Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi is one of the most influential Muslim scholars of the modern age, known for his intellectual depth, spiritual authority, and global reach. A descendant of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through Moulay Idriss II, he carries a prestigious Damascene scholarly lineage.

Background: Sheikh Al-Yaqoubi was born in Damascus and was trained in Islamic sciences by his father, who was an imam and instructor at the Grand Umayyad Mosque. Sheikh Al-Yaqoubi followed in his father’s footsteps and was appointed as a Friday Speaker at the age of 18, and an Instructor at the Fatwa directorate at the age of 23. 

Against Extremism: His book Refuting ISIS (now in ten languages) has become essential reading, providing theological arguments against extremists and calling on mainstream, traditional followers to combat them. His criticism of the Syrian government’s response to protests made his stay in Syria untenable, so he had to flee the country in 2011, eventually seeking refuge in Morocco where he is still based.

Educator: Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi, a spiritual master in the Shādhilī order, is a globally influential educator and spiritual luminary, guiding thousands of imams, scholars, and students through his Sacred Knowledge initiative, founded in 2011. His public teachings include complete recitations of Sahih Al-Bukhari, Imam Busiri’s Qasidat al-Burda (The Poem of the Mantle), and Imam Al-Jazuli’s Dala’il al-Khayrat, a revered litany of prophetic blessings, which he has also translated.

Scholar: Sheikh Al-Yaqoubi is a recognised authority across theology, jurisprudence, Hadith, literature, and spirituality, and has authored books on these subjects. He is also an eloquent poet, dedicating much of his poetry to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, with seven published works in this field. He is currently a member of the Royal Aal Al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought (RABIIT), and a visiting lecturer at Al-Qarawiyyīn University.