Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, has been barred from participating in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage after Saudi Arabian authorities banned him from entering the country despite having a valid visa.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, Sheikh Gumi revealed that his criticism of Saudi leadership's modernization policies and alignment with Western powers is at the heart of his conflict with the kingdom.

"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," Gumi stated. "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."

The cleric confirmed the ban in a social media post earlier this week, noting that he had returned to Nigeria after Saudi authorities expressed discomfort with his presence in the Holy Land. He acknowledged that Nigerian authorities had offered to engage with Saudi officials on the matter.

Unafraid of Consequences

When asked if he feared being banned again, Sheikh Gumi remained defiant: "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."

Gumi confirmed that his recent sermons criticizing Saudi Arabia's leadership had contributed to the ban. "If you are going to stand for truth, you must be prepared to endure. Truth is not loved by everyone," he said.

The cleric expressed particular concern about Saudi Arabia's foreign policy positions: "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."

"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," he added.

Unusual Stance

The incident marks an unusual development in Nigeria-Saudi relations, particularly in northern Nigeria where Saudi Arabia maintains significant religious influence. Thousands of Islamic scholars from northern Nigeria have studied in Saudi institutions on government scholarships, with many typically expected to defend Saudi interests.

DAILY POST's attempts to get a response from the Saudi embassy in Nigeria were unsuccessful, as the embassy's media officer did not respond to inquiries regarding the incident.