Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais

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Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais
Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais at the Ninth Session of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award
Born 1961
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Occupation Imam

Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Sudais an-Najdi (Arabic: عبد الرحمن السديس, born Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1961)[1] is the leading imam of the Grand mosque in the Islamic holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia and the "Islamic Personality Of the Year" 2006. In some of his sermons, al-Sudais has vilified non-Muslims,[2] and has called for the annihilation of Jews.

Contents

[edit] Life

Al-Sudais comes from the Anza clan.[1] He had memorized the Quran by the age of 12.[1]

Growing up in Riyadh, Al-Sudais studied at the Al Muthana Bin Harith Elementary School, and afterwards the Riyadh Scientific Institution from which he graduated in 1979 with a grade of excellent.[1]

He obtained a degree in Sharia from Riyadh University in 1983,[1] and became an IFK (Islamic Fundamental Knowledge) lecturer after the conclusion of his study.[citation needed] He obtained his Master's in Islamic fundamentals from the Sharia College of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in 1987 and received his Ph.D. in Islamic Sharia from Umm al-Qura University in 1995 while working there as an assistant professor after serving at Riyadh University.

[edit] Career

Abdul Rahman As-Sudais is respected for his precise, controlled, and particularly emotional recitation of the Qur'an in accordance with Tajweed, the rules of beautiful recitation. He was particularly called upon in the Ramadan Taraweeh prayers of 2006 (1427 AH) to recite the last few chapters of the Qur'an as well as to make the closing Dua (supplication to God) followed by the millions of Muslims in Mecca as well as around the World by means of TV or radio.[citation needed] He is also known for his frequent sermons calling on believers to help other Muslims in war-torn regions, especially Palestine and Iraq.[3]

In 2005 Al-Sudais was named by the Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) Organising Committee as its 9th annual "Islamic Personality Of the Year" in recognition for his devotion to the Quran and Islam.[1] When accepting his award in Dubai, he said: "The message of Islam and Muslims is modesty, fairness, security, stability, sympathy, harmony and kindness."[4]

[edit] Controversial statements on non-Muslims

Al-Sudais has been decried as an antisemite for publicly praying to God to ‘terminate’ the Jews,[5] and as a result has been barred from conferences in America,[5] and been refused entry to Canada.[6].

On April 19, 2002, in his sermon Al-Aqsa Is Crying Out For Help! Al-Sudais called the Jews "monkeys and pigs," among other invective.[7]

Al-Sudais has been listed as an example of theological anti-Semitism by the Anti-Defamation League, when he called curses down upon Jews and labeled them “scum of the earth” in his sermons.[8]

The International Broadcasting Bureau also has reported Sudais's antisemitism in a statement dated April 2002.[9]

In a May 2003 interview with NBC's Tim Russert, the foreign policy adviser to the Saudi crown prince, Adel al-Jubeir, confirmed al-Sudais's statements, agreed that they were “clearly not right,” and stated that he was reprimanded, but was still allowed to preach.[10]

Al-Sudais not only attacked Jews, but other non-Muslims as well, such as Hindus and Christians. John Ware on the BBC program Panorama entitled A Question of Leadership from August 21, 2005 cited Al-Sudais referring disparagingly to to Christians as “cross-worshippers” and Hindus as “idol worshippers”.[2] Ware pointed out the discrepancy between Sudais's sermons to Saudis with his speech to Western audiences.[2]

The Muslim Council of Britain questioned the veracity of quotes given in the interview, calling them “deliberately garbled” and the program as a whole “deeply unfair.”[11] The Council urged caution, and while condemning any form of anti-semitic remarks, requested verification that these words were indeed spoken by Al-Sudais.[12]

After a series of exchanges, the BBC's Panorama editor, Mike Robinson, posted a detailed refutation of each of the Muslim Council's allegations, accusing them of “unwarranted and wildly inaccurate attacks” and “bad faith allegations.”[13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Ninth Session. Dubai International Holy Quran Award (2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
  2. ^ a b c Sacranie, Iqbal, Muhammad Abdul Bari & Mehboob Kantharia, et al.. Interview with John Ware. A Question of Leadership. Panorama. BBC, London, England. August 21, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-03-30.

    Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais, Imam, Ka'ba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia: The history of Islam is the best testament to how different communities can live together in peace and harmony. Muslims must exemplify the true image of Islam in their interaction with other communities.

    John Ware: Sheikh Sudais is a leading Imam from the great mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest city. He had one voice for his Western audience - another for his followers in Saudi. Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Al-Sudais: The worst…of the enemies of Islam are those…whom he…made monkeys and pigs, the aggressive Jews and oppressive Zionists and those that follow them: the callers of the trinity and the cross worshippers…those influenced by the rottenness of their ideas, and the poison of their cultures the followers of secularism…how can we talk sweetly when the Hindus and the idol worshippers indulge in their overwhelming hatred against our brothers…in Muslim Kashmir…

  3. ^ Charity and Relief Works by Imaam Al-Haram 'Abdur-Rahmân As-Sudais. ANSAAR-US-SUNNAH (March 28, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-26.
  4. ^ Za'za', Bassam (2005-10-24). Islam 'will never support terror or violence'. Gulf News. Retrieved on 2006-12-11.
  5. ^ a b Gossett, Sherrie (January 7, 2004). Muslim confab invited anti-Semitic cleric. WorldNetDaily. Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
  6. ^ Canada – A Saudi Imam is Banned From Entering the Country. Coordination Forum for Countering Antisemitism (May 18, 2004). Retrieved on 2007-03-18. “The Canadian Government has decided to prevent the entry into the country Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the Imam of the Great Mosque of Mecca, because of his preaching of hatred of the Jews.…The decision to ban the Imam's entry into Canada is part of the authorities' campaign against antisemitism, in the light of recent events in Toronto and Montreal, and against racist incitement in general.”
  7. ^ Shaykh Abdur Rahmaan As-Sudays. www.alharamainsermons.org (April 19, 2002). Retrieved on 2007-03-19. “

    Read the history to know that yesterday’s Jews are evil predecessors and today’s Jews are worse successors. They an ingrate people, they altered God’s words, worshipped calf, killed Messengers and denied their Messages. They are exiled people and the worst of mankind. Allaah cursed them and cast His wrath upon them. He turned some of them to monkeys and pigs and worshippers of creatures. They are worst in position and are astray from the right path.…

    History of Jews is full of deception, trickery, rebellion, oppression, evil and corruption. They always seek to cause mischief on the earth and Allaah loves not the mischief-makers.

    ”
  8. ^ Islamic Anti-Semitism in Historical Perspective (PDF) 6. Anti-Defamation League (2002). Retrieved on 2007-03-18. “

    Read history and you will know that yesterday's Jews were bad predecessors and today's Jews are worse successors. They are killers of prophets and the scum of the earth. God hurled his curses and indignation on them and made them monkeys and pigs and worshippers of tyrants. These are the Jews, a continuous lineage of meanness, cunning, obstinacy, tyranny, evil, and corruption. They sow corruption on earth…

    O Muslims, the Islamic nation today is at the peak of conflict with the enemies of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, with the grandsons of Bani-Quraydah, Al-Nadiri, and Qaynuqa [Jewish tribes in the early days of Islam]. May God's curses follow them until the Day of Judgment…. The conflict is exploding and magnifying, the exploitation and greed are increasing, and the indulgence in humbling Arabs and Muslims and their holy places has become very serious by the world rodents that have revoked pacts and agreements. Treachery, sabotage, and cunning dominate their minds and injustice and tyranny flow in their veins… They cannot but remain arrogant, reckless, corrupt, and harmful. Thus, they deserve the curse of God, His angels, and all people.

    ”
  9. ^ Saudi Imam Preaches Hate. International Broadcasting Bureau (April 25, 2002). Retrieved on 2007-03-28. “

    On April 19th, a prominent Saudi imam said in a sermon broadcast on radio and television that Arabs ‘must say farewell to peace initiatives’ with the Jewish state. Even worse, the sermon by Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais [shake ahb-d’l-RAHKH-mahn ah-soo-DAYSS] was filled with anti-Semitic vitriol.

    Preaching at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest shrine, Sheikh Sudais called Jews ‘the scum of humanity…the rats of the world…prophet killers…pigs and monkeys.’ He prayed to God to "terminate" the Jews.

    In addition to spewing such villainous bile, Sheikh Sudais also claimed falsely that the Israelis ‘aspire to tear down the al-Aqsa mosque [in Jerusalem] to build their so-called temple on its ruins.’ In fact, the Israeli government has never expressed any interest in tearing down the mosque, which is built near the ruins of a Jewish temple. On the contrary, Israel respects Muslim holy sites and has pledged to keep them accessible to all.

    ”
  10. ^ Al-Jubeir, Adel. Interview with Tim Russert. Adel Al-Jubeir, Foreign Policy Advisor to Crown Prince Abdullah on NBC's ‘Meet the Press’. Meet the Press. NBC, Washington, DC. May 18, 2003. Retrieved on 2007-03-30.

    MR. RUSSERT: But it went on and on, and you mention imams in Saudi Arabia. This is what a top Saudi Arabian religious leader said, using inflammatory anti-Semitic rhetoric -- "Pray to Allah to terminate Jews. Urge all Muslims to shun peace with Israel." Shaikh Abdelrahman al-Sudais, one of the top imams in Saudi Arabia, called on Muslims to say farewell to peace initiatives with these people, Jews. He prayed to the Muslim God to terminate the Jews, whom he called the scum of humanity, rats of the world, prophet killers, pigs and monkeys.

    MR. AL-JUBEIR: That's also incorrect. And he was reprimanded for this.

    MR. RUSSERT: He was reprimanded?

    MR. AL-JUBEIR: Oh, yes.

    MR. RUSSERT: Is he still preaching?

    MR. AL-JUBEIR: Yes, he is. But he's not -- I think if he had a choice he would retract these words -- he would not have said these words. It's clearly not right. You cannot -- you cannot defile, you cannot malign other people, certainly not when it comes to their faith.

  11. ^ Muslim Council of Britain (August 20, 2005). John Ware’s Panorama programme – A witch-hunt against British Muslims. Press release. Retrieved on 2007-03-28.
  12. ^ A Look At John Ware’s Panorama Programme About British Muslims (Microsoft Word) pg. 5. Muslim Council of Britain (August 21, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-03-28. “Anti-semitic Remarks
    The Muslim Council of Britain strongly abhors any form of racism, including anti-semitism. Islam as a faith is famously colour-blind and was revealed to bring peoples of all nations together in worship of the One True God. Ware quotes the Imam of the Ka’bah as making allegedly anti-semitic remarks. If this was the case then we would condemn them completely. However, based on Ware’s ‘selective’ quotations which we have highlighted earlier in this response we would urge caution and verification that these were indeed uttered by the Imam of the Ka’bah.    ”
  13. ^ Robinson, Mike (September 30, 2005). Response to MCB complaints. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-03-28. “…You have claimed that the programme maligned certain organisations affiliated to the MCB, even though the programme highlighted their sermons, documents and conduct which were sectarian or which demonised other faiths and races, and which were likely to foment division. Such views were either advocated by these affiliates or appeared to be tolerated by them. You have also publicly accused us of being engaged in a "Witch-hunt against British Muslims." I simply cannot accept that highlighting sectarian and racist language amounts to persecution. You have expressed scepticism that Sheikh Al Sudais, who was an honoured guest at the East London Mosque where the MCB's Deputy General Secretary is Chairman, had previously said in Mecca that Jews were "monkeys and pigs", "rats of the world" and the "offspring of apes and pigs"; that Christians were "cross worshippers…those influenced by the rottenness of their ideas and the poison of their cultures the followers of secularism", and that Hindus were "idol worshippers." I can assure you that he did. His sermons are available from a Saudi website covering mosques in the holy cities of Medina and Mecca and the translation we used was verified by BBC Monitoring, a fluent Arab speaker on our production team, and a translator outside the BBC.…”

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Persondata
NAME Al-Sudais, Abdul Rahman
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Al-Sudais an-Najdi, Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz
SHORT DESCRIPTION Imam in Mecca
DATE OF BIRTH 1961
PLACE OF BIRTH Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
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