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Top sheik denounces terrorists

Saudi Arabia's top cleric used the high point of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to denounce terrorists, calling them an affront to Islam. But he defended the kingdom's strict interpretation of the faith.

Delivering a sermon Saturday to 2 million pilgrims, Sheik Abdul Aziz al-Sheik said there were those who claim to be mujahidin, or holy warriors, but were shedding Muslim blood and destabilizing the nation.

"Is it holy war to shed Muslim blood? Is it holy war to shed the blood of non-Muslims given sanctuary in Muslim lands? Is it holy war to destroy the possession of Muslims?" he said, adding that their actions gave enemies an excuse to criticize Muslim nations.

Al-Sheik, who is widely respected, spoke at Namira Mosque, which is close to Mount Arafat, the place where in 632 AD the Prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon. Al-Sheik's sermon would have been watched on television by millions of Muslims in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

In speaking about terrorists who killed fellow Muslims, al-Sheik was clearly referring to the Prophet Muhammad's final sermon, which contained the line: "Know that every Muslim is a Muslim's brother, and the Muslims are brethren. Fighting between them should be avoided."

The hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca required of all able-bodied Muslims, is taking place after a series of suicide bombings and police gunbattles with suspected terrorists in Saudi Arabia. The bombings killed 51 people, including many Saudis, other Arabs and eight Americans. Muslims have also died in terror attacks in Turkey, Iraq, Morocco and elsewhere.

On Thursday, suspected terrorists shot dead six Saudi security personnel in a shootout in a house in suburban Riyadh.

Al-Sheik also criticized the international community, accusing it of attacking Wahhabism, the strict interpretation of Islam that is applied in Saudi Arabia.

"This country is based on this religion and will remain steadfast on it," he said.

"Islam forbids all forms of injustice, killing without just cause, treachery ... hijacking of planes, boats and means of transportation. After all this, our religion is still described as terrorism?" he said.

Governments in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan have taken steps toward purging school books of terms offensive to other religions.

But Al-Sheik warned against "changing the religion's basics" in school curriculums.

"The minds of youth in the Islamic nation need to be shielded with Islamic sharia [law] and good manners and deeds," he said.

Among the pilgrims, Milhim Tuleimat, a Syrian dentist, said he agreed with the sermon, saying that "God's enemies" were targeting Islamic countries because they wanted to dominate them.
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