The Saudi Arabian authorities have barred prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Gumi from entering the country, along with over a hundred other scholars from various nations. The reasons behind this decision were revealed by Sheikh Huseyn Zakaria during an interview with Hikaya TV.
Sheikh Zakaria explained that “Sheikh Gumi was initially unaware of the impending travel restrictions. He had no planned to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in 2025 but was persuaded by Zakaria to travel to Saudi Arabia. They successfully boarded a flight from Kaduna and arrived in Medina without incident, only to face complications at the immigration checkpoint in Madina airport.
“Upon reaching the immigration area, Sheikh Gumi’s passport was subjected to a verification process that ultimately failed. Despite attempts by immigration officials to resolve the issue, the situation escalated, leading to a three-hour delay. Sheikh Auwal Adam, a friend in Medina, intervened and spoke with an immigration commandant to understand the situation better.
“The commandant informed Adam that there were no criminal suspicions or health concerns regarding Sheikh Gumi. However, the Saudi authorities had issued a directive preventing him from entering the country. This ban was not unique to Gumi; more than 100 scholars from countries including Pakistan, India, England, Kuwait, and Morocco had already been deported for similar reasons,” says the commandant.
Sheikh Gumi speculated that the ban might be linked to comments he made regarding a past visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia. He expressed frustration that the during Trump’s visit, Saudi authorities did not address the issue of Palestinian suffering by Israelian, which he felt warranted criticism.
Despite the unexpected deportation, Sheikh Gumi remained composed and did not express concern over the Saudi authorities’ actions. He acknowledged that his intention to perform Hajj was thwarted but remained hopeful for divine reward for his efforts. Sheikh Zakaria noted that Sheikh Gumi and other scholars were treated respectfully during their journey up to Madina until the immigration incident.
Hikaya Newspaper reports that Sheikh Zakaria urged Nigerian authorities, particularly the President and Vice President, to address the situation diplomatically, especially in anticipation of the upcoming 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. The incident raises questions about freedom of speech and the treatment of scholars in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the complexities of international religious travel.