Malaysia: Algerian Claims He is Moroccan, Descendant of The Prophet

Rabat – Algerian-French national, Mohamed Amin Ouradji, is causing widespread controversy in Malaysia for pretending to be the 38th descendant of Prophet Mohammed. Ouradji is equally claiming to be of Moroccan nationality.

Ouradji has founded a sect in Malaysia claiming to prepare his followers for the end of time. His actions caused the Malaysian Ministry of Religious Affairs to issue a warning to citizens.

Although the more recent claims of his claims to be Prophet Mohammed’s descendant have brought him back to the public eye, Ouradji has been tracked for his activity by authorities for a while.

Morocco’s response

Media reports indicate that the Malaysian authorities have even notified Morocco of the situation last year.

In response, Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement addressed to the Malaysian Embassy in September 2023 explaining that the individual (formerly) named at birth, Habib Mohamed Amin Ben Sayed EL Idrissi El Hassani, holds a “dual French and Algerian nationality.”

A copy of the statement circulating online indicates that he traveled to Morocco for the first time on October 30, 2006, and continued to reside in Morocco, France, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Yemen.

In 2014, during his time in Morocco, he married a Moroccan national. The official statement further explained that he had attempted to change his name.

“The individual claims to be Moroccan while he is of Algerian-French origin,” the Moroccan foreign ministry stated, adding that he is taking advantage of the reputation of Moroccan Ulamas and Sufis to defraud Muslims in South Asia.

“The individual has no affiliation with the “Moroccan Chérif Idrissi” or any noble lineage, as he came to Morocco in 2014 to settle with his Moroccan wife,” the statement stresses.

“He exploits the noble lineage to attract followers,” the Moroccan ministry explains, adding that “he claims affiliation with the Sufi movement without specifying his discipline.”

The statement continues that “Moroccan religious authorities cannot endorse either the activities or the religious teachings of this individual.”

Malaysia’s response

Malaysian Minister of Religious Affairs, Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, has called on Malaysians to distance themselves from all forms of religious fanaticism and worship surrounding the Franco-Algerian.

In a widely reported statement from the Malaysian government, Mokhtar warned against religious fanaticism and extremism, emphasizing the threat they pose to individuals and society.

The statement equally explains that the Malaysian ministry will continue to monitor the situation. “The Prime Minister’s Department of Religious Affairs, through the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), will closely cooperate with Islamic religious authorities, especially state Islamic Religious Departments, and the police to investigate the revelations made in the media.”

Mokhtar warned citizens against associating themselves with the individual, saying that authorities would investigate any parties attempting to exploit religion for personal or group interests.

“All parties are requested to adhere to the balance of knowledge, and facts, and refrain from religious fanaticism and extremism,” he stated.

Malaysian news reports indicate that the police were closely monitoring the activities of Amin Ouradji, who is known as Mawla Amin among his followers.

Despite his claims, the Algerian national has no connection whatsoever to the sacred lineage of the Prophet Mohammed, the Ministry stresses.

Ouradji was born in the Algerian capital Algiers in 1984 before moving to France with his family.

Malaysian media further reported that an Islamic scholar in Selangor is facing charges of unlawful collection of public money, as part of an attempt to establish Mawla Amin’s sect. The scholar was actively promoting Ouradji.