Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University
Rayan was born in Jabalia, Gaza Strip on 6 March 1959. In 1982, he received a BSc degree in Theology and Religious studies from Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While there he was influenced by Wahhabism and Salafism. He then attended the University of Jordan in Amman and in 1990 received a masters MSc degree with honors. In 1994, Rayan completed his PhD in Islamic studies at the Omdurman Islamic University in Omdurman, Sudan. His dissertation has the title of "Future of Islam: Objective Analysis".