Assim bin Luqman al-Hakeem (Arabic: عاصم بن لقمان الحكيم; born 23 November 1962) is a Saudi cleric of Indonesian descent.[2] He is based primarily in the city of Jeddah, where he hosts programs dealing with Islam. Al-Hakeem mostly talks in English.[3][4] A controversial figure in the West and amongst Muslims, his views have been described as extremist, anti-semitic, misogynistic, and homophobic by his detractors.
Early life and education
Al-Hakeem was born on 23 November 1962 in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. He is of Indonesian descent; his grandfather was a native of Medan who worked as a judge in the Sultanate of Deli at that time. Al-Hakeem's grandfather sent Luqman (Al-Hakeem's father) who is muhajir to Saudi Arabia to study religion, and later he obtained Saudi citizenship; thus, Al-Hakeem grew up in Saudi Arabia.[5]
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.[3]
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.[3]
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".[6] He has also advocated reciting the Qur'an over water and then drinking and washing with it as a means of healing.[6]
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."[7]
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. It is as though the only purpose of this trip is to take pictures and not worship."[8]
He does not believe women can be political leaders.[9]
While acknowledging that disagreement exists among scholars, he considers the most authentic opinion is that female circumcision is recommended but it is neither mandatory nor forbidden.[10] He holds that women are not allowed to work in mixed-gender environments.[11]
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.[12]
Protests
Al-Hakeem has claimed that all forms of protest are prohibited in Islam, a view that aligns with the Madkhali strain 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.[2]
This view was expressed in his opposition to protests against Islamophobia and the 2023 Quran burnings in Sweden. He characterized the reactions to the Quran burnings as "doing marches, protest, burning shop and attacking the police as protest" with protestors "falling into his trap, playing his game, and achieving his objective" and that such protests will backfire on Muslims with bans on the hijab, mosques, among others. He further criticized a Swedish Imam who called for protests in front of an embassy as propagating un-Islamic teachings.[13]
Assim instead considered criticism of the Quran burnings,[13] spreading the teachings of the Quran,[14] and the boycott of Swedish products as appropriate alternatives responses. He praised Kuwait's distribution of 100,000 copies of the Quran in Swedish.[15]
Al-Hakeem has been critical of the relationship between the Muslims and Jews, especially in the context of attempts of changing Islam to accommodate the actions and existence of Israel. He has also made anti-Jewish remarks of a more general nature such as "the Jews, whom we all hate".[16] When discussing the religious status of Ruhollah Khomeini he accuses him of being a Kafir who corrupted the aqeedah, a murderer of Sunnis, a person who made a vengeful war with Iraq and drained resources from the adjacent countries. He further said that Iran's leadership are "enemies of Islam, they want to undermine the true Islam and tarnish its reputation...backed by lobbies from the Jews" and who "never had any beef with the Jews, they are allies."[17]
When asked about differentiating between Jews and Zionists, he responded:[18]
"Well, such a difference has only surfaced lately. Zionism is a racist movement...so it's not related to a religion, (to my own humble understanding,)...but to try to polish the image of the Jews and say that they're not Zionists, this most likely won't work. The Jews are the People of the Book, they're all not the same shade: there are of them who are Zionist, there are of them who are open enemies of Islam, and there are those who are not fighting us, not forcing the Muslims out of their homes, so we can try to get closer to those. But in general, the majority of them are against Islam and the Muslims, therefore this is the default until proven otherwise, not the other way around. Allah mentioned the Jews in the Quran and described them to us, so do you think we are going to believe what the media is trying to polish nowadays, and neglect our Quran and the Sunnah? No matter who comes...If they come and say '...the Jews are fine. The Holocaust was a horrible thing,...we have to teach it to the Muslim children in schools, we have to omit and remove verses of Jihad, verses that describe the Jews in the Quran,' ...don't say that this is Islam. This is all part of the global movement to change Islam..."
When discussing the relationships that Christians and Jews have with Muslims, Al-Hakeem said, "Allah...mentioned in the Quran that the most in hatred and enmity to the Muslims are the idol worshippers and the Jews. This is in the Quran. And the closest to the believers are the Christians. So this is mentioned in the Quran in the sense that the Christians share a lot with us Muslims, and they're more soft-hearted than the idol worshippers or the Jews...and what's happening in Gaza is a clear indication, a clear sign of their hatred and enmity. It's in their DNA; we have to admit.[19]" He has also prayed that Allah free Al Aqsa from "oppressors and from our enemies, the Jews."[20]
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."[21][22][23][24]
Previously, Thornhill MP Melissa Lantsman excoriated the Trudeau government for allowing Al-Hakeem into Canada as he embodies "the most vile hate against Jews, Christians, gay people & many others… Why, at a time of rising hate against these groups, would he allow such a person into our country?" Similarly, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet tweeted, "Assim Al-Hakeem makes statements that are completely contrary to Quebec values and to what the Liberals also claim to be theirs. Why is this person allowed to come here knowing his intentions to spread his hostile and hateful speech?"[25]
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.[26]" 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.[27]
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.[28]
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[29]
Homophobia
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 gays. 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."[30] Talks by Al-Hakeem at Sheffield Hallam University were also cancelled.[31]
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,[32][33] 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.[34]
Liberal Muslims
In 2016, Tom Gjelten argued that prosecutions against Muslim liberals in Saudi Arabia did not follow Islamic teachings, and criticised Saudi clerics including Al-Hakeem. He also criticised the ideology of Wahhabism, arguing that many Muslim scholars question whether it is a true reflection of Islam.[35]
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 gays. 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."[36] Talks by Al-Hakeem at Sheffield Hallam University were also cancelled.[37]
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."[38][39][40][41]
Previously, Thornhill MP Melissa Lantsman excoriated the Trudeau government for allowing Al-Hakeem into Canada as he embodies "the most vile hate against Jews, Christians, gay people & many others… Why, at a time of rising hate against these groups, would he allow such a person into our country?" Similarly, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet tweeted, "Assim Al-Hakeem makes statements that are completely contrary to Quebec values and to what the Liberals also claim to be theirs. Why is this person allowed to come here knowing his intentions to spread his hostile and hateful speech?"[42]
^ abRassool, G. H. (2021), "Re-examining the anatomy of Islamic psychotherapy and counselling: Envisioned and enacted practices", Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal, 4 (2): 133–143, doi:10.25217/igcj.v4i2.1840, S2CID247654590
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