Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH694
2006-11-06 12:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA, OCTOBER 27:
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000694
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TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KISL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA, OCTOBER 27:
MECCA, MEDINA
Classified By: Consul General Tatiana C. Gfoeller,
for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d)
MECCA: GRUDGES CORRUPT THE HEART
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000694
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PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; PARIS FOR
WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU
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TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KISL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA, OCTOBER 27:
MECCA, MEDINA
Classified By: Consul General Tatiana C. Gfoeller,
for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d)
MECCA: GRUDGES CORRUPT THE HEART
1. (C) Sheikh Dr. Usamah Abdallah al-Khayyat delivered the
sermon at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on October 27. He said
that all people seek a happy life, and that "everyone knows
that a heart free of grudges is the means to achieve
happiness and success. If hostility, which stems from
grudges, grows and becomes deep-rooted, it eliminates pity
and peace." The imam continued, "Once evil has gripped the
hearts it breaks them up and people return to a state of
severity in which they sever ties and sow corruption on
earth. O worshippers: Since the corruption of the heart
with grudges stems from a dominant personal nature and a
sense of strong selfishness, it is not strange for the heart
to become a tool for destruction." The imam urged Muslims to
"wipe out hatred before it exacerbates. This is a great
Islamic religious rule." Citing the prophet,s tradition he
said, "Do not hate each other, envy each other, or fight each
other, but remain brethren." (Comment: This seems to be a
call for unity amongst Muslims. It may be assumed that the
imam is referring to the internal strife in Iraq and possibly
Palestine. End Comment.)
HATRED FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH IS A SIGN OF SOUND FAITH
2. (C) In the second sermon, Sheikh al-Khayyat continued
his message against hatred, but he specified and
differentiated between forms of hatreds. He said, "O
worshippers, hatred, which God and His messenger have
prohibited, is that which is for the sake of the world and
its pleasures." The imam continued, "As for hatred for the
sake of Allah and the truth, it is something altogether
different. In fact, it is ordered because it is a sign of
sound faith and devotion to Allah and the prophet. Allah has
ordered alienating His enemies, even if they are very close
to you." He added, "O ye who believe! Take not for
protectors your fathers and brothers if they love infidelity
above faith. If any of you do so, they do wrong." The imam
concluded with a prayer for Allah to "support Islam and
Muslims, protect the religious seminary, destroy the enemies
of religion and all tyrants and corrupt, and unite Muslims
and guide their leaders." (Comment: The message in the
second sermon, though seemingly similar, took a different
tone. The imam's condemnation of hatred is good, but his
justification of hatred for "Allah and the truth" is not
helpful. The imam's call for the alienation of all who do
not believe would seem to contradict his earlier comments
about love. His commentary that hatred is "ordered because
it is a sign of sound faith and devotion to Allah" may be
interpreted wrongly, or correctly for that matter. End
Comment.)
MEDINA: CONTINUE GOOD DEEDS UNTIL DEATH
3. (C) Sheikh Abd-Bari al-Thubayti delivered the sermon at
the Prophet,s Mosque in Medina on October 27. He urged
Muslims to continue doing good deeds despite the end of
Ramadan. He added, "he who builds a mosque, a school, a
hospital, or a factory to meet the nation,s needs has made a
good deed and shall be rewarded for it...He who helps a poor
man, guarantees an orphan, visits a patient, saves a drowning
person, helps a person in desperate need, and guides someone
going astray has done a righteous deed."
ALL WHO SERVE THE NATION SERVE RELIGION
4. (C) Al-Thubayti said, "Everyone who fulfills a mission
for his nation is doing a good deed: The clerk with his
righteous pen, the doctor with his useful medicines, the
researcher in his plant, the farmer in his field, the teacher
in his class, and the government official in his office; all
of these are supporting religion and shall receive a great
award."
5. (C) The second sermon was devoted to prayer.
6. (C) No report from the Eastern Province this week.
JEDDAH 00000694 002 OF 002
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP; PARIS FOR
WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KISL SA SCUL
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA, OCTOBER 27:
MECCA, MEDINA
Classified By: Consul General Tatiana C. Gfoeller,
for reasons 1.4 (c) and (d)
MECCA: GRUDGES CORRUPT THE HEART
1. (C) Sheikh Dr. Usamah Abdallah al-Khayyat delivered the
sermon at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on October 27. He said
that all people seek a happy life, and that "everyone knows
that a heart free of grudges is the means to achieve
happiness and success. If hostility, which stems from
grudges, grows and becomes deep-rooted, it eliminates pity
and peace." The imam continued, "Once evil has gripped the
hearts it breaks them up and people return to a state of
severity in which they sever ties and sow corruption on
earth. O worshippers: Since the corruption of the heart
with grudges stems from a dominant personal nature and a
sense of strong selfishness, it is not strange for the heart
to become a tool for destruction." The imam urged Muslims to
"wipe out hatred before it exacerbates. This is a great
Islamic religious rule." Citing the prophet,s tradition he
said, "Do not hate each other, envy each other, or fight each
other, but remain brethren." (Comment: This seems to be a
call for unity amongst Muslims. It may be assumed that the
imam is referring to the internal strife in Iraq and possibly
Palestine. End Comment.)
HATRED FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH IS A SIGN OF SOUND FAITH
2. (C) In the second sermon, Sheikh al-Khayyat continued
his message against hatred, but he specified and
differentiated between forms of hatreds. He said, "O
worshippers, hatred, which God and His messenger have
prohibited, is that which is for the sake of the world and
its pleasures." The imam continued, "As for hatred for the
sake of Allah and the truth, it is something altogether
different. In fact, it is ordered because it is a sign of
sound faith and devotion to Allah and the prophet. Allah has
ordered alienating His enemies, even if they are very close
to you." He added, "O ye who believe! Take not for
protectors your fathers and brothers if they love infidelity
above faith. If any of you do so, they do wrong." The imam
concluded with a prayer for Allah to "support Islam and
Muslims, protect the religious seminary, destroy the enemies
of religion and all tyrants and corrupt, and unite Muslims
and guide their leaders." (Comment: The message in the
second sermon, though seemingly similar, took a different
tone. The imam's condemnation of hatred is good, but his
justification of hatred for "Allah and the truth" is not
helpful. The imam's call for the alienation of all who do
not believe would seem to contradict his earlier comments
about love. His commentary that hatred is "ordered because
it is a sign of sound faith and devotion to Allah" may be
interpreted wrongly, or correctly for that matter. End
Comment.)
MEDINA: CONTINUE GOOD DEEDS UNTIL DEATH
3. (C) Sheikh Abd-Bari al-Thubayti delivered the sermon at
the Prophet,s Mosque in Medina on October 27. He urged
Muslims to continue doing good deeds despite the end of
Ramadan. He added, "he who builds a mosque, a school, a
hospital, or a factory to meet the nation,s needs has made a
good deed and shall be rewarded for it...He who helps a poor
man, guarantees an orphan, visits a patient, saves a drowning
person, helps a person in desperate need, and guides someone
going astray has done a righteous deed."
ALL WHO SERVE THE NATION SERVE RELIGION
4. (C) Al-Thubayti said, "Everyone who fulfills a mission
for his nation is doing a good deed: The clerk with his
righteous pen, the doctor with his useful medicines, the
researcher in his plant, the farmer in his field, the teacher
in his class, and the government official in his office; all
of these are supporting religion and shall receive a great
award."
5. (C) The second sermon was devoted to prayer.
6. (C) No report from the Eastern Province this week.
JEDDAH 00000694 002 OF 002
GFOELLER