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Viewing cable 09RIYADH288, Mecca's First African-Saudi Imam

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09RIYADH288 2009-02-11 13:47 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Riyadh
VZCZCXRO8528
PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHGI RUEHJS RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW
RUEHROV
DE RUEHRH #0288/01 0421347
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111347Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0159
INFO RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000288 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Department FOR NEA/ARP FOR HARRIS AND DRL FOR HICKEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS PTER SA
SUBJECT:  Mecca's First African-Saudi Imam 
 
1.  SUMMARY & COMMENT:  Media attention given to the Mecca Grand 
Mosque's first African-Saudi Imam, Adil al-Kalbani, provided a 
glimpse of King Abdullah's attempts to combat racism and promote 
openness among the Kingdom's senior clergy by giving national 
prominence to a talented, somewhat unorthodox but popular outsider. 
The timing of a major interview in the Arabic daily, Al-Hayat, 
seemed to be an attempt to take advantage of popular interest in the 
inauguration of the first black US president to illustrate a similar 
"success story" in Saudi Arabia.  Kalbani displayed greater openness 
on social issues such as music and television comedies than many of 
his peers. The Imam's difficulties since his appointment ended 
suggest cultural and racial barriers remain persistent.  End summary 
and comment. 
 
2.  THE OBAMA EFFECT:  The first African-Saudi to be asked to 
officiate at Tarawih Prayers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca during the 
holy month of Ramadan, Sheikh Adil al-Kalbani has found himself in 
the Arabic media spotlight since the inauguration of Barack Obama. 
(Comment:  There are 10 permanent imams, or prayer leaders, at the 
Grand Mosque in Mecca.  During Ramadan several additional imams are 
invited to help handle the extra evening prayers; such invitations 
are obviously considered to be a high honor.  End comment.)  The 
advent of the first black American president has prompted discussion 
and debate on the topic of racism in the Arab world, and brought 
attention to indigenous figures such as Kalbani.   In a prominent 
two-part interview published in the Arabic daily Al-Hayat at the 
time of the inauguration, Kalbani was asked for his opinion of the 
new US President.  He replied that Obama's inauguration was very 
important to him because Obama was an African American who had 
succeeded in becoming president "despite his Islamic roots."  Thus 
America had succeeded "in implementing the Islamic rule to treat all 
people equally regardless of their race, color, or religion." 
 
3.  A PREACHER BORN IN JAIL:  Kalbani, the son of Sudanese 
immigrants who was born in Riyadh in 1959, did not receive formal 
religious training or a university education.  A blue collar worker 
at King Khalid International Airport, he was jailed for debts around 
1980.  In prison he first memorized the Quran (the Saudi prison 
system offers parole to certain classes of inmates who memorize the 
Quran), and his flair and technical skill in recitation caught the 
attention of visiting imams, who encouraged him to pursue religious 
studies.  Though he never earned a formal certificate, he developed 
into an inspirational prayer leader under the tutelage of several 
leading Riyadh clerics, and ultimately won a position as the leading 
imam at the prestigious King Khalid Mosque, under the patronage of 
the sons of the mosque's eponymous royal founder.  There he built a 
large following, with thousands in attendance at Friday and Ramadan 
prayers (including several among the Embassy's locally-engaged 
staff, who report that Kalbani is extraordinary in his ability to 
recite not only with stirring emotion, but also without any errors 
in pronunciation of the notoriously difficult classical Arabic 
verses.)  His fame eventually attracted the notice of King Abdallah, 
well known for his love of Quranic recitation. 
 
4.  RACE IN SAUDI ARABIA:  Kalbani told Al-Hayat he was not bothered 
by comparisons to President Obama - that both of them have 
accomplished a "miracle" because they are black.  Kalbani said that 
he was surprised by his appointment because being an imam at the 
Grand Mosque in Mecca was not among his goals.  He had always 
assumed that a black man could never attain such a position.  He 
would forever be grateful to King Abdallah for "changing his mind" 
and "implementing equality among Saudi citizens," and seeking to 
eradicate racism in Saudi Arabia.  Despite this, Kalbani observed 
that racism and tribalism still exist, citing as an example that a 
"pure" Saudi man might not accept to sit next to a Bangladeshi 
worker in public.   Kalbani asserted that such behavior existed even 
among religious scholars, acknowledging that he occasionally felt he 
was the victim of discrimination.   Addressing the question of 
whether his race had been an impediment in Mecca, Kalbani said that 
while some might resent him because he was black and lacking 
religious credentials, he had nevertheless been asked to lead 
prayers on the 27th night of Ramadan, considered the most holy of 
nights of the holy month, a very special honor. 
 
5.  GAZA:  Addressing public anger over the Israeli war on Gaza, 
Kalbani professed deep sympathy for the people of Gaza, and shame at 
Arab impotence.  He voiced support for Hamas, claiming its 
performance in the face of Israeli aggression amounted to a 
"victory."   But he said that the Muslim nations are not ready for 
jihad yet. 
 
6.  OPPOSED TO EXTREMISTS?:   Asked about his ideological 
orientation, Kalbani claimed to be the first cleric to use his real 
name on internet websites, before the emergence of radical 
extremists and "their explosions."  He added that his criticisms of 
their arguments earned him their enmity and charges that he was a 
"government hireling."   Kalbani mentioned that he followed the 
teachings of the late Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdalaziz Bin Baz and 
the late Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih Bin Uthaimeen, a leading Salafist 
cleric from Qassim.  (Comment:  while these men were not extremists, 
neither was known for particularly moderate views.  End comment.) 
 
RIYADH 00000288  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
7.  LAUGHTER AND A SONG:  In what might be seen as an attempt to 
present a contrast to the dour image of the typical Saudi cleric, 
Kalbani was asked for his opinion on TV shows and other popular 
pursuits usually frowned on by the religious establishment.  Kalbani 
was critical of the "Mutawaiin," (i.e., the religious police, 
members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention 
of Vice) for preventing the broadcast of some of the episodes of the 
very popular Ramadan comedy, "Tash Ma Tash," saying that he saw no 
harm in these episodes for Muslims.  As for other forms of 
entertainment, he went on to describe with laughter an incident when 
a critic warned people against following him (Kalbani) in prayers, 
on the grounds that he was a "listener of Umm Koulthum and Mohammad 
Abduh" (two of the Arab world's most beloved singers) who didn't 
prohibit singing.  Kalbani admitted to enjoying music, especially 
music of the tambourine, at weddings and other special occasions. 
(Comment:  Many very strict Salafis eschew all forms of music and 
related entertainment. End comment.) 
 
8.  THE PRICE OF FAME:  His Mecca appointment was for Ramadan in 
2008 (1429 H) only, and Kalbani didn't say whether he had been asked 
to lead prayers again next Ramadan.   His acceptance of the 
appointment was apparently not well-received by his patrons at King 
Khalid Mosque in Riyadh, where he lost his position.  He has 
announced that he had accepted an appointment as Imam at another, 
smaller Riyadh mosque, though he retains his following both among 
attendees at Friday prayers and on the internet, where his 
recitations can be viewed on such sites as YouTube.  He also 
confessed to being a part time businessman, since as he explained, 
he didn't have an official job and "Imams don't make as much money 
as some people may think."  Kalbani is the father of twelve 
children. 
 
RUNDELL