Saudi Shiite Imams says Muslim world victims of terrorism in the name of jihad

Recently many speakers and Imams addressed current developments in their Friday sermons. Here are some excerpts of those sermons.

No Choice but Coexistence

Sayed Hashim AlSalman, a clergyman from Al-Ahsa region stressed on the importance of Islamic unity during Friday sermon in Jam’a Alrasool in Al-Ahsa on February 16. He said that “Muslims should eliminate sectarian, tribal and national differences”.

AlSalman explained that Islamic teaching encourages communication between interfaith followers without marginalization in order to enhance coexistence.

He emphasized on the importance of maintaining unity among Muslims through avoiding controversial debates.

He said that “raising controversial sectarian issues in schools and universities is unacceptable”. He added that “debate has certain methods; otherwise it will lead to conflicts in societies which reflect negatively on coexistence”.

AlSalman added that “the Islamic scene witnessed many political and intellectual conflicts in the past and present, explaining that we are in front of two choices to face such conflicts, either confrontation or isolation”.

Atonement Crisis

Sheikh Hussein Al radi, a Saudi cleric from Hasa, speaks on February 28, during Friday sermon about atonement which he beliefs that it is a time bomb that will destroy the society. He defined Islam as the religion which includes entire people in spite of their religious afflation.

He added that atonement is not a new trend in Islamic nation and it is not restricted upon one group, explaining that atonement fatwas are directed to Muslims whom are considered non-Muslims according to the other group and even inside the same doctrine which lead to the fragmentation of Muslim societies. Al radi pointed to the results of such oppressive fatwas including the destruction of worship places, forcible displacement, aggression and suicide bombing.

Al Radi said that “Muslim countries such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries are witnessing military terrorism under the pretext of Jihad and apply the rule of Allah on earth which caused terror among Muslims before others”.

He confirmed that radical religious thought and its political, religious, historical, cultural and jurisprudential orientations evoked what was practiced in the Islamic history from oppression in the name of Islam which reflected negatively on non-Muslims considering it a religion of terrorism not compassion.

Al Radi emphasized that policy is the main factor of terrorism, explaining that politicians use religion as a mean to achieve their goals which motivate ignorance to kill themselves and others in the name of Islam. He added that such terrorist acts are supported by regional and international countries are to achieve political aims not religious one.

He concluded that Muslims by committing such acts misrepresents Islam and serve the interests of Israel.

AlSaffar criticized ways of dealing with different opinions in ourcommunities

Sheikh Hasan AlSaffar criticized on February 28, during Friday sermon ways of dealing with different opinions in our communities, calling for promoting freedom of opinion and pluralism and accepting intellectual differences better rather than turning it to a mean of conflict.

He said that “our societies need to practice freedom of opinion and acceptance of intellectual pluralism in order to avoid conflict and problems.”

AlSaffar added that “pluralism is not a reason for hating opinion makers, explaining that different opinions and convictions are among the rights of human being”.

He called to focus on common issues instead of judging others on the basis of some controversial opinions.  Al-Saffar added that “unlike the past, current environment has created a state of intellectual openness among various opinions and ideas, and everyone is able to react with various opinions and trends whether with rejection or acceptance”.

AlSaffar said that “the adoption or rejection of ideas and opinions should not be based on personal relationship or intellectual and religious orientation of opinion makers”. He added that accepting some ideas does not mean the acceptance of the approach of its maker and vice versa.

He criticized the absence of the ability to deal with different opinions and ideas in our communities and using political pluralism and religious differences as a mean to create conflicts.