Riyadh- The Al-Sheikh family in Saudi Arabia issued on Saturday an explanatory statement deeming as false and fabricated the Qatari ruling family’s claim that it is a descendant of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulwahab.

Signatories of the statement included the Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Shura Council Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh and more than 200 top members of the Al-Sheikh family.

The family also confirmed in its statement – signed by Al-Sheikh sons in Saudi Arabia – that Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulwahab bin Sulaiman bin Ali bin Mohammed has four children only.

The family demanded that the name of the mosque of Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab be changed, considering that it does not carry the teachings of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulwahab and that its imams and preachers are not committed to the moderate Salafist teachings.

Doha inaugurated the mosque in 2011 and it was built upon the order of former emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Despite the Qatari national demands that the mosque hold the name of Qatar founder Jasim Al Thani, Qatar went ahead and named it after Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulwahab.

At the time, Qatar News Agency reported that Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulwahab is a descendant of the Bani Tamim tribe.