Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais

Infobox Person
name = Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais


image_size = 260px
caption = Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais at the Ninth Session of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award
birth_date = Birth year and age|1961
birth_place = Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Imam
spouse =
parents =
children =

Abdul Rahman Ibn Abdul Aziz as-Sudais an-Najdi(Hanbali) (Arabic: _ar. عبد الرحمن السديس ( _ar. ʕabd ar-Raxman ibn ʕabd al-Aziz as-Sudais an-Najdi), born Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1961)cite web
url = http://quran.gov.ae/content/view/94/49/lang,english/
title = Ninth Session
accessdate = 2007-03-19
year = 2006
publisher = Dubai International Holy Quran Award
archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070711191653/http://quran.gov.ae/content/view/94/49/lang,english/
archivedate = February 2008] 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 and has called for the annihilation of Jews.cite interview
last = Sacranie
first = Iqbal
subjectlink = Iqbal Sacranie
last2 = Abdul Bari
first2 = Muhammad
subjectlink2 = Muhammad Abdul Bari
last3 = Kantharia
first3 = Mehboob
last4 = Siddiqui
first4 = Ghayasuddin
interviewer = John Ware
title = A Question of Leadership
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/4171950.stm
program = "Panorama"
callsign = BBC
city = London, England
date = August 21, 2005
accessdate=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…

]

Life

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

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.

He obtained a degree in Sharia from Riyadh University in 1983, 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.Fact|date=January 2008

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 and accurate recitation.Fact|date=January 2008 He is also known for his frequent sermons calling on believers to help other Muslims in war-torn regions, especially Palestine and Iraq.cite web
url = http://www.allaahuakbar.in/article_read.asp?id=907
title = Charity and Relief Works by Imaam Al-Haram 'Abdur-Rahmân As-Sudais
accessdate = 2007-03-26
date = March 28, 2006
publisher = ANSAAR-US-SUNNAH]

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. When accepting his award in Dubai, he said: "The message of Islam and Muslims is modesty, fairness, security, stability, sympathy, harmony and kindness."cite web
url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/05/10/24/188472.html
title=Islam 'will never support terror or violence'
first=Bassam
last=Za'za'
publisher=Gulf News
date=2005-10-24
accessdate=2006-12-11]

Controversial statements on non-Muslims

Al-Sudais has been decried as an antisemite for publicly praying to God to ‘terminate’ the Jews,cite web
url = http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36482
title = Muslim confab invited anti-Semitic cleric
accessdate = 2007-03-18
last = Gossett
first = Sherrie
date = January 7, 2004
publisher = WorldNetDaily] and as a result has been barred from conferences in America, and been refused entry to Canada. [cite web
url = http://www.antisemitism.org.il/eng/events/9162/Canada_%E2%80%93_A_Saudi_Imam_is_Banned_From_Entering_the_Country
title = Canada – A Saudi Imam is Banned From Entering the Country
accessdate = 2007-03-18
date = May 18, 2004
publisher = Coordination Forum for Countering Antisemitism
quote = 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.]

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.cite web
url = http://www.alharamainsermons.org/eng/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=71
title = Shaykh Abdur Rahmaan As-Sudays
accessdate = 2007-03-19
date = April 19, 2002
publisher = www.alharamainsermons.org
quote =

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.

]

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. [cite web
url = http://www.adl.org/anti_semitism/arab/Arab_Anti-Semitism.pdf
title = Islamic Anti-Semitism in Historical Perspective
accessdate = 2007-03-18
year = 2002
format = PDF
publisher = Anti-Defamation League
pages = 6
language =
archiveurl =
archivedate =
quote =

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 ofthe earth. God hurled his curses and indignation on them and made them monkeysand pigs and worshippers of tyrants. These are the Jews, a continuous lineage ofmeanness, cunning, obstinacy, tyranny, evil, and corruption. They sow corruptionon earth…

O Muslims, the Islamic nation today is at the peak of conflict with the enemies ofyesterday, 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 followthem until the Day of Judgment…. The conflict is exploding and magnifying, theexploitation and greed are increasing, and the indulgence in humbling Arabs andMuslims and their holy places has become very serious by the world rodents thathave revoked pacts and agreements. Treachery, sabotage, and cunning dominatetheir minds and injustice and tyranny flow in their veins… They cannot butremain arrogant, reckless, corrupt, and harmful. Thus, they deserve the curse ofGod, His angels, and all people.

]

The International Broadcasting Bureau also has reported Sudais's antisemitism in a statement dated April 2002.cite web
url = http://www.ibb.gov/editorials/09844.htm
title = Saudi Imam Preaches Hate
accessdate = 2007-03-28
date = April 25, 2002
publisher = International Broadcasting Bureau
quote =

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.

]

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. He also said that "if he [Sudais] had a choice he would retract these words - he would not have said these words." cite interview
last = Al-Jubeir
first = Adel
subjectlink = Adel al-Jubeir
interviewer = Tim Russert
title = Adel Al-Jubeir, Foreign Policy Advisor to Crown Prince Abdullah on NBC's ‘Meet the Press’
url = http://www.saudiembassy.net/2003News/Statements/TransDetail.asp?cIndex=190
program = Meet the Press
callsign = NBC
city = Washington, DC
date = May 18, 2003
accessdate=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.

]

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 Christians as “cross-worshippers” and Hindus as “idol worshippers”. Ware pointed out the discrepancy between Sudais's sermons to Saudis with his speech to Western audiences.

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.” [cite press release
publisher= Muslim Council of Britain
date= August 20, 2005
url= http://www.mcb.org.uk/media/presstext.php?ann_id=160
title= John Ware’s Panorama programme – A witch-hunt against British Muslims
accessdate= 2007-03-28 ] The Council urged caution, and while condemning any form of anti-semitic remarks, requested verification that these words were indeed spoken by Al-Sudais. [cite web
url = http://www.mcb.org.uk/uploads/Panorama_response.doc
title = A Look At John Ware’s Panorama Programme About British Muslims
accessdate = 2007-03-28
date = August 21, 2006
format = Microsoft Word
publisher = Muslim Council of Britain
pages = pg. 5
archiveurl =
archivedate =
quote = 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.]

After a series of exchanges, the BBC's "Panorama" editor, Mike Robinson, posted a response to each of the Muslim Council's allegations, accusing them of “unwarranted and wildly inaccurate attacks” and “bad faith allegations.” [cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/4297490.stm
title = Response to MCB complaints
accessdate = 2007-03-28
last = Robinson
first = Mike
date = September 30, 2005
publisher = BBC
language =
archiveurl =
archivedate =
quote = …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.…]

tatements on conflict resolution

Sudais has said that there is no room for extremism and sectarianism in Islam and that Islam teaches a moderate path. He said the solution to problems that Muslims face in Palestine, Somalia, Iraq, Kashmir and Afghanistan lies in following the teachings of Islam in letter and spirit. He called for resolution of conflicts through dialogue and negotiations taking into consideration the social and economic benefits that can be achieved by resolving these disputes. [ [http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9998&Itemid=2 No room for sectarianism, extremism in Islam : Imam-e-Kaaba] . Associated Press of Pakistan]

Sudais also criticized the Lal Masjid administration during the recent Red Mosque crisis. He urged the militants and the government to agree to a peaceful resolution through dialogue and urged both parties to protect peace. [ Wajid, Ali Wajid. [http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/06/04/10129871.html Imam slams Lal Masjid over standoff] . Gulf News.]

Prayers for inter-faith peace

In June, 2004, Sudais led a following of 10,000 in prayers for inter-faith peace and harmony. Britain’s grand rabbi Jonathan Sachs and Racial Equality Minister Fiona Mactaggart attended Sudais' sermon at the East London Mosque. Prince Charles, who was in Washington, took part by a pre-recorded message. [ [http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=46670&d=12&m=6&y=2004 Sudais Leads Prayers for Inter-Faith Peace and Harmony] . Arab News, Saturday, 12, June, 2004 (23, Rabi` al-Thani, 1425)]

ee also

* Masjid al-Haram
* Qur'an reading

References

External links

* [http://english.islamway.com/bindex.php?section=echapters&recitor_id=28 Recitation of complete Quran by Al-Sudais]
* [http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sr&ID=SR01102 Based on Koranic Verses, Interpretations, and Traditions, Muslim Clerics State: The Jews Are the Descendants of Apes, Pigs, And Other Animals] by Aluma Solnick (MEMRI Special Report - No. 11. November 1, 2002
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/4171950.stm A question of leadership] (BBC. Panorama) August 21, 2005
* [http://www.islamicthinkers.com/index/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=441&Itemid=74 Statement of the Islamic Thinkers Society on As-Sudais]
* [http://www.assabile.com/Saudi-Arabia/abdul-rahman-al-sudais/abdul-rahman-al-sudais-12.htm Assabile.com]

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=