Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JEDDAH94
2008-02-26 09:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA JANUARY 25 AND

Tags:  PGOV SOCI KISL SA 
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 260959Z FEB 08 ZDK
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0551
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1685
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1762
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 03 JEDDAH 000094 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA JANUARY 25 AND
FEBRUARY 1: EASTERN PROVINCE, MECCA, AND MEDINA


JEDDAH 00000094 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Consul General Tatiana C. Gfoeller for Reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 JEDDAH 000094

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV SOCI KISL SA
SUBJECT: MOSQUE SERMONS FOR SAUDI ARABIA JANUARY 25 AND
FEBRUARY 1: EASTERN PROVINCE, MECCA, AND MEDINA


JEDDAH 00000094 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Consul General Tatiana C. Gfoeller for Reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In the Eastern Province on January 25, the
Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand Mosque sermon condemned the
Israeli "blockade," rebuked Israel, and criticized Arabs and
Muslims for not doing enough to aid the Palestinians. On
February 1 the Imam spoke against domestic violence.
(COMMENT: In the reporting FSN's experience, this was the
first time an Imam spoke openly against this topic. END
COMMENT.) In the Eastern Province, some Imams performed
Qunoot prayers on the situation in Gaza. (NOTE: Qunoot
prayers are special supplication prayers an Imam can conduct
in times of crisis. END NOTE.)


2. (C) In the Western Province, the January 25 Mecca Grand
Mosque sermon focused on the importance of caring
appropriately for people with special needs. The following
week the Imam criticized Western countries for not speaking
out against Israeli "atrocities," called for initiatives to
open the border, and urged Muslims to unify against threats
that undermine Islam. In Medina, sermons also focused on the
Gaza crisis, calling on Muslims and neighboring countries to
assist the Palestinians and to resolve the crisis. As with
Eastern Province Qunoot prayers, sermons at the Grand Mosques
of Mecca and Medina concluded with prayers to assist Gazans,
and in most cases, to condemn Israel. END SUMMARY.

--------------
Eastern Province
--------------

CONDEMNS ECONOMIC "BLOCKADE" IN GAZA; CURSES ISRAEL; DEEMS
ARABS AND MUSLIMS IMPOTENT


3. (C) Sheikh Mohammad Saleh al-Munajjid at the Omar bin Abd
al-Aziz Grand Mosque on January 25 focused his sermon on
Gaza, condemning the economic "blockade" and criticizing
Arabs and Muslims for not aiding their Palestinian brethren.
He compared the Gaza situation to the hardship early Muslims
suffered when the Mecca Quraish tribe imposed an economic
blockade on them, particularly the Hashemites and the Abu
Talebs, unless they surrendered the Prophet Mohammad to them.

He continued, stating that that prompted God's Messenger to
send some of his followers to Abyssinia to seek refuge from
the resulting economic hardship, etc.


4. (C) The Palestinians, Sheikh Munajjid argued, are being
exposed to certain but slow starvation. He stated that due
to a lack of appropriate medical care and supplies, more than
3,000 people had left the hospitals and had sought relief
elsewhere, in particular Egypt. He described the situation
in Gaza as "desperate" and stated that many Palestinian
mothers are selling life-sustaining drugs meant for their
husbands, in order to obtain money for their families.
Blaming Israel for the Palestinians' suffering, he asked God
to curse and damn the Jewish state, just as early Muslims did
against the Quraish 1400 years ago.


5. (C) Regarding the Arabs and Muslims, Sheikh Munajjid
expressed dismay and shock at their lack of reaction to the
suffering of the Palestinians. Sheikh Munajjid added that
Israel has every right to feel emboldened to do what it
pleases. He described Arabs as impotent, weak, and too
preoccupied with enjoying the pleasures of life to care about
the Palestinians, or anyone else.

WEATHER INDICATIVE OF THE STATE OF THE HUMAN RACE


6. (C) At the Omar bin Abd al-Aziz Grand Mosque on February 1
Sheikh al-Munajjid warned worshippers that the current
weather trend is a bad omen and an indication that all is not
well with the human race, describing the phenomenon as a
taste of what sinners and perpetrators of injustice have
waiting for them in the Hereafter. He attributed the root
cause of sin to two principal factors: riba and zina -- usury
and fornication -- which he explained lead to social
injustice, oppression, excessive greed, and vanity. He
stated that people not only commit injustice against others,
but also against themselves.

SPEAKS OUT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; CALLS FOR PUNISHMENT OF
THE JEWS

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7. (C) Condemning acts of violence, particularly those
carried out in public places -- rape, terrorism, stealing,
fraud, and theft -- Sheikh Munajjid also spoke against
domestic violence, which he described as "repulsive." As
with the January 25 sermon, he called for the salvation of
Gazans and the punishment of the Jewish people.

SUPPLICATION PRAYERS: EASE SUFFERING OF THE PALESTINIANS IN
GAZA


8. (C) Some Imams performed Qunoot prayers, for which
Government consent is usually required, during January 27 and
28 dawn prayers. The topic was the worsening situation in
Gaza. (COMMENT: Although Posts' sources have not observed
the conduct of Qunoot prayers in Riyadh or the Western
Province, sermons at the Grand Mosques of Mecca and Medina
included concluding prayers on the same issue. END COMMENT.)

--------------
Mecca
--------------

PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS DESERVE AS MUCH CARE AS "THE
HEALTHY"


9. (U) Sheikh Salih Bin-Abdallah Bin-Humayd on January 25 at
the Grand Mosque in Mecca spoke about people with special
needs. He said that they contribute to society and deserve
to live in a good environment that allows them to develop and
to pursue their interests. He added that the "care our
religion accords to them is equal to that of the healthful
and sound people." He concluded with a prayer "to help our
brothers in Palestine and Gaza," "lift the siege imposed on
them and alleviate their suffering."

CALLS FOR ISLAMIC WORLD TO UNIFY AGAINST THOSE WHO UNDERMINE
ISLAM


10. (U) On February 1 in Mecca Sheikh Abd-al-Rahman al-Sudays
began his sermon by stating that advanced nations are those
"that learn lessons from past events." He stressed the
importance of unity, explaining that "Since the Islamic world
is targeted in its religion, it should achieve unity,
especially since there are conflicting groups and warring
parties that laid the foundations of fanaticism and ethnic
discrimination." He said that those groups and parties have
"enabled enemies to harm Islam, undermine its universal and
humanitarian nature, accuse it of being unable to develop
nations and societies, and brand it as being the source of
violence and terrorism." He ended his sermon with a prayer
to end the "ordeal" of the Palestinians and for Muslims to
extend aid to them.

CALLS TO REBUKE ISRAEL; WARNS OF HUMAN CATASTROPHE IN GAZA


11. (U) Sheikh Al-Sudais also cautioned Muslims worldwide
that Palestinians in Gaza were facing a human catastrophe.
Al-Sudais rebuked Western countries that speak on protecting
human rights, freedom and democratic values for not
criticizing continuing Israeli "atrocities" in the
Palestinian territories. He called for quick delivery of
relief supplies and asked Muslims to make donations. He
condemned the "brutal Israeli blockade" and called for
initiatives to open the border.

--------------
Medina
--------------

CHASTISES "ZIONIST VIOLATIONS," CALLS FOR AID OF PALESTINIANS


12. (U) At the Grand Mosque in Medina Sheikh Husayn Al
Al-Shaykh on January 25 spoke on the situation in Gaza,
stating that "These tragedies highlight to the whole world
the Zionist violations, the policy of criminal attacks, and
the terrorist practices." He argued that these practices
"conflict with the divine laws, the international norms, and
human rights" and stated "Regrettably, all this is taking
place with an international silence over this outrageous
tragedy."


13. (U) Sheikh Al-Shaykh continued with a call on Muslims to

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"support their brothers in Palestine and extend material and
moral aid to them." He also urged neighboring governments to
"take action to open the closed crossings and the fortified
borders to save an entire people before it is too late." He
then thanked Saudi King Abdallah for sending aid to the
Palestinian people. As with the sermons in Mecca, he ended
with a prayer to "grant victory to our brothers in Palestine,
alleviate their suffering, and save their blood."

DAY, NIGHT, AND SEASONS ARE SIGNS OF GOD'S GREATNESS


14. (U) At the Grand Mosque in Medina Sheikh Dr. Abd-al-Bari
al-Thubayti focused his February 1 sermon on how the
succession of day and night as well as the four seasons are
signs of God's "greatness." He then quoted the following
verse from the Koran: "He created the heavens and the earth
in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap the Day,
and the Day overlap the Night: He has subjected the sun and
the moon (to His law): Each one follows a course for a time
appointed. Sheikh al-Thubayti concluded with a prayer to
"support and save our brothers in Palestine."
GFOELLER