Top Saudi Cleric Assails Terrorists

AP/YAHOO News ^ | February 1, 2004 | RAWYA RAGEH

[Luis Gonzalez]

MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's top cleric called on Muslims around the world Saturday to forsake terrorism, saying those who claim to be holy warriors were an affront to the faith.

AP Photo

(AP Video)

In a sermon that was remarkable not only for its strong language but also its timing — at the peak of the annual hajj — Sheik Abdul Aziz al-Sheik told 2 million pilgrims that terrorists were giving their enemies an excuse to criticize Muslim nations.

"Is it holy war to shed Muslim blood? Is it holy war to shed the blood of non-Muslims given sanctuary in Muslim lands? Is it holy war to destroy the possessions of Muslims?" he asked.

A large number of the victims of suicide attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq (news - web sites) and elsewhere have been been Muslims.

Al-Sheik, who is widely respected in the Arab world as the foremost cleric in the country considered the birthplace of Islam, spoke at Namira Mosque in a televised sermon watched by millions of Muslims in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

The mosque is close to Mount Arafat, where the pilgrims converged Saturday for the climax of their annual trek. This year's hajj has been carried out amid heightened security after a year of terror attacks in the kingdom.

In speaking of terrorists who killed fellow Muslims, al-Sheik was clearly referring to the Prophet Muhammad's final sermon, delivered on Mount Arafat 14 centuries ago.

It contained the line: "Know that every Muslim is a Muslim's brother, and the Muslims are brethren. Fighting between them should be avoided."

Al-Sheik also criticized the international community, accusing it of attacking Wahhabism, the sect whose strict interpretation of Islam is followed in Saudi Arabia.

"This country is based on this religion and will remain steadfast on it," he said.

"Islam forbids all forms of injustice, killing without just cause, treachery ... hijacking of planes, boats and transportation means," he said.

Saudi Arabia came under Western pressure after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, in which 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens.

The Saudi government conducted a crackdown on extremist groups after suicide bombers attacked housing compounds inhabited by foreigners in May. Saudi and U.S. officials blamed the attack, and a similar suicide bombing in November, on groups linked to al-Qaida, which is led by the Saudi-born Osama bin Laden (news - web sites).

On Thursday, suspected terrorists shot dead six Saudi security personnel in a shootout in a house in suburban Riyadh.

In total last year, bombings in Saudi Arabia killed 51 people, including eight Americans. Saudi and U.S. officials have blamed the bin Laden's al-Qaida network. Bin Laden is a Saudi exile.

U.S. officials have been encouraging Saudis to crack down on financing for terrorism via religious charities and curtail teaching of religious extremism in schools as well as mount a campaign to undercut popular support al-Qaida.

Liberal intellectuals in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also called for such revisions in the teaching of Islam in schools and mosques.

Governments in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan have taken steps toward purging school books of terms offensive to other religions, and reformers argue that change should start by lessening the religious grip on education.

Al-Sheik warned against "changing the religion's basics" in school curricula.

"The minds of youth in the Islamic nation need to be shielded with Islamic sharia (law) and good manners and deeds. The nation's future generations will only be reformed by what reformed the past generations," he said.

Pilgrim Mustafa al-Shawwaf, a Canadian of Syrian origin, said he agreed that terrorists had tarnished Islam. He criticized Muslim fundamentalists, including the Wahhabis, for practicing an exclusive form of the faith.

"Such rigidity of thought needs to be changed," he said.

The pilgrims arrived at Mount Arafat in the early hours of Saturday. Worshippers of all ages and origins, moving slowly, shoulder-to-shoulder, shaded themselves from the sun with white umbrellas, chanting in unison "at thy service, at thy service, oh God."

Emergency workers directed the crowd as it converged 12 miles southwest of Mecca, in a ritual believed to represent the Day of Judgment, when Islam says every person will stand before Allah, or God, and answer for his deeds.

Temperatures approached 86 degrees. The sunshine made parasols a popular purchase at $1.30 each, and street vendors sold fruit, prayer mats and drinks. Along the path to Mount Arafat, sprinklers mounted on poles cooled worshippers. Free water and milk were handed out.

"This is the worst day for the devil, when he sees thousands of Muslims gathered in such a show of force and piety," said Egyptian Abdel Aziz al-Jezairi.

Fatima Farouk, a Nigerian, said that despite the demanding journey, she was thrilled "because after Mount Arafat, you're almost promised heaven."

[nuconvert]

I agree with Pipes also.

"The first victim of radical Islam is moderate Islam."

It seems whenever moderates speak out against radical fundamentalists, it's either not enough, or it's disbelieved. They are put in a damned if you do, damned if you don't position. This certainly doesn't encourage other moderates to speak out. Why not applaud them? Some are speaking out at great personal risk.

[Publius6961]

ABOUT 29 MONTHS TOO LATE!

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Not hardly Luis, every thing I said you are invited to refute."

No, you hurled an accusation, you must support your accusation, if you can't substantiate your accusation, you are branded a liar. That's where we stand right now, your being exposed as a liar.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Some are speaking out at great personal risk."

I can see that.

[Luis Gonzalez]

By the way, and the only answer I will provide on the idea that I am an anti-Semite.

My wife and children are Jewish.

[Mr. Jeeves]

"This is the worst day for the devil, when he sees thousands of Muslims gathered in such a show of force and piety," said Egyptian Abdel Aziz al-Jezairi.

Nah. Even Bill Clinton enjoyed reviewing his troops.

[nuconvert]

I thought I'd read that somewhere before. I think people jump to conclusions. Fear and hatred feed on themselves.
It's tough trying to break thru the emotional response to have a logical discussion.

[risk]

One way moderates could communicate their commitment to peace would be for them to take on some of the more aggressive duties of eradicating the extremists by force. If we could see them policing their own, then we would have much more confidence in their sincerity. Without any willingness to use force, we have little evidence that they are actually interested in reforms. They seem like neutral bystanders who may tilt in the wrong direction if sufficiently disturbed by world events. Moreover, in discussing world politics with them we are frequently chilled by "moderate" anti-semitism, anti-Zionism, and "protocols of Zion" style comments. I can't find a moderate who will stand up for Israel, for example.

[hchutch]

FYI

[hchutch]

Agreed. This guy probably just shot to the top of al-Qaeda's hit list.

[nuconvert]

If you frequent Cuba threads on FR, please feel free to ping me.

[nuconvert]

"Without any willingness to use force, we have little evidence that they are actually interested in reforms."

The Iranian students haven't used force. Does that mean they aren't really interested in freedom? And by the way, they are muslims.

The reason you aren't aware of more muslims speaking out against radical fundamentalists, is because the media refuses to tell that story. (for whatever reasons). It is happening .... occasionally someone writes about it. But you can't expect a religion to change over night. As I said, the people who come forward and speak out against the radicals are usually doing so at personal risk. Giving them credit for their bravery, supporting them, even if they aren't saying 100% of what you'd like to hear, will encourage others to follow their lead. But if all they get when they speak out, is attacked, threats, negative response, name calling, why should they bother putting their lives, and families' lives on the line? If we applaud even little steps, bigger ones will follow.

[zimdog]

Arabic is an alphabetic written language, so there is an easy one-to-one (or two, in a few cases) transliteration system based on a simplified system of Latin letters, some consonants being redefined (Q), combined (GH, SH, TH) or added ('ayn, hamza). "Muhammad" and "Muslim" are the correct spellings because that's how the words are written in Arabic.

For Hindoo/Hindu, I would assume the latter and between Mosul/Mosool, I think it's the former, but these aren't Arabic words, so I don't really know. Hindi also has an alphabetic writing system and it makes sense (and saves $ on ink) to use /U/ instead of /OO/ when transliterating.

My original point remains the same: "Qur'an" is not a PC term for "Koran," just a more accurate spelling. We don't write "shampane" for "champagne" or "boorreeto" for "burrito" do we?

[RightWhale]

"Such rigidity of thought needs to be changed," he said.

Said as if mass thought can be controlled. So, Mr Cleric, what should we think of the half-time show?

[Luis Gonzalez]

Actually, large numbers of Muslims dennounced the attacks of 9/11, the media chose not to give them coverage.

You can find many proclamations, press releases, etc online.

[Luis Gonzalez]

I'm not sure I understand your post.

[RightWhale]

Musings from the noosphere. Did JJ's show have an impact on world culture? If it did, it was probably strongest amongst religious fundamentalists such as the godless, immoral, Islamist terrorists. As an aesthetic form of expression, it may be ranked with Picasso's Guernica. Words from a cleric have only so much authority; appeal to emotivism can change minds en masse.

[Eastbound]

""The first victim of radical Islam is moderate Islam.""

Can the right hand say it has no need of the left hand? Not if they are both Islam. If not, the offending hand should have been cut off long ago.

Moderates should realize that Islam was also hi-jacked on 9/11 and was on board the airliners and died along with everyone else.

The question is, is Islam resurrectable? How should moderate Islamics disown, dis-avow, banish, or otherwise eliminate/exterminate those who have hi-jacked Islam and brought it into dis-repute, dis-respect, death and dis-honor?

Will the moderates call upon the non-Islamic world to do its dirty work or will it start sweeping its own house?

Will Allah be found to be just a myth with not even enough power to inspire his people to pick up a broom?

[Luis Gonzalez]

"If it did, it was probably strongest amongst religious fundamentalists such as the godless, immoral, Islamist terrorists."

You obviously failed to follow the ten threads dedicated to that exposure, or the timbre of the 5,000+ posts in FR about it.

[RightWhale]

The Picasso of our day. JJ

--a lemming