History Wahhabism

1 history

1.1 muhammad ibn abd-al-wahhab
1.2 alliance house of saud
1.3 abdul-aziz ibn saud
1.4 connection outside
1.5 growth
1.6 petroleum export era
1.7 afghanistan jihad
1.8 erosion of wahhabism

1.8.1 islamic revolution in iran
1.8.2 grand mosque seizure
1.8.3 1990 gulf war
1.8.4 after 9/11
1.8.5 muhammad bin salman


1.9 memoirs of mr. hempher

history

the wahhabi mission started revivalist movement in remote, arid region of najd. collapse of ottoman empire after world war i, al saud dynasty, , wahhabism, spread holy cities of mecca , medina. after discovery of petroleum near persian gulf in 1939, had access oil export revenues, revenue grew billions of dollars. money – spent on books, media, schools, universities, mosques, scholarships, fellowships, lucrative jobs journalists, academics , islamic scholars – gave wahhabism preeminent position of strength in islam around world.

in country of wahhabism s founding – , far largest , powerful country state religion – wahhabi ulama gained control on education, law, public morality , religious institutions in 20th century, while permitting trade-off doctrinally objectionable actions such import of modern technology , communications, , dealings non-muslims, sake of consolidation of power of political guardian, al saud dynasty.

however, in last couple of decades of twentieth century several crises worked erode wahhabi credibility in saudi arabia , rest of muslim world – november 1979 seizure of grand mosque militants; deployment of troops in saudi during 1991 gulf war against iraq; , 9/11 2001 al-qaeda attacks on new york , washington.

in each case wahhabi establishment called on support dynasty s efforts suppress religious dissent – , in each case did – exposing dependence on saudi dynasty , unpopular policies.

in west, end of cold war , anti-communist alliance conservative, religious saudi arabia, , 9/11 attacks created enormous distrust towards kingdom , official religion.

muhammad ibn abd-al-wahhab

the founder of wahhabism, mohammad ibn abd-al-wahhab, born around 1702-03 in small oasis town of uyayna in najd region, in central saudi arabia. studied in basra, in iraq, , possibly mecca , medina while there perform hajj, before returning home town of uyayna in 1740. there worked spread call (da wa) believed restoration of true monotheistic worship (tawhid).

the pivotal idea of ibn abd al-wahhab s teaching people called muslims participated in alleged innovations not misguided or committing sin, outside pale of islam altogether, muslims disagreed definition.

this included not lax, unlettered, nomadic bedu, shias , sunnis such ottomans. such infidels not killed outright, given chance repent first. support of ruler of town – uthman ibn mu ammar – carried out of religious reforms in uyayna, including demolition of tomb of zayd ibn al-khattab, 1 of sahaba (companions) of prophet muhammad, , stoning death of adulterous woman. however, more powerful chief (sulaiman ibn muhammad ibn ghurayr) pressured uthman ibn mu ammar expel him uyayna.

alliance house of saud


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.

abdul-aziz ibn saud


ibn saud, first king of saudi arabia

in 1901, abdul-aziz ibn saud, fifth generation descendant of muhammad ibn saud, began military campaign led conquest of of arabian peninsula , founding of present-day saudi arabia, after collapse of ottoman empire. result safeguarded vision of islam-based on tenets of islam preached muhammad ibn abd al-wahhab not bloodless, 40,000 public executions , 350,000 amputations carried out during course, according estimates.

under reign of abdul-aziz, political considerations trumped religious idealism favored pious wahhabis. political , military success gave wahhabi ulama control on religious institutions jurisdiction on considerable territory, , in later years wahhabi ideas formed basis of rules , laws concerning social affairs, , shaped kingdom s judicial , educational policies. protests wahhabi ulama overridden when came consolidating power in hijaz , al-hasa, avoiding clashes great power of region (britain), adopting modern technology, establishing simple governmental administrative framework, or signing oil concession u.s. wahhabi ulama issued fatwa affirming ruler declare jihad (a violation of ibn abd al-wahhab s teaching according delong-bas.)

as realm of wahhabism expanded under ibn saud areas of shiite (al-hasa, conquered in 1913) , pluralistic muslim tradition (hejaz, conquered in 1924–25), wahhabis pressed forced conversion of shia , eradication of (what saw as) idolatry. ibn saud sought more relaxed approach .

in al-hasa, efforts stop observance of shia religious holidays , replace teaching , preaching duties of shia clerics wahhabi, lasted year.

in mecca , jeddah (in hejaz) prohibition of tobacco, alcohol, playing cards , listening music on phonograph looser in najd. on objections of wahhabi ulama, ibn saud permitted both driving of automobiles , attendance of shia @ hajj.

enforcement of commanding right , forbidding wrong, such enforcing prayer observance , separation of sexes, developed prominent place during second saudi emirate, , in 1926 formal committee enforcement founded in mecca.

while wahhabi warriors swore loyalty monarchs of al saud, there 1 major rebellion. king abdul-aziz put down rebelling ikhwan – nomadic tribesmen turned wahhabi warriors opposed introducing such innovations telephones, automobiles, , telegraph , sending son country of unbelievers (egypt) . britain had aided abdul-aziz, , when ikhwan attacked british protectorates of transjordan, iraq , kuwait, continuation of jihad expand wahhabist realm, abdul-aziz struck, killing hundreds before rebels surrendered in 1929.

connection outside

before abdul-aziz, during of second half of 19th century, there strong aversion in wahhabi lands mixing idolaters (which included of muslim world). voluntary contact considered wahhabi clerics @ least sin, , if 1 enjoyed company of idolaters, , approved of religion , act of unbelief. travel outside pale of najd ottoman lands tightly controlled, if not prohibited altogether .

over course of history, however, wahhabism has become more accommodating towards outside world. in late 1800s, wahhabis found muslims @ least similar beliefs – first ahl-i hadith in india, , later islamic revivalists in arab states (one being mahmud sahiri al-alusi in baghdad). revivalists , wahhabis shared common interest in ibn taymiyya s thought, permissibility of ijtihad, , need purify worship practices of innovation. in 1920s, rashid rida, pioneer salafist periodical al-manar read in muslim world, published anthology of wahhabi treatises, , work praising ibn saud savior of haramayn [the 2 holy cities] , practitioner of authentic islamic rule .

the kingdom of saudi arabia after unification in 1932

in bid join muslim mainstream , erase reputation of extreme sectarianism associated ikhwan, in 1926 ibn saud convened muslim congress of representatives of muslim governments , popular associations. 1950s, pressures on ibn saud of controlling regions of hejaz , al-hasa – outside wahhabi heartland – , of navigating currents of regional politics punctured seal between wahhabi heartland , land of idolatry outside.

a major current in regional politics @ time secular nationalism, which, gamal abdul nasser, sweeping arab world. combat it, wahhabi missionary outreach worked closely saudi foreign policy initiatives. in may 1962, conference in mecca organized saudis discussed ways combat secularism , socialism. in wake, world muslim league established. propagate islam , repel inimical trends , dogmas , league opened branch offices around globe. developed closer association between wahhabis , leading salafis, , made common cause islamic revivalist muslim brotherhood, ahl-i hadith , jamaat-i islami, combating sufism , innovative popular religious practices , rejecting west , western ways deleterious of muslim piety , values. missionaries sent west africa, league funded schools, distributed religious literature, , gave scholarships attend saudi religious universities. 1 result izala society fought sufism in nigeria, chad, niger, , cameroon.

an event had great effect on wahhabism in saudi arabia infiltration of transnationalist revival movement in form of thousands of pious, islamist arab muslim brotherhood refugees egypt following nasser s clampdown on brotherhood (and similar nationalist clampdowns in iraq , syria), staff new school system of (largely illiterate) kingdom.

the brotherhood s islamist ideology differed more conservative wahhabism preached loyal obedience king. brotherhood dealt in 1 author (robert lacey) called change-promoting concepts social justice , anticolonialism, , gave radical, still apparently safe, religious twist wahhabi values saudi students had absorbed in childhood . brotherhood s hands-on, radical islam , jihad became practical possibility today , not part of history.

the brethren ordered saudi clergy , government not attempt proselytize or otherwise involved in religious doctrinal matters within kingdom, nonetheless took control of saudi arabia s intellectual life publishing books , participating in discussion circles , salons held princes. in time took leading roles in key governmental ministries, , had influence on education curriculum. islamic university in medina created in 1961 train – non-saudi – proselytizers wahhabism became haven muslim brother refugees egypt. brothers ideas spread throughout kingdom , had great effect on wahhabism – although observers differ whether undermining or blending it.

growth

in 1950s , 60s within saudi arabia, wahhabi ulama maintained hold on religious law courts, , presided on creation of islamic universities , public school system gave students heavy dose of religious instruction . outside of saudi wahhabi ulama became less combative toward rest of muslim world. in confronting challenge of west, wahhabi doctrine served many muslims platform , gained converts beyond peninsula.

a number of reasons have been given success: growth in popularity , strength of both arab nationalism (although wahhabis opposed form of nationalism ideology, saudis arabs, , enemy ottoman caliphate ethnically turkish), , islamic reform (specifically reform following example of first 3 generations of muslims known salaf); destruction of ottoman empire sponsored effective critics; destruction of rival, khilafa in hejaz, in 1925.

not least in importance money saudi arabia earned exporting oil.

petroleum export era

the pumping , export of oil saudi arabia started during world war ii, , earnings helped fund religious activities in 1950s , 60s. 1973 oil crisis , quadrupling in price of oil both increased kingdom s wealth astronomically , enhanced prestige demonstrating international power leader of opec. 1980, saudi arabia earning every 3 days income oil had taken year earn before embargo. tens of billions of dollars of money spent on books, media, schools, scholarships students (from primary post-graduate), fellowships , subsidies reward journalists, academics , islamic scholars, building of hundreds of islamic centers , universities, , on 1 thousand schools , 1 thousand mosques. during time, wahhabism attained gilles kepel called preeminent position of strength in global expression of islam.

afghanistan jihad

the apex of cooperation between wahhabis , muslim revivalist groups afghan jihad.

in december 1979, soviet union invaded afghanistan. shortly thereafter, abdullah yusuf azzam, muslim brother cleric ties saudi religious institutions, issued fatwa declaring defensive jihad in afghanistan against atheist soviet union, fard ayn , personal (or individual) obligation muslims. edict supported saudi arabia s grand mufti (highest religious scholar), abd al-aziz ibn baz, among others.

between 1982 , 1992 estimated 35,000 individual muslim volunteers went afghanistan fight soviets , afghan regime. thousands more attended frontier schools teeming former , future fighters. somewhere between 12,000 , 25,000 of these volunteers came saudi arabia. saudi arabia , other conservative gulf monarchies provided considerable financial support jihad -- $600 million year 1982.

by 1989, soviet troops had withdrawn , within few years pro-soviet regime in kabul had collapsed.

this saudi/wahhabi religious triumph further stood out in muslim world because many muslim-majority states (and plo) allied soviet union , did not support afghan jihad. many jihad volunteers (most famously osama bin laden) returning home saudi , elsewhere radicalized islamic militants more extreme saudi sponsors.

erosion of wahhabism
islamic revolution in iran

the february 1979 islamic revolution in iran challenged saudi wahhabism in number of ways on number of fronts. revolution of shia not sunni islam , wahhabism held shia not muslims. nonetheless, massive popularity in iran , overthrow of pro-american secular monarchy generated enormous enthusiasm among pious sunni, not shia muslims around world. leader (ruhollah khomeini) preached monarchy against islam , america islam s enemy, , called overthrow of al-saud family. (in 1987 public address khomeini declared “these vile , ungodly wahhabis, daggers have pierced heart of muslims back,” , announced mecca in hands of “a band of heretics.” ) spurred saudi arabia -- kingdom allied america -- redouble efforts counter iran , spread wahhabism around world , , reversed moves saudi leaders distance wahhabism or soften ideology.

grand mosque seizure

in 1979, 400–500 islamist insurgents, using smuggled weapons , supplies, took on grand mosque in mecca, called overthrow of monarchy, denounced wahhabi ulama royal puppets, , announced arrival of mahdi of end time . insurgents deviated wahhabi doctrine in significant details, associated leading wahhabi ulama (abd al-aziz ibn baz knew insurgent s leader, juhayman al-otaybi). seizure of islam s holiest site, taking hostage of hundreds of hajj pilgrims, , deaths of hundreds of militants, security forces , hostages caught in crossfire during two-week-long retaking of mosque, shocked islamic world , did not enhance prestige of al saud custodians of mosque.

the incident damaged prestige of wahhabi establishment. saudi leadership sought , received wahhabi fatawa approve military removal of insurgents , after execute them, wahhabi clerics fell under suspicion involvement insurgents. in part consequence, sahwa clerics influenced brethren s ideas given freer rein. ideology thought more compete recent islamic revolutionism/third-worldism of iranian revolution.

although insurgents motivated religious puritanism, incident not followed crackdown on other religious purists, giving greater power ulama , religious conservatives more strictly enforce islamic codes in myriad ways – banning of women s images in media adding more hours of islamic studies in school , giving more power , money religious police enforce conservative rules of behaviour.

1990 gulf war

in august 1990 iraq invaded , annexed kuwait. concerned saddam hussein might push south , seize own oil fields, saudis requested military support , allowed tens of thousands of troops based in kingdom fight iraq. amounted seeking infidels assistance against muslim power difficult justify in terms of wahhabi doctrine.

again saudi authorities sought , received fatwa leading wahhabi ulama supporting action. fatwa failed persuade many conservative muslims , ulama opposed presence, including muslim brotherhood-supported sahwah awakening movement began pushing political change in kingdom. outside kingdom, islamist revival groups had long received aid saudi , had ties wahhabis (arab jihadists, pakistani , afghan islamists) supported iraq, not saudi.

during time , later, many in wahhabi/salafi movement (such osama bin laden) not no longer looked saudi monarch emir of islam, supported overthrow, focusing on jihad against , (what believe are) other enemies of islam. (this movement called neo-wahhabi or neo-salafi.)

after 9/11

the 2001 9/11 attacks on saudi s putative ally, us, killed 3,000 people , caused @ least $10 billion in property , infrastructure damage, assumed many, @ least outside kingdom, expression of wahhabism since al-qaeda leader osama bin laden , of 9/11 hijackers saudi nationals. backlash in formerly hospitable against kingdom focused on official religion came considered doctrine of terrorism , hate.

inside kingdom, crown prince abdullah addressed country s religious, tribal, business , media leadership following attacks in series of televised gatherings calling strategy correct had gone wrong. according robert lacey, gatherings , later articles , replies top cleric, abdullah turki, , 2 top al saud princes, prince turki al-faisal , prince talal bin abdul aziz, served occasion sort out had ultimate power in kingdom: not ulama, rather al saud dynasty. declared muslim rulers meant exercise power, while religious scholars meant advise.

in 2003–04, saudi arabia saw wave of al-qaeda-related suicide bombings, attacks on non-muslim foreigners (about 80% of employed in saudi private sector foreign workers , constitute 30% of country s population), , gun battles between saudi security forces , militants. 1 reaction attacks trimming of wahhabi establishment s domination of religion , society. national dialogues held included shiites, sufis, liberal reformers, , professional women. in 2009, part of called effort take on ulama , reform clerical establishment , king abdullah issued decree officially approved religious scholars allowed issue fatwas in saudi arabia. king expanded council of senior scholars (containing officially approved religious scholars) include scholars sunni schools of islamic jurisprudence other hanbali madhab—shafi i, hanafi , maliki schools.

relations muslim brotherhood have deteriorated steadily. after 9/11, interior minister prince nayef blamed brotherhood extremism in kingdom, , declared guilty of betrayal of pledges , ingratitude , source of problems in islamic world , after elected power in egypt. in march 2014 saudi government declared brotherhood terrorist organization .

in april 2016, saudi arabia stripped religious police, enforce islamic law on society , known commission promotion of virtue , prevention of vice, power follow, chase, stop, question, verify identification, or arrest suspected persons when carrying out duties. told report suspicious behaviour regular police , anti-drug units, decide whether take matter further.

muhammad bin salman

bold reformist actions on religious policy taken crown prince muhammad bin salman (mbs) in 2017 have led question future of wahhabi conservatism. in october 2017 interview guardian newspaper, mbs stated

“what happened in last 30 years not saudi arabia. happened in region in last 30 years not middle east. after iranian revolution in 1979, people wanted copy model in different countries, 1 of them saudi arabia. didn’t know how deal it. , problem spread on world. time rid of it”.

mbs has ruled in favor of allowing women drive , enter sport stadiums, reopening cinemas. according kamel daoud, mbs above ... putting pressure on clergy , announcing review , certification of great canons of muslim orthodoxy, including hadiths, collection of prophet muhammad’s sayings.

mbs pronouncements, international conference on sunni islam in grozny (funded government of united arab emirates) 200 muslim scholars egypt, russia, syria, sudan, jordan, , europe reject[ed] saudi arabia’s doctrine , have been called frontal assault on wahhabism (as assault on other conservative interpretations of islam, such salafism , deobandism ).

memoirs of mr. hempher

a circulated discredited apocryphal description of founding of wahhabism known memoirs of mr. hempher, british spy middle east (other titles have been used) alleges british agent named hempher responsible creation of wahhabism. in memoir , hempher corrupts muhammad ibn abd al-wahhab, manipulating him

to preach new interpretation of islam purpose of sowing dissension , disunity among muslims we, english people ... may live in welfare , luxury.