Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JEDDAH39
2008-01-26 06:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA DEC 28; AND JAN 4,
how-toVZCZCXRO1875 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHJI #0039/01 0260642 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 260642Z JAN 08 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0476 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1683 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1760 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000039
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA DEC 28; AND JAN 4,
11, AND 18: 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 SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000039
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA DEC 28; AND JAN 4,
11, AND 18: 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 January 18,
Sheikh al-Munajjid at the Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand Mosque
focused his sermon on the importance of personal health as
well as the obligations of Muslims during Ashura. (BEGIN
NOTE: The Shia and Sunni celebrate Ashura in different ways
for different reasons: the former commemorate the martyrdom
of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle
of Karbala while the latter fast because they believe it is
the same day on which the Prophet Muhammad fasted. END
NOTE.)
2. (U) In Mecca on December 28, Sheikh Salih Al Talib called
on Muslims to thank God for the opportunity to perform
pilgrimage. On January 4 Sheikh Al Talib spoke about the
"Pillars of Islam" (i.e. statement of faith, daily prayers,
charity, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca) and
on January 11 Sheikh Sa'ud Ibrahim al-Shuraym discussed the
importance of good "social relations." Sheikh Usama Khayyat
on January 18 preached against the "vanities of life." In
Medina on December 28 Sheikh Ali Bin-Abd-al-Rahman
al-Hudhayfi focused on the "foundations of faith" while on
January 11 Sheikh Salah al-Budayr encouraged Muslims to learn
from those who have passed away. Sheikh al-Hudhayfi's
January 18 sermon reiterated the December 28 Medina sermon
and January 4 Mecca sermon. END SUMMARY.
--------------
EASTERN PROVINCE
--------------
PRAISED GOOD HEALTH; CONDEMNED STEROID-USE; ENCOURAGED
FASTING AND PRAYER DURING ASHURA
3. (C) In the Eastern Province at the Omar bin Abd al-Aziz
Grand Mosque on January 18, Sheikh al-Munajjid started the
sermon by discussing the importance of personal health and
warned against, in particular, the use of steroids. He then
reiterated his sermon of January 4 in which he sought to
educate his congregation on the duties of Muslims during
Ashura. He encouraged fasting as well as praying more than
the obligatory 5 times a day.
--------------
MECCA AND MEDINA
--------------
THANKED GOD FOR PILGRIMAGE; REVIEWED "PILLARS OF ISLAM";
ENCOURAGED "SOCIAL RELATIONS"
4. (U) In Mecca at the Holy Mosque on December 28, Sheikh
al-Hudhayfi urged Muslims to continue thanking God for being
able to perform pilgrimage. He added that Muslims are
rewarded for circulating and spreading the pilgrimage
rituals. He continued, stating that "Peace is the greeting
of Islam.... The slogan of unity, the headline of amity...."
Sheikh Al Talib on January 4 discussed the "Pillars of
Islam" and the importance of adhering to Islam's teachings.
On January 11 Sheikh al-Shuraym focused on fostering good
"social relations" and stated that "People should associate
with one another, even if...some people harm others." He
argued that it is better to have patience with those who
harm, than to not associate with anyone at all. The
following week on January 18 Sheikh Khayyat called on Muslims
to avoid the "vanities of life" that can distract from their
pursuit of worship.
EXPLAINED "FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH"; URGED MUSLIMS TO LEARN FROM
OTHERS' MISTAKES
5. (U) In Medina at the Holy Mosque on December 28 Sheikh
al-Hudhayfi explained the "foundations of faith," citing
belief in "Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the
Book, and the Messengers." Sheikh al-Budayr on January 11
discussed Muhammad's travel from Mecca to Medina and urged
Muslims "To prepare for death before it is too late...and
learn lessons from those who (have) departed." Similar to
the December 28 Medina and January 4 Mecca sermons, Sheikh
al-Hudayfi on January 18 highlighted the importance of
strengthening one's faith by the Koran and the Sunna (i.e.
the practice and examples of the Prophet Muhammad's life).
JEDDAH 00000039 002 OF 002
TONEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA DEC 28; AND JAN 4,
11, AND 18: 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 January 18,
Sheikh al-Munajjid at the Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand Mosque
focused his sermon on the importance of personal health as
well as the obligations of Muslims during Ashura. (BEGIN
NOTE: The Shia and Sunni celebrate Ashura in different ways
for different reasons: the former commemorate the martyrdom
of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle
of Karbala while the latter fast because they believe it is
the same day on which the Prophet Muhammad fasted. END
NOTE.)
2. (U) In Mecca on December 28, Sheikh Salih Al Talib called
on Muslims to thank God for the opportunity to perform
pilgrimage. On January 4 Sheikh Al Talib spoke about the
"Pillars of Islam" (i.e. statement of faith, daily prayers,
charity, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca) and
on January 11 Sheikh Sa'ud Ibrahim al-Shuraym discussed the
importance of good "social relations." Sheikh Usama Khayyat
on January 18 preached against the "vanities of life." In
Medina on December 28 Sheikh Ali Bin-Abd-al-Rahman
al-Hudhayfi focused on the "foundations of faith" while on
January 11 Sheikh Salah al-Budayr encouraged Muslims to learn
from those who have passed away. Sheikh al-Hudhayfi's
January 18 sermon reiterated the December 28 Medina sermon
and January 4 Mecca sermon. END SUMMARY.
--------------
EASTERN PROVINCE
--------------
PRAISED GOOD HEALTH; CONDEMNED STEROID-USE; ENCOURAGED
FASTING AND PRAYER DURING ASHURA
3. (C) In the Eastern Province at the Omar bin Abd al-Aziz
Grand Mosque on January 18, Sheikh al-Munajjid started the
sermon by discussing the importance of personal health and
warned against, in particular, the use of steroids. He then
reiterated his sermon of January 4 in which he sought to
educate his congregation on the duties of Muslims during
Ashura. He encouraged fasting as well as praying more than
the obligatory 5 times a day.
--------------
MECCA AND MEDINA
--------------
THANKED GOD FOR PILGRIMAGE; REVIEWED "PILLARS OF ISLAM";
ENCOURAGED "SOCIAL RELATIONS"
4. (U) In Mecca at the Holy Mosque on December 28, Sheikh
al-Hudhayfi urged Muslims to continue thanking God for being
able to perform pilgrimage. He added that Muslims are
rewarded for circulating and spreading the pilgrimage
rituals. He continued, stating that "Peace is the greeting
of Islam.... The slogan of unity, the headline of amity...."
Sheikh Al Talib on January 4 discussed the "Pillars of
Islam" and the importance of adhering to Islam's teachings.
On January 11 Sheikh al-Shuraym focused on fostering good
"social relations" and stated that "People should associate
with one another, even if...some people harm others." He
argued that it is better to have patience with those who
harm, than to not associate with anyone at all. The
following week on January 18 Sheikh Khayyat called on Muslims
to avoid the "vanities of life" that can distract from their
pursuit of worship.
EXPLAINED "FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH"; URGED MUSLIMS TO LEARN FROM
OTHERS' MISTAKES
5. (U) In Medina at the Holy Mosque on December 28 Sheikh
al-Hudhayfi explained the "foundations of faith," citing
belief in "Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the
Book, and the Messengers." Sheikh al-Budayr on January 11
discussed Muhammad's travel from Mecca to Medina and urged
Muslims "To prepare for death before it is too late...and
learn lessons from those who (have) departed." Similar to
the December 28 Medina and January 4 Mecca sermons, Sheikh
al-Hudayfi on January 18 highlighted the importance of
strengthening one's faith by the Koran and the Sunna (i.e.
the practice and examples of the Prophet Muhammad's life).
JEDDAH 00000039 002 OF 002
TONEY