Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07JEDDAH469
2007-10-31 16:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA OCTOBER 19 AND
how-toVZCZCXRO4438 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHJI #0469 3041606 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 311606Z OCT 07 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0370 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1673 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1749 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 7613 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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).
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
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