WAHHABISM WAHHABISM &&

ITS VISION OF JIHADITS VISION OF JIHAD

MUHAMMAD B. ABD WAHHABMUHAMMAD B. ABD WAHHAB (1703-1792)(1703-1792)

Born in 1703 in Najd, Arabia, into a prominent family Born in 1703 in Najd, Arabia, into a prominent family of Hanbali jurists and theologians. of Hanbali jurists and theologians.

Learned the Qur’an by heart, and studied the Hadith, Learned the Qur’an by heart, and studied the Hadith, the Qur’an, jurisprudence, Sufism, commentary, and the Qur’an, jurisprudence, Sufism, commentary, and theology. theology.

In 1745, ‘Abd al-‘Aziz b. Sa‘ud, a chief small tribe in In 1745, ‘Abd al-‘Aziz b. Sa‘ud, a chief small tribe in Arabia, made religious-political alliance with Abd Arabia, made religious-political alliance with Abd Wahhab, i.e.Wahhab, i.e. ““Wahhabi Islam” as the official religion of the Saudi state.Wahhabi Islam” as the official religion of the Saudi state. Waged Jihad against the surrounding tribes.Waged Jihad against the surrounding tribes. Took Riyadh in 1773 as the capital city; captured Mecca in Took Riyadh in 1773 as the capital city; captured Mecca in

1803.1803. In 1812, Muhammad ‘Ali defeated the alliance of Sa‘ud & In 1812, Muhammad ‘Ali defeated the alliance of Sa‘ud &

the followers of Wahhabi; took control of the Holy cities and the followers of Wahhabi; took control of the Holy cities and finally destroyed the Saudi state in 1818.finally destroyed the Saudi state in 1818.

In 1902, Ibn Sa’ud recaptured Riyadh, restored it as the In 1902, Ibn Sa’ud recaptured Riyadh, restored it as the Saudi Kingdom, and reached its successful Saudi state until Saudi Kingdom, and reached its successful Saudi state until 1932. 1932.

Wahhabi’s Interpretation of IslamWahhabi’s Interpretation of Islam

SalafSalaf The Influence of Ibn Taimiyya (1263-The Influence of Ibn Taimiyya (1263-

1328): Serving God above loving God1328): Serving God above loving God His vision of His vision of TawhidTawhid (the unity of God), (the unity of God),

reflected in his treatise on reflected in his treatise on Kitab al-Kitab al-TawhidTawhid (1398 Hijra). (1398 Hijra).

His call to return to the Qur’an and the His call to return to the Qur’an and the Sunnah as the authoritative sources of Sunnah as the authoritative sources of beliefs and practices. beliefs and practices.

His vision of independent reasoning His vision of independent reasoning ((ijtihadijtihad) as opposed to blind imitation ) as opposed to blind imitation ((taqlidtaqlid). ).

His vision of “pristine Islam” as His vision of “pristine Islam” as opposed to cultural-religious opposed to cultural-religious innovation (innovation (bid’ahbid’ah).).

JihadJihad as collective duty ( as collective duty (fard kifayahfard kifayah), ), instead of the individual obligation (instead of the individual obligation (fard fard ‘ayn‘ayn).).

Jihad as the act of Jihad as the act of hijrahijra—travel, emigration. —travel, emigration. The purpose of Jihad as a means of The purpose of Jihad as a means of

protecting the Muslim community from protecting the Muslim community from aggression.aggression.

The act of Jihad is carried out by the male The act of Jihad is carried out by the male adults to struggle against “the opponents of adults to struggle against “the opponents of Islam.”Islam.”

The driving force of Jihad must be piety, The driving force of Jihad must be piety, guided by the instruction of religious leader guided by the instruction of religious leader ((imamimam). ).

When Is Jihad necessary?When Is Jihad necessary? How should Jihad be conducted?How should Jihad be conducted?

Wahhabi’s Conception of Wahhabi’s Conception of JihadJihad

Globalization of Globalization of WahhabismWahhabism

International competition with Iran International competition with Iran and Pakistan since 1979and Pakistan since 1979

Global Funding of Islamic ActivitiesGlobal Funding of Islamic Activities Diffusion through the internetDiffusion through the internet

Global Doxa conveyed by Global Doxa conveyed by Ibn Baz and al-AlbaniIbn Baz and al-Albani

Rejection of religious Rejection of religious innovation (innovation (bid’abid’a))

Extension of the term Extension of the term “infidel” (“infidel” (kafirkafir))

Status of womenStatus of women Perception of the WestPerception of the West

Shaykh Abdul-Azeez bin Baz, 1910 - May 12,

1999

Shaykh Nasir ud-Deen al-

Albani, 1914 - Oct. 2, 1999