Bin Shams al-Din’s preaching is primarily aimed at young Muslims around the world, with a particular focus on migrants who have settled in Europe in recent years. While there are several currents within the Salafi movement, his style of preaching reflects a combination of Salafi doctrines – a trend increasingly seen among young radical Muslims – writes Sirwan Kajjo

Syrian cleric Mohammad bin Shams al-Din has emerged as one of the most polarizing Salafi figures online. Born into the al-Baggara tribe in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor, he studied economics before turning to religious studies and earning a bachelor’s degree in Sharia (Islamic law). He then devoted his work to Salafi preaching on the internet.

Now based in Germany, bin Shams al-Din oversees online platforms such as “The Islamic Encyclopedia” and “Talib al-Ilm.” He maintains a strong social media presence; his YouTube channel alone has about one million subscribers. Behind that vast reach, observers say, is an incendiary message that encourages hate and division.

Bin Shams al-Din’s preaching is primarily aimed at young Muslims around the world, with a particular focus on migrants who have settled in Europe in recent years. While there are several currents within the Salafi movement, his style of preaching reflects a combination of Salafi doctrines – a trend increasingly seen among young radical Muslims.

“Mohammed bin Shams al-Din is part of a new generation of Salafis who view their struggle not as a political conflict, but as a dogmatic one,” said Sadradeen Kinno, a Syrian researcher based in Europe who studies Islamist movements.

“It’s not that they’re unconcerned with politics, but they believe other priorities come first. For example, they believe that Muslims’ beliefs have been corrupted, and that the doctrine of the new generation, especially those who have moved to Europe, must be corrected.”

Takfir and sectarian incitement

Bin Shams al-Din’s radical discourse leans on mass takfir (excommunication) and rejects any gray area. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) indicates that in one video, he statesthat Jews and Christians must be declared infidels, and that any Muslim who refuses to do so is “a disbeliever like them” and should himself be excommunicated. The backlash was so swift that he was forced to delete several clips from YouTube after repeated reports for violating the platform’s policies. His approach, however, did not change: his content continues to place the “others” – whether it’s People of the Book or Muslims from other denominations – into a single category of unbelief and error.

In his rhetoric, Shia Muslims are considered as “Rafida” (a derogatory term for Shia), Ash‘aris (followers of the Ash‘ari Sunni theological school) are “idol-worshipers,” and Sufis are “people of superstition.” For bin Shams al-Din, these are not mere labels of critique; they function as tools of demonization that foreclose dialogue and coexistence. He often cites pre-modern rulings that permit violence against certain rivals, lending........

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