Wahhabism

Wahhabism (Arabic الوهابية, Wahabism, Wahabbism) is a fundamentalist Islamic movement, named after Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (1703–1792). It is the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia.

Origin of the term "Wahhabi"

The term "Wahhab" (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 'rightly guided or pious predecessors' as earlier propagated mainly by Ibn Taimiyya, his students Ibn Al Qayyim and later by Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab and his followers. The 1911 Encyclopedia holds that:

The teaching of (abd)ul-Wahhab was founded on that of Ibn Taimiyya (1263-1328), who was of the school of Ahmad ibn Hanbal (q.v.). Copies of some of Ibn Taimiyya's works made by (abd)ul-Wahhab are now extant in Europe, and show a close study of the writer. Ibn Taimiyya, although a Hanbalite by training, refused to be bound by any of the four schools, and claimed the power of a mujtahid, i.e. of one who can give independent decisions. These decisions were based on the Koran, which, like Ibn Hazm (q.v.), he accepted in a literal sense.. [1] Ibn Taymiyyah however did admit that he mainly followed the methods of the Hanbali school to arrive at his decisions, and at times described himself as Hanbali.

The term is considered offensive by some members who prefer to call themselves al-Muwahhidun (the monotheists) or the movement Salafism.

Thought

Wahhabism, being a movement within Islam, uses the Qur'an and the Hadith as its basic texts. It also accepts various commentaries including Ibn Abd al-Wahhab's Kitab al-Tawhid ("Book of Monotheism"), and the works of scholars before him such as Ibn Taymiyya (who has a thirty volume treatise on legal verdicts) (1263–1328).

Wahhabis do not follow any specific maddhab (method or school of jurisprudence), but mostly interpret the words of the prophet Muhammad directly, using the four maddhab for reference. Although, they are often associated with the Hanbali maddhab. Wahhabis hold that some sects such as Sufism and Shiaism follow novel (as thus non-Islamic) practices.

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:

The invoking of any prophet, saint or angel in prayer, other than God alone (Wahhabists believe these practices are polytheistic in nature)
Supplications at graves, whether 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

Wahhabis ban pictures, photographs, and celebrating Muhammad's birthday, among many other things, based on their interpretation of the ahadith. Many Wahhabi men grow their beards and wear their traditional dresses above their ankles. Wahhabies in South Asia are called "Ahl ul Hadith".

Early history of Wahhabism

Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia began with a surge of reformers seeking to reclaim orthodox Islam from what they perceived to be innovations by 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 form of Islam in Saudi Arabia. In 1924 the Wahhabi al-Saud dynasty conquered Mecca and Medina, cities holy to Muslims, 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.

Some Wahhabis believe that many Muslim Brotherhood scholars — Sayyid Qutb and Yusuf al-Qaradawi are sometimes cited — are corrupted due to their innovations in Islam, and their call to revolution and rebellion against the rulers of Muslim countries. For the same reason, they hold that Osama bin Laden is not a Wahhabi, but a Qutbee (follower of Sayyid Qutb), due to his rebellion against the rulers of Saudi Arabia.

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.

Traditionalist Sunni View

Traditionalist Sunnis are defined as those who encourage following one of the four Sunni Schools of thought (Maddhab) for people not legally qualified to extract Islamic law (Ijtihad) (i.e. those who are not Islamic lawyers or Mujtahid), rather than going directly to the primary sources of law (Quran, Hadith etc) and extracting law themselves as Salafis advocate. Traditional Sunnis argue that their creed or Aqida is different from Wahabis [2]. Traditional Sunnis also reject the Salafi or Wahabi view on following a Maddhab [3]. Traditional Sunnis accept the Hanbali Scholar ibn Taymiyyah, and accept those Salafis who follow him as fellow Hanbali Sunnis, however reject the Wahabi's understanding of ibn taymiyyah, that traditional Sunnis say go beyond what ibn Taymiyyah argued. [4]. Traditional Sunnis also disagree with Wahabi views on the nature of Allah. [5]

"Salafi" vs. "Wahabi" vs. "Qutbi"

See Note on Salafi vs. Wahabi vs. Qutubi at Salafi as well as the article on Qutbism.