Kaduna based Islamic cleric and scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has disclosed that he was prevented from performing the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage by Saudi authorities, despite having been issued a valid visa.
The popular Islamic cleric n a post on his official Facebook page said his views on global politics may have influenced the decision by the Saudi authorities to stop him from undertaking the religious exercise.
According to his post,“For some obvious reasons—my views about world politics—the Saudi authorities are uncomfortable about my presence in Hajj after giving me the Hajj visa,” he wrote.
Quoting the Qur’an (Q2:196) on the conditions under which a pilgrim may be prevented from performing Hajj, Gumi said he had fulfilled the spiritual obligation through prescribed means and had since returned home to Nigeria.
“Alhamdulillah, I’ve already completed my Hajj 2025 and I’m at home in our beloved country Nigeria. “Allah said in Q2:196: ‘And accomplish the Hajj and Umrah for Allah, but if you are prevented, (slaughter) the offering available with you,” he said.
The cleric however expressed appreciation to the Nigerian authorities, who he said had pledged to engage Saudi Arabia on the matter.
“Thanks to the Nigerian authorities who have pledged to take up the matter immediately with the Saudi authorities. That is the value of our cherished freedom and democracy,” he added.
He concluded the post by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to focus on his health and farming activities while calling on Nigerians to pray for the safety of all pilgrims and the prosperity of the country.
“We should continue to pray for the safe return of all pilgrims, and peace and prosperity for our dear nation,” he wrote.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Saudi embassy in Nigeria nor Nigerian Hajj officials had issued an official statement on the incident.
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