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. -------------- EASTERN PROVINCE -------------- 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. -------------- MECCA -------------- 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 JEDDAH 00000263 002 OF 002 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." -------------- MEDINA -------------- 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