Saudi ambassador's colourful shopping habits revealed: report

[apocalypse77]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/2007111...71116142304;_ylt=AmwRej3LqtPPMNR2hwmxECDn7SkC

LONDON (AFP) - The Saudi ambassador to London's allegedly colourful shopping habits have been revealed in an embarrassing expenses claim including guns, karaoke machines and "party night" girls, a report said Friday.

The more than three-million-pound claim also includes expenses for top-of-the-range off-road cars, a thermal night-vision kit for his Hummer H2 and a 391-pound bill for a takeaway meal, The Guardian said.

The bills were included in documents submitted to the High Court by a former employee of Prince Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdul Aziz, a nephew of King Abdullah, who is claiming he was not reimbursed for the expenses.

His family's former private secretary Walid El Hage, a Briton of Lebanese extraction, says he spent money on the prince's behalf during trips to Rome, Vienna, Casablanca and Paris in 2004 and 2005.

Items detailed in the expense claim, published by the newspaper in full on its website at http://www.guardian.co.uk/saudi/story/, include:

-- a Beretta pistol for 6,761 euros, as well as antique guns, a shotgun, and swords (66,000 euros). Also two Czech CZ75D and CZ97B pistols, a French Famas assault rifle and a Micro-Uzi machine gun of Israeli origin;

- 43 luxury watches at a cost of 350,000 pounds, including a Patek Philippe for 23,000 and two Jaeger Le Coultre for 17,500 and 16,700;

- a fleet of Yamaha Grizzly and Big Bear quad bikes for 13,000 pounds;

- five Raytheon thermal night vision cameras, to be fitted on an H2 Humvee US-army derivative vehicle: 183,000 dollars;

- a crocodile Birkin bag listed at 18,770 euros. Outfits from the couturiers Lanvin for a further 150,000 euros;

- on a trip to Morocco "hotel extra suite expenses, rooms for girls etc: 1,465 dollars ... girls party night 5: 2,500 dollars... Moroccan sweets arrangement to take away: 250 dollars... HRH cash in hand: 20,000 dollars."

- "two Arab karaoke machines" for 3,180 Saudi riyals.

According to The Guardian, the Saudi diplomat was ordered to repay the money last month, after he ignored the court proceedings. The 54-year-old prince is seeking an "amicable" settlement with his ex-employee, the newspaper said.

A meeting between the two sides has been arranged for next week. El Hage's lawyer, Ian Bloom, said his client was abroad and declined to comment.

 

[Mabsoot]

and what benefit does this give to us? As far as I know he is still Muslim.. and personally, I am HAPPY i am not in a position of power. Its a big responsibility, and Allah alone will help us and give justice whether on this world or in the next.

Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (d.241H) – rahimahullaah – said: “Verily I supplicate for the ruler, for his correctness, success and support – night and day – and I see this as being obligatory upon me.’’ Refer to as-Sunnah (no. 14) of Aboo Bakr al-Khallaal. - Did any of us do that?

And are we ourselves free from sins?? What we might do openly or what might befall some of us secretly?

The Prophet said..
“Whosoever holds contempt for the ruler of Allaah upon the earth, then Allaah will hold contempt for him.” This is an authentic hadeeth related by at-Tirmidhee (no. 1812).

Our job as Muslims, not to waste time talking about what these Muslim leaders do. For they are Muslim, we can not make takfir and say they are disbelievers and go and ask for them to be blown up! - We must remain patient, and educate ourselves, our families to Islam. To correct Tawheed and Aqeedah. When we truly submit ourselves to Allah, and worship him correctly and have Islam in our lives, and in the lives of Muslims around us, we will be strong by the mercy of Allah.

Doesnt it make us shamed to read what the enemies of Allah write about our Muslim leaders and people in power in Muslim countries?? They are happy we have such leaders, and they write these articles in order to cause further problems. They last thing they want, is for Muslims to get off their backsides and start learning Islam properly!.. no, they want tthem to carry on just complaining day in, day out.. because at that rate, nothing will change.

The Prophet Whosoever sees something from his leader of sin, then let him hate whatever occurs from sin. And let him not remove his hand from obedience, since whoever removes his hand from disobedience and splits off from the Jamaa’ah (united body), then he dies the death of Jaahiliyyah (pre-Islaamic times of ignorance).’’ Related by al-Bukhaaree (13/5) and Muslim (no. 1849)
’Umar Ibn Yazeed said: I heard al-Hasan al-Basree during the days of Yazeed Ibnul-Mahlab, and there came to him a group of people. So he commanded them to stay in their houses and to close their doors. Then he said:

‘‘By Allaah! If the people had patience when they were being tested by their unjust ruler, it will not be long before Allaah will make a way out for them. However, they always rush for their swords, so they are left to their swords. By Allaah! Not even for a single say did they bring about any good.’’

It is related by Ibn Sa’d in at-Tabaqaat (8/164), and by Ibn Abee Haatim in his Tafseer (3/178).

Shaykh Abdul Azeez Ibn Baaz, (hafidhahullaah) was asked, "Is it from the Manhaj (methodology) of the Salaf (early correct Muslims) to criticise the Rulers from the mimbar (the pulpit)? And what is the Manhaj of the Salaf with respect to advising the Rulers? "He responded: "It is not from the Manhaj of the Salaf to publicise the faults of the Rulers and to mention such things from the pulpit because that leads to confusion/disorder and the absence of hearing and obeying the ruler in what is good. It also results in (the people) becoming engrossed (with these matters, arguing and debating) which causes harm and produces no benefit. The followed Path with the Salaf, however is to give naseehah (advice) with respect to the matters which are between themselves and the leader, writing to him or by reaching him through the scholars who keep in touch with him (to advise him) until the ruler is directed towards the good. Repelling the evil occurs without mentioning the doer of the evil.
So fornication, drinking of intoxicants and the taking of usury are curbed without mentioning the one who does such things. Warding off the evil and warning and the people against it is sufficient without it being mentioned that such and such a person does it, whether he is a ruler or other than the ruler.

And when the fitnah occurred in the time of 'Uthmaan Gani (radiallaahu'anhu), some of the people said to Usaamah ibn Zaid (radiallaahu'anhu), "Will you not speak to 'Uthmaan?" So he replied, "You think that I will not talk to him without letting you know about it (also). Indeed, I will certainly talk to him regarding that which concerns me and him without initiating a matter which I do not love to be the first to initiate."

And when they (the Khawaarij) opened up the evil in the time of 'Uthmaan (radiallaahu'anhu) and rejected 'Uthmaan openly, the fitnah, the killing and the mischief, which has not ceased to affect the people to this day, was brought about. And this caused the fitnah to occur between 'Alee and Mu'aawiyyah and 'Uthmaan (radiallaahu'anhu) was killed for these reasons.

(Futhermore) a large number of Companions and others besides them were killed due to this open rebellion and the open proclamation of the faults (of the ruler), until the people began to hate the one charged with authority over them and killed him. We ask Allah for success." [These were the words of the Shaykh Abdul Azeez Ibn Baaz, (hafidhahullaah). Taken from Al-Ma'loom min Waajib il-'Ilaaqah bain al Haakim wal-Mahkoom, (pp. 22-23).]

It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah Muhammad (salallaahu'alayheewasallam) in the Ahaadeeth of 'Iyaad Ibn Ghunum who said, "The Messenger of Allaah Muhammad (salallaahu'alayheewasallam) said, "Whoever desires to advise the one with authority then he should not do so openly, rather he should take him by the hand and take him into seclusion (and then advise him). And if he accepts (the advice) from him then (he has achieved his objective) and if not, then he has fulfilled that which was a duty upon him." (Reported by Ahmad (3/403) and Ibn Abee 'Aasim (2/521) with a Saheeh isnaad.)

When changing the evil of the rulers, then this should be done by the scholars and not openly as is mentioned by a clear Ahaadeeth of the Prophet (salallaahu'alayheewasallam), "When you wish to correct the sultan then take him by the hand in secret and advise him." [Aqeedah at Tahawiyah]

There is no fighting against the ruler in the Sunnah. It causes destruction of the Religion and the worldly affairs."
[Sharhus-Sunnah, (p. 43).]