["Destroy the tyrant Jews, Crusaders, U.S., etc.] Middle East Friday Prayer
Sermons Assail Anti-Arab US, Israeli Policies 13 Dec 2002

Middle East Friday Prayer Sermons Assail Anti-Arab US, Israeli Policies 13
Dec
GMP20021214000052 Middle East -- FBIS Report in Arabic 13 Dec 02
[FBIS Report]

[ www.mideastweb.org/mewnews1.htm ]

The following is a roundup of Friday sermons carried by the news media
of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Syria, Iraq,
and Qatar on 13 December 2002:

Saudi Arabia:

Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia TV1 in Arabic, official television
station of the Saudi Government, at 0923 GMT carries a 22-minute live sermon
from the holy mosque in Mecca.

Shaykh Usamah Abdallah Khayyat delivers the sermon. He praises God, the
messenger, and his companions, calling on Muslims to worship and obey God
and his messenger and stressing that arrogance and tyranny always result in
disasters. He devotes his sermon to the importance of sincere advice in
Islam.

Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God, strengthen Islam and Muslims,
protect Islam, and destroy the enemies of Islam, tyrants, and the corrupt. O
God, close the ranks of Muslims and give wisdom to their leaders." He goes
on: "O God, help mujahidin elevate your religion and your word everywhere. O
God, support the mujahidin in Palestine. O God, destroy the tyrant Jews, for
they are within your power. O God, defeat these tyrant Jews and shake the
ground under them."

Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabic TV2 in Arabic, official television
station of the Saudi Government, at 0929 GMT carries a 23-minute live sermon
from the holy mosque in Medina.

Shaykh Ali al-Hudhayfi delivers the sermon. He praises God, the
messenger, and his companions, urging "the servants of God and Muslims" to
obey and thank God for his gifts by carrying out the religious duties. He
devotes his sermon to the importance of thankfulness and obedience to God.

Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God, strengthen Islam and Muslims
and humiliate infidelity and infidels. O God, destroy your enemies, the
enemies of Islam, for they are within your power. O God, close the ranks of
Muslims, guide them to the path of peace, and help them score victory over
your enemy and their enemy."

Yemen:

Sanaa Republic of Yemen Television in Arabic, official television
station of the Republic of Yemen, at 0906 GMT carries a 30-minute live
sermon from the Grand Mosque in Sanaa.

Shaykh Akram Abd-al-Razzaq al-Ruqayhi delivers the sermon. He praises
God, the messenger, and his companions, urging Muslims to obey God by
carrying out the religious duties as a way to salvation. He devotes his
sermon to the need for Muslims to abide by the Koran, which, he says, "bans
Muslims from following infidels, Jews, and Christians," citing relevant
Koranic verses.

Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God, support and protect mujahidin
everywhere and give them victory over their enemies. O God, destroy the
Zionist aggressors and their unjust allies." He also asks God to close the
ranks of Muslims and to give success to the Yemeni leader.

Jordan:

Amman Jordan Television Channel 1 in Arabic, official television station
of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, at 0942 GMT carries a 19-minute live
sermon from martyr King Abdallah Mosque in Amman.

Shaykh Sa'id Hijjawi delivers the sermon. He praises God, the messenger,
and his companions, urging Muslims to worship and obey God, just as they did
during the month of Ramadan. He devotes his sermon to the rules and
advantages of fasting as a religious duty.

Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God, strengthen Islam and Muslims,
elevate justice and Islam, and protect your mujahidin servants in Palestine,
Chechnya, Kashmir, and elsewhere." He goes on: "O God, destroy your enemies,
the enemies of Islam, for they are within your power."

West Bank and Gaza Strip

Gaza Palestine Satellite Channel Television in Arabic, official
television station of the Palestinian Authority, and Gaza Voice of Palestine
in Arabic -- Second Program -- official radio station of the Palestinian
Authority broadcasting from Gaza -- at 0920 GMT carry a 35-minute live
sermon from Khalil al-Wazir Mosque in Gaza.

Shaykh Ibrahim Mudayris delivers the sermon. He praises God, the
messenger, and his companions. Asking God "to take revenge against tyrants
in this world," he stresses that some day, Arabs "will announce the downfall
of the United States, which claims to be the God of this world, if it
insists on pursuing the path of tyranny." It will fall down, he says, "if it
continues its support for our enemies at the expense of our cause and our
sanctities." The imam then denounces "Israel's ugly crimes against our
Palestinian people," including the Al-Burayj refugee camp massacre, "in
which more than 10 people were killed." Despite this, he says, "they
[enemies] accuse us of terrorism and also level the same accusation against
those offering us humanitarian and medical aid." He says Palestinians do not
want money or weapons from Arabs and Muslims, but "we want moral,
humanitarian, or material support for the blessed intifadah," stressing that
"these massacres will open the way to liberation." Declaring that
Palestinians are confronting Israel and the United States, the strongest
force in the world, the Imam says the Israeli weapons arsenal cannot
frighten Palestinians, who believe that God is much stronger. The imam then
stresses that if Palestinians close their ranks and avoid fragmentation,
which, he says, "is considered a strong weapon in the hands of our enemies,"
victory will be scored and occupation will come to an end.

Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God, support the mujahidin, who
are fighting for your sake everywhere. O God, help fighters in Palestine
score victory. O God, lift the siege on the Palestinian people and their
leadership."

Ramallah Voice of Palestine, official radio station of the Palestinian
Authority, at 0930 GMT carries a live Friday sermon from Al-Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem.

Shaykh Ikrimah Sabri delivers the sermon. He begins by praising God, the
messenger, and his companions. The radio carries the first 10 minutes of the
sermon with bad reception, airs music and a religious talk for 10 minutes,
and goes off the air.

Syria:

Damascus Syrian Arab Republic Radio in Arabic, official station of the
Syrian Government, at 0951 GMT carries a 23-minute live sermon from
Al-Mawlawiyah Mosque in Damascus.

Shaykh Salim Shab'aniayh delivers the sermon. He praises God, the
messenger, and his companions, urging Muslims to abide by Islam and to obey
God. Turning to politics, the imam says: "President Bashar al-Asad sticks to
the Islamic principles in the face of the current challenges, calling for
Islamic solidarity to promote Arab and Islamic causes, foremost of which are
the Palestine question and the Islamic sanctities. Such solidarity will
enable the Arab and Islamic nation to stand firm in the face of Zionist
brutality against humanity. Israel commits crimes of assassination, kills
Palestinians, destroys property, and deports Palestinians." He then hails
President Al-Asad's support for the Palestinian intifadah, stressing that
the Syrian masses "love and back their beloved president."

Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God, strengthen Islam and Muslims
and elevate justice and Islam. O God, support those supporting the religion
and disappoint those disappointing Muslims. O God, destroy the enemies of
Arabs and Muslims, for they are within your power." He also asks God to
support President Al-Asad and to help the Palestinian intifadah score
victory over "the criminal Zionists."

Iraq:

Baghdad Republic of Iraq Television in Arabic, official television
station of the Iraqi Government, at 0919 GMT carries a 63-minute live sermon
from Abd-al-Qadir al-Jaylani Mosque in Baghdad.

Shaykgh Bakr Abd-al-Razzaq al-Samarra'i delivers the sermon. He praises
God, the messenger, and his companions, advising Muslims to obey God and his
messenger and urging them "not to follow the examples of Jews and
Christians" in any way. Addressing 1.2 billion Muslims, the imam says that
"we are in a very bad situation and that Islam is not just an identity but
an application of the meaning of God is great." Jihad, he says, "means
fighting infidels." Regretting the fact that Muslims are killing their
Muslim brothers and glorifying infidels, the imam says: "Now, infidels are
roaming the Arabian Peninsula while Muslims refrain from performing
pilgrimage." Compared to God's capability, he says, "Bush, the United
States, Britain, Zionism, and their allies are nothing," citing a relevant
Koranic verse. Stressing that faith can destroy infidels and tyrants, he
says: "O Bush, by God, I do not want to mention your name in this place. I
tell Americans, Britain, Zionism, Masonry, and all agents that whatever you
do to us, we will never abandon our religion." The imam also says that the
patient Iraqi people "will launch jihad for God's sake until God grants us
victory or we perish." A rotten Jew, "whose mother is a monkey and his
father is a pig," he says, "declared several days ago that if Israel was
struck, Mecca and Medina would be struck," urging Muslims to defend
Muhammad's nation and its sanctities. The imam them calls on Palestinians
"not to weaken or be grieved if you believe in God," stressing the need for
"the nation of Muhammad" to stand fast "in the face of infidels -- the
United States, Britain, Jews, Crusaders, and their allies."

Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God, strengthen Islam and Muslims,
elevate justice and Islam, and help us score victory over infidels and
tyrants. O God, destroy those seeking to harm us, our religion, our
homeland, our sanctities, and Arabs and Muslims." He goes on: "O God,
destroy the United States, Britain, and their allies. O God, destroy
Zionism, Jews, and Crusaders." He also asks God to give victory to President
Saddam Husayn.

Qatar:

Doha Qatar Television Service in Arabic, official television station of
the State of Qatar, at 0842 GMT carries a 48-minutre live sermon from Umar
Bin-al-Khattab Mosque in Doha.

An unidentified shaykh delivers the sermon. He praises God, the
messenger, and his companions, stressing that it is time for the Islamic
nation to distinguish between what God has revealed and what people are
doing and that Islam considers all its followers as one nation, regardless
of race or origin. The imam then says, "any aggression against Jerusalem is
considered an aggression against Mecca and Media because they all are lands
of Islam." He urges Islamic nations and leaders "to refuse to relinquish
Jerusalem or any other Islamic land under any slogan, agreement, or treaty
until the last drop of their blood." The West, he says, "is planning to
partition Sudan, plant a new state in the Western Sahara of Morocco, and
fragment Iraq," wondering why Muslims do not take Western concepts that are
in harmony with Islam and Arab traditions. He also regrets Muslims' failure
to achieve unity and calls on the Islamic countries to unite themselves
under one leadership or at least to establish a military alliance.

Concluding, the imam prays to God: "O God, we ask you to defeat
aggressive Jews. O God, destroy them, for they are within your power. O God,
destroy and disperse them." He goes on: "O God, help our brothers in
Palestine score a clear victory."

No further processing planned.

Iran: Ayatollah Amini Criticizes Students' 'Deviationist' Slogans at Rally
IAP20021214000112 Tehran Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 2 in
Persian 1350 GMT 14 Dec 02

[Excerpt of Qom Friday prayers sermon delivered by Ayatollah Ebrahim
Amini -- recorded]

[FBIS Translated Excerpt]
[The following is an excerpt on Qom Friday-prayer sermons led by
Ayatollah Ebrahim Amini on 13 December and broadcast by the second network
of Iranian TV, IRTV2, on 14 December]

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. [Passage omitted
on religious issues in the first and second sermons and criticism of state
television for its programmes]

We had many events this week and I am going to talk about a number of
them briefly. Last week, we had 16 Azar [7 December], which was the
Student Day. It is a precious day because that is when our beloved
students staged an uprising in protest at the American coup d'etat against
the Iranian government. They put up resistance and a number of them were
martyred. Naturally, we expected to see anti-imperialist actions and
slogans on such a day. However, unfortunately, this was not the case.
Instead, we saw radical moves and deviationist slogans which made the enemy
happy. Therefore, we are truly regretful.

In this connection, I thought it necessary to say a number of things to
you and our young people. What I want to say is to address the altruistic
officials of the state. You are aware of the important role played by
young people, especially university students, in the victory of the Islamic
revolution, during the imposed war [reference to the Iran-Iraq war, 1980-88]
and in Construction Jihad. You know that those who will build the future
of this country will belong to the same class of people as well. We will
really need their cooperation. We have to bear in mind the important point
that the quest for justice and ending discrimination are important
characteristics of the younger generation.

Young people are seriously suffering from injustice, inequality,
poverty, deprivation and other serious problems. They cannot withstand
them any longer. It is necessary that we should try to understand young
people and value them. We should not confine ourselves to making speeches
and giving them advice. We should talk to them instead. We will have to
listen to what they have to say carefully. We will have to listen to what
they have to say. We will have to meet their legitimate demands. We will
have to give them hope and assure them that we will accept what is right.

Even if they have demands that are not rightful, we can try to convince
them by talking to them in a friendly and encouraging manner. That was
what I had to say to our officials. The second thing that I have to say
concerns the young people themselves. O dear young people, you are well
aware of the role played by the global arrogance in ensuring the poverty,
deprivation and backwardness of Third World countries, especially Iran.
You are intellectuals and it is expected that you should never forget the
motto of fighting against imperialism. [Crowd chants slogans, including:
God is great, Khamene'i is our leader, death to opponents of the
guardianship of the supreme jurisconsult, death to America, death to Israel]

You must not deviate from this important path which may define your
destiny. Otherwise, you will regret what you have done. O dear young
people, I am aware of your internal complexes. You are suffering from the
people's problems and your problems are primarily economic problems,
poverty, unemployment, inflation, injustice, unfair discrimination and
administrative problems. You are right. However, it is necessary for me
to tell you that Islam, the Islamic state and the constitution were not
responsible for causing these problems. If we had acted properly on the
basis of immaculate Islamic principles and the constitution, then,
undoubtedly, we would not have faced the problems we are facing now. Some
of those problems were caused by the sabotage and mischief-making of the
enemies of Islam. Other problems have been caused by certain mistakes and
weak management.

Problems will not be resolved by chanting deviationist slogans, the
resort to violence and expressing intense feelings which one has not thought
about. Only the enemy will derive benefits from such moves. You must be
vigilant and careful. You must be careful lest enemy agents infiltrate
your pure and honest ranks and seek to deviate you from your path. You
must not be suspicious of state officials. You must discuss your
legitimate demands with them in a friendly manner. You must have a
rational dialogue with them. You must cooperate with them to resolve your
problems. You can rest assured that all problems can be resolved through
the honest consensus and cooperation among yourselves and our
well-intentioned officials.

You must not try to create a rift between our officials. In fact, you
must call upon them to unite and cooperate with one another. You must
insist upon achieving this important demand. That was what I wanted to say
to our officials and our dear young people. That was very short and brief.
I hope that Almighty God will enable our nation, as well as our young people
and university students and state officials to achieve unity and unanimity
and cooperation. [Crowd says Amen]

[Passage omitted: On Amini talking about Research Day, Transport Day
and the death of Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi]