₦airaland Forum

Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem has landed in
Lagos!

We're thrilled to welcome him to Nigeria ahead of the
Peace and Unity Convention (PUC 2025).

His visit will feature a packed itinerary, from inspiring
Campus Tours and a Pre-PUC Workshop, to the main
convention happening on November 15-16 in Lagos and
November 22 in Abuja

We can't wait to learn, grow, and be inspired by his
presence.

Welcome to Nigeria, Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem!
#1ummahng #puc2025 #beyondbelief
#knowledgedrivenfaith

So, these two Shaykhs were meant to speak at UNILAG Central Mosque on Monday after an arrangement was made by 1Ummah and MSSN UNILAG just like they'd be doing at UniAbuja. But, guess who said it must not hold because the speakers are "international people"?

In Islam, honouring elders is sacrosanct but that hadith didn't end without the Rasul stating the obligation of having mercy and care on the youngins. The UMC has been bullying MSSN UNILAG for too long. Both in UNILAG and it's college of Medicine, CMUL.

For God's sake, MSSN is neither a sister organization or an offshoot of UMC. The mosques standing today were built through penny and pain by every Muslims, dare say that MSSN championed the cause. Why is the MSSN Secretariat locked despite every issues "resolved"

Despite approval that they'd be allowed equal rights to operate in the mosque. These students just want to study and do Islam. Why was MSSN bullied out of CMUL. MSSN has to pay to use the hall in the mosque?? You block approvals, sabotage and frame them as criminal elements.

Legally, the UMC has no right to dictate the dealings of MSSN in the Universities.

Islamically, outright bullying because of power, ego, envy and unfinished grudges is tyranny. May Allah not make us Tawaagheeth

Socially and politically, how does it help us?

Christians have dozens org without breaking any sweat, all enjoying their God and country given human rights and benefits. Why are you now out of privileged seniority and power sabotaging innocent students??

Islamic scholars are no longer welcome in Nigeria for Islamic gatherings? Where is all this boldness & such audacity coming from?

If the islamic scholars are coming to promote extremism they are not welcome

Nobody is coming to promote any extremism, this same scholars invited to speak has been coming to Nigeria for many years for such gatherings.

Nigeria is gradually becoming one of the most Islamophobic countries and a major part of this is unfortunately aided by the “I am Muslim, but…” gang. The thing they just don’t understand is that no matter how much they bend over to appear moderate, those they are trying to satisfy will still question their faith and in the end, even accuse them practicing taqiyya.

Speaking against extremist preachers is not an attack on Islam, it’s an attack on extremism.
Everytime terrorists act, you claim they don’t speak for Muslims but when people speak against those who preach extremism, you take it as an attack against Islam.
Stop it!

It is the audacity of some illiterate self-emboldened & bigoted Nigerian Christians for me. That you are who? You want to decide for us who we invite to come & discuss or teach our own religion? Who appointed you over us? What your fathers have failed to do is what you think you can try? Do we care who you invite to come & speak about your religion? You think you have that power over us? Not in this life. Not in any life to come. 𝐓𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧. Stay within your own limits. You want to define us for us, 😃. You choose who is a moderate Muslim & who is not.

UNILAG Muslim Students Kick, Accuse Authorities Of Suppression After Banning Two Islamic Scholars From Campus

Tension is rising at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as Muslim students accuse the institution’s authorities — and particularly its Muslim Community — of suppressing their religious activities and targeting their leaders for sanctions. 

SaharaReporters gathered that the uproar follows the controversial disapproval of a scheduled lecture by two international Islamic scholars, Sheikh Assim Alhakeem and Shaykh Abu Taymiyyah. 

They were set to speak at the UNILAG Mosque on Monday, November 17, as part of the ongoing Peace and Unity Convention 2025.

However, despite submitting a formal request nearly a month ago, students say they were informed of the disapproval just over 48 hours before the event. 

Meanwhile, the reason given is that the speakers were “international people,” according to a statement attributed to the Chief Imam of UNILAG, Professor Ismail Musa.

In a viral post shared under the banner “Concerned Muslim Students,” the group slammed the decision as deliberate obstruction and accused the university's Muslim leadership of acting in bad faith.

The statement read, "It is with deep disappointment that we announce the complete cancellation of the much-anticipated 1Ummah event previously scheduled to hold at the University of Lagos masjid as the Chief Imam, in his wisdom, decided that we cannot have the program in the school mosque because the speakers are ‘international people’.

“We are baffled by this reasoning and we have tried to get his understanding of this decision to no avail. For weeks, students and community members looked forward to a gathering meant to inspire, educate, and strengthen unity. Instead, we were met — yet again — with deliberate obstruction.

“Despite repeated efforts at transparent communication, collaboration, and compliance with every stated requirement, the individuals who have long positioned themselves as ‘custodians’ of the masjid chose to deploy their influence in a manner that directly sabotaged the use of the space. 

"This pattern is not new; it is a cycle of gatekeeping authority that has persisted for years. Their authority, intended to serve the community, was instead wielded to stifle it.”

The students claim that the mosque, which should serve as a spiritual home for the Muslim community on campus, has become a site of power tussles and gatekeeping, with access to the space — and even basic organisational rights — being tightly controlled. 

The statement further alleged a cycle of gatekeeping authority that has persisted under Prof Musa’s leadership, which students say began on a controversial note and continues to divide the Muslim community on campus. 

Meanwhile, the incident has sparked an online storm, with many Muslim students calling it a calculated attempt to silence their voices. 

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #GenocideAgainstUNILAGMuslimStudentstrended briefly, with some users jokingly tagging Donald Trump to intervene in what they described as religious suppression.

Others have even hinted at mass protests, calling for a “revolution” against what they perceive as an authoritarian takeover of the mosque and Muslim life on campus.

“This is bigger than just a lecture. It’s about our rights of worship, our freedom to learn, and our dignity,” one student wrote. 

The controversy also extends to the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), where members of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) linked to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) have reportedly faced disciplinary panels.

They are being queried over alleged unauthorised collaboration with MSSN Mushin branch for religious activities—a move students describe as part of a broader effort to silence their organising body.

Students at the College of Medicine claim they are routinely monitored, intimidated, and threatened with rustication for exercising their religious and associational rights.
Another sore point is the alleged commercialisation of the UNILAG Mosque. 

Despite it being a place of worship, students say they are compelled to pay fees to use the mosque for events and programmes. 

They also claim they are denied administrative access, including being stripped of a secretariat — a basic facility available to Muslim student groups in many other Nigerian universities.

One of them, Gustavo @ProsperousHarun, said, “These two Shaykhs were meant to speak at UNILAG Central Mosque on Monday after an arrangement was made by 1Ummah and MSSN UNILAG just like they’d be doing at UniAbuja. But they said it must not hold. The UMC has been bullying MSSN UNILAG for too long, both in UNILAG and its College of Medicine, CMUL.

“For God's sake, MSSN is neither a sister organisation nor an offshoot of UMC. The mosques standing today were built through the penny and pain of every Muslim; dare I say that MSSN championed the cause. Why is the MSSN Secretariat locked despite every issue resolved?”

Another student said, “So after the main convention, these scholars are usually taken to the Universities to lecture the students. Last year when Yasir Qadhi came, he was taken to BUK, Kano. He also made visits to the Emir of Kano. MSSN gave a one-month notice of the event and the details, and sought approval to use the main Mosque. About two days ago, they responded and said they can't allow the scholars.”

“School of first choice comes to turn into a secondary school, so that’s how they behave there,” another student posted.

One of the students also said, “Omoh, it takes few people to start a revolution. The EndSARS protest that started in Lekki toll gate, they were very few in numbers who started to barricade the road.”

One of them, identified as Soman, posted, “I've never seen a school where the school MSSN pays money to use their school mosque Hall to have programs. Chai 🥺🥺🥺. We were asked to pay N150,000, omo I melted that day.”

Assim bin Luqman al-Hakeem is a Saudi Arabian cleric of Indonesian descent. He is based primarily in the city of Jeddah, where he preaches Sunni Islam with a Salafist approach mostly in English, delivering programs on social media channels.


Early life and education

Assim bin Luqman al-Hakeem was born on 23 November 1962 in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. He is of Indonesian descent; his grandfather was a Mandailing who lived in Medan, Indonesia, and worked as a judge in the Sultanate of Deli at that time. Al-Hakeem's grandfather sent Luqman, Al-Hakeem's father, to Saudi Arabia to study religion, and later he obtained Saudi citizenship; thus, Al-Hakeem grew up in Saudi Arabia.

When he was 12, he and his family moved to Jeddah. From a young age, he was interested in Islamic studies. He finished high school in 1980 and subsequently enrolled at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, but eventually dropped out. He later enrolled at King Abdulaziz University, majoring in English literature, and graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts. He then continued a high diploma in Islamic studies at Umm al-Qura University in 1998. He also spent several years studying the works of Saudi Arabian religious scholar Muhammad ibn al-Uthaymin.

Career

Al-Hakeem began his career as a high school English teacher in 1988. He has been an imam in Jeddah for the last 20 years, where he delivers weekly sermons before Friday prayer and lectures on various Islamic sciences.

He mostly preaches in English, delivering Islamic programs on social media channels, including Questions and Answers (ASK HUDA), Umdatul Ahkaam, Youth Talk, and Mercy to the Worlds. He also preaches on television and radio channels, such as Huda TV, Zad TV, Peace TV, Iqraa, and Saudi 2.

Views

Islamic jurisprudence

Quran as alternative medicine

Al-Hakeem has said of the Islamic practice of ruqyah, a form of litany associated with the exorcism of evil spirits in Islam, that "it is the recitation of the Qur'an, seeking of refuge in Allah, remembrance and supplications that are used as a means of treating sicknesses and other problems, as the Qur'an is a source of healing". He has also advocated reciting the Qur'an over water and then drinking and washing with it as a means of healing.


Shortening or combining prayers

Al-Hakeem has said that, with regards to the Islamic practice of shortening or combining prayer during travel, a person who travels daily or frequently "will not be considered a traveller for the purpose of shortening of Salah and combining them unless a valid reason exists."

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Al-Hakeem has critiqued Islamic pilgrims taking pictures of themselves while on the hajj, stating: "Taking such selfies and videos defy the wish of our Prophet."

Politics and societal issues

Women

While acknowledging that disagreement exists among scholars, he considers the most authentic opinion to be that female circumcision is recommended but it is neither mandatory nor forbidden. He holds that women are not allowed to work in mixed-gender environments.

When asked about the legality of concubinage in Islam, Al-Hakeem considered the enslavement of prisoners of war humane, if given the rights afforded to slaves in Islam, and affirmed the legality of concubinage.

Protests

Al-Hakeem has claimed that all forms of protest are prohibited in Islam, a view that aligns with the Madkhali and quietist strains of Salafism. His views came under criticism by many Muslim users, with many citing Quranic principles of standing up against injustice, even were it to be from one’s own family.

Conspiracy theories

When discussing conspiracy theories and the movements associated with them (such as the Freemasons and the Illuminati), Al-Hakeem explained that despite the fact that knowing about such things is not fundamentally useful in Islam and could even be potentially harmful since attributing inordinate power to such groups makes Muslims feel weak, "We acknowledge that through history the Jews collaborating with the hypocrites had many conspiracies against Islam...the collaboration and the fingerprints of the Jews, the hypocrites, and the Rafidah is evident. And this does not prevent them from collaborating over the centuries to continue their dirty work." Al-Hakeem explained that since Jews are a minority, it is their nature to dominate and control whatever they can, and this is why they control the media and the financial sector today.

Al-Hakeem has voiced opinions that go against the mainstream understanding of the Holocaust.


Child marriage

With regard to the Prophet marrying Aisha, Al-Hakeem said that everyone was happy with the marriage including her, and that people such as Hindus are illogical for questioning this when they themselves worship "cows, mice, private organs and 65,000 other gods," and the fact that this is the only issue people have a problem with is a testament to the truth of Islam.

Al-Hakeem told a 16-year-old boy with two jobs to get married if this goes in line with the laws of the land, since many countries in the West would rather fornication be committed rather than marriage.


Cryptocurrency

Al-Hakeem considers bitcoin haram. He had pointed out its anonymous and ambiguous nature and said it could be used for illegal activities such as money laundering and drug money, and has warned against people using such transactions as the nature of seeking to gain money quickly in such a manner (via a means akin to gambling) is fundamentally un-Islamic.

Relations with the Saudi government

The ultra-conservative views of Al-Hakeem have been described as being at odds with Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman's projected image of Saudi Arabia, which includes that of religious tolerance, inter-faith dialogue, modernisation, and support of women's professional and personal opportunities. Despite holding ultra-conservative views, Al-Hakeem has shied away from openly criticizing Bin Salman or the government, as most Saudi scholars have chosen to remain silent or publicly endorse Bin Salman's policies to avoid arrest.

Preaching bans

In 2012, Al-Hakeem was barred from speaking at an event for the Islamic Society at the University of Hertfordshire due to his controversial statements about homosexuality. Raheem Kassam, the director of Student Rights said: "It is encouraging that vile views such as those espoused by Al-Hakeem are not tolerated at Hertfordshire University. They would not be tolerated in open society and nor should university students be subjected to them. We’re delighted that what should be ‘common sense’ has prevailed this time – but all too often preachers like Al-Hakeem are paraded around university campuses as ‘experts’ and manage to disseminate their hateful ideas, dressing them up as scripture and radicalising young people. It has to stop." Talks by Al-Hakeem at Sheffield Hallam University were also cancelled.

In 2024, a Sunday Penny Appeal charity event featuring Al-Hakeem in Montreal, Canada was not hosted at the Rialto Theatre as originally planned after the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and B'nai B'rith Canada expressed concern about the preacher. Penny Appeal Canada website pages and Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok posts about Al-Hakeem and his tour were also removed. The Eventbrite pages for the Montreal event, as well as upcoming events in London and Vancouver, were also deleted following the theatre’s decision. B'nai B'rith called on other venues not to host Al-Hakeem, because of his "hate-filled and extremist views". John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, strongly condemned the scheduled appearance of Al-Hakeem, stating, "The extremist and hateful rhetoric of Assim Al-Hakeem has no place here. His views are antithetical to the values that British Columbians hold dear. Al-Hakeem’s history of promoting anti-Semitism, misogyny, and homophobia makes him a dangerous figure who should not be welcomed in our communities."

Personal life

Al-Hakeem is known to be a father to 13 children; all daughters. He has had 2 wives over a 25-year span, divorcing 1 of them around a decade ago.

VIDÉO: "When Muslims become the majority in the next 40 years, non-Muslims will have to convert to Islam, pay the Jizya or be killed because then Sharia will rule."

~ Islamic future Terrorist Sheik Assim Al Hakeem pic.twitter.com/9pYqX5Hihf

— Dr. Croc🇳🇬🇫🇷🇷🇼🇿🇦🇮🇱 (@DrCroc28) November 15, 2025

naptu2:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assim_al-Hakeem

OFFICIAL STATEMENT
MUSLIM STUDENTS’ SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (MSSN), UNILAG BRANCH

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh.

As a follow-up to our earlier release, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, University of Lagos Branch, wishes to fully dissociate itself from, and reiterate that it is not responsible for, any statement, publication, or message circulated by Sahara Reporters or any similar platform in relation to this matter.

These external publications do not represent our position, our communication style, or our organisational principles.

MSSN UNILAG remains committed to responsible engagement, unity, and the overall well-being of Muslim students on campus.

We appreciate your patience, understanding, and continuous support. May Allah keep us firm upon wisdom and guide us towards what brings benefit and harmony.

Muhammad Abdulsalam
Amir, MSSN UNILAG

Codepain:
No controversy
Just stupid twitter ants that think they can dictate who Muslims bring for Islamic conference
I swear Kuffar have a lot of audacity

Codepain:
Any Islamic organizations that want to invite Islamic scholars for conference should first submit their names to xtians for approval
We need them to approve their names because we don’t want them to be writing words on twitter and nairaland

Codepain:
Any Islamic organizations that want to invite Islamic scholars for conference should first submit their names to xtians for approval
We need them to approve their names because we don’t want them to be writing words on twitter and nairaland

naptu2:
Summary

An organisation called 1 Ummah NG is holding a peace and unity convention. The speakers at the convention include two foreign clerics. The events are scheduled to hold in Lagos and Abuja.

The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Unilag chapter booked the Unilag Mosque for an event that would feature the two foreign speakers, however, the Unilag Muslim Council (UMC), led by the Chief Imam of Unilag, cancelled the event. They said that they cancelled it because the speakers were foreign.

It has been reported that disciplinary action has been taken against some students of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) because they associated with the MSSN Unilag Chapter without permission.

The students say that the UMC has no right to regulate their activities.

This has led to controversy on Nigerian social media space. Some Muslims say that the foreign preachers are extremists, while others say that they are not extremists and nobody has the right to stop them from preaching in Nigeria.

naptu2:
Summary

An organisation called 1 Ummah NG is holding a peace and unity convention. The speakers at the convention include two foreign clerics. The events are scheduled to hold in Lagos and Abuja.

The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Unilag chapter booked the Unilag Mosque for an event that would feature the two foreign speakers, however, the Unilag Muslim Council (UMC), led by the Chief Imam of Unilag, cancelled the event. They said that they cancelled it because the speakers were foreign.

It has been reported that disciplinary action has been taken against some students of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) because they associated with the MSSN Unilag Chapter without permission.

The students say that the UMC has no right to regulate their activities.

This has led to controversy on Nigerian social media space. Some Muslims say that the foreign preachers are extremists, while others say that they are not extremists and nobody has the right to stop them from preaching in Nigeria.

Codepain:
No controversy
Just stupid twitter ants that think they can dictate who Muslims bring for Islamic conference
I swear Kuffar have a lot of audacity