Friday Sermons Deal With Pilgrimage, Iraqi Imam Calls Iraqis for Jihad
Ramalla: [Iraq war] is a dual plot against our Palestinian people and
steadfast Iraqi people, and our Arab and Islamic governments are waiting
until the enemy has pounced on our Muslim Iraqi people.

[With thanks to www.mideastweb.org/mewnews1.htm ]

Friday Sermons Deal With Pilgrimage, Iraqi Imam Calls Iraqis for Jihad
GMP20030216000074 Middle East -- FBIS Report in Arabic 14 Feb 03 [FBIS
Report]

Following is a roundup of Friday sermons carried by the news media of Saudi
Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, West Bank and Gaza Strip, Syria, Iraq, and Qatar on
14 February 2003:

SAUDI ARABIA:

Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia TV1 in Arabic, official television station of
the Saudi Government, carries at 0940 GMT a live sermon from the holy mosque
in Mecca:

Shaykh Salih Muhammad Al Talib delivers the sermon, which he begins by
congratulating pilgrims on accomplishing the pilgrimage rituals. He prays to
God to accept their worship and calls on them to pursue their piety.

The imam urges Muslims everywhere to uphold their religion, ponder their
relationship with God, take stock of their position, rectify their faults,
and hold to the unification testimony of "there is no God but Allah and
Muhammad is His messenger" due to "the present circumstances surrounding the
nation."

The imam continues with the same theme in the second sermon. He calls on
Muslims to fear God and seek His mercy for the sake of their own salvation.

The imam concludes with a prayer to God to support Islam and Muslims, humble
infidelity and infidels, destroy the enemies of religion, and make this and
other Muslim countries safe and secure. He prays: "O God, whoever wishes
Islam and Muslims evil, busy him with himself and turn his plot against
him." He also prays: "O God, support oppressed Muslims for your sake
everywhere. O God, support them in Palestine and on every land and under
every sky. O God, deal with the enemies of religion for they are within your
power."

Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi Arabia TV2 in Arabic, official television station of
the Saudi Government, carries at 0940 GMT a live sermon from the holy mosque
in Medina.

Shaykh Abd-al-Bari Bin-Awad al-Thubayti delivers the sermon, in which he
urges pilgrims and worshippers to pursue their piety. He says worship is not
just prayer to God, but also job in support of family and charity in aid of
the poor. Moreover, he says, worship is good social manners. In short,
worship is a system of life, he adds.

The imam continues with the same theme in the second sermon. He urges
worshippers to continue their good deeds, such as prayer and charity.

The imam concludes with a prayer to God to support Islam and Muslims, humble
infidelity and infidels, destroy the enemies of religion, and make this and
all Muslim countries safe and secure. He prays: "O God, whoever wishes us,
Islam, and Muslims evil, busy him with himself and make his plot backfire on
him." He also prays: "O God, support the mujahidin who elevate your word
everywhere. O God, make them steadfast. O God, direct their arrows. O God,
give them victory over your enemy and their enemy."

YEMEN:

Sanaa Republic of Yemen Television in Arabic, official television station of
the Republic of Yemen, carries at 0927 GMT a live sermon from the Grand
Mosque in Sanaa.

Shaykh Akram Abd-al-Razzaq al-Ruqayhi delivers the sermon, which he devotes
to Id al-Adha, saying such holidays are occasions for prayer and good deeds,
especially charity, as well as rejoice and brotherhood.

The imam devotes the second sermon to a general prayer to God for mercy and
salvation. He prays: "O God, support our brother mujahidin in Palestine,
Iraq, and everywhere. O God, support them with Your angels, strengthen their
hearts, and give them victory over their enemies. O God, deal with the
aggressor Zionists and the arrogant Americans, as they are within Your
power." The imam also prays for success for the president in his work for
the wellbeing of the country and people.

JORDAN:

Amman Jordan Television Channel 1 in Arabic, official television station of
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, carries at 1000 GMT a live sermon from
martyr King Abdallah mosque in Amman.

Dr. Mahmud al-Awatili delivers the sermon, which he begins by congratulating
pilgrims on accomplishing their rituals and praying to God to accept their
pilgrimage and return them safely to their countries.

Turning to current events, the imam says he hopes that in their upcoming
summit the Arab leaders would close their ranks in order to spare their
countries and peoples of all evil. He also appeals to "peace-loving" world
leaders "to deter the arrogant ones, who have been blinded by their love for
bloodshed, and make them keep their fleets off Muslim shores and go back
safely to their homes before God's anger befalls them," as it has befallen
the "espionage shuttle."

The imam devotes the second sermon to the ritual of sacrifice during Id
al-Adha, urging those who have not made their sacrifices to do so within the
feast days.

The imam concludes with a prayer to God for mercy and salvation. He prays to
God to keep this and other Muslim countries safe and secure. He also prays
for King Abdallah in his efforts for the wellbeing of the country and the
people.

WEST BANK & GAZA STRIP

Gaza Palestine Satellite Channel in Arabic, official television station of
the Palestinian Authority, carries at 0955 GMT a live sermon from Khalil
al-Wazir Mosque in Gaza.

Shaykh Ibrahim Mudayris delivers the sermon, in which he urges Muslims to
pursue their piety, saying that it insures fulfillment of religious duties
and avoidance of sins. He also urges them to continue repeating the
unification testimony of "there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His
messenger." The imam then discusses pilgrimage rituals in detail.

In the second sermon the imam turns to current developments. He appeals to
Palestinian leaders saying that while he appreciates their resistance
against the enemy in defense of national territory and honor, they must
assess every phase of the struggle. He says: "we must assess every phase of
our legitimate struggle. We must also assess every means we use for jihad
and struggle against our enemies. If the phase demands an offensive means,
then we should use it, and if it demands a political means, then we should
use it also. Moreover, we must also insure a recess [Mewnews- not clear] for
our mujahidin."

The imam concludes with a prayer for unity, victory, and release of all
release of prisoners.

Ramallah Voice of Palestine, official radio station of the Palestinian
Authority, carries at 0955 GMT a live sermon from Al-Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem.

Shaykh Yusuf Abu-Sunaynah delivers the sermon, which he devotes to his
favorite subject of social reform within the Palestinian society in East
Jerusalem. He says that homes and schools must give closer attention to
morals, which, he says, have been corrupted by modern information
technology. He urges parents to teach their daughters to obey their
husbands. He reads what he terms "the mother's 10 commandments" to her
daughter concerning her husband.

The imam continues with the same theme in the second sermon. He says instead
of following Islamic teachings Muslim youths nowadays indulge in corrupt
habits, such as taking drugs, committing crimes, and engaging in fraud. The
imam also alludes to what he terms the manifestations of humiliation shown
by long queues of Palestinians outside the Interior Ministry and National
Social Security Department in Jerusalem.

Discussing current developments, the imam says that the United States and
Britain have completed the deployment of their forces for an attack against
Iraq. Turkey, he adds, has declared support for the United States, Iraq's
Arab neighbors have opened their air bases to "enemy" planes and soldiers,
and the US secretary of state has openly declared US intention to change the
map of the region after the overthrow of the Iraqi regime. It is a dual plot
against our Palestinian people and steadfast Iraqi people, and our Arab and
Islamic governments are waiting until the enemy has pounced on our Muslim
Iraqi people, he says. Would there be a courageous Islamic Arab awakening to
disappoint the aggressors, he asks.

The imam concludes with a prayer to God to support Islam and Muslims and
humble infidelity and infidels.

SYRIA:

Damascus Syrian Arab Republic radio in Arabic, official station of the
Syrian Government, carries at 1005 GMT a live sermon from Al-Mawlawiyah
Mosque in Damascus.

Shaykh Sulayman al-Afandi delivers the sermon, which he begins by calling on
Muslims to help one another, support the oppressed, repulse every sinful
aggression, and help the poor through alms giving. Islamic holidays are not
only days of rejoice, but also of worship and charity, he says.

Turning to current developments, the imam wonders about the indifference of
Arab and world conscience to the causes of justice, freedom, and human
rights and says Arab national duty and honor call for "standing by our
brothers in Palestine and the Golan."

Syria under President Bashar al-Asad offers every support to the steadfast
Arabs in Palestine and the Golan, he adds. "Today, O faithful," the imam
says, "we hear the beat of war drums and the sound of danger alarms. We hear
threats by the United States against Iraq and its besieged people. The
United States is furious about the so-called weapons of mass destruction in
Iraq, but silent about the huge arsenal of nuclear, biological, chemical,
and other weapons of mass destruction in Israel. This confirms the vicious
imperialist intentions and premeditated hostile plans against everything
Arab and Muslim. Syria has rejected aggression against oppressed people in
any country."

The imam devotes the second sermon to a general prayer for Islamic victory.
He prays: "O God, whoever wishes Islam and Muslim goodness make him
successful, and whoever wishes them otherwise deal with him with the sword
of Your vengeance." He prays for the salvation of Palestinians and Iraqis.

IRAQ:

Baghdad Republic of Iraq Television in Arabic, official television station
of the Iraqi Government, carries at 0935 GMT a live sermon from Abd-al-Qadir
al-Jaylani Mosque in Baghdad.

Shaykh Bakr Abd-al-Razzaq al-Samarra'i delivers the sermon, which he begins
by calling on worshippers to rely on God. He says that power lies in the
hands of sincere, faithful men, who have pledged their lives to God.

Turning to the current crisis, the imam warns threateningly: "I warn you, O
United States, O Britain, and O you Jews, sons of apes and pigs. You, Jews,
are behind sedition on earth. God has chosen us to chop off your filthy
heads, and we will chop them off." The imam reiterates that sedition on
earth "takes place with the funds and media intrigues of criminal Jews." "It
is very regrettable and shameful that the United States and Britain bow to
Jewish tyrants," he says.

The imam makes an emotional appeal, saying Iraqis are ready to respond to
the call of the prophet. They are ready to die and meet their God, he says.
"We are ready, O Muhammad," he cries out, "we yearn for you and God. We
can't stand this world and its corrupt dens, which contain these people,
these murderers of the prophets, who kill our children and women daily and
destroy and level lands." "O God," the imam cries out again, rousing the
congregation, "give us a chance for martyrdom. We are coming. Here are
Iraqis waiting for the hour to meet you. Permits us to be among the
supporters of Muhammad and Islam. O God Almighty honor us with the call of
the Koran: "To those against whom war is made, permission is given to fight,
because they are wronged, and verily Allah is most powerful for their aid."
[Koranic verse] This brought out deafening cries of "Allahu Akbar" from the
congregation.

By this moment, the whole atmosphere in the mosque is charged with strong
emotion, while the imam continues to invoke Islam's great saints, many of
whom are buried in Iraq, including Imam Al-Husayn, grandson of the prophet
and symbol of jihad and martyrdom, especially for the Shiites. "Allahu
Akbar," the imam cries out echoed by the congregation. The words of "Allahu
Akbar" ricochet within the walls of the mosque. "Allahu Akbar," the imam
goes on, "and victory for Iraqis, Allahu Akbar and victory for us with God's
might, Allahu Akbar and victory for us with the blessings of the prophet,
may the peace and blessings of God be upon him. God is our best supporter."

Calming down a bit, the imam says: "Look, O world, this is how Iraqis are.
This is their nobility and honor. Their honor is from God and his prophet.
It is their souls that speak not tongues. God is our best supporter."

The imam devotes the second sermon to a deep, emotional prayer to God for
salvation. He warns: "The traitors and the unjust; the renegade agents and
covetous criminals will see what their end would be."

The imam concludes with a deep, emotional prayer for martyrdom that brings
out a solemn "Amen' from the congregation. He prays: "O God, deal with the
United States, Britain, and Zionism, as they are within Your power. O God,
shake the ground under their feet. O God, defeat them and make them booty
for Muslims. O God, show our revenge on them." He also prays: "O God, deal
with the tyrant of the age, Bush the criminal, Sharon, and his followers."
"O God, whoever wishes us, our country, leader, Arabs and Muslims evil, make
the cycle of evil turn against him. Turn his plot against him until he
butchers himself with his own hands. O God, turn the infidels against one
another. Busy them with themselves. O God, freeze the blood in their veins
and make their plots destroy them. O God, defeat their soldiers, split their
ranks, and turn Your torture on them." The imam prays for Saddam's victory
for the sake of Islam and Muslims.

QATAR:

Doha Qatar Television service in Arabic, official television station of the
State of Qatar, carries at 0850 GMT a live sermon from Umar Bin-al-Khattab
Mosque in Doha.

An unidentified imam delivers the sermon, which he devotes to the messages
brought by the different prophets. The imam devotes the second sermon to id
al-adha prayers.

The imam concludes with a prayer to God to support Islam and Muslims. He
prays: "O God, whoever wishes us, Islam and Muslims goodness make him
successful, and whoever wishes us, Islam and Muslims evil, deal with him.
Make his plots destroy him." He also prays for the success of Muslim rulers.