“Although senior Wahhabi clerics endorse execution by beheading for offences that include apostasy, adultery and sorcery, oppose women driving or working and describe Shi’ites as heretics, they differ from al Qaeda and Islamic State militants in opposing violent revolt.” That is the closest this report gets to what this is really about. The Grand Mufti isn’t saying that the Islamic State is the “enemy number one of Islam” because he thinks that its murders of apostates, beheadings of Infidels, or kidnappings of infidel women are un-Islamic. He can’t say that, because the Saudis have spent billions spreading exactly that understanding of Islam around the world. No, he only objects to their carrying out a “violent revolt.” That is, the Islamic State is a caliphate that styles itself as the ruler of all Muslims worldwide. In the eyes of the Islamic State’s leaders, then, the Saudi Kingdom has no legitimacy. The House of Saud has no legitimacy. And so the House of Saud’s house Mufti duly issues this condemnation.
“Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti denounces Iraq’s Islamic State group,” Reuters, August 19, 2014 (thanks to Paul):
(Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh, the highest religious authority in the country, said on Tuesday the militant groups Islamic State and al Qaeda were “enemy number one of Islam” and not in any way part of the faith.
Although the mufti and other senior Saudi clerics have condemned Islamic State, al Qaeda and other groups before, the timing of Al al-Sheikh’s statement is significant given the gains by militants in Iraq.
“Extremist and militant ideas and terrorism which spread decay on Earth, destroying human civilisation, are not in any way part of Islam, but are enemy number one of Islam, and Muslims are their first victims,” he said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
He later compared them to the Kharijite movement in early Islam, which assassinated the Prophet Mohammed’s son-in-law Ali for making compromises to a rival Muslim faction, and has been seen as heretical by most subsequent Muslim sects.
Saudi Arabia follows the ultra conservative Wahhabi school of Sunni Islam but sees Islamist militants, who staged attacks in the kingdom last decade, as posing a threat to its own stability.
Although senior Wahhabi clerics endorse execution by beheading for offences that include apostasy, adultery and sorcery, oppose women driving or working and describe Shi’ites as heretics, they differ from al Qaeda and Islamic State militants in opposing violent revolt.
Riyadh has been a main supporter of rebels battling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but has funnelled arms and money away from Islamic State and al Qaeda towards other opposition groups.
Wahhabi clerics, who hold senior government positions and lend the ruling al-Saud Islamic legitimacy, oversee a massive religious infrastructure paid for by the state and are sometimes dismissed by militants as being in the government’s pocket.
Thousands of young Saudis are believed to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join rebel and militant groups, spurring concern within the authorities that they may eventually launch attacks on their own government.
Saudi Arabia labelled Islamic State, al Qaeda, Nusra Front and other groups as “terrorist” in March and imposed long prison terms for offering them public support or giving them moral or material aid.
Early this month King Abdullah made a speech attacking militant groups that used Islamic justifications, and urged Muslim scholars and leaders to fight against them.
Jaladhi says
Ah, how reassuring to infidels that grand mufti of Saudi Arabia has denounced ISIS but he has no comment on Quranic suras on which ISIS is committing these atrocities.
Jeff says
Yup. His religion has created these monsters and now the free world must deal with them.
Beagle says
Part of me would love to see the IS take on Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, my wallet does not want to see $10 gas. Answering the question of loyalty to a Sunni caliph versus King Abdullah would almost be worth the price of admission, almost.
Jovial Joe says
Thank goodness the Moderates are at last condemning IS.
Marken says
Funny!
cobra says
The moderates = hypocrits
Nigel Dixon says
The more I read about the fantastic, acid-trip reality that these ‘religious’ people live, the more I want to laugh. But then I just end up crying at the pure misguided nonsense of it all and how much misery religion has caused in the world. Surely humanity deserves better?
Beagle says
Is it really fair to lump the Little Sisters of the Poor or some Buddhist monk into the same category as a Wahhabi mujahideen?
Beagle says
Derp, mujahdeen should be mujahid.
BlackCats says
Absolutely true! Sisters of the Poor, praying monks, etc. are a far reach from the hate filled koran and the barbaric islam. Read the koran – and its so easy to see where all of this islamic clap-trap of barbarity comes from – and people are expected to BELIEVE it and PRACTICE it!
Check out websites such as ACTS17Apologetics with Dr. David Wood, and Dr. Bill Warner in political.islam.com as well as Robert Spencer’s OUTSTANDING books on islam. Not good for the Little Sisters of the Poor, monks, Hindus, Seiks, Baptists, or us Methodists!
Read Ms. Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s books (she’s an ex-muslim) “The Caged Virgin”, “Infidel” and “Nomad”. Lends a great understanding of islam – and it ain’t good for us infidels.
paddy says
I’ve done acid..it was really far out.
Keith says
Whilst I do agree with you I must point out that if we didn’t fight over religion we would find something else just as nonsensical to fight over. Just remember people can be stupid and will fight over the slightest of things.
paddy says
gosh..your face is merging MAAN!
mariam rove says
This is getting better by the minute!! I am loving it!!!! Doggie eat doggie!!!!!!! Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!m
Edward says
Ah, I’m becoming to understanding why all of their convoluted ways….this was all started at the beginning it seems, as stated on the Quran’s ancestry strain creation account:
“Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; then We fashioned the drop into a clot, then We fashioned the clot into a little lump, then We fashioned the little lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators!” (23:12-14) Another context in which Allah mentions the creation of man, is how he originates from a “lowly” water viz. human semen. Whilst the first human being was created and fashioned from dust, his progeny continued on earth via this water: “Have We not created you from a fluid (held) despicable? [77:20] The place in the human anatomy from where this “despicable” water originates is also mentioned by Allah.”
Some Muslim websites mentions that the Quran plagiarized some of the OT’s and NT’s holy passages. Certainly, they didn’t use Genesis’ account as we see here. Biological reproduction was on their minds when writing Quran’s 77:20.
There is definite reasons for their barbaric behaviors! What?Their 1st parents were compounded with “despicable” water! Now we know why they are always so ornery. This website reveals so!
http://muslimmatters.org/2012/02/03/the-creation-of-man-as-mentioned-in-the-quran/
paddy says
TAKE ME HOME HONEY!
Max Publius says
The Islamic State is simply Saudi Arabia at war.
Saudi Arabia is simply the Islamic State at peace.
SpiritOf1683 says
Islamic State is only an enemy because its casting Islam in its true light, and reminding us of why we needed men like Martel, Pelayo, Jan Sobieski and the like.
AnneM says
ISIS is a visable FRUIT of Islam.
Max Publius says
When an ex-Muslim can safely order a beer in Mecca, then we will have won, and the imams will have lost. Anything less means we’re still fighting these SOBs.
pennant8 says
The main reason Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mafioso came out with this statement is that the Saudi’s actually are concerned that ISIS may one day make a move on them. The worst part of a scenario like that is that the Saudi’s will call on what some former Saudi Princeling called his “blue-eyed slaves” referring to US troops, to do all the fighting for them. Given all the evidence that the Saudis helped fund and support the 9/11 hijackers, sending US troops to fight on their behalf would justify a mutiny in our armed forces.
Angemon says
ISIS’s are targeting “heretic” muslims, SA’s GM considers the “heretic” ISIS and al-Qaeda as the #1 enemy of islam. Apparently you can’t be a muslim without pissing off other muslims and risking your neck (literally).
Joseph says
The Saudis are sincere (not on a moral level, but politically) in their condemnation of IS because they fear that IS is coming for them next. It is common knowledge that the mujahideen hate the Saudis. They consider them the worst “hypocrites” and deserving of death.
Recently, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, said that the rightful seat of the Caliphate is Istanbul, Turkey, not Iraq. President Erdogan is a Sufi Muslim and therefore capable, at least in principle, of uniting the Shias (led by Iran) and the radical Sunnis (led by IS). He is okay with al-Baghdadi cleaning up Iraq and Syria and gaining new territory; but eventually al-Baghdadi is pushed aside by Turkey. And Iran and Turkey have been forming an alliance over the past decade. Moreover, it is public knowledge in Turkey that Erdogan wants to reestablish the Islamic Caliphate in Turkey. I believe that Erdogan will succeed in reestablishing the Caliphate in Turkey and succeed as well in uniting the Shias and the Sunnis under one worldwide Islamic government .
The only problem at that point is to deal with the hypocrites: the Saudis. I believe that Turkey, Iran, and IS (or some combination of the three) will invade and wipe out the Saudis. And the Saudis fear this scenario. And so they are sincere, at least on a political level, in their “condemnation” of IS.
RonaldB says
Rofl.
You think anything would unite the Shia and the Sunnis, especially under a Sufi? Dream on!
The big problem with establishing a Califate is that the Muslims will have an excuse to do what they love to do anyway: kill the kuffirs because they’re kuffirs. Also, the ISIS is a sexy new group, bolstering the ego of narcissistic but severely underachieving Muslim males.
The problem of Islam cannot be done away with, but it can be managed indefinitely. The Saudis are having the bejesus scared out of them by the successes of the ISIS. There’s nothing wrong in using US forces to protect the borders, as long as we get certain things in return. Our first adventure in Desert Storm was relatively productive: the Kuwaitis and Saudis paid for it, we kept Saddam Hussein from becoming overly powerful, and George Bush I had the sense to listen to the Saudis and not topple Hussein. And most important, we didn’t have the notion of nation-building. All the countries involved pretty much kept their preferred forms of government.
Saudi Arabia can be an extremely important ally for us, just as we can be for them. We should trust them no more than they trust us. An alliance of convenience can go a long way, as long as you realize you’re together for the benefits, and not for the love.
gravenimage says
Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti denounces Islamic State as “enemy number one of Islam”
…………………………….
Actually, all it threatens is the Saud family dynasty. There is nothing in their practice of oppressive and bloody Islam that contradicts what the Saudis themselves are doing.
But this is nothing new—the Saudis have long condemned any Jihadists who threaten their rule, while backing violent Jihad against the Infidel elsewhere.
donovan Nuera says
Can we stop calling these asshats “ISIS” or “ISIL” or “IS”!! Let us now from this time forward call them “IS-HOLES” (with apologies to Johnny Dangerously)
Michael Copeland says
“Extremist and militant ideas and terrorism which spread decay on Earth, … are not in any way part of Islam”, says the Mufti.
What about extremist and militant ideas and terrorism which spread Islam?
They are, of course, fine, and to be welcomed.
By their fruits they will be known.
duh_swami says
While ISIS is rich, the Saudi’s are richer…The rich fighting the very rich the object of which, is more riches…There may be some high mucky mucks who will accept ISIS Caliphate, but under it all is a competition as to who will be in charge.
The Saudi’s because they are in charge of the ‘holy’ cities, and Ka’aba would naturally think it should be them. Well when Mahdi gets here all that is going to change, and Iran will host the new Caliphate…Mahdi does not have as much money as Suad/ISIS, but he does have a lot of signs and wonders.
Charli Main says
The time is rapidly approaching when the Saudis are going to reap what the have been sowing around the world.
What goes round, comes round—-pass the tissues folks, I´m crying a river for the poor Saudis
Beema says
Yep, I’ve been waiting for the day when the Saudis get their just desserts. It’s payback time for spreading and funding their evil ideology around the world. Qatar next?
Rezali Mehil says
This is good sh*t as the actor in film Friday (or Friday after next) said when he was smoking weed.
This sun glassed grand sunni mufti – is squirming …. possibly for the 1st time.
King Abdull had summoned the f*cker…and consulted him and said ” Mufti …I don’t like issuing live ammunition to my soldiers at border”…. I am not sure if they will run when the IS coming knocking…what can we do?”.
With all your prayers experience …”please ask Allah SWT to take the IS away from my house…the house of Saud…please”
Mufti ….”Allah SWT works in mysterious ways…you know that Majesty”…I will pray for you and the safety of house of Saud …but for now… I can issue my “religious clout” to condemn the IS.
King Abdull …” Those IS sons of pigs…how dare they think that they can rule over me … I am the one who gave them …money, weapons…women …this was not not supposed to happen …. can you bring me this Baghdadi’s head?”
Mufti ….”I think that you need to talk to the Americaner muslim/crusader president for that …he bows before you …I have seen him do that …he is your best best bet of ridding yourself of Baghdadi’s…your dullness”.
Mufti continues…”Give Obama – one year of free fuel to save the house of Saud…also send him some of your finest women in the background”….
King Abdull …” Yes but …to get to his golf course retreat …they will need to drive..and non of them can drive…who passed that stupid law…was it me?”
King Abdull …” Oh yes …how silly of me I forgot …. I have been drinking and smoking too much weed recently …due to worry you know….who can I trust now…oh the headache…oh the pain…woe is me…bahoo oooo?”
Mufti – “Let me at least tell the rest of the ummah that Bhagdadi caliphate is not valid…keep the others on our side”…
…Majesty why not announce that YOU are caliphate instead…that way you are King and Caliphate …what do you think?”
King Abdull …” Oh no …I am hated even more than Bhagdadi …the kuffar know all about me …that won’t fly”
Rezali – Abdull …. your time is coming to an end soon…. av-our for now but soon it will be bye bye …you fu*ked up pretender of King….the sooner the better….you reap what sow… that IS (pin intended) the saying I believe,
In my time here …this is one of the best reports I have read from Mr. Spencer …
More Later…
Rezali
paddy says
You SoB…you ripped off my dialogue angle x
voegelinian says
If the Kingdom is toppled, it will most likely be by Sunni fanatics diseased by the same pneumopathology that afflicts the Saudis — the same pneumopathology that has afflicted Islam for 1,400 years, a fanatical obsession with purity. And those Sunni fanatics will start redoubling the oppression of Shia (on a long list of types of victims) if not begin wholesale massacres.
gravenimage says
The repulsive Rezali Mehil wrote:
This is good sh*t as the actor in film Friday (or Friday after next) said when he was smoking weed.
This sun glassed grand sunni mufti – is squirming …. possibly for the 1st time.
……………………………………….
This Shi’ite Muslimah is gloating over this threat to the Sunni Saudis—even though ISIS is now mass-slaughtering Shia in the Islamic State.
But then, the schizophrenic Rezali Mehil has done this before re ISIS—seesawing between demanding that the West fight ISIS because they are murdering Shia, and gloating over the threat to local Infidels, to the West, and to non-ISIS Sunni powers.
Then there is her sheer exuberance over seeing the kind of “Islam triumphant” that the new Caliphate represents—even though it is not her fellow Shi’ites running the show.
And so, she is even more irrational than usual…
More:
Rezali – Abdull …. your time is coming to an end soon…. av-our for now but soon it will be bye bye …you fu*ked up pretender of King….the sooner the better….you reap what sow… that IS (pin intended) the saying I believe,
In my time here …this is one of the best reports I have read from Mr. Spencer …
……………………………………….
What she means, of course, is that she is glad to hear that one of the leaders of the Sunni world threatened.
Would she have the same attitude if the Islamic State was directly threatening the Shi’ite Islamic Republic of Iran? Of course not—even though Iran is as oppressive and violent as is Saudi Arabia.
And if the Islamic State *does* become powerful enough to topple the Saudis, what will that bode for Rezali Mehil and her fellow Shia? I suppose she’ll worry about that tomorrow…
Islofob IS-1 says
The “faith” of islam is the enemy, to the west, and to those who follow islam. It always is and always will be, at everyones throat, even those who declare to follow it’s true path. It is no wonder why they, the Saudis, are showing alarm, its all about power, control, and they want to be in the front as the leader.
It is the faith that breeds dictators, ones who claim islam as his path as they destroy everything that oppose the rule.
A idea of interesting display would be a sides by sides compare of all these groups (AQ, ISIS, etc), and what they state as the charter they follow. Once it is printed and readable, the charters would most likely be near carbon copy of each others .
They can not wander far from the qur’an, or the threat of death from his brother.
The world must reject islam, all of it.