Identity Crisis: A Look into Wahhabism I
The world has a history of painting events, objects and mostly people or community white or black depending on what suit their taste.
To their enemies, the Tatars and/or the Mongols were the "the devil's horsemen" - the ugliest, filthiest barbarians that ever lived. But they (the Mongols) sees themselves as noble people whose warlike nomadic way of life was superior to the soft ways of city people like India, China and Persia.
On the quest for true freedom and political rights, Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was labeled as a 'terrorist' by the British and later sentenced him to life imprisonment but till his death, he remained a freedom fighter and a heroe not only to the South Africans but the whole world. And so was Archbishop Desmond Tutu (b. 1931) who later in 1984 got a Nobel Peace Price.
Menachem Begin (1913-1992) who head Haganah and Irgun, a so-called revolutionary militant groups whose target are the Britians and Arabs in Palestine was then labeled the world's terrorist number one by the British, and a freedom fighter by the Israelites (the Zionists to be precise). He however, later became a Prime Minister. And so was George Washington (1731-1799)!
Jesus Christ (pbuh) was rejected and was called names, by 'his own' simply because he preached monotheism (Jn. 1:11, Lk. 4: 14-30). But yet, others believed and welcomed him as a prophet, some as God others as one in three Gods (Trinity). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (570-632 CE) came with same message as Christ, he got almost the same thing and is till today call names but yet believe and followed by more than 2 billion people world over. Apart from Prophets, God most times bless his creation of human race with people of unique personality, with honour and responsibilities. One of such people in the Land of Arabia was Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab (1703-1792).
Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab was a man from the land known as the Najd of al-Yamaamah into the family of Musharraf of the tribe of Tameem in 1703-4 CE (1115 AH). Muhammad was born into a family well-known for its devotion to knowledge and learning. His grandfather, Sulaiman ibn Ali was probably the greatest scholar in Najd during the 11th century. He was the judge of al-Uyainah and was a religious reference concerning disputed fiqh issues for the other scholars in the area. His students include his son Abdul-Wahhaab, the father of Muhammad.
Muhammad indeed got firm foundation for his future advances in learning and dedication to the faith from his family. He memorises the Glorious Qur'an at 10. He studied the Hambali Fiqh with his father and was drawn into the books of ibn Taimiyyah (1263-1328) and ibn al-Qayyim (1292-1350). After studying much in his home town, he moved to Madina where he studied under number of scholars like Abdullah ibn Ibraheem (a Hambali Jurist and a great scholar of hadith), Ismaeel al-Ajaluni and Ali al-Daaghistani among others. He also moved to Damascus and then to Basra where he learned much of fiqh, hadith and Arabic language. In Basra, he became exposed to the basic beliefs and practices of the Shiites as well as equipped in how to answer and repel the doubts and questioners.
Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab face lot of challenges and persecutions on his strive of Da'awah. He migrated to lot of places in search of knowledge of the Deen, Da'awah as well as exile. He, unlike many other scholars of his time and before got number of followers including a Muslim King who really supported his Da'awah mission. Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab died a successful Jihadist and a reformer of the true teachings of Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa sallaam. One of his living legacies today, is how those who embraced his reforms are called as "WAHHABIS" and the reformation "WAHHABISM."
The followers of Muhammad ibn Abdulwahhab never used the term "Wahhabis" or "Wahhabism" in referring to themselves or their beliefs. In general, they would use the terms like "the Muslims," the muwahhidun, ("the monotheists") and they would call their message, "the call of true monotheism (tauheed)," "the religion of islam," "the call of the Salaf" (referring to the early, pious generations of Muslims) or just "the call." Al-Uthaimin (1925-2001) states that, "The muwahhidun was their favourite term to be use for themselves, as a way of distinguishing themselves from other Muslims who were involved in practices that strike at the root of true monotheism." In fact, the people of Najd, including their religious scholars, many of whom were descendants of Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhab never used the term "Wahhabi" on themselves but prefer Najdis with respect to their home. And Hambalis with respect to their school of thought.
In his book titles al-shaikh and al-Nadwi, Al-Uthaimin further States that there is no doubt that the first people to use this term (Wahhabis) were the opponents of the call, although it is not clear who first use the term. However, by the time of or shortly after the attack on al-Diriyyah, the term started to be common.
Today in Nigeria, especially on the social media, People who happened to only come across, pick and use the term blindly without at least knowing the root of it. But not just such 'self-made ignorants,' some supposedly learned, bench critics Muslims and non are ignorant of the term and on whom, when and where to use it. A simple example is the missionary Zweimer who noted that ibn al-Qayyim had similar views to that of ibn Abdul-Wahhab and concluded that although ibn al-Qayyim considered himself a Hambali, he was actually a Wahhabi. The fact that ibn al-Qayyim lived centuries before ibn Abdul-Wahhab seemed to have been lost on Zweimer. This is the sickness of many 'opposed' Muslims today.
It is indeed very clear that ibn Abdul-Wahhab, was nothing more than a follower of Muhammad (pbuh), his companions, the followers and some of the great scholars who came later, such as Imam Ahmad, ibn Taimiyya, ibn Qayyim, ibn Katheer et cetra. However, to give him a name that would correctly represent his approach - such like Salafi (meaning one who follow the ways of the pious predecessors) - would not have met the goal and purpose of those who came up with the name "Wahhabi."
Sheikh Ja'afar Mahmud Adam Kano once argued; "if they call us Wahhabis, we will look at it as if they labeled and linked us directly with the Almighty, Al-Wahhab (The Bestower). And if the regret to do that and choose to call us with his first name "Muhammadans," they're doing us more favour by linking us directly to Khairul Khaliqeen" (abul Qaseem (saw)). "In both ways, we've nothing to loose". Sheikh Ja'afar concluded. May Allah have mercy on him. There is no question that this term "Wahhabis" was originally coin in other to "drive people away" from the teachings of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab - tauheed.
Aali Bootaami says (probably too optimistically) that the plot of ibn Abdul-Wahhab on this point definitely backfired! What was originally meant to be a disparaging term has now become the signpost for the true following of the way of Abul Qaseem (saw). Once one hears the term "Wahhabi" today, one knows that it refers to someone who is calling to a true following of the Qur'an and Sunnah, the following of evidence, the ordering of good and eradicating of evil, the elimination of heresies and superstitions, and an adherence to the ways of the righteous predecessors.
However, in the current situation once again, the term is being use to drive people away from the true Islam. Many people lack the bravado or otherwise and find it unwise and imprudent to come out and attack Islam openly. Hence, they try to find other means (to attack) while at the same time appearing to be sympathetic to some Muslims and some forms of Islam. There has to be a smokescreen! The attempt is to try to fight against any implementation of Islam that would have any real meaning and significance in the lives of Muslims.
One of the methods that is used by the "anti-wahhabis" (world over) today, is that they trace aspects that they deemed unacceptable back to the "Wahhabis" while never mentioning that those things are explicitly mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an and Sunnah. Hence, their problem is not with the "Wahhabis" but truly with the clear and unequivocal meaning of the Glorious Qur'an and Sunnah. And they have a BIG problem!
On a final note, it is true that "followers" may not always reflect the true stance of the original teacher or teachinga. And this is true for any teacher/leader. Any set of teachings, call or movement may have followers who are attached to it but do not completely understand the message, who are ignorant in themselves or who are completely sincere in their attachment to the call. Indeed, to any set of teachings one must distinguish the knowledgeable ones and non-scholar followers. Hence, actions maybe taken for which the original teacher and teachings cannot be blamed.
In different parts of the world, the teachings of Ibn Abdul-Wahhab contributed to and sometimes even ignited a return of the true Islamic teachings or Islamic revival that is still of influence today. In fact, the influence of Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhab's teachings, in one way or the other, has reached all corners of the Muslim world. Religious people and communities have sprung up opposing licentiousness, innovations and superstitions while teaching people the authentic teachings of the faith.
To their enemies, the Tatars and/or the Mongols were the "the devil's horsemen" - the ugliest, filthiest barbarians that ever lived. But they (the Mongols) sees themselves as noble people whose warlike nomadic way of life was superior to the soft ways of city people like India, China and Persia.
On the quest for true freedom and political rights, Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was labeled as a 'terrorist' by the British and later sentenced him to life imprisonment but till his death, he remained a freedom fighter and a heroe not only to the South Africans but the whole world. And so was Archbishop Desmond Tutu (b. 1931) who later in 1984 got a Nobel Peace Price.
Menachem Begin (1913-1992) who head Haganah and Irgun, a so-called revolutionary militant groups whose target are the Britians and Arabs in Palestine was then labeled the world's terrorist number one by the British, and a freedom fighter by the Israelites (the Zionists to be precise). He however, later became a Prime Minister. And so was George Washington (1731-1799)!
Jesus Christ (pbuh) was rejected and was called names, by 'his own' simply because he preached monotheism (Jn. 1:11, Lk. 4: 14-30). But yet, others believed and welcomed him as a prophet, some as God others as one in three Gods (Trinity). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (570-632 CE) came with same message as Christ, he got almost the same thing and is till today call names but yet believe and followed by more than 2 billion people world over. Apart from Prophets, God most times bless his creation of human race with people of unique personality, with honour and responsibilities. One of such people in the Land of Arabia was Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab (1703-1792).
Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab was a man from the land known as the Najd of al-Yamaamah into the family of Musharraf of the tribe of Tameem in 1703-4 CE (1115 AH). Muhammad was born into a family well-known for its devotion to knowledge and learning. His grandfather, Sulaiman ibn Ali was probably the greatest scholar in Najd during the 11th century. He was the judge of al-Uyainah and was a religious reference concerning disputed fiqh issues for the other scholars in the area. His students include his son Abdul-Wahhaab, the father of Muhammad.
Muhammad indeed got firm foundation for his future advances in learning and dedication to the faith from his family. He memorises the Glorious Qur'an at 10. He studied the Hambali Fiqh with his father and was drawn into the books of ibn Taimiyyah (1263-1328) and ibn al-Qayyim (1292-1350). After studying much in his home town, he moved to Madina where he studied under number of scholars like Abdullah ibn Ibraheem (a Hambali Jurist and a great scholar of hadith), Ismaeel al-Ajaluni and Ali al-Daaghistani among others. He also moved to Damascus and then to Basra where he learned much of fiqh, hadith and Arabic language. In Basra, he became exposed to the basic beliefs and practices of the Shiites as well as equipped in how to answer and repel the doubts and questioners.
Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab face lot of challenges and persecutions on his strive of Da'awah. He migrated to lot of places in search of knowledge of the Deen, Da'awah as well as exile. He, unlike many other scholars of his time and before got number of followers including a Muslim King who really supported his Da'awah mission. Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab died a successful Jihadist and a reformer of the true teachings of Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa sallaam. One of his living legacies today, is how those who embraced his reforms are called as "WAHHABIS" and the reformation "WAHHABISM."
The followers of Muhammad ibn Abdulwahhab never used the term "Wahhabis" or "Wahhabism" in referring to themselves or their beliefs. In general, they would use the terms like "the Muslims," the muwahhidun, ("the monotheists") and they would call their message, "the call of true monotheism (tauheed)," "the religion of islam," "the call of the Salaf" (referring to the early, pious generations of Muslims) or just "the call." Al-Uthaimin (1925-2001) states that, "The muwahhidun was their favourite term to be use for themselves, as a way of distinguishing themselves from other Muslims who were involved in practices that strike at the root of true monotheism." In fact, the people of Najd, including their religious scholars, many of whom were descendants of Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhab never used the term "Wahhabi" on themselves but prefer Najdis with respect to their home. And Hambalis with respect to their school of thought.
In his book titles al-shaikh and al-Nadwi, Al-Uthaimin further States that there is no doubt that the first people to use this term (Wahhabis) were the opponents of the call, although it is not clear who first use the term. However, by the time of or shortly after the attack on al-Diriyyah, the term started to be common.
Today in Nigeria, especially on the social media, People who happened to only come across, pick and use the term blindly without at least knowing the root of it. But not just such 'self-made ignorants,' some supposedly learned, bench critics Muslims and non are ignorant of the term and on whom, when and where to use it. A simple example is the missionary Zweimer who noted that ibn al-Qayyim had similar views to that of ibn Abdul-Wahhab and concluded that although ibn al-Qayyim considered himself a Hambali, he was actually a Wahhabi. The fact that ibn al-Qayyim lived centuries before ibn Abdul-Wahhab seemed to have been lost on Zweimer. This is the sickness of many 'opposed' Muslims today.
It is indeed very clear that ibn Abdul-Wahhab, was nothing more than a follower of Muhammad (pbuh), his companions, the followers and some of the great scholars who came later, such as Imam Ahmad, ibn Taimiyya, ibn Qayyim, ibn Katheer et cetra. However, to give him a name that would correctly represent his approach - such like Salafi (meaning one who follow the ways of the pious predecessors) - would not have met the goal and purpose of those who came up with the name "Wahhabi."
Sheikh Ja'afar Mahmud Adam Kano once argued; "if they call us Wahhabis, we will look at it as if they labeled and linked us directly with the Almighty, Al-Wahhab (The Bestower). And if the regret to do that and choose to call us with his first name "Muhammadans," they're doing us more favour by linking us directly to Khairul Khaliqeen" (abul Qaseem (saw)). "In both ways, we've nothing to loose". Sheikh Ja'afar concluded. May Allah have mercy on him. There is no question that this term "Wahhabis" was originally coin in other to "drive people away" from the teachings of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab - tauheed.
Aali Bootaami says (probably too optimistically) that the plot of ibn Abdul-Wahhab on this point definitely backfired! What was originally meant to be a disparaging term has now become the signpost for the true following of the way of Abul Qaseem (saw). Once one hears the term "Wahhabi" today, one knows that it refers to someone who is calling to a true following of the Qur'an and Sunnah, the following of evidence, the ordering of good and eradicating of evil, the elimination of heresies and superstitions, and an adherence to the ways of the righteous predecessors.
However, in the current situation once again, the term is being use to drive people away from the true Islam. Many people lack the bravado or otherwise and find it unwise and imprudent to come out and attack Islam openly. Hence, they try to find other means (to attack) while at the same time appearing to be sympathetic to some Muslims and some forms of Islam. There has to be a smokescreen! The attempt is to try to fight against any implementation of Islam that would have any real meaning and significance in the lives of Muslims.
One of the methods that is used by the "anti-wahhabis" (world over) today, is that they trace aspects that they deemed unacceptable back to the "Wahhabis" while never mentioning that those things are explicitly mentioned in the Glorious Qur'an and Sunnah. Hence, their problem is not with the "Wahhabis" but truly with the clear and unequivocal meaning of the Glorious Qur'an and Sunnah. And they have a BIG problem!
On a final note, it is true that "followers" may not always reflect the true stance of the original teacher or teachinga. And this is true for any teacher/leader. Any set of teachings, call or movement may have followers who are attached to it but do not completely understand the message, who are ignorant in themselves or who are completely sincere in their attachment to the call. Indeed, to any set of teachings one must distinguish the knowledgeable ones and non-scholar followers. Hence, actions maybe taken for which the original teacher and teachings cannot be blamed.
In different parts of the world, the teachings of Ibn Abdul-Wahhab contributed to and sometimes even ignited a return of the true Islamic teachings or Islamic revival that is still of influence today. In fact, the influence of Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhab's teachings, in one way or the other, has reached all corners of the Muslim world. Religious people and communities have sprung up opposing licentiousness, innovations and superstitions while teaching people the authentic teachings of the faith.
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