Do Wahhabism criticizes the Prophet's family

Question:

Is it true that Wahhabism is hostile towards the “Household of the Prophet” (Ahl al-Bayt) and that it demeans the Master of Creation [Prophet Muhammad]? What is the reality of the Wahhabist Da’wah (call)? And why is it fought against in this manner?

Answer:

Wahhabism is attributed to the Imam and Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him), who passed away in the year 1206 AH. He is the one who called people to Allah, the Glorified, in Najd. He clarified to the people the reality of monotheism (Tawhid) and polytheism (Shirk), and called them to single out Allah in worship, leaving aside attachment to the occupants of graves—those who are called “awliya” (saints)—invoking them instead of Allah, seeking relief from them, seeking refuge in them, and making vows to them. The same applies to those who attach themselves to jinn, certain trees, or stones. He and his followers among the scholars clarified that this is “major polytheism” (shirk akbar).

This took place in the middle of the twelfth Islamic century until his death (may Allah have mercy on him) on the aforementioned date. He was assisted in this, and his call was supported by, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud (may Allah have mercy on him), the ancestor of today’s ruling family of Al Saud. His call was supported and championed by everyone who possessed knowledge of the guidance and true religion with which Allah sent His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Consequently, his da’wah/call (may Allah have mercy on him) spread throughout Najd and its surroundings, and it was endorsed by the scholars of the Sunnah in Najd, the Hijaz, Yemen, Egypt, the Levant, Iraq, India, and elsewhere.

Its true reality is the call to what Allah sent His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with: the monotheism of Allah, sincerity to Him, and the fulfillment of the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. This is achieved through sincerity to Allah, following His Messenger ﷺ, and abandoning the practices of grave-worshippers and those who venerate saints—such as invoking others besides Allah, seeking relief from others, and slaughtering or making vows to others.

It was opposed and rejected by the ignorant who did not know the guidance and true religion with which Allah sent His Messenger ﷺ, or by those to whom it was conveyed falsely by people who either were ignorant of it or deliberately lied about it.

And Sheikh Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him) and his followers who supported his call all love the Household of the Prophet of Allah ﷺ who followed his methodology (upon him be peace and blessings), recognize their virtue, and draw closer to Allah the Glorified through loving them and praying for forgiveness, mercy, and pleasure for them—such as al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (the paternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ) and his sons, the fourth Rightly-Guided Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), his sons al-Hasan, al-Husayn, and Muhammad (may Allah be pleased with them), and whoever followed their methodology from the Household in the monotheism of Allah, obedience to Him, and veneration of His laws.

Likewise, Wahhabism follows the methodology of the “righteous salaf” (al-salaf al-salih) from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those who followed them in goodness regarding creed, speech, and action, and they detest those who opposed their path and departed from their methodology among all other sects. This is the truth that every Muslim must follow, believe in, and call to, as Allah the Glorified said:

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much.” [Al-Ahzab: 21];

“Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and those with him, when they said to their people: ‘Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allâh: we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you hostility and hatred for ever until you believe in Allâh Alone.’“ [Al-Mumtahanah: 4];

And the Glorified also said: “And the foremost to embrace Islâm of the Muhâjirûn (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansâr (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhâjirûn ) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allâh is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.” [At-Tawbah: 100].

And the Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them” (A mutually agreed-upon hadith [Agreed upon by Bukhari and Muslim]) 1.

He ﷺ used to say in his sermon: “To proceed: The best speech is the Book of Allah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad ﷺ, the worst of matters are those newly invented (for matters of religion), and every innovation is a misguidance”** (Reported by Muslim in his Sahih) 2.

He (upon him be peace and blessings) also said: “You must follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who are guided after me. Hold fast to it and bite onto it with your molar teeth [i.e., cling tightly to it], and beware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is a misguidance.” 3

And the hadiths bearing this meaning are numerous.

And from what we have mentioned, the questioner and others will come to know that the Wahhabis—who are the followers of Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him), those who supported his call, followed it, and clarified it to the people—are not innovators, nor do they harbor hostility toward the Household of the Prophet, nor do they demean the Prophet Muhammad (upon him be peace and blessings). Rather, they are upon the path of the righteous predecessors (al-salaf al-salih) from the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ and those who followed them in goodness. They love the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with a sincere love that is greater than their love for themselves, their parents, and all of humanity, acting in accordance with his saying ﷺ: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his child, his parent, and all of people.” 4

And when Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: “Indeed, you are more beloved to me than everything except my own self,” the Prophet ﷺ said: “No, O Umar, until I am more beloved to you than your own self.” Thereupon Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: “Now, by Allah, you are more beloved to me than everything, even my own self.” So the Prophet ﷺ said to him: “Now, O Umar [you have true faith]”** 5 —meaning that faith has now been perfected and completed due to him ﷺ being more beloved to every believer than their own self.

And among the proofs of sincere love is following him ﷺ, holding fast to what he brought, and being wary of anything that contradicts that, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Say (O Muhammad to mankind): ‘If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’“ [Aal ‘Imran: 31].

As for those who opposed this call, they are either ignorant of it or followers of their own desires who sold their Hereafter for their worldly life and followed the people of falsehood in opposing the truth—either out of ignorance or driven by desire, just as the Jews did in their hostility toward our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the guidance with which Allah sent him, out of envy, tyranny, and following their desires. We ask Allah for wellness and safety.

  1. Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Book on testimonies, no. 2458; and Muslim, Book on merits of the Companions, no. 4601. ↩

  2. Narrated by Muslim, Book on Friday, no. 1453. ↩

  3. Narrated by Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Al-Sunnah, no. 3991, and Ahmad, Section on the Hadiths narrated by Levanters narrators, no. 16522. ↩

  4. Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Book on faith, no. 14; and Muslim, Book on faith, no. 63, and the wording is his. ↩

  5. Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Book on oaths and vows, no. 6142; and Ahmad, Section on the Hadiths narrated by Levanters narrators, no. 17355. ↩