Root Cause of My Problem with Saudi Arabia – Sheikh Gumi

Earlier this week, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent cleric based in Kaduna State, was barred from participating in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage after Saudi Arabia banned him from entering the country.

In a social media post on Monday, Sheikh Gumi confirmed that he had returned to Nigeria, revealing that Saudi authorities were “uncomfortable” with his presence in the Holy Land, despite him holding a valid visa.

“For some obvious reasons—my views about world politics—the Saudi authorities are uncomfortable with me being at the Hajj, even after issuing a visa! Thanks to the Nigerian authorities who immediately made it clear they would engage with the Saudi authorities. That is the value of our cherished freedom and democracy,” Gumi wrote, although he did not provide further details.

The decision to ban Sheikh Gumi has triggered widespread debate on social media, with many speculating about the reasons behind Saudi Arabia’s action.

An investigation by DAILY POST suggests that the ban may be linked to Gumi’s public sermons, where he criticized the Saudi leadership for shifting away from its traditional religious governance model towards modernization and alignment with global political norms.

Sheikh Gumi reportedly believes that this transformation undermines the strict Islamic identity that Saudi Arabia has historically upheld.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Friday, Sheikh Gumi reiterated his position, stating that he would continue speaking out about Saudi Arabia until reforms are made. He emphasized that Nigerians enjoy freedom of speech, unlike citizens living under Saudi Arabia’s authoritarian regime.

“Saudi Arabia is a police state where you have no freedom of expression. We, on the other hand, were raised in freedom here in Nigeria, and I value that more than anything. In Saudi Arabia, when a mistake is made, people are expected to remain silent. That contradicts Islamic principles, which do not condone silence in the face of wrongdoing. That is the root of our misunderstanding,” he explained.

When asked if he feared being banned again during future Hajj pilgrimages, Sheikh Gumi responded, “It’s not compulsory that I must go for Hajj. Even Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio never performed Hajj, yet look at the immense service he rendered to Islam. So no, I am not afraid of being banned.”

He further stated, “We are only helping them correct their mistakes—just as they try to reform society. This is an error on their part, but let it be known: anyone who tries to prevent people from visiting the Grand Mosque in Mecca will not last.”

Addressing whether the ban was related to his recent sermons, Sheikh Gumi affirmed, “Yes, that’s true. If you are going to stand for truth, you must be prepared to endure. Truth is not loved by everyone. While Saudi Arabia has done a lot to help many countries, it’s now on a path of self-destruction. Any Muslim nation that aligns itself with Western powers is bound to face ruin. This is exactly what happened when the Arab world followed the British in ousting the Ottomans—only for the British to betray them by giving Palestine to the Jews. Not everyone in Saudi Arabia supports what’s happening. Even descendants of King Faisal once resisted Western influence. So why should we, who enjoy freedom of speech in Nigeria, remain silent?
“How can you witness what’s happening in Palestine and stay silent? How can someone funding and arming this oppression be honored, while Muslims are disregarded? No—we will not stop speaking out unless they change. And if they don’t, we will continue to speak.”

Efforts by DAILY POST to obtain a response from the Saudi embassy in Nigeria were unsuccessful, as the embassy’s media officer, Mohammed El-Sahabi, did not respond to inquiries sent via WhatsApp.

This incident marks a significant moment in Nigeria-Saudi relations, particularly in northern Nigeria, where Saudi Arabia holds considerable religious influence and soft power.

Thousands of Islamic scholars from northern Nigeria study at Saudi institutions on government scholarships and often defend Saudi interests. Therefore, it is rare to see a cleric who has spent years studying in the kingdom openly oppose its leadership—making Sheikh Gumi’s case a notable exception.