Question:

Is there any truth to the rumor that when the followers of Imam Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, may Allah have mercy on him, took control of the Arabian Peninsula and reached Madinah, they tied their horses in the Noble Rawdah located in the mosque of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him?

Answer:

This claim has no basis in truth whatsoever; rather, it is a lie and an obstruction from the truth. What is actually known about them when they took control of Madinah is that they spread the Salafi da’wah (call), clarified the reality of Tawhid (oneness of Allah) with which Allah sent His Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and all other messengers, and denounced what many people were engaged in regarding major shirk (polytheism)—such as seeking aid from the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and asking him for assistance, seeking aid from those in Al-Baqi’ such as the Companions, members of the Prophet’s household, and other righteous people, and seeking aid from the Prophet’s uncle Hamzah, may Allah be pleased with him, and other martyrs at Uhud.

This is what is known of them, alongside teaching people the reality of Islam and denouncing the “innovations” (bid’ah) and superstitions that prevailed in the Hijaz and elsewhere at that time. Whoever claims otherwise about them—alleging that they showed disrespect to the Noble Grave or the Rawdah, or claiming that they belittled the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, any of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, or other righteous people—has lied, fabricated, and spoken contrary to reality and the truth.

The history books are present and bear witness to what we have mentioned, exposing the falsehood of the slanderers. May Allah grant me and you understanding of His religion and steadfastness upon it until we meet Him, the Glorified, and protect us and you from the paths of straying; indeed, He is the Guardian of that and is capable of it.

We ask Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, to forgive them, all Muslim scholars, and the callers to guidance, and to make us and you among their followers in righteousness, to show us the truth as truth and grant us the ability to follow it, and to show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the ability to avoid it. Indeed, He is the Guardian of that and is capable of it. And Allah is the Grantor of success.