Humairaa Mayet | 21 November 2018
The Grand Imaam of the Islam’s holiest site, the Haram in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, has recently come under scathing criticism for his remarks in support of Saudi Crown Prince, Muhammad bin Salman.
A British broadcaster and politician, Ajmal Masroor, has penned an open letter in which he lashed out at the comments made by the Sheikh and condemned the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Masroor himself is himself an Islamic scholar based in the UK.
He has rebuked the royal family and accused them of not having lived up to the principles laid down by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and of succumbing to a western capitalist agenda.
In an interview with Inayet Wadee on Salaamedia, Masroor directed a large amount of criticism towards Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, based on Sheikh Sudais’remarks during a Friday sermon at the Holy Mosque in Makkah.
In the sermon, Sudais implied that MBS was the mujaddid– one who would revive the Muslim nation and invigorate the spirits of Muslims across the world. Masroor however said he was “disgusted” by the analogy drawn by Sudais, and described it not only as sad, but also as disgraceful.
International media has reported how MBS has been complicit in many violations of human rights, the most prominent being the murder of journalist, Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, the crimes committed by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, and the imprisonment of scholars and activists.
However, Saudi sources have claimed that the Crown Prince was not involved in the killing of Khashoggi.
The reality that still remains is that millions in Yemen have been in need of humanitarian assistance, lack access to food, water, and sanitation, and do not have a secure supply of aid.
Popular Islamic Cleric, Salman Al-Awda could possibly be sentenced to death, and dozens of activists and scholars remain in captive. Masroor claimed that he does not acknowledge MBS as the legitimate crown prince, as he does not embody Islam in any way.
Speaking to Wadee, Masroor asserted that Sudais was one of the many “scholars for dollars” that served as a mouthpiece for Saudi’s royal family, whom he describes as “despotic” and “murderous.”
Masroor harshly and repeatedly criticised Saudi Arabia’s leaders, and described them as having “failed abysmally” in protecting several cardinal principles of individuals both in the kingdom and across the Muslim world.
For decades, declared Masroor, Saudi Arabia has perpetuated the abuse of the human rights of scholars, activists, and foreigners alike; under the guise of Islam.
He spoke openly about the wastage of wealth. Instead of utilising their oil reserves beneficially- to eradicate poverty in the Muslim world- the kingdom’s rulers have chosen to spend exorbitant sums of money on palaces, yachts and artwork.
He accused the Saudis of commercialising the harams, using revenues from Hajj and Umrah to fund their lavish lifestyles, which Masroor termed “criminal behaviour.”
Will he get any response to his open letter? Probably not. But Masroor does hope that his open letter will inspire debate and discussion in the Muslim world. If Sudais were to reply, it may result either in his imprisonment or his removal from the position of Imam of the Haram in Makkah.
