Wahhabism

Wahhabism (sometimes spelled Wahabbism or Wahabism) is a movement of Islam named after Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (1703 - 1792). It is a fundamentalist movement of the Sunni form of Islam and has become an object of increased interest because it is the major sect of the government and society of oil-rich Saudi Arabia, and claimed to be followed by Osama bin Laden, who was raised in Saudi Arabia.

Table of contents

1 The term "Wahhabi"
2 Texts and sources
3 Influencers
4 Theology
5 Tenets
6 Views on other sects
7 Criticism
8 Early history of Wahhabism
9 Modern spread of Wahhabism
10 External links
11 See also

The term "Wahhabi"

Followers dislike the term Wahhabi (sometimes spelled Wahabbi or Wahabi), which simply means "true" or "pure", as it was historically used by opponents (e.g. the Ottoman Sultans) as a derogatory term. The term was derived after this sect's most famous scholar Muhammad ibn Abd, called "al Wahhab (1703 - 1792). Wahhabism, as its adherents point out, follows many other scholars, many of whom lived centuries prior to Muhammad bin Abd al Wahhab, for Islam has experienced repeated waves of purifying movements. The term "Wahhab" is derived from "Al-Wahhab": the generous giver, a name of Allah in Islam. Some Wahabbis take this as an argumentative compliment when faced with Wahabbi as a derogatory term.

Historically, members of this movement call themselves al-Muwahhiddun, or "the monotheists", or al-Ikhwan (the "brethren"). The name al-Muwahhidun should not be confused with al-Muwahhidun movement and dynasty in 12th century Morocco, the name being the only commonality between them, the theology being different in many aspects.

Texts and sources

Wahhabism follows Islam, so the Quran and the prophetic Hadiths are its basic text. It also uses ideas and explanations of Quran and Hadiths from the writings of Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, from such books as Kitab al-Tawhid (Arabic, "Book of Monotheism") and works of scholars before him such as Ibn Taymiyya (1263 - 1328).

Influencers

The legal school followed is the Hanbali school of law, which is often seen as the strictest of the four schools generally recognised by Sunni Muslims, but also the most adherent to Sunnah/Hadith of the prophet.

Theology

Wahhabi theology advocates a literalist legalistic stance in matters of faith and religious practice, being very puritanical in nature.

Tenets

Wahhabism, also known as Salafism, although named after Mohammed Ibn Abdul Wahhab, traces its origins and call all the way back to Prophet Mohammed and his companions. Its call is to restore Islam from what it sees as innovations, superstitions, deviances, heresies and idolatries in the religion. These not having been present during the time of Prophet Mohammed or his companions.

During the time of Mohammed Ibn Abdul Wahhab, whose prominance gave name to this sect, there were lots of practices that were contrary to Islamic beliefs, such as:

Invoking any prophet, saint or angel in prayer, other than God alone (this is considered polytheism)
Grave worship, whether to saints' graves, or the prophet's grave
Celebrating annual feasts for dead saints
Wearing of charms, and believing in their healing power
Practicing magic, or going to sorcerers or witches seeking healing
Innovation in matters of religion (e.g. new methods of worship)
Erecting elaborate monuments over any grave

Ibn Abdul Wahhab sought to purify Islam from such practices with a "back to basics" approach. He called the Muslims to Tawheed, Oneness in worship. Worship in Islam being defined as "any action or deed done to please Allah" and Oneness in worship meaning making the religious practices only for Allah and calling only upon Allah for anything, thus doing away with the practices that had been introduced into Islamic beliefs.

Ibn Abdul Wahhab called the muslims to the pure religious practices of Prophet Mohammed and the first three generations of Islam, these being described by Prophet Mohammed as the rightly guided generations and as a result doing away with the innovations that had crept into the religion during the time of the subsequent generations.

Wahhabi teachings are puritanical, calling the muslims to follow only the teachings of the Qu'ran and Prophet Mohammed. Ruling in religion according to Wahhabies are ultimately only to be taken from these two primary sources with the "Sunnah", teachings and practices of Prophet Mohammed, helping to clarifying and explaining the teachings of the Qu'ran. Thus the law of Shariah, derives its authority ultimately from the Qu'ran alone.

The Wahhabies call to the way of the "Salaf as-Salee", the 'rightly guided or pious predecessors'. This being the way and practice of Prophet Mohammed and his companions. It is also why they are sometimes known as Salafies, i.e. people who are upon the way of the pious predecessors, pious predecessors as afore mentioned, being from the first three generations in Islam and all those who are seen as having followed their path.

Adherents insist on a literal interpretation of the Qu'ran, not unlike many Christian fundamentalists' approach to interpreting the Bible.

They are unquestionably deemed Fundamentalist, but they themselves feel that a return to the pure and fundamental tenets of the religion is the ideal.

Views on other sects

Wahhabis consider Wahhabism to be the true form of Islam. They do not regard Shi'as as true Muslims, and are particularly hostile to Sufism, and to Ash'ari thought as well.

Criticism

Wahhabism is often maligned and attacked by adherents of Ash'ari belief as being anthropomorphism, which was a common accusation of Ahmad Ibn Hanbal by his Mu'tazilite detractors, and Ibn Taymiyya by Ash'ari contemporaries.

They are less open to non-Muslim religions than other branches.

Some critiques of Wahhabism are as follows:

Since they developed within a desert and tribal environment, not in a metropolis, they were affected by that environment. They were confined to tribal customs and practices in many areas, for example, the minority view of women having to cover their face becomes the only valid view, despite centuries of scholars from more liberal sects of Islam saying otherwise.
Having not been exposed to non-Muslims, or to a more vibrant and open society (such as a metropolis), their views are not favorable towards non-Muslims, and depends mainly on hearsay (compare that with Christians who never saw Muslims), ironically they are the fastest growing Muslim sect in western countries!
They are literalist and legalistic to the extreme
They lack flexibility

Early history of Wahhabism

Wahhabism and other modern revivalist movments in Saudi Arabia began with a surge of reformers seeking to reclaim orthodox Islam from innovation by various sects of Sunni Muslims. In the 18th century, it spread in Najd along with the expansion of the First Saudi State under Muhammad bin Saud and his successors.

Modern spread of Wahhabism

Wahhabism is the official practice of Islam in Saudi Arabia. In 1924 the Wahhabist al-Saud dynasty conquered the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, creating the Saudi state. The spread of Wahhabi Islam has been facilitated by Saudi oil revenues; Saudi laypeople, government officials and clerics have donated many tens of millions of dollars to create Wahhabi-oriented religious schools, newspapers and outreach organizations.

The Muslim Brotherhood, an Egyptian Islamist organization, received financial support from the Saudis in the 1950s, in order to act as a counterweight to the secular Arab nationalism of Egypt's leader Abdul Nasser.

Currently, Wahhabis claim that many Muslim Brotherhood scholars are corrupted due to their innovations in Islam and due to their call to revolution and rebellion against the rulers of Muslim countries. The Muslim Brothers Sayyed Qutb, and Yusuf al-Qaradawi are all condemned by the Wahhabi movement as ones who have innovated into the religion of Islam with their open call to rebellion against the rulers of Muslim countries and what the Wahhabis percieve as innovations into the religion of Islam. Wahhabis claim that Osama bin Laden is not a Wahabi, but a Qutbee (follower of Sayyed Qutb), due to his rebellion against the rulers of Saudi Arabia.

Most Wahhabis ban pictures, photographs, musical instruments, singing, video, suicide bombings, and celebrating Prophet Muhammed's birthday, among many other things.

Many contend that Wahhabism is or has become a dominant form of Islam through proselytization driven by Saudi funding; others contend that its influence is less widespread and that the practice and observance of Wahhabism and the political manifestations that flow therefrom are more nuanced than its most doctrinaire interpretations. It is however the fastest growing islamic movement gaining more non-muslims converts in the west than any other sect of islam.