Mohamad al-Arefe

Muhammad al-Arifi
محمد العريفي
Born	(1970-07-15) 15 July 1970 (age 54) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Nationality	Saudi Arabian[1]
Occupation	scholar
Years active	1990-2018
Website	arefe.ws

Muhammad bin Abdul-Rahman Al-Arifi (Arabic: محمد بن عبد الرحمن العريفي, born 15 July 1970) is a Saudi Arabian author and Da'i. He is a graduate of King Saud University, and member of the Muslim World League and the Association of Muslim Scholars.[2]

Social media popularity

As of 2016, Al-Arifi had over 20 million followers on Twitter.[3]

Muslim Brotherhood affiliation was denied for Al-Arifi and Adil al-Kalbani by al-Kalbani, saying that they are affiliated with the Union of Muslim Scholars.[4]

He said that Syria jihad is incumbent and did apologia for al-Nusra, visiting the Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque in Qatar.[5]

Al-Arifi had a discussion with Saudi Deputy crown prince Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud (MBS)and then tweeted and posted a photo of them smiling together.[6] The discussion was held on the same day as Saudi Vision 2030 began.[7][8][9] He asked God to bless MBS and posted his thanks.[10] Al-Arifi met with MBS again and talked with him and posted the photo of them smiling together on Twitter.[11] They talked about the future of the Islamic world and of the Kingdom (of Saudi Arabia).[12]

King Saud University employs Al-Arifi.[13]

Al-Arifi's Twitter account was suspended in 2018.[14] In February 2021 it was reported that Al-Arifi was under watch by Saudi government authorities and that his moves and actions were being followed using spy devices and a tracking knee band.[15]

Sanctions

In May 2013, Al-Arifi was banned from entering Switzerland for a period of 5 years, for holding extreme views, Switzerland said.[2][16]

In March 2014, he was banned by the Home Office from returning to Britain after a series of sermons in Cardiff, Birmingham and London. A Home Office spokesperson said: "We can confirm “Al-Arefe” has been excluded from the United Kingdom, The Government makes no apologies for refusing people access to the UK if we believe they represent a threat to our society. Coming here is a privilege that we refuse to extend to those who seek to subvert our shared values."[17][18]

Denmark banned him from entering the country for two years in May 2017.[19][20]

See also

• Islam in Saudi Arabia
• Yusuf al-Qaradawi
• Salman al-Ouda
• Aid al-Qarni
• Mohammed Rateb al-Nabulsi
• Tareq Al-Suwaidan
• Omar Abd al-Kafi

References

1. "Britain bans controversial Saudi cleric al-Arifi". 25 June 2014.
2. Milmo, Cahal (24 June 2013). "Sunni vs Shia... in Gerrard's Cross: New mosque highlights growing tensions among British Muslims". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
3. Yahya, Nasidi Adamu (19 July 2016). "Yadda Malamai ke wa'azi a shafukan zumunta". ABC Hausa.
4. "تتصفح الآن: الكلباني : أنا عضو في اتحاد علماء المسلمين ولست إخوانياً .. والعريفي ليس إخوانياً". صحيفة أنحاء الإلكترونية. 19 August 2013. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017.
5. Gilligan, Andrew (27 September 2014). "The 'Club Med for terrorists'". The Telegraph.
6. "أخبار 24 | العريفي ينشر صورة له برفقة الأمير محمد بن سلمان بعد إعلان". أخبار 24. 25 April 2016.
7. "العريفي ينشر صورة له برفقة الأمير محمد بن سلمان بعد إعلان "رؤية السعودية"". صحيفة سابق الإلكترونية. 27 April 1438.
8. عيسى, عمر (25 April 2016). "العريفي" يشكر ولي ولي العهد السعودي لهذا السبب". بوابة القاهرة.
9. "العريفي يلتقي مع بن سلمان بعد ساعات من إعلان رؤية 2030". الخليج أونلاين. الرياض. 25 April 2016.
10. "العريفي ينشر صورة له برفقة محمد بن سلمان بعد إعلان "رؤية السعودية"". صحيفة المرصد.
11. "الشيخ العريفي ينشر صورة جمعته بـ محمد بن سلمان.. ويكشف ما دار بينهما". مـزمـز. 22 December 2016.
12. "الشيخ "العريفي" ينشر صورة جمعته بـمحمد بن سلمان .. ويكشف ما دار بينهما". صحيفة المرصد. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
13. IGA Staff (17 June 2016). "Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Meets Obama after Welcoming an ISIS Supporter". The Institute for Gulf Affairs.
14. "تساؤلات بعد إيقاف حساب الشيخ السعودي محمد العريفي على تويتر". BBC. 29 December 2018.
15. "مجتهد: الوضع النفسي للشيخ العريفي سيء وصودرت حساباته على مواقع التواصل". El-Nashra. 14 February 2021.
16. "Madhur temple undergoes massive renovation". Arab News. 27 May 2013.
17. "Banned preacher under scrutiny over links to young Cardiff men fighting with Isis in Iraq and Syria". ITV. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
18. Morris, Steven (23 June 2014). "Father of Cardiff jihadists says his sons were radicalised in 'pop-up' schools". Guardian. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
19. "Den nationale sanktionsliste - Religious preachers with entry ban". www.nyidanmark.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 14 February 2019.
20. Jensen, Teis (2 May 2017). "Denmark bans six 'hate preachers' from entering the country". Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2019.