Question:
Question: He has a third and final question, in which he says: Some people in our area call the scholars in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia “Wahhabis.” Do you accept this name? And what is the response to those who call you by this name?
Answer:
Yes, this is a well-known title. This title is well-known for the scholars of Tawhid (monotheism) from the scholars of Najd. They attribute them to the Imam, Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him), because he called to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, in the second half of the twelfth century [AH]. He strove to clarify Tawhid and explain Shirk (polytheism) to the people, until Allah guided a vast multitude through him. People then embraced the monotheism of Allah and abandoned the various forms of major Shirk they had been practicing—such as worshipping the occupants of graves, building structures over graves, worshipping trees and stones, and extreme veneration of the righteous.
Thus, his call became a great revivalist Islamic movement by which Allah benefited the Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula and elsewhere, may Allah grant him vast mercy. Consequently, his followers, those who called to his message, and those who grew up upon this call in Najd came to be called “Wahhabis.” This title became a hallmark for the people of Tawhid. Anyone who called to the monotheism of Allah, forbade Shirk and attachment to graves, trees, or stones, and commanded sincerity to Allah was labeled a “Wahhabi.” Therefore, it is an honorable and noble title, indicating that whoever is labeled with it is among the people of Tawhid, the people of sincerity to Allah, and those who forbid associating partners with Allah and forbid the worship of graves, trees, stones, idols, and shrines. This is the origin of this name and title.
It is an attribution to the Imam, Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab ibn Sulayman ibn Ali al-Tamimi al-Hanbali, the caller to Allah, Mighty and Majestic—may Allah grant him vast mercy. He grew up and studied in Najd, then traveled to Mecca and Medina, learning from their scholars among the Ahl al-Sunnah (People of the Sunnah). Upon returning to Najd, he witnessed the ignorance the people were immersed in, including the worship of graves, excessive veneration of them, associating partners with Allah (the Preeminent and Exalted), supplicating to the dead, seeking their deliverance, and erecting structures over their tombs.
Thus, he called to Allah, guided the people, and forbade them from Shirk. He clarified to them that Tawhid is the right of Allah, Majestic and Most High, over His servants, and that it is the very core of what the Messengers (peace and blessings be upon them) called to. He also explained to them the true meaning of La ilaha illa Allah (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah), demonstrating that it consists of a negation and an affirmation: it negates divinity from everything other than Allah, and affirms all worship for Allah alone, Glory be to Him, the Most High.
This is just as He, Mighty and Majestic, stated: “That is because Allah He is the Truth (the only True God of all that exists, Who has no partners or rivals with Him), and what they (the polytheists) invoke besides Him, it is Batil (falsehood)…“ [Al-Hajj 22:62].
He, Glory be to Him, says: “You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).” [Al-Fatihah 1:5].
He, Mighty and Majestic, says: “And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad ﷺ) but We inspired him (saying): La ilaha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else).”’“ [Al-Anbiya 21:25].
He, Glory be to Him, says: “And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him.” [Al-Isra 17:23].
He, Mighty and Majestic, says: “So, call you (O Muhammad ﷺ and the believers) upon (or invoke) Allah making (your) worship pure for Him (Alone) (by worshipping none but Him and by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake only and not to show-off and not to set up rivals with Him in worship). However much the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allah) may hate (it).” [Ghafir 40:14].
And He, Glory be to Him, says: “And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)” [Al-Bayyinah 98:5].
The Sheikh (may Allah have mercy on him), Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, established this call in the second half of the twelfth century [AH]. This took place initially in al-Uyaynah, a town near Riyadh, where he called to Allah, spread Tawhid, and gathered a massive circle of students. Later, due to well-known reasons, he relocated to al-Dir’iyah, where its ruler, Muhammad ibn Saud, welcomed him. They pledged an oath to cooperate in calling to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and spreading Islam in al-Dir’iyah and its surrounding areas.
Allah brought about great benefit through this alliance between Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saud—the patriarch of the current royal family. They joined forces for the sake of the dawah, and that was in the year 1158 AH. This marked the beginning of the movement in al-Dir’iyah after the migration from al-Uyaynah. Islam spread there, domes erected over graves were dismantled, Tawhid spread among the people, and they came to grasp the true meaning of La ilaha illa Allah.
Subsequently, the State of Al Saud expanded across the rest of the Peninsula, and the matter of Tawhid reached its furthest borders. Allah brought immense benefit through this movement; the truth became manifest, the people of Tawhid prevailed, and it became a landmark for the adherents of monotheism everywhere. This call also spread to Yemen, many parts of India and elsewhere, the Levant, Iraq, and Egypt. The leaders of guidance and scholars of truth received it with acceptance, aided the Sheikh (may Allah have mercy on him), and championed his call.
On the other hand, he was opposed by others who were overcome by ignorance, blind following of their forefathers and ancestors, or personal whims and fanaticism for their existing ways—partly so people wouldn’t ask them, “Why didn’t you teach us? Why didn’t you alert us?” Thus, they opposed this movement and authored falsehoods against it. However, Allah aided the dawah and its people, the practice of Tawhid became firmly established in the Peninsula, and Allah’s cause spread, praise be to Allah. Consequently, the followers of this movement and the scholars of Najd who invite to the monotheism of Allah were given the title “Wahhabi.” It is a well-known, honorable title that is not to be rejected; rather, it is a title for the people of Tawhid and faith, and the people who call to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. This is how this title spread.
Whenever certain extremists or deviant individuals see someone in Africa, the Levant, Yemen, or anywhere else calling to Allah, clarifying the reality of Tawhid, and forbidding Shirk, they say: “This person is a Wahhabi.” They do this to drive people away from his message, and to make people think that this call is a falsehood or contrary to the divine law.
This is a vile and egregious error. Rather, it is the exact reality of what the Messenger ﷺ called to. For indeed, the Messenger ﷺ called to the monotheism of Allah, and likewise all the Messengers, every single one of them, called to the monotheism of Allah and spread the religion of Allah, peace and blessings be upon them. As Allah the Exalted stated: “And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc.i. e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah).’“ [An-Nahl 16:36].
So this is the call of all the Messengers, peace and blessings be upon them, and it is the call of our Prophet, Imam, and master, Muhammad ibn Abd Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He called to the monotheism of Allah and established the dawah in Mecca. Back then, the polytheists used to call anyone who accepted his message a “Sabi” (Sabean), just as a monotheist today is called a “Wahhabi.”
Thus, whoever responded to the call of Muhammad ﷺ in Mecca was labeled a Sabi (one who abandoned his ancestral religion), and the same happened after he migrated. However, Allah granted victory to the message and supported His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The call spread throughout Mecca and its surrounding areas, and then he migrated (peace and blessings be upon him) to Medina. There, the movement triumphed, the market of jihad was established, and Medina became the stronghold of Islam, the city of Islam, and the first capital of Islam—and praise be to Allah.
The point of all this is that this call, and this title, is a label for whoever calls to the monotheism of Allah. Anyone who calls to Tawhid and denounces Shirk is labeled a “Wahhabi” by certain ignorant individuals, due to their ignorance of the reality and their lack of knowledge concerning the facts.
The reality is exactly what we have mentioned: it is a monumental call to the monotheism of Allah and to the following of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. It rejects blind following, blind fanaticism, innovations (bida’), superstitions, polytheism, and any attachment to the dead, trees, stones, prophets, righteous people, or idols. This movement combats such polytheism and calls to the monotheism of Allah, sincerity to Him, faith in the meaning of La ilaha illa Allah and its realization, and the true realization of following the Messenger ﷺ by holding fast to his Sunnah, his path, and remaining upright upon that.
This is the call of Sheikh Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him. Yes.
Host: May Allah bless you, and may Allah reward you with goodness.