A video of Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) is going viral on social Media, where he can be heard advocating for reforms in Islam and its interpretation. Incidentally, several such videos have been doing rounds on social media where Islamic scholars from the Western categorically advice and warn the West, especially the European nations, about the ill consequences they could suffer by pandering to the radical elements and those who follow the hardline and narrow interpretations of Islam and learn from the governance structure of the Middle Eastern monorchies who are well versed in such issues.
On searching the veracity of the recent viral video of MBS, we found that the remarks attributed by MBS are correct and the video is not edited or AI generated content which has became an imminent threat now-a-days. However, the viral video is an old one which has resurfaced on the internet in the backdrop of the pressing issue of Islamisation of the Europe.
This is not the first time that MBS is talking against radical Islam. Previously, he also spoke openly about the interpretation. By exhibiting it in his governance style, MBS is considered as the reformist leader in the Islamic world at a time when hardliners like Zakir Naik has been propagating extremist form of Islam to instigate Muslims against non-Muslims and serve as brainwashing tool for terror organisations.
MBS curbs 99% of Hadiths.
This is a big change happening in the Islamic world. pic.twitter.com/1JcCVigefL
— Prachyam (@prachyam7) March 5, 2025
What exactly did MBS say in the video, and why is it important to talk about it? Let’s first see what the custodian of the two holy places said. Our team found the viral video was part of a large interview whose transcript is available on the MEMRI TV. In the video, he talked about Saudi Arabia’s constitution, Islam, and the interpretation of the Quran and other Islamic religious texts.
Saudi Crown Prince MBS said that extremism is unacceptable and “very dangerous.” He made these remarks in an interview that aired on Channel 1 (Saudi Arabia) on April 27, 2021. Bin Salman explained that as the centre of the Islamic religion, Saudi Arabia has been the target of extremist and terrorist groups for many years, and if Saudi Arabia wants to generate economic growth, then “you need to uproot this [extremist] ideology.”
MBS highlighted the importance of ijtihad (interpretative reasoning) in modern governance, rejecting the idea of strict adherence to one school of thought, including that of Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab.
“Being committed to a single school of thought or a single scholar is tantamount to the deification of human beings,” he asserted, arguing that interpretation should evolve with time and changing circumstances.
If Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab rose from his grave and saw that we are committed to his texts while locking our minds to ijtihad, thus deifying him and blowing him out of proportion, he would be the first to oppose this. There is no one constant school of thought or one constant individual. The ijtihad of the Quran and the Sunna of the Prophet continue, and fatwas are subject to judgement of time and place.
Pretty wild statement from such an important figure in the Muslim world. pic.twitter.com/eYt53YdxCE
— Shambhav Sharma (@shambhav15) March 4, 2025
“For example, if an honourable sheikh issued a fatwa 100 years ago, without knowing whether the Earth is round or not, and having no knowledge about the continents, about technology, and so on – his fatwa was based on the data and information that were at his disposal and on his understanding of the Quran and the Sunna. But these things have changed in our current situation. Ultimately, the Quran and the Sunna constitute our source of authority, as I’ve said.”
“Our constitution is the Quran. It was, it is now, and it will continue to be for all of eternity. The Basic Law of Governance specifies this in a very clear way,” MBS stated, underscoring the legal framework upon which Saudi governance is based. The government, Shura Council, and the King, as the primary authority, are committed to implementing the Quran comprehensively.
MBS discussed the role of hadiths and explained the importance of differentiating between mutawatir, ahad, and khabar hadiths. He emphasized that only mutawatir hadiths, which have been transmitted through multiple corroborated sources, should be given obligatory status. “Ahad hadiths are not as obligatory as mutawatir hadiths unless it is accompanied by clear texts in the shari’a, as well as a clear interest in our daily life.” He clarified that khabar hadiths, which lack a continuous chain of narration, should not be relied upon, as their authenticity remains unproven.
Condemning extremism, bin Salman highlighted its detrimental effects on the nation’s prosperity. “In anything, extremism is unacceptable. The Prophet Muhammad said, according to one of his hadiths: ‘One of these days, extremists will emerge. Kill them.’ [The Quran says:] ‘Do not go beyond the bounds in your religion.’ [The Prophet said:] ‘Previous nations were destroyed because of their extremism.'” He pointed out that extremist ideologies have long targeted Saudi Arabia, as controlling the ideological direction of the country could influence Muslims worldwide.
MBS recounted how extremist elements infiltrated various sectors of Saudi society during the mid-20th century, with dire consequences. He made it clear that economic growth and job creation cannot coexist with extremist ideologies.
“If you want to create millions of jobs, if you want unemployment to go down, if you want the economy to grow, and if you want your income to improve, you need to uproot this ideology for the sake of all those worldly interests,” he declared.
It shows that Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of MBS, is ready to reform Saudi society for the good of their people, but the Muslim nations in Asia are becoming more radical day by day and going back to the medieval period. Bangladesh and Pakistan are the two great examples of this radicalization.
In essence, MBS articulated a vision of a Saudi Arabia rooted in Islamic principles while simultaneously modernizing its legal and economic frameworks to align with global standards. His emphasis on combating extremism, ensuring judicial transparency, and maintaining a dynamic interpretation of religious texts reflects his broader ambition to position Saudi Arabia as a progressive and economically viable nation.
