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'{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Muhammad al-Arifi | honorific_suffix = | image = Mohammed Al-Arefe.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = {{lang|ar|محمد العريفي}} | native_name_lang = [[Arabic]] | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name above --> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1970|7|15}} | birth_place = [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] | baptised = <!-- will not display if birth_date is entered --> | disappeared_date = <!-- {{disappeared date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (disappeared date then birth date) --> | disappeared_place = | disappeared_status = | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | monuments = | nationality = Saudi Arabian<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2014/06/25/Controversial-cleric-al-Arifi-banned-from-UK-|title = Britain bans controversial Saudi cleric al-Arifi|date = 25 June 2014}}</ref> | other_names = | ethnicity = <!-- Ethnicity should be supported with a citation from a reliable source --> | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = scholar | years_active = 1990-present | era = | employer = | organization = | agent = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | home_town = | salary = | net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source --> | height = <!-- "X cm", "X m" or "X ft Y in" plus optional reference (conversions are automatic) --> | weight = <!-- "X kg", "X lb" or "X st Y lb" plus optional reference (conversions are automatic) --> | television = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | movement = [[Salafi movement]] | opponents = | boards = | criminal_charge = <!-- Criminality parameters should be supported with citations from reliable sources --> | criminal_penalty = | criminal_status = | spouse = | partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) --> | children = | parents = | relatives = | callsign = | awards = | module = | module2 = | signature = | signature_alt = | signature_size = | website = {{URL|arefe.com}} | footnotes = }} '''Muhammad bin Abdul-Rahman al-Arifi''' ({{lang-ar|محمد بن عبد الرحمن العريفي}}, born 15 July 1970) is a Muslim author and [[Da'i|Da’i]]. He is a graduate of [[King Saud University]], and member of the [[Muslim World League]] and the [[Association of Muslim Scholars]].<ref name="IndepHighlights">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sunni-vs-shia-in-gerrards-cross-new-mosque-highlights-growing-tensions-among-british-muslims-8671969.html|title=Sunni vs Shia... in Gerrard's Cross: New mosque highlights growing tensions among British Muslims|last=Milmo|first=Cahal|date=24 June 2013|work=The Independent|accessdate=25 June 2013}}</ref><ref>[https://www.facebook.com/MArefeEng/info/?tab=page_info Official verified English page, Facebook, 2016].</ref> == Social media popularity == Al-Arefe has over 20 million followers on [[Twitter]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Yahya |first=Nasidi Adamu |date=19 July 2016 |title=Yadda Malamai ke wa'azi a shafukan zumunta |url=http://www.bbc.com/hausa/news/2016/07/160718_social_media_religious_propagation |newspaper=ABC Hausa }}</ref> As of 6 May 2019, Al-Arefe had over 24 million likes on Facebook,<ref>https://www.facebook.com/3refe/</ref> which places his account in the top 100 worldwide, and #10 in the [[Arab world]] and in the Middle East.<ref>[http://twitaholic.com/ Top Twitter User Rankings] retrieved 3 June 2014</ref> BBC claims that Al-Arefe is regarded as a scholar "Brad Pitt". Al-Arefe announced his fatwa for "jihad" against Syrian to his jihadist followers on social media.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 March 2016 |title=Meet Saudi Arabia's stars of social media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-35609249 |newspaper=BBC Trending }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2 March 2016 |title=Saudis on Social: Faith, Freedom and Fun |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-35664637 |newspaper=BBC Trending }}</ref> Al-Arefe engaged in a diatribe against Shias, referred to them as "evil", used the label of "infidel" against Shia cleric [[Ayatollah Sistani]] and boasted that there are no mausoleums, public statues, Christian crosses in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/tv/saudi-cleric-muhammad-al-arifi-vilifies-shiites-calling-iraqi-ayatollah-sistani-infidel |title=Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Arifi Vilifies Shiites, Calling Iraqi Ayatollah Sistani "an Infidel" |date=10 December 2009 |website=MEMRI }}</ref> Al-Arefe described Jews as cowardly in battle and claimed that their tanks had urine and feces in them since they wouldn't get out of them.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/tv/saudi-cleric-muhammad-al-arifi-jewish-soldiers-would-defecate-and-urinate-their-tanks-because |title=Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Arifi: Jewish Soldiers Would Defecate and Urinate in Their Tanks Because They Were Too Scared to Leave Them |date=5 February 2012 |website=MEMRI }}</ref> He also claimed they used bags or diapers in the tank.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/tv/saudi-cleric-muhammad-al-arifi-israeli-soldiers-too-scared-leave-their-tanks-urinate-or-defecate |title=Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Arifi: Israeli Soldiers Too Scared to Leave Their Tanks to Urinate or Defecate; Palestine Will Be Liberated Through Force, Not Negotiations |date=9 April 2010 |website=MEMRI }}</ref> He described Jews as too cowardly to fight and said they were going to hide around the Gharqad trees they were allegedly planting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/tv/saudi-cleric-muhammad-al-arifi-jews-plant-gharqad-trees-hide-behind-when-muslims-come-kill-them |title=Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-Arifi: Jews Plant Gharqad Trees to Hide Behind When Muslims Come to Kill Them on Judgment Day |date=11 September 2008 |website=MEMRI }}</ref> Al-Arefe supported the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] in Egypt.<ref>{{Citation|title=Shaykh al Fawzān Warns Against The Books of Sayyid Quṭb {{!}} Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al Fawzān|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOvKL2-BNIw|language=en|access-date=2021-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/reports/saudi-authorities-irate-over-communiqu%c3%a9-condemning-ouster-former-egyptian-president-mursi |title= Saudi Authorities Irate Over Communiqué Condemning Ouster Of Former Egyptian President Mursi |last=Admon |first=Y. |date=8 October 2013 |website=MEMRI }}</ref> Al-Arefe was lauded by Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood President Mursi and al-Arefe and [[Salman al-Ouda]] were named as Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/reports/saudi-prince-about-kingdoms-muslim-brotherhood-movement-they-are-khawarij-age |title= Saudi Prince About Kingdom's Muslim Brotherhood Movement: They Are The Khawarij Of This Age |date=28 August 2013 |website=MEMRI }}</ref> He is a known associated of them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.memri.org/espanol/controversia-en-el-mundo-arabe-sobre-el-visitar-lugares-cristianos-y-musulmanes-en-israel/7720 |title=Controversia en el mundo árabe sobre el visitar lugares cristianos y musulmanes en Israel |date=23 May 2014 |website=MEMRI |accessdate=25 January 2017 }}</ref> Muslim Brotherhood affiliation was denied for Arefe and [[Adil al-Kalbani]] by al-Kalbani, saying that they are affiliated with the Union of Muslim Scholars.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 August 2013 |title=تتصفح الآن: الكلباني : أنا عضو في اتحاد علماء المسلمين ولست إخوانياً .. والعريفي ليس إخوانياً |url=http://www.an7a.com/115868/ |newspaper=صحيفة أنحاء الإلكترونية |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214102112/http://www.an7a.com/115868/ |archive-date=14 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A video Al-Arefe was posted by Ibrahim al-Musalem on a tweet about the [[Charlie Hebdo shooting]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/reports/reactions-twitter-attack-charlie-hebdo-%E2%80%93-including-hashtags-paris-burning-vengeance |title= Reactions On Twitter To Attack On 'Charlie Hebdo' – Including Hashtags #Paris Is Burning, #Vengeance For [Insulting] Allah's Messenger, #Lone Wolves Are Terrorizing France |date=9 January 2015 |website=MEMRI }}</ref> Holiday celebrations and greetings to Christians by Muslims was banned by Al-Arefe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.memri.org/espanol/periodista-jordana-el-odio-hacia-los-cristianos-es-el-primer-paso-en-el-camino-hacia-el-terrorismo/9842 |title=Periodista jordana: El odio hacia los cristianos es el primer paso en el camino hacia el terrorismo |date=24 December 2015 |website=MEMRI }}</ref> He strictly explicitly banned religious greetings to non-Muslims.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/reports/president-sisi-egyptian-grand-mufti-offering-christmas-greetings-our-christian-brothers-part |title= President Sisi, Egyptian Grand Mufti: Offering Christmas Greetings To Our Christian Brothers Is Part Of Our Religion |date=24 December 2015 |website=MEMRI }}</ref> Al-Arefe forbade the usage of [[Christmas trees]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/MohamadAlarefe/status/811265656511459328 |last=العريفي |first=محمد |date=20 December 2016 |website=Twitter }}</ref> He said that Syria jihad is incumbent and did apologia for [[al-Nusra]], visiting the [[Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque]] in Qatar.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/qatar/11125897/The-Club-Med-for-terrorists.html|title=The 'Club Med for terrorists' |newspaper=The Telegraph|date=27 September 2014|last=Gilligan|first=Andrew}}</ref> In July 2015, Al-Arafe wrote a critique<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/3refe/posts/10153284714117839|title=🚫 الآباء والأبناء والمربين ووقفات مع... – الصفحة الرسمية للشيخ د. محمد العريفي . – Facebook|work=facebook.com|language=ar}}</ref> on Facebook of the Egyptian Ramadan TV series Jewish Quarter, complaining that it showed Jews in a positive light, when in reality Jews were terrible people. It was picked up by Arabic media. In March 2014, he was banned by the [[Home Office]] from returning to Britain after a series of sermons in [[Cardiff]], Birmingham and London. A Home Office spokesperson said: "We can confirm Mohammad Al-Arefe has been excluded from the United Kingdom. The Government makes no apologies for refusing people access to the UK if we believe they represent a threat to our society. Coming here is a privilege that we refuse to extend to those who seek to subvert our shared values."<ref>{{cite news|title=Banned preacher under scrutiny over links to young Cardiff men fighting with Isis in Iraq and Syria|url=http://www.itv.com/news/2014-06-23/banned-preacher-under-scrutiny-over-links-to-young-cardiff-men-fighting-with-isis-in-iraq-and-syria/|date=23 June 2014|work=ITV|accessdate=26 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Father of Cardiff jihadists says his sons were radicalised in 'pop-up' schools|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/23/father-jihadists-sons-radicalised-cardiff-popup-schools|date=23 June 2014|work=Guardian|accessdate=26 December 2014 |first=Steven |last=Morris}}</ref> Al-Arefe had a discussion with Saudi [[Deputy crown prince]] [[Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud]] and then tweeted and posted a photo of them smiling together.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/mohamadalarefe/status/724662086308126720?lang=en |title=د. محمد #العريفي on Twitter |last=العريفي |first=محمد |date=25 April 2016 |website=Twitter |accessdate=25 January 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=25 April 2016 |title=أخبار 24 &#124; العريفي ينشر صورة له برفقة الأمير محمد بن سلمان بعد إعلان |url=http://akhbaar24.argaam.com/article/detail/277576 |newspaper=أخبار 24 }}</ref> The discussion was held on the same day as [[Saudi Vision 2030]] began.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 April 1438 |title= العريفي ينشر صورة له برفقة الأمير محمد بن سلمان بعد إعلان "رؤية السعودية" |url=http://saabag.com/news-action-show-id-14808.htm |newspaper=صحيفة سابق الإلكترونية }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=عيسى |first=عمر |date=25 April 2016 |title=العريفي" يشكر ولي ولي العهد السعودي لهذا السبب |url=http://www.cairoportal.com/story/542570/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B4%D9%83%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%87%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A8 |newspaper=بوابة القاهرة }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=25 April 2016 |title= العريفي يلتقي مع بن سلمان بعد ساعات من إعلان رؤية 2030 |url=http://alkhaleejonline.net/articles/1461609992083616200/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%8A-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%A8%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A4%D9%8A%D8%A9-2030/ |newspaper=الخليج أونلاين |location=الرياض }}</ref> He asked God to bless Prince Mohammad and posted his thanks.<ref>{{cite news |first= <!--|date= 25 أبريل, 2016 , 22:11 م -->|title=العريفي ينشر صورة له برفقة محمد بن سلمان بعد إعلان "رؤية السعودية" |url=https://al-marsd.com/33645.html |newspaper=صحيفة المرصد }}</ref> al-Arefe met with Prince Mohamed bin Salman again and talked with him and posted the photo of them smiling together on Twitter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/MohamadAlarefe/status/811510213199204352 |title=د. محمد #العريفي on Twitter |last=العريفي |first=محمد |date=21 December 2016 |website=Twitter |accessdate=25 January 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=22 December 2016 |title=الشيخ العريفي ينشر صورة جمعته بـ محمد بن سلمان.. ويكشف ما دار بينهما |url=http://mz-mz.net/686775/ |newspaper=مـزمـز }}</ref> They talked about the Islamic world's and the Kingdom (of Saudi Arabia's) future.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 December 2016 |title=الشيخ "العريفي" ينشر صورة جمعته بـمحمد بن سلمان .. ويكشف ما دار بينهما |url=https://al-marsd.com/91951.html |newspaper=صحيفة المرصد |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref> [[King Saud University]] employs Al-Arefe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gulfinstitute.org/saudi-deputy-crown-prince-meets-obama-after-welcoming-an-isis-supporter/ |title=Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Meets Obama after Welcoming an ISIS Supporter |author=IGA Staff |date=17 June 2016 |website=The Institute for Gulf Affairs }}</ref> Arifi on Twitter vowed for Russia and Assad to be defeated over the [[Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016)|Battle of Aleppo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/MohamadAlarefe/status/808732352662925312 |last=العريفي |first=محمد |date=13 December 2016 |website=Twitter }}</ref> Condolences over the death of the son of [[Salman al-Ouda]] and his wife were given on Twitter by Mohamad al-Arefe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/MohamadAlarefe/status/824339078422429696 |last=العريفي |first=محمد |date=25 January 2017 |website=Twitter }}</ref> [[Abdul Razzaq al-Mahdi]], Nabil Al-Awadi, [[Tariq Abdelhaleem]], and [[Hani al-Sibai]] who are linked to Al-Qaeda, in addition to others like [[Adnan al-Aroor]], [[Abd Al-Aziz Al-Fawzan]], Mohamad al-Arefe, [[Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais]], [[Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al Shaykh]] and others were included on a death list by ISIS.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.memri.org/reports/isis-launches-campaign-calling-kill-prominent-islamic-clerics-such-yousuf-al-qaradawi-saudi |title= ISIS Launches Campaign Calling To Kill Prominent Islamic Clerics Such As Yousuf Al-Qaradawi, Saudi Mufti 'Abd Al-'Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh, Former Egyptian Chief Mufti 'Ali Gum'a |date=14 February 2017 |number=Special Dispatch No.6781 |website=MEMRI }}</ref> Al-Arefe's Twitter account was suspended in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.com/arabic/trending-46709762 |title= تساؤلات بعد إيقاف حساب الشيخ السعودي محمد العريفي على تويتر |date=29 December 2018 |website=BBC }}</ref> Since that time he was rarely seen in public.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eldorar.com/node/149999 |title= بعد اختفاء طويل.. فيروس كورونا يُخرج الشيخ محمد العريفي إلى الملأ (فيديو) |date=24 March 2020 |website=El-Dorar }}</ref> In February 2021 it was reported that al-Arefe is under watch by Saudi government authorities and that his moves and actions are being followed using spy devices and a tracking knee band.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elnashra.com/news/show/1483843/%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF:-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B3%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%8A%D8%AE-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7 |title= مجتهد: الوضع النفسي للشيخ العريفي سيء وصودرت حساباته على مواقع التواصل |date=14 February 2021 |website=El-Nashra }}</ref> === The 2013 Egyptian coup d'état === {{BLP unsourced section|date=April 2015}} In July 2013, Al-Arefe was detained by the Saudi authorities for using YouTube to criticize the military coup d'état in Egypt, an ally of Saudi Arabia.<ref name=CSM>[http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2015/0602/Saudi-Arabia-presses-YouTube-imams-to-toe-the-line-on-Yemen Christian Science Monitor: "Saudi Arabia presses 'YouTube imams' to toe the line on Yemen – Popular Muslim clerics are using social media to stir dissent beyond the purview of government-controlled mosques and satellite TV stations. Saudi Arabia is sensitive to criticism of its war in Yemen" By Taylor Luck] 2 June 2015</ref> It was speculated{{by whom|date=April 2015}} that the arrest was in response to a complaint filed by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to its Saudi counterpart. The complaint claimed that Al-Arefe was intervening in Egyptian domestic affairs.{{verify-inline|date=April 2015}} Before his release, he signed a pledge not to interfere in Egyptian affairs and was released afterwards but placed under house arrest. He was also banned from traveling to [[Doha]], where he was scheduled to deliver a religious lecture there. The Saudi authorities never announced the reason behind Al-Arefe's arrest. == Sanctions == In October 2014, he was jailed for 40 days for stating that the train linking [[Mecca]] and other holy sites was "one of the worst in the world".<ref name=CSM /> Al-Arefe was banned from entering Switzerland for holding extreme views, Switzerland said.<ref name=IndepHighlights/> Denmark banned him from entering the country for two years in May 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-GB/Words-and-concepts/US/Religious-workers/Religious-preachers-with-entry-ban/?anchor=7C5D2D143D284E4EB2829BA5F0F04837&callbackItem=8ADE78BB86084E60B9A89B35BDDCDDAE&callbackAnchor=8ADE78BB86084E60B9A89B35BDDCDDAE|title=Den nationale sanktionsliste - Religious preachers with entry ban|website=www.nyidanmark.dk|language=da|access-date=2019-02-14}}</ref><ref name="Reuters-20170502">{{cite web |last1=Jensen |first1=Teis |title=Denmark bans six 'hate preachers' from entering the country |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-denmark-security-religion/denmark-bans-six-hate-preachers-from-entering-the-country-idUKKBN17Y1N9 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |accessdate=13 April 2019 |date=2 May 2017}}</ref> == See also == {{Portal|Islam|Saudi Arabia}} {{Commons category|Mohamad al-Arefe}} * [[Islam in Saudi Arabia]] * [[Yusuf al-Qaradawi]] * [[Salman al-Ouda]] * [[Aid al-Qarni]] * [[Mohammed Rateb al-Nabulsi]] * [[Tareq Al-Suwaidan]] * [[Omar Abd al-Kafi]] == References == {{Reflist}} ==External links== *https://web.archive.org/web/20180301071056/http://arefe.com/ *https://twitter.com/MohamadAlarefe *https://plus.google.com/110212684724359342394 *https://www.facebook.com/3refe *https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaNS3on9m_7LmSpI2GC65Bw *https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpTD6Gq8vmoVss-gyntOBJg *https://www.youtube.com/user/hamode656 {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Arefe, Mohamad Al-}} [[Category:1970 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century imams]] [[Category:21st-century imams]] [[Category:Saudi Arabian imams]] [[Category:Saudi Arabian Salafis]] [[Category:Saudi Arabian activists]] [[Category:21st-century Muslim scholars of Islam]] [[Category:Saudi Arabian writers]] [[Category:Critics of Shia Islam]] [[Category:Islam and antisemitism]] [[Category:Critics of atheism]]'