Wahhabi movement

Wahhabi movement. The Wahhabi movement is an 18th-century Islamic revivalist and reform movement founded by the theologian Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab in the central region of Najd on the Arabian Peninsula. It advocates a return to the perceived purity of the early generations of Islam, emphasizing strict monotheism and the rejection of religious innovations it deems heretical. The movement formed a pivotal alliance with the House of Saud, providing the ideological foundation for successive Saudi states and profoundly shaping the religious, political, and social landscape of the region.

Origins and early history

The movement emerged in the mid-18th century within the socio-religious context of Najd, an area then considered religiously peripheral within the Ottoman Empire. Its founder, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, was influenced by the writings of earlier scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya. After his studies in Medina, Basra, and Isfahan, he began preaching against practices he considered polytheistic, such as the veneration of saints, visiting tombs, and seeking intercession. His teachings faced strong opposition from local rulers and religious scholars in towns like Al-Uyaynah and Huraymila. The pivotal moment came in 1744 with the pact of Diriyah, where he secured the protection and patronage of Muhammad ibn Saud, the emir of Diriyah. This alliance between religious authority and temporal power launched the movement from a doctrinal school into a potent political and military force, leading to the establishment of the First Saudi State.

Beliefs and doctrines

The core doctrine is an uncompromising emphasis on Tawhid, the absolute oneness of God, which forms the basis for its rigorous iconoclasm. It vehemently opposes shirk (associating partners with God), which it finds in many popular Sufi and Shi'a practices, including the construction of shrines, celebration of Mawlid, and certain forms of Tawassul. The movement adheres to the Hanbali school of jurisprudence but prioritizes direct interpretation of the Quran and Hadith, rejecting what it sees as blind adherence to later scholarly tradition. It declares takfir (excommunication) against Muslims who persist in practices it deems polytheistic, a stance that has historically justified military campaigns. This puritanical theology is often described as Salafi in orientation, seeking to emulate the early Muslim community of the Salaf.

Political and military expansion

The First Saudi State, under the leadership of the Al Saud and inspired by Wahhabi zeal, embarked on rapid military expansion across the peninsula. Forces conquered Riyadh, Al-Hasa, and eventually the holy cities of Mecca and Medina by the early 19th century. This expansion challenged Ottoman sovereignty and led to the destruction of monuments and tombs, including those in Jannat al-Baqi. In response, the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II commissioned his viceroy Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt to crush the emirate. The Ottoman–Wahhabi War culminated in the sack of Diriyah in 1818. However, the movement resurged with the Second Saudi State and, after its collapse, was revived again by Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, who used Wahhabi militias known as the Ikhwan to conquer much of the peninsula, leading to the foundation of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932.

Relationship with the House of Saud

The alliance forged in 1744 established a enduring symbiosis where the Al Saud provided political and military authority while the Al ash-Sheikh, the descendants of Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, provided religious legitimacy. This partnership is often termed a "mutual oath" where political obedience is exchanged for the imposition of Sharia. The Ikhwan, though instrumental in Ibn Saud's conquests, later rebelled against his modernizing policies, such as introducing the telegraph and dealing with British infidels, leading to their defeat at the Battle of Sabilla in 1929. In the modern kingdom, the movement's interpretation of Islam is enshrined as the state religion, with the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice enforcing public morality. The Grand Mufti has consistently been a member of the Al ash-Sheikh family, cementing the doctrinal alliance.

Influence and legacy

The movement's influence extends far beyond the Arabian Peninsula. The petrodollar wealth of Saudi Arabia since the mid-20th century has funded the global propagation of its ideology through organizations like the Muslim World League, the construction of mosques, and the dissemination of literature. This has significantly shaped global Sunni Islam, often promoting a conservative, literalist interpretation that impacts communities from South Asia to West Africa. Its doctrines have inspired various Islamist and jihadist groups, including al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, though the Saudi state officially opposes these entities. Internally, the movement's legacy is contested between conservative ulema and modernizing forces, as seen in the social reforms of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman under the Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to moderate its public role while maintaining its official status.

Category:Islamic branches Category:History of Saudi Arabia Category:Islamic revival Category:18th-century establishments in Asia