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Ebrahim Moosa – Cii Broadcasting (22-03-12) As South Africa welcomes one of the more recently appointed Imaams of the Haramain to its shores, speculation is rife that one of the Holy Land’s veteran Imaams may have resigned. Sheikh Ali bin Abdur Rahmaan al Hudhaify, the Imaam and Khateeb of Masjidun Nabawi for over 30 years, recently found himself embroiled in a controversy over remarks he made during a Friday Khutbah that were critical of the actions of anti-government protestors in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. According to a report in the English daily Arab News, during the Khutbah delivered on October 7, 2011,* Sheikh Hudhaifi condemned the riots by mostly Shi’ite protestors in Awamiya in the Saudi city of Qatif. “If those rabble-rousers and hooligans had imagined the horror of chaos and destruction they were making, they would not have committed those crimes,” Al-Hudhaifi was quoted as saying, expressing his disgust at the rioters’ alleged use of motorcycles and petrol bombs to terrorize local people.The State run Saudi Press agency further reported that the imam urged the congregation to use their common sense and keep away from subversive activities. Cii’s Mufti Abdool Kader(AK) Hoosen, who was present when the Khutbah was delivered confirmed the comments of the Sheikh. He indicated that Sheikh Hudhaifi also advocated for the revoking of the protestor’s citizenship due to the chaos that they had allegedly created. According to Mufti AK, the Khutbah, which also co-incided with the onset of the Haj season,* resulted in the Sheikh’s suspension from all his duties. Reports from Saudi Arabia at the time confirmed the suspension. According to one account, when Sheikh Hudhaifi was asked whether rumours of his suspension were true, he confirmed that they were, and that he had been asked to attend a meeting. News of the suspension soon reached online fora, and users of the popular Arabic and English websites, Mazameer and Sunniforum, amongst others, wasted no time in posting their reactions. “I am disgusted how low they went again to remove such a Senior Sheikh, who has been Imam of the Haramain for 34 years. How dare they? It shows they have no respect for the scholars, ” read one impassioned response on a forum. Other users expressed hope that the suspension was temporary and that Sheikh Hudhaify would make a speedy return. Despite the popular outcry, hopes for the Sheikh’s reinstatement have been dealt a blow by his absence from the Imaamate of Masjidun Nabawi for almost 6 months. Fuelling the speculation that the suspension may have become permanent was a posting on the popular Haramain Recordings website, which suggested the Sheikh had resigned. “According to the information received, he[Sheikh Hudhaify] has retired from being Imaam in Masjid al Nabawi,” read the message from the administrators of the site dated 28 February 2012. If confirmed, this would be the second time Sheikh Hudhaify’s outspokenness has landed him in hot water with the authorities. On March 13, 1998, he delivered a lengthy sermon in Masjidun Nabawi that has become immortalised as the “Historic Khutbah” across the Muslim World. This Khutbah, which culminated with his first suspension, was also highly critical of Shi’ites and their denigration of senior companions of the Prophet PBUH. More significant though, was its comprehensive assessment of the condition of the Muslim world and its condemnation of America and the presence of her troops on the Arabian peninsula. Implicit in his comments was a critique of the Saudi Arabian monarchy and other Arab regimes. “The maintenance of peace and security in the Arabian peninsula lies with the governments of Arabia themselves. In fact it is a Fardh(compulsory) upon them to guard their borders. There is no need of foreign intervention,” he said. Ironically, the Sheikh’s pronouncements this time were deemed to be offensive even though they were staunchly echoing the official Saudi government line on the Qatif unrest.However, it is the climate in which he made the statements, that may have rendered them controversial. Some have suggested that his suspension from official duties may be motivated by concerns for the his own safety, as Sunni-Shi’ite tensions continue to simmer in Madinah and elsewhere in the Kingdom. In 2009, the arrest of 5 pilgrims on the premises of the Baqi graveyard gave rise to skirmishes that pitted almost a thousand pilgrims against Saudi security forces. A year later, Saudi police arrested 38 people in Madinah after fighting erupted near the Quba Mosque on the Day of Ashura. Although police said the chaos was triggered by “an argument between teenagers during a football match,” some Saudi newspapers blamed the violence on “young zealots who were wearing black clothes,” in a reference to Shi’ites participating in mourning rituals. Sheikh Hudhaifi still resides in Madinah and reportedly still performs some of his Salaah at Masjidun Nabawi. However, his continuing suspension and possible retirement will deprive millions of Muslims of his beautiful Quranic recital, educational advice and outspoken advocacy of the truth – all being the hallmarks of his three decade long legacy of service to the Haramain. ebmoosa@ciibroadcasting.com