Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs Issues Warning to Preachers | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat – The Saudi Ministry for Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Dawa and Guidance, expressed its displeasure at some of the Friday sermons given at mosques across the Kingdom. A number of preachers, it said, had strayed away from their main duties, in reference to preachers exploiting the current crisis in the Middle East to express political opinions against Hezbollah in Lebanon, stirring sectarian feelings.

In a statement to Asharq al Awsat, Dr. Tawfiq al Sudayri, Under-Secretary to the Ministry, said his office will continue to follow up on any violations committed by Friday preachers and seek to remedy them using the appropriate means, on a case by case basis. “We are now in great need of speaking with one voice and uniting Muslim ranks”, he said.

He called on the Kingdom’s preachers to take into account in their sermons the various ideological orientations found in Saudi society and emphasized the need for using Friday sermons to unite people.

Al Sudayri expressed his deep sorrow at the suffering currently taking place in the Muslim world. “This stirs up the feelings of Muslims.” He said that Muslims should “turn to God, repent for their sins and disobedience and eagerly seek to speak with the same united voice.”

The Under-Secretary also indicated that Friday preachers had in important role to play in this regard as their sermons are one of the means to unite the different social classes.