Alliance with the House of Saud Wahhabism

the first saudi state 1744–1818

the ruler of nearby town, muhammad ibn saud, invited ibn abd al-wahhab join him, , in 1744 pact made between two. ibn saud protect , propagate doctrines of wahhabi mission, while ibn abdul wahhab support ruler, supplying him glory , power. whoever championed message, ibn abdul wahhab promised, will, means of it, rule lands , men. ibn saud abandon un-sharia taxation of local harvests, , in return god might compensate him booty conquest , sharia compliant taxes exceed gave up. alliance between wahhabi mission , al saud family has endured more 2 , half centuries, surviving defeat , collapse. 2 families have intermarried multiple times on years , in today s saudi arabia, minister of religion member of al ash-sheikh family, i.e., descendent of ibn abdul wahhab.

according sources, ibn abd al-wahhab declared jihad against neighboring tribes, practices of asking saints intercession, making pilgrimages tombs , special mosques, believed work of idolaters/unbelievers.

one academic disputes this. according natana delong-bas, ibn abd al-wahhab restrained in urging fighting perceived unbelievers, preferring preach , persuade rather attack. after death of muhammad bin saud in 1765 that, according delong-bas, muhammad bin saud s son , successor, abdul-aziz bin muhammad, used convert or die approach expand domain, , when wahhabis adopted takfir ideas of ibn taymiyya.

however, various scholars, including simon ross valentine, have rejected such view of wahhab, arguing image of abd’al-wahhab presented delong-bas seen is, namely re-writing of history flies in face of historical fact . conquest expanded through arabian peninsula until conquered mecca , medina in 19th century. @ time, according delong-bas, wahhabis embraced ideas of ibn taymiyya, allow self-professed muslims not follow islamic law declared non-muslims – justify warring , conquering muslim sharifs of hijaz.

one of noteworthy , controversial attacks on karbala in 1802. there, according wahhabi chronicler `uthman b. `abdullah b. bishr: muslims – wahhabis referred themselves, not feeling need distinguish other muslims, since did not believe them muslims –

scaled walls, entered city ... , killed majority of people in markets , in homes. [they] destroyed dome placed on grave of al-husayn [and took] whatever found inside dome , surroundings ... grille surrounding tomb encrusted emeralds, rubies, , other jewels ... different types of property, weapons, clothing, carpets, gold, silver, precious copies of qur an.

after this, wahhabis massacred male population , enslaved women , children of predominantly sunni city of ta if in hejaz in 1803.

the second saudi state 1850

saud bin abdul-aziz bin muhammad bin saud managed establish rule on southeastern syria between 1803 , 1812. however, egyptian forces acting under ottoman empire , led ibrahim pasha, successful in counterattacking in campaign starting 1811. in 1818 defeated al-saud, leveling capital diriyah, executing al-saud emir , exiling emirate s political , religious leadership, , otherwise unsuccessfully attempted stamp out not house of saud wahhabi mission well.

a second, smaller saudi state (emirate of nejd) lasted 1819–1891. borders being within najd, wahhabism protected further ottoman or egyptian campaigns najd s isolation, lack of valuable resources, , era s limited communication , transportation.

by 1880s, @ least among townsmen if not bedouin, wahhabi strict monotheistic doctrine had become native religious culture of najd.