Top Saudi Cleric denounces violent forms of Islam.

[vaulos]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4191015.stm

A top Saudi cleric has urged Muslims to shun militant forms of Islam, as pilgrims carried out one of the final rituals of the Hajj.
Militants were using "misguided" interpretations to justify violence, Mecca's Imam Abdul Rahman Sudeis said.

About 2.5 million pilgrims hurled stones at pillars in Mina, meant to symbolise the rejection of Satan.

They were able to take advantage of improved facilities brought in to reduce risks of a stampede.

"Because Muslims strayed from moderation, we are now suffering this dangerous phenomenon of branding people infidels and inciting Muslims to rise against their leaders," said Sheikh Abdul Rahman.

[Eidolon Faer]

Well, it's a step in the right direction, I suppose. How big a step remains to be seen.

[vaulos]

A good portion of the reason he's denouncing militant-Islam is self serving. (The Saudi princes appoint all of the clerics on the Arab peninsula- and Al'Qaeda wants the Saudi royal family on a pointy stick). But tangentially, it does provide the possibility for a religious backlash not only against Al'Qaeda, but also violence in the name of Islam generally.

We may be (and hopefully are seeing) the beginnings of an Islamic reformation. Though, it probably would be good to keep in mind that 30 years of war followed the Protestant one.

[superwalrus]

uh only 30?

Walrus

[Ddrak]

"Top" cleric? How "top" are we talking here?

Dd

[vaulos]

"How top" isn't as important as "where, when and to whom" he was speaking.

[Partha]

How top is the Court Advisor to the House of Saud.

[Eidolon Faer]

Well, this could either be pious lip-service to cover up for a big terrorist kegger they're planning, or it could be a real effort at reform.

And the only way to tell is to wait and see.

[Ddrak]

Sounds like pious lip service to the Saudi monarchy to me then, given his position. I seriously doubt someone with the lips that firmly attached to the Saudi princes would have any real knowledge of radical Islamists, or even the Islamic community in general.

Dd

[Relbeek Einre]

Heh! Yeah, because the Saudi princes have no ties to radical Islamists.

[Aabe]

Reguardless of his motives, at least he spoke up publically, for muslims waiting for some public voice to speak against the violence, at worst it would have no effect, at best maybe it will help some.

But I do wonder how much his life expectancy has been reduced. I would think a public voice against terrorists in that part of the world get a lot of lead poisoning.

[Ddrak]

Nah Aabe. Islamic politics isn't as homogenic as a lot of people want to believe. There's a *lot* of factions inside the Islamic church - just as their are denominations in Christianity. They even have fights between each other just like Protestants and Catholics did.

I have to wonder if this isn't akin to the Archbishop of Canterbury denouncing the Conquistidors. (Yes, I know the timeline is wrong, it was just an analogy)

Fact is, the majority of the Muslim world denounces terrorism and violence. Historically, Islam has been a far more peaceful religon than Christianity and probably still is in the most part. It's the continual misunderstanding of the fact that there are innumerable factions within Islam and only a very few are a problem that is really hurting relations.

Dd

[vaulos]

I think many of you are failing to appreciate the propaganda value of his speech, towards creating a more peaceful Middle East. That's why I meant that it wasn't import WHO he was, but rather where and when he was saying it. This is a VERY important religious experience for many Muslims. So when the key note speaker tells you not to be decieved by satan (i.e., terrorists), many will be willing to follow it blindly!

[Embar Angylwrath]

This is a side note, but the use of the word "satan" by Islamists has a completely different meaning than what most of us infer. Islamists interpret the word "satan" closer to its roots than Christians. To Christians, "satan" means the persona of all evil, the fount and essence of all evil, the ruler of Hell and the source of all that is perverted from perfection.

To Islamists, "satan" means perverter, a person who stands in the way of righteousness. A preventer. An entity that thwarts. (Which actually more closely resembles the use of the word "satan" in ancient texts than does the Christian meaning)

So to Islamists, a "satan" is a person that obstructs, blocks or prevents spiiritual enlightenment. So a person can be " a satan", but not "The Satan". In many Islamists eyes (and for many reasons known only to them), the leaders of the the US have been viewed as the Great Satan. Meaning The Great Obstructionist to Spiritual Purity.
Not evil incrantate, as the phrase suggests to Christians, but rather a great force that stands in opposition to thier ideals.

[Narith]

Personally I think this is just a propaganda ploy to make Americans feel safer and think that peace is right around the corner.... These people have been fighting for thousands of years, we are talking biblical days, and you honestly think that in a years time we can change that? You are either insane or nieve (sp?). Either way the truth is the fighting will never stop.

This probably is a ploy by the Saudi government in order to take heat from the Americans off of them, they have enough trouble fighting amongst themselves and other countries and don't need Americans stepping in.

I have talked with plenty of troops over there who all tell me the same thing, what you see on the news is not correct, they are not allowed to say how it actually is over there (which I can only take as meaning it is alot worse seeing the slip up a few months back about how top military brass say that Iraq is on the verge of a cival war but was quickly snuffed from the media) but they will say this stuff has been going on for thousands of years, we are simply making ourselves targets because peace will never happen there.