MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA OCTOBER 19 AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L JEDDAH 000469 SIPDIS SIPDIS RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2017 TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL SA SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA OCTOBER 19 AND OCTOBER 26: EASTERN PROVINCE, MECCA, AND MEDINA Classified By: Acting Consul General CB Toney for Reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) BEGIN SUMMARY: In the Eastern Province on October 19, a substitute Imam at the al-Khobar Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque focused his sermon on respect for family values and how it relates to current discontent in the Muslim world. On October 26, Sheikh Mohammad Saleh al-Munajjid at the Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand Mosque discussed comparative religion and natural disasters, including mention of the fires in California and criticism of the West. (NOTE: This is the first time in four years that we have reported on a sermon from the Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand Mosque. END NOTE.) ¶2. (U) In Mecca on October 19, Sheikh Abd-al-Rahman al-Sudays reiterated his calls to perform religious duties after Ramadan. (NOTE: The October 26 sermon was unavailable as Saudi TV Channel One experienced technical difficulties. END NOTE.) In Medina on October 19 and October 26, Sheikhs Husayn Al al-Shaykh and Ali Abd-al-Rahman al-Hudhayfi encouraged Muslims to continue good deeds and to pray. END SUMMARY. -------------- EASTERN PROVINCE -------------- FAMILY VALUES KEY TO STABILITY IN MUSLIM WORLD ¶3. (C) In the Eastern Province at the al-Khobar Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Mosque on October 19, a substitute Imam started the sermon by stating the importance of respecting one's elders. He continued by highlighting how family cohesion improves the state of the community, country, and greater Islamic world. He commended Muslims that help those less fortunate and that stay in-touch with their families. He attributed the current turmoil in the Muslim world to a disintegration of family values. ISLAM OFFERS THE MOST EASE OF WORSHIP; NATURAL DISASTERS REPRESENT GOD'S WRATH ¶4. (C) On October 26, at the Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand Mosque Sheikh Mohammad Saleh al-Munajjid started his sermon by stating that Islam affords its followers ease of worship whereas those of other faiths face hardship. (COMMENT: Al-Munajjid appears frequently on Arab Satellite TV, in particular on the conservative al-Majd station. Some consider him deeply conservative and anti-Western. END COMMENT.) He then raised the issue of the fires in California, citing the number of people affected, houses destroyed, etc. He argued that this should be a lesson to all that God's power is "mighty." He criticized the West, whom he referred to as "non-believers," for attributing natural disasters to "Mother Nature," rather than to God. He concluded by stating that the recent natural disasters "could well be a sign of the approach of the world,s end." -------------- MECCA AND MEDINA -------------- CONTINUE WITH WORSHIP AND GOOD DEEDS ¶5. (U) In Mecca at the Holy Mosque on October 19, Sheikh Abd-al-Rahman al-Sudays urged Muslims to continue performing their religious duties after Ramadan. In Medina at the Holy Mosque Sheikh Husayn Al al-Shaykh also encouraged Muslims to continue doing good deeds, in particular fasting. On October 26, Sheikh Ali Abd-al-Rahman al-Hudhayfi spoke on the importance of praising God. TONEY