MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA, OCTOBER 13:

C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000673 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KISL SA SCUL SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA, OCTOBER 13: MECCA, MEDINA, AL-KHOBAR Classified By: Acting Consul General CB Toney, for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d) MECCA: LAST 10 NIGHTS OF RAMADAN ARE HOLY ¶1. (C) Sheikh Salih bin-Abdallah bin-Humayd delivered the sermon in Mecca on October 13. He emphasized the holiness of the last ten nights of Ramadan, especially the Night of Power. The imam urged Muslims to make the best of Ramadan by praying, reading the Koran, and giving charity. In the second sermon the imam explained that Ramadan is the "best" part of the year. He concluded with prayer to Allah to support Islam and Muslims and humble non-belief and unbelievers. MEDINA: PRAYERS FORGIVEN ON NIGHT OF POWER ¶2. (C) Sheikh Ali Abd-al-Rahman al-Hudhayfi delivered the sermon in Medina. He began by speaking about the significance of the last ten nights of Ramadan. He cited the prophet,s tradition that whoever prays on the Night of Power will have all his sins forgiven. (Note: There seems to be some debate regarding what actually occurs during the Night of Power. In a previous sermon given by Sheikh Abd-al-Bari bin-Awad al-Thubayti in Medina, the imam said that "all prayers" would be answered. This may be a case of managing expectations.) PROPHET ATTACKED DUE TO ENVY, TYRANNY, AGGRESSION ¶3. (C) Al-Hudhayfi focused on the attacks on Prophet Muhammad. He said that the "enemies of Islam and the enemies of all messengers have attacked the holy person of our Prophet Muhammad out of envy, tyranny, aggression, and oppression." He continued, "They suspended their minds, covered their eyes, and blocked their ears to the Koran, the Hadith, the prophet,s ideal life, and the perfect Shari,a. They fell in a deep precipice of falsehood. Had they viewed the Koran, the Hadith, and the ideal life of the prophet...they would have converted to Islam or stopped their ridicule against the messengers of Allah." PUNISH ENEMIES OF ISLAM ¶4. (C) The imam appealed to Muslims "upon this blessed month, to sincerely pray to God against the enemies of Prophet Muhammad." The sermon was concluded with prayers to Allah to protect Muslims "from the evil of the enemies of Islam." He asked Allah to "deal with those who attacked the Lord of mankind...do not spare them...punish them immediately...spread the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad everywhere." The imam then prayed that Allah would preserve the "blood, property, and honor" of Iraqis and Palestinians. AL-KHOBAR: RAMADAN IS TIME FOR GOOD DEEDS ¶5. (C) Sheikh Mohammad al-Qahtani delivered the sermon at the Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque in al-Khobar on October 13. He dedicated the sermon to repentance and encouraging Muslims to take advantage of Ramadan to earn "good points" with Allah. The imam described the advantages of Ramadan and included that during this period of time "good deeds yield even better dividends." Al-Qahtani encouraged his congregation to increase their charity, worship, forgiveness, and help toward the less fortunate, in order to reap Allah,s rewards. He concluded with prayers. TONEY