his history in all countries
of the world."

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AL-KHOBAR: UNHOLY ALLIANCE BETWEEN
POPE AND WHITE HOUSE
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7. (C) Shaykh al-Qahtani, the usual imam, is back and
delivered the sermon at the Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque in
al-Khobar on September 29. The first part of the sermon was
political in nature and the second purely religious. The
imam first spoke of the pope,s "unprovoked attack on Islam."
He said that the "papal attack has now given the other pope,
the one in the White House, the green light first to
legitimize his own attacks - past and present - on Islam and
second, to justify his so-called war on terror and the war in
Iraq and Afghanistan."


8. (C) Al-Qahtani spoke of this "unholy alliance," saying
it has been set up solely to "combat Islam." Speaking of
other members in the "alliance," he referred to the
"bishops," who "simply toe the line with no questions asked."
(Note: One may assume that the "bishops" are the heads of
government in London and other American allies. End Note.)
The imam suggested that the Pope has "played into the hands
of George Bush and the Christian Right, whose objective is
the total destruction of the Muslim faith."

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ACT AS IF THIS IS THE LAST RAMADAN
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9. (C) In his second sermon, al-Qahtani asked the
congregation to ask themselves how they would act and think
if this were their last Ramadan. He suggested that all would
be much kinder and more obedient to Allah.
TONEY