Wahhabism and SalafismIslamic Revivalism, Petro-Islam, and Wahhabism’s global reach

Muhammad b. ‘Abd al-Wahhab (1703-1791) born in Najd, in eastern Arabia; father was a Hanbali judge

By his early 20s, Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab was proclaiming a radical interpretation of tawhid, which entailed a rejection of Islamic law in favor of a literalist reading of Qur’an and hadith along with condemnation of all types of intercession

He condemned Shi’a, Sufis, and all who disagreed with him as polytheists, and advocated jihad against those who did not join him

The Rise of Wahhabism

In 1746 Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab made a political alliance with the Sa‘udi family and the declared jihad against all those who didn’t agree with them; consolidation of central Arabia

How to understand such a movement? Kharijites? Qarmatians?

The Saudi/Wahhabi alliance continued after Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab’s death; 1802 sacking of Karbala, slaughter of Shi’a, destruction of Hussayn’s tomb

The First Wahhabi State

First wahabi State…

Took control of Mecca and Medina (from the Ottomans) between 1806-11 (houses marking the birthplaces of Prophet and many Companions destroyed; failed attempt to destroy the Prophet’s tomb

The Ottoman vassal, Muhammad Ali of Egypt, retakes Mecca and Medina in 1811; sacks Saudi capital in 1819

The First Saudi State

The second Wahhabi state

Emergence at the beginning of the 20th century: alliance of al-Sa’ud family, Wahhabis and British; King ‘Abd al-’Aziz bin al-Sa’ud (r. 1902-53)

Common interests: First World War, Economic and strategic importance of the Arabian peninsula

the short-lived career of the Ikhwan, disbanded in 1929

Religious police, music forbidden, destruction of the tombs of the Companions, role-call for prayer, stoning for adultery

The curious alliance between Salafis and Wahhabis

At end of 19th century, both Salafis and Wahhabis opposed to Ottoman caliphate

Shared Salafi/Wahhabi interest in the work of Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328), prominent Hanbali scholar who stressed ijtihad; Rida defends them

Despite theological and political differences between Brotherhood and Wahhabis, sympathies between the two build from 1960s onwards and shared antipathy of “Western” culture; Brothers seek refuge in Saudi Arabia

Spreading in world

Free Officers Coup in 1952 and Nasser’s popularity poses threat to Saudis, who increasingly invoke Wahhabism in foreign policy: 1962 foundation of World Muslim LeagueFrom the early 1970s onwards, Saudi/Wahhabi influence spreads throughout Muslim World