Criticism and controversy Wahhabism

1 criticism , controversy

1.1 criticism other muslims
1.2 initial opposition

1.2.1 shi opposition
1.2.2 sunni opposition


1.3 non-religious motivations
1.4 wahhabism in united states
1.5 european expansion
1.6 destruction of islam s historical sites

criticism , controversy
criticism other muslims

among criticism, or comments made critics, of wahhabi movement are:

that not strict , uncompromising aberrant, going beyond bounds of islam in restricted definition of tawhid (monotheism), , willing commit takfir (declare non-muslim , subject execution) muslims found in violation of islam (in second wahhabi-saudi jihad/conquest of arabian peninsula, estimated 400,000 killed or wounded according estimates);


that bin saud s agreement wage jihad spread ibn abdul wahhab s teachings had more traditional najd practice of raiding – instinctive fight survival , appetite lucre – religion;
that has no connection other islamic revival movements;
that unlike other revivalists, founder abd ul-wahhab showed little scholarship – writing little , making less commentary;
that rejection of orthodox belief in saints, had become cardinal doctrine in sunni islam on, represents departure has been integral part of islam ... on millennium. in connection, mainstream sunni scholars critique wahhabi citing of ibn taymiyyah authority when ibn taymiyyah himself adhered belief in existence of saints;
that contention towards visiting tombs , shrines of prophets , saints , seeking of intercession, violate tauhid al- ibada (directing worship god alone) has no basis in tradition, in consensus or in hadith, , if did, not grounds excluding practitioners of ziyara , tawassul islam;
that use of ibn hanbal, ibn al-qayyim, , ibn taymiyyah s name support stance inappropriate, historically known 3 of these men revered many aspects of sufism, save latter 2 critiqued practices among sufis of time. criticize aspect of wahhabism refer group s use of ibn hanbal s name particularly egregious error, arguing jurist s love relics of muhammad, intercession of prophet, , sufis of time established in islamic tradition;
that historically wahhabis have had suspicious willingness ally non-muslim powers (specifically america , britain), , in particular ignore encroachments muslim territory of non-muslim imperial power (the british) while waging jihad , weakening muslim caliphate of ottomans

initial opposition

the first people oppose muhammad ibn abd al-wahhab father abd al-wahhab , brother salman ibn abd al-wahhab islamic scholar , qadi. ibn abd al-wahhab s brother wrote book in refutation of brother s new teachings, called: final word qur an, hadith, , sayings of scholars concerning school of ibn `abd al-wahhab , known as: al-sawa`iq al-ilahiyya fi madhhab al-wahhabiyya ( divine thunderbolts concerning wahhabi school ).

in refutation of wahhabism in arabic sources, 1745–1932 , hamadi redissi provides original references description of wahhabis divisive sect (firqa) , outliers (kharijites) in communications between ottomans , egyptian khedive muhammad ali. redissi details refutations of wahhabis scholars (muftis); among them ahmed barakat tandatawin, in 1743 describes wahhabism ignorance (jahala).

shi opposition


al-baqi mausoleum reportedly contained bodies of hasan ibn ali (a grandson of muhammad) , fatimah (the daughter of muhammad).

in 1801 , 1802, saudi wahhabis under abdul aziz ibn muhammad ibn saud attacked , captured holy shia cities of karbala , najaf in iraq , destroyed tombs of husayn ibn ali, grandson of muhammad, , ali (ali bin abu talib), son-in-law of muhammad (see: saudi sponsorship mentioned previously). in 1803 , 1804 saudis captured mecca , madinah , demolished various tombs of ahl al-bayt , sahabah, ancient monuments, ruins according wahhabis, removed number of seen sources or possible gateways polytheism or shirk – such tomb of fatimah, daughter of muhammad. in 1998 saudis bulldozed , poured gasoline on grave of aminah bint wahb, mother of muhammad, causing resentment throughout muslim world.

shi muslims complain wahhabis , teachings driving force behind sectarian violence , anti-shia targeted killings in many countries such iraq, pakistan, afghanistan, bahrain, yemen. worldwide saudi run, sponsored mosques , islamic schools teach wahhabi version of sunni islam labels shia muslims, sufis, christians, jews , others either apostates or infidels, paving way armed jihad against them means necessary till death or submission wahhabi doctrine. wahhabis consider shi ites archenemies of islam.

sunni opposition

wahhabism has been vehemently criticized many mainstream sunni muslims , continues condemned many prominent traditional sunni scholars being heretical , violent innovation within sunni islam. among traditional sunni organizations worldwide oppose wahhabi ideology al-azhar in cairo, faculty of regularly denounces wahhabism terms such satanic faith. regarding wahhabism, renowned azharite sunni scholar , intellectual muhammad abu zahra said: wahhabis exaggerated [and bowdlerized] ibn taymiyya s positions ... wahhabis did not restrain proselytism only, resorted warmongering against whoever disagreed them on grounds fighting innovation (bid`a), , innovations evil must fought ... whenever able seize town or city come tombs , turn them ruins , destruction ... , destroy whatever mosques tombs ... brutality did not stop there came whatever graves visible , destroyed them also. , when ruler of hijaz regions caved in them destroyed graves of companions , razed them ground ... in fact, has been noticed ulama of wahhabis consider own opinions correct , not possibly wrong, while consider opinions of others wrong , not possibly correct. more that, consider others in way of erecting tombs , circumambulating them, near idolatry ... in respect near khawarij used declare dissented them apostate , fight them mentioned.

in 18th century, hanafi scholar ibn abidin declared wahhabi movement of muhammad ibn abd al-wahhab modern-day manifestation of kharijites. important rebuttal of wahhabism came sunni jurist ibn jirjis, argued supplicating saints permitted whoever declares there no god god , prays toward mecca, for, according him, supplicating saints not form of worship merely calling out them, , worship @ graves not idolatry unless supplicant believes buried saints have power determine course of events. these arguments rejected heretical wahhabi leader @ time.

the influential sunni jurist , son of renowned moroccan scholar abdullah al-ghumari, abu l-fayd ahmad, staunchly condemned wahhabism , attacked straying away classical tradition, stating: , nothing has emerged ... bring earthquakes , discord in religion muhammad ibn abd al-wahhab, astray , led others astray. hence devil s horn foretold messenger (upon him blessings , peace), , abstained offering prayer najd because of him, , because of dissensions flow demonic preaching.

the prominent kuwaiti sunni shafi jurist yusuf ibn al-sayyid hashim al-rifa`i (1932-1999) remained severe critic of wahhabism throughout scholarly life, , penned famous fifty-seven point critique of movement, titled advice scholars of najd. criticized followers of movement causing discord among sunni community labeling other sunnis pagans, innovators, , deviants.

in late 2016, @ conference of on hundred sunni thinkers in chechnya, al-azhar s current dean, ahmed el-tayeb said have taken uncompromising stand against wahhabism , islamic terrorism defining orthodox sunnism ash arites , muturidis (adherents of theological systems of imam abu mansur al-maturidi , imam abul hasan al-ash ari) ... followers of of 4 schools of thought (hanafi, shafi i, maliki or hanbali) , ... followers of sufism of imam junaid al-baghdadi in doctrines, manners , [spiritual] purification.

the largest sunni organization in world, indonesia s nahdlatul ulama, opposes wahhabism, referring fanatical , innovative movement within tradition of sunnism.

malaysia s largest islamic body, national fatwa council, has described wahhabism being against sunni teachings, dr abdul shukor husin, chairman of national fatwa council, said wahhabi followers fond of declaring muslims of other schools apostates merely on grounds did not conform wahhabi teachings.

south asia s barelvi movement rejects wahhabi beliefs.

the somalia based paramilitary group ahlu sunna waljama actively battles wahhabi militants prevent imposition of wahhabi ideology.

the lebanon-based al-ahbash movement uses takfir against wahhabi , salafi leaders.

the sufi islamic supreme council of america founded naqshbandi sufi shaykh hisham kabbani classify wahhabism being extremist , heretical based on wahhabism s role terrorist ideology , labelling of other muslims, sufis polytheists, practice known takfir.

in general, mainstream sunni muslims condemn wahhabism being major factor behind rise of such groups al-qaeda, isis, , boko haram, while inspiring movements such taliban.

non-religious motivations

according @ least 1 critic, 1744–1745 alliance between ibn abdul wahhab , tribal chief muhammad bin saud wage jihad on neighboring allegedly false muslims, consecration ibn abdul wahhab of bin saud tribe s long-standing raids on neighboring oases renaming raids jihad. part of najd s hobbesian state of perpetual war pitted bedouin tribes against 1 control of scarce resources stave off starvation. , case of substituting fath, opening or conquest of vast territory through religious zeal , instinctive fight survival , appetite lucre.

wahhabism in united states

a study conducted ngo freedom house found wahhabi publications in mosques in united states. these publications included statements muslims should not oppose infidels in every way , hate them religion . . . allah s sake , democracy responsible horrible wars ... [and] number of wars started in 20th century alone more 130 wars , , shia , sunni muslims infidels.

a review of study muslim brotherhood affiliated institute social policy , understanding (ispu) complained study cited documents few mosques, arguing mosques in u.s. not under wahhabi influence. ispu comments on study not entirely negative:

american-muslim leaders must thoroughly scrutinize study. despite limitations, study highlights ugly undercurrent in modern islamic discourse american muslims must openly confront. however, in vigor expose strains of extremism, must not forget open discussion best tool debunk extremist literature rather suppression of first amendment rights guaranteed u.s. constitution.

concern has been expressed on fact u.s. university branches, georgetown school of foreign service , northwestern school of journalism, housed in wahhabi country of qatar, exposed extremist propaganda espoused wahhabist imams preach @ qatar foundation s mosque in education city. education city, large campus u.s. , european universities reside, hosted series of religious prayers , lectures part of month-long annual ramadan program in 2015. prayers , lectures held @ education city s new lavish mosque in doha. education city affords campus space other american universities such texas a&m , carnegie mellon.

among have attended education city lectures saudi preacher described charlie hebdo massacre in paris sequel comedy film of 9/11 , , cleric wrote, jews , helpers must destroyed. mosque in education city has hosted extremist anti-semitic wahhabi preachers speaking against zionist aggressors in sermons, , calling upon allah count them in number , kill them completely, not spare [single] 1 of them. qatar has reportedly sent jewish professors america, , students attending american universities in qatar reportedly required dress in manner respectful wahhabism.

european expansion

there has been concern, expressed in both american , european media , scholarship, on fact wahhabi countries saudi arabia , qatar have been financing mosques , buying land on europe. belgium, ireland, france, germany, netherlands, , italy have noted growing influence these wahhabi countries have on territory , religion in europe.

the concern resonates @ local level in europe well. in 2016, citizens of brussels, belgium overturned 2015 decision build 600-person mosque next qatari embassy. fear largely emanates fact belgian citizens see mosque opportunity wahhabi country exert control on muslims in europe, spreading more extreme sect of islam.

several articles have been written list cork islamic cultural center example of 1 of many properties throughout europe, paid qatari government, in effort spread extreme , intolerant form of islam known wahhabism.

the assalam mosque located in nantes, france source on controversy. construction on mosque began in 2009 , completed in 2012. largest mosque in region in france. mosque listed among examples of qatar’s efforts export wahhabism, extreme , intolerant version of islam, throughout europe.

some of initiatives of cultural islamic center sesto san giovanni in italy, funded qatar charity, have raised concerns due ties wahhabbism. consortium against terrorist finance (catf) said mosque has history of affiliation , cooperation extremists , terrorists. catf notes qatar charity named major financial conduit al-qaeda in judicial proceedings following attacks on u.s. embassies in kenya , tanzania , supported al-qaeda operatives in northern mali, , heavily involved in syria.

munich forum islam (mfi), known center islam in europe-munich (ziem), controversial initiative largely financed wahhabi gulf country of qatar. in 2013 german activists filed lawsuit in opposition construction of mosque. these activists expressed fear qatari government aimed build mosques on europe spread wahhabism. government quashed lawsuit. in addition 2014 ruling, court ordered anti-mosque protester pay fine defaming islam when protester claimed wahhabi islam incompatible democracy.

the islamic cultural center in luxembourg funded qatar in note attempt qatar spread wahhabism in europe.

destruction of islam s historical sites

the wahhabi teachings disapprove of veneration of historical sites associated islam , on grounds god should worshipped , veneration of sites associated mortals leads idolatry . however, critics point out no muslims venerate buildings or tombs shirk. muslims visiting resting places of ahl al-bayt or sahabah still pray allah alone while remembering prophet s companions , family members. many buildings associated islam, including mazaar, mausoleums , other artifacts have been destroyed in saudi arabia wahhabis 19th century through present day. practice has proved controversial , has received considerable criticism sufi , shia muslims , in non-muslim world.

ironically, despite wahhabi destruction of many islamic, non-islamic, , historical sites associated first muslims; prophet s family , companions) , strict prohibition of visiting such sites (including mosques), saudi government renovated tomb of muhammad ibn abd al-wahhab turning birthplace major tourist attraction , important place of visitation within kingdom s modern borders.