In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May Allah bestow His peace, blessings, and grace upon our Prophet Muḥammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
To proceed: The Westernizers (advocates of Westernization) in the Saudi lands became active starting from the era of King ‘Abdullāh (may Allah have mercy on him), which lasted approximately ten years. They introduced matters foreign to this land, involving an expansion in the pursuit of desires, which leads to a great deviation for this country, as Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has said: {And Allah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress into a great deviation.} [An-Nisā’: 27]. The Saudi lands are the last bastion of preserving Islamic morals and etiquettes, which ensure safety from the ingratitude for blessings that brings about divine retribution. These Westernizers have particularly targeted the Salmāni era (the reign of King Salmān) with their efforts to establish the General Entertainment Authority, following their endeavors during this era to issue regulations for the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Hay’at al-Amr bil-Ma‘rūf wan-Nahy ‘an al-Munkar) that resulted in its weakening and the loss of its prestige. Regarding the establishment of this Authority, I have previously stated: “It is feared that it will transgress what is permissible into what is unlawful according to Sharī‘ah, matters from which this land was previously safe, such as the opening of cinemas, which incur Allah’s wrath and destroy morals. I previously wrote an article on this titled: ‘An Exposition of the Danger of Opening Cinemas in the Land of the Two Holy Sanctuaries,’ published on 1/1/1430 H. And [I mentioned] their efforts to appoint a female deputy to the head of the General Sports Authority for the women’s section.” I stated this in an article titled: “An Exposition of the Transgression of the Westernizers During the Salmāni Era and the Era Preceding It,” published on 10/1/1438 H.
Al Jazirah newspaper, in its issue 16083 dated 9/1/1438 H, published information about this Authority and the extent of joy among the followers of desires at its establishment. It stated under the headline: “The Train of Joy Departs with a Calendar Full of Events”: “When the noble Royal Decree was issued on Saturday, the thirtieth of Rajab 1437 H, establishing the General Entertainment Authority and appointing His Excellency Mr. Aḥmad ibn ‘Aqīl al-Khaṭīb as its chairman, hopes were pinned on this Authority for the creation of joy and for joining other countries in this field, which the sons and daughters of this nation have long awaited with great eagerness. This is especially so given that many are sometimes forced to travel to other countries in search of quality entertainment events that are not available in the major and pivotal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for several reasons, including the absence of a body concerned with this joyful and also productive sector in the Kingdom… The train of joy departed after the first events in the calendar unveiled by the Authority for the year 2016, which was the laser show by the American troupe iLuminate, held at the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University theater in Riyadh, attended by His Excellency the Chairman of the Authority, Mr. Aḥmad al-Khaṭīb. This show, occurring for the first time in the Kingdom, came with the interest and keenness of the body authorized to create entertainment and spread joy in the country, the ‘General Entertainment Authority,’ which Saudis received with optimism and hope that it would bring a new form to the world of entertainment events in Saudi Arabia, with a young chairman assisted by a group of young men and women from various regions and governorates of the Kingdom.” Al Jazirah newspaper also quoted the Chairman of the Authority, Aḥmad al-Khaṭīb, as saying: “Cinema is considered entertainment, and its project is under consideration, but it is still prohibited, and no decision has been made regarding it.” The newspaper also stated: “The Entertainment Authority had disclosed its programs and events for 2016, which included artistic and theatrical performances, with an expected attendance of approximately half a million visitors, and revenues exceeding 43 million riyals.” And the newspaper reported: “Last Thursday evening, at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, the iLuminate troupe, known for its stunning visual performances, presented its show. The event was attended by His Excellency Aḥmad ibn ‘Aqīl al-Khaṭīb, the British Ambassador in Riyadh, in addition to a number of diplomatic corps members from the Embassy of the United States of America and the Embassy of Finland in the Kingdom.”
Among the worst of what has occurred in this regard in the recent past was the holding of an entertainment event in the city of Jeddah called “Comic Con,” sponsored by the General Entertainment Authority, during which reprehensible matters (munkarāt) took place. ‘Ukāẓ newspaper, on 18/5/1438 H, published information about this painful event, stating: “The CEO of the General Entertainment Authority, Engineer ‘Amr al-Madanī, said: ‘The “Comic Con” event is an important addition to the cultural and artistic events hosted by Saudi Arabia. Given the large numbers of Saudis who attended the event outside Saudi Arabia, we noticed a strong desire to host such types of events.'”
Those who follow their desires, wanting the land of Saudi Arabia to deviate tremendously, rejoiced at this vile event. Conversely, those zealous for this country—both its government and its people—who desire its safety from tribulations (fitan) and from ingratitude for blessings which brings about divine retribution, were pained by it. As Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has said: {And Allah presents an example: a city which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.} [An-Naḥl: 112]. And He said: {And whoever changes the favor of Allah after it has come to him – then indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.} [Al-Baqarah: 211]. And He said: {That is because Allah would not change a favor which He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves.} [Al-Anfāl: 53]. And He said: {And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.’} [Ibrāhīm: 7]. And He said: {And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.} [Al-Isrā’: 16].
The call to good has limitless benefit, and the call to evil has limitless harm, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the rewards of those who follow him, without that diminishing any of their rewards. And whoever calls to misguidance will have a sin upon him similar to the sins of those who follow him, without that diminishing any of their sins.” [Muslim, The Book of Knowledge, 2674].
Let every official, in any position of authority, small or large, fear Allah before he departs from it through death or dismissal. And let him be extremely cautious lest any destruction of morals occurs at his hands in this land from which light has emanated, and which contains the Qiblah (direction of prayer) of the Muslims and the sites of their Ḥajj rituals.
I ask Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, to protect this land, its government and its people, from all evil, and to guide it to all good, and to safeguard it from the evil of the wicked and the plotting of the profligate. Indeed, He is All-Hearing, All-Responsive.
May Allah bestow His peace, blessings, and grace upon our Prophet Muḥammad, and upon his family and Companions.
[1438/06/06 – 2017/03/05]
Saheehus-Seerah 