Sheik Adil Kalbani, a black son of poor immigrant from Persian Gulf, is selected by Saudi King Abdullah.—File Photo

NEW YORK Sheik Adil Kalbani, a black son of poor immigrant from Persian Gulf, dubbed the `Saudi Obama`, selected as an Imam of Grand Mosque in Mecca by Saudi King Abdullah, was profiled in the New York Times Saturday.

Sheik Adil, the newspaper reveals has met Osama bin Laden and Abdullah Azzam, a leader of the jihad against the Soviets in Afghanistan.

Sheikh initially sympathised with their radical position and anger toward the West. Later, he said, he began to find their views narrow, especially after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Officially, the newspaper said, it was his skill at reciting the Koran that won him the position, which he carries out — like the Grand Mosque`s eight other prayer leaders — only during the holy month of Ramadan. But the racial significance of the king`s gesture was unmistakable.

Sheik Adil, like most Saudis, is quick to caution that any racism here is not the fault of Islam, which preaches egalitarianism. The Prophet Mohammad himself, who founded the religion here 1,400 years ago, had black companions, the Times points out.

In the interview with NYT Shiek Adil says `Our Islamic history has so many famous black people,` `It is not like the West.`

`The king is trying to tell everybody that he wants to rule this land as one nation, with no racism and no segregation,` said Sheik Adil, a heavyset and long-bearded man of 49 who has been an imam at a Riyadh mosque for 20 years.

`Any qualified individual, no matter what his color, no matter where from, will have a chance to be a leader, for his good and his country`s good.`

But, the Times pointed out that slavery was practiced here too, and was abolished only in 1962. Many traditional Arabs from Nejd, the central Saudi heartland, used to refer to all outsiders as `tarsh al bahr` — vomit from the sea.

People of African descent still face some discrimination, as do most immigrants, even from other Arab countries. Many Saudis complain that the kingdom is still far too dominated by Nejd, the homeland of the royal family. There are nonracial forms of discrimination too, and many Shiite
Muslims, a substantial minority, say they are not treated fairly.

`The prophet told us that social classes will remain, because of human nature,` Sheik Adil said gravely. `These are part of the pre-Islamic practices that persist.`

The NYT observed black is not the only social obstacle Sheik Adil has overcome. His father came to Saudi Arabia in the 1950s from Ras al Khaima, in what is now the United Arab Emirates, and obtained a job as a low-level government clerk.

The family had little money, and after finishing high school, Adil took a job with Saudi Arabian Airlines while attending night classes at King Saud University.

Only later did he study religion, laboriously memorising the Koran and studying Islamic jurisprudence. In 1984 he passed the government exam to become an imam, and worked briefly at the mosque in the Riyadh airport.

Four years later he won a more prominent position as the imam of the King Khalid mosque, a tall white building that is not far from one of the Intelligence Ministry`s offices, the newspaper said.

Now he speaks warmly of King Abdullah`s new initiatives, which include efforts to moderate the power of the hard-line religious establishment and to modernise Saudi Arabia`s judiciary and educational establishment.

He reads Al Watan, a liberal newspaper. `Some people in this country want everyone to be a carbon copy,` Sheik Adil said. `This is not my way of thinking. You can learn from the person who is willing to criticise, to give a different point of view.`

His life, like that of most imams, follows a rigid routine he leads prayers five times a day at the mosque, and then walks across the parking lot to his home, which he shares with two wives and 12 children. On Fridays, he gives a sermon as well.

The New York Times said It is also true that Saudi Arabia is far more ethnically diverse than most Westerners realise.

Saudis with Malaysian or African features are a common sight along the kingdom`s west coast, the descendants of pilgrims who came here over the centuries and ended up staying. Many have prospered and even attained high positions through links to the royal family.

Bandar bin Sultan, the former Saudi ambassador to the United States, is the son of Prince Sultan and a dark-skinned concubine from southern Saudi Arabia.`