Wahhabism
Wahhabism (
Arabic: الوهابية,
Wahabism,
Wahabbism) is a
Sunni fundamentalist Islamic movement, named after
Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (
1703–
1792). It is the dominant form of Islam in
Saudi Arabia and
Qatar. Many members of the movement object to the term "Wahhabism", preferring the term "
Salafism".
The term "Wahhabi" (
Wahhābīya) refers to the movement's founder Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab. It is rarely used by members of this group today, although the Saudis did use it in the past.
The Wahhabis claim to hold to the way of the "Salaf as-Salih", the "pious predecessors" as earlier propagated mainly by
Ibn Taymiyya, his students Ibn Al Qayyim, and later by Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab and his followers.
Wahhabism accepts the
Qur'an and
hadith as fundamental texts, interpreted upon the understanding of the first three generations of Islam. It also accepts various commentaries including Ibn Abd al-Wahhab's book called
Kitab al-Tawhid ("Book of Monotheism"), and the works of the earlier scholar Ibn Taymiyya (1263–1328).
Wahhabis do not follow any specific
madhhab (method or school of jurisprudence), but claim to interpret the words of the prophet
Muhammad directly, using the four maddhab for reference. However, they are often associated with the
Hanbali maddhab. Wahhabi theology advocates a puritanical and legalistic stance in matters of faith and religious practice.
Wahhabists see their role as a movement to restore
Islam from what they perceive to be innovations, superstitions, deviances, heresies and idolatries. There are many practices that they believe are contrary to Islam, such as:
* Invoking of any prophet,
Sufi saint, or angel in prayer, other than God alone (Wahhabists believe these practices are
polytheistic in nature)
* Visiting the graves of Sufi saints or prophets and asking the dead for help
* Celebrating annual feasts for Sufi saints
* Wearing of charms, and believing in their healing power
* Practicing magic, or going to sorcerers or witches to seek healing
* Innovation in matters of religion (e.g. new methods of worship)
In 1924 the Wahhabi al-Saud dynasty conquered
Mecca and
Medina, the Muslim holy cities. This gave them control of the
Hajj, the annual pilgrimage, and the opportunity to preach their version of Islam to the assembled pilgrims. However, Wahhabism was a minor current within Islam until the discovery of
oil in Arabia, in 1938. Vast oil revenues gave an immense impetus to the spread of Wahhabism. Saudi laypeople, government officials and clerics have donated many tens of millions of US dollars to create religious schools, newspapers and outreach organizations.
Hassan al-Banna, the Egyptian founder of the
Muslim Brotherhood, is said to have been influenced by the Wahhabis. The Muslim Brotherhood also claimed to be purifying and restoring original Islam. When the Muslim Brotherhood was banned in various Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia gave refuge to Brotherhood exiles. This seems to have set the stage for a mingling of Brotherhood and Wahhabi thought under the aegis of the term
Salafism. Rebels against the Saudi state found justification in the thought of
Sayyed Qutb, a member of the Brotherhood who spent years in Egyptian jails. Some Wahhabis, or Salafis, rejected what they call
Qutbism, as a deviation from true Salafism. Thus there is now a considerable spectrum of religious opinion within Saudi Wahhabism/Salafism, to a great extent divided on the question of whether the Saudi state is to be supported, endured patiently, or violently opposed. See
Salafism for further commentary.
*
Muhammad ibn Abd al WahhabPro-Wahhabi/Salafi
*
Full Text of Kitab Al Tawhid by Ibn Abdul Wahhab*
The Methodology Of The Prophet's In Calling To Allaah - That Is The Way Of Wisdom & Intelligence*
CalltoIslam.com*
Islamic Q&A website*
Fatwa-Online.com*
thewahhabimyth.com*
from spubs.com*
about Wahabism from SULTAN.ORGAnti-Wahhabi/Salafi
*
Wahhabism*
Who or what is a Salafi? Is their approach valid?
*
Wahhabism: Imam Muhammad Abu Zahra Explains*
The Reformers of Islam Re-Forming Classical Texts
*
Why Does One Have to Follow a Madhhab? Debate Between Muhammad Sa'id al-Buti and a Leading Salafi Teacher
*
Traditional Islam for Dummies *
'Salafi' Tampering of Riyad al-Salihin 
