Muhammad Hamid al-Fiqqi

Muhammad Hamid ibn Muhammad al-Fiqqi (1892-1959 CE / 1310-1378 AH) was an Egyptian scholar and activist who founded Jama'at Ansar as-Sunnah al-Muhammadiyyah (The Society of the Supporters of the Prophetic Sunnah) in Cairo in 1926. Born in a village in the Egyptian Delta, he studied at al-Azhar and became committed to the revival of authentic hadith-based Islam in Egypt.

Al-Fiqqi established Ansar as-Sunnah as a response to what he saw as the spread of innovations, superstitions, and tomb worship in Egyptian religious life. The organization promoted adherence to the Quran and Sunnah according to the understanding of the early generations (Salaf) and worked through mosques, schools, publications, and social services. He also made significant contributions as an editor of classical texts, publishing important works by Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and other scholars through the organization's publishing house.

His editorial and publishing work helped make the writings of the great Hanbali reformers accessible to modern readers at a time when many of these texts were rare or unavailable. Ansar as-Sunnah grew to become one of the most important Salafi organizations in Egypt, establishing branches and mosques throughout the country. Al-Fiqqi's dual contribution as both an institution-builder and a scholarly editor ensured that his impact extended well beyond his own lifetime.