MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA MAY 2, 9, AND 16:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000263

SIPDIS

RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA MAY 2, 9, AND 16:
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 May 2,
Sheikh al-Munajjid at the Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand Mosque
condemned the modern-day entertainment industry for including
scenes and advertisements that corrupt the minds of youth.
From the first-ever report out of the Al-Salheen Grand Mosque
the Imam discussed interfaith dialogue, arguing that it would
only work if other faiths recognized Islam as a religion and
took seriously issues most important to Muslims, such as the
Palestinian situation, Afghanistan, and Iraq. (COMMENT: This
may be an implicit criticism of King Abdullah's efforts to
encourage interfaith dialogue. END COMMENT) (NOTE: After
May 9, the Mosque Sermons Report will no longer include
Eastern Province sermons. END NOTE)


2. (U) In Mecca, sermons focused on an array of topics:
advocacy of "independent interpretation" of legal sources,
the Koran, and Muhammad's practices (the "Sunna") and
criticism of those who issue religious rulings that create
conflict; the basic principles of Islam; and encouraging
Muslims to pursue assurance of heart/mind through faith. At
the Medina Grand Mosque on May 2 and 9, Imams focused on
themes common in past sermons, such as the importance of
doing good and avoiding evil and the "creation of man."
Sheikh Husayn Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Al-Shaykh in his May 16
sermon attributed sin to the cause of crime and argued that
only faith in God would bring about security and stability.
END SUMMARY.

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EASTERN PROVINCE
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CONDEMNS MODERN-DAY ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOR CORRUPTING
MINDS


3. (C) In the May 2 sermon at the Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand
Mosque Sheikh al-Munajjid condemned modern-day movies, music,
magazines and books because they "corrupt the minds of young
men and women." He complained of scenes in which actors and
actresses consume alcohol, smoke, engage in "unacceptable
acts," display symbols of non-Muslim religions, and depict
Arabs and Muslims as "criminals, scrums or terrorists, etc."
The Imam criticized the Arab entertainment industry for
producing those scenes (from the West). He added that with
the popularity of such entertainment has come an increase in
the number of reported cases of rape, sexual assault and
harassment as well as a decline in the Muslim world's moral
standard.

CRITICIZES CIGARETTE/LIQUOR COMPANIES FOR PARTICIPATING IN
FILMS/TV


4. (C) Turning his attention to international tobacco and
liquor companies, he criticized them for financing movies and
producing commercials that display brand-name liquor or
cigarettes. He said that while Muslim nations do not have
the resources to compete against any of the major Hollywood
industries, they should "take the moral high ground" and
boycott entertainment products that could damage "the minds
of youth."

DISCUSSES INTERFAITH DIALOGUE; STATES ALL FAITHS SHOULD
RECOGNIZE ISLAM


5. (C) At the Al-Salheen Grand Mosque on May 9, the Imam
spoke on the pros and cons of interfaith dialogue. He argued
that the such attempts are futile if other faiths are not
willing to recognize Islam as a religion. He then criticized
leaders of Christianity, Judaism, and other faiths for their
lack of sympathy for issues of concern to Muslims, such as
"the Palestinian case, Afghanistan, and Iraq." The Imam
warned that interfaith dialogue will fail if such an impasse
remains unaddressed.

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MECCA
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CRITICIZES ISSUANCE OF "FATWAS" THAT "CONFLICT";
CALLS FOR "INDEPENDENT INTERPRETATION"


6. (U) In the May 2 Sermon at the Mecca Grand Mosque Sheikh
Abd-al-Rahman Bin-Abd-al-Aziz al-Sudays highlighted the issue
of "independent interpretation" of legal sources, the Koran
and the "Sunna" (the practices of Muhammad). He argued that
"independent interpretation" helps the nation "solve many of

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its issues" and that it has its own rules and must not be
based on the "personal opinion" of the one who makes
interpretations. However, he added that "some sides" use
"independent interpretation" to cause "disagreement" among
Muslims and their scholars. The Imam then criticized
"everybody and his brother" who issues "fatwas" (formal
religious rulings) and makes interpretations that conflict
and releases them to the media and on the Internet because it
"foments sedition and creates hatred among the beloved and
wise scholars."

HIGHLIGHTS BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM


7. (U) At the May 9 sermon Sheikh Salih Al Talib spoke on the
basic principles of Islam, in particular "justice, balance,
and centrism." He argued that Islam is different from other
religions in that those aforementioned qualities are
ever-present. He warned against "immoderateness and
extravagance," which conflict with them.

URGES MUSLIMS TO SEEK ASSURANCE OF HEART/MIND THROUGH FAITH


8. (U) Sheikh Sa'ud Ibrahim al-Shuraym on May 16 focused on
human kind's tendency to seek "assurance of heart and peace
of mind," highlighted the different means people use to
acquire them, and stated that only "certainty and faith"
afforded the right path. He criticized those who seek such
assurance through the "collection of money," "notability and
post," or family and children, as even the latter, he stated,
"suffer from psychological problems."

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MEDINA
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ATTRIBUTES CALAMITY TO SIN;
STATES SECURITY AND STABILITY ARE OBTAINABLE THROUGH FAITH


9. (U) At the Medina Grand Mosque on May 2 the Imam focused
on the importance of doing good and avoiding evil while on
May 9 he spoke about God's "creation of man." The following
week Sheikh Husayn Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Al-Shaykh discussed why
"sins are the cause of every calamity." He argued that sins
"make graces vanish...and create seditions" and then quoted
the Koran (The Consultation, 42:30): "Whatever misfortune
happens to you, is because on the things your hands have
wrought, and for many (of them) He (sic) grants forgiveness."
Expanding to the world stage, he added that "abominable
crimes" cause states, including Islamic communities, to seek
security and stability, which he claimed can only be achieved
by "having faith in Almighty God and adhering to what pleases
him."
TONEY