According to the outside world and media, it is a form or sect of Islam that goes back to Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulawahab. But to Saudis, especially the central region it is a sub-tribe of the Tameem tribe which coincidentally Sheikh Mohamed and I both belong to.
To set the record straight, no Saudi calls himself Wahbi unless they belong to the sub-tribe I mentioned above. To us Sheikh Mohamed was just another famous big sheikh who also happened to be into politics. He did not start a new Islamic sect. What he did do was educate people in the central region. The central region is practically an out of the way desert. Sheikh Mohamed was born here in Al Uyyanah, not far from Riyadh. He travelled to Makkah, Medina and Iraq to study Islam and then he came back and taught his people. At that time, people here were illiterate, superstitious and many had forgotten or never learned the basics of Islam. There are even stories about paganism and idol worshipping. So he came back to teach people. And he also made a pact with an ancestor of Al Saud, that he would take care of the religion and Al Saud would take care of bringing unity and government to our people.
Sheikh Mohamed, contrary to popular western belief, was not an ultra conservative hell bent against women and human rights. He barely delved into these issues. He had religiously bigger issues to take care of with wiping out paganism and the worship of saints and reeducating people in how to pray! He was also busy stifling the spread of Shiaism. His main focus was to resume the monotheism condition of Islam. He did such a great job that by the time he was through, the region had all the basics of Sunni Islam down. So much that for the next two centuries, many many so-called sheikhs sadly had nothing better to do but twiddle their thumbs and create petty fatwas. For example, one that I came across written in the late eighties, early nineties that women should be discouraged from watching soccer matches on TV because the excitement of seeing men in shorts running around is too much for her fragile emotional health. That was a FATWA!
I digress, back to the term Wahabi. This is definitely an outsider’s term. And to those who the term refers to, it is meaningless. It isn’t even derogatory. It has no meaning outside of lineage and tribal names. There is no Islamic sect called Wahabi and Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulawahab did not create a new Islamic perspective. He was just a famous and notable figure in Saudi Arabian history.
So what Islamic sect does the central region and the government follow? It is Sunni and we strictly follow Sheikh Ahmed bin Hanbil and Ibn Taiymiah, both of whom came long before Mohamed bin Abdulwahab. Religiously speaking we call our selves Hanabillah. The next time you hear someone say “those crazy Wahabis” please correct them and say “they’re actually crazy Hanabillahs”.
33 Comments
August 28, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Nice post.
It annoys me when I hear this term also as I have read Ibn Abdul Wahhab’s ‘Kitab at-Tawhid’ and of course there is nothing crazy or extreme in there, just simple deductions based on Qur’an and sunnah and of course he did a huge amount to bring this region away from the Jahil practices that were prevalent at that time. Actually I live a couple of minutes from Old Dir’iyyah which is where he established a kind of dawa centre in partnership with King Sa’ud.
August 29, 2008 at 12:32 am
Thanks. It is funny how the media’s superficial knowledge can sometimes snowball into “facts”.
September 1, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Thanks for this insightful post; I will definitely be cautious in the future not to refer to Wahhabism as a way of describing Saudi religious beliefs.
September 2, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I really liked the humor in the post. I lived in saudi for 5 yrs, only recently moved to Europe, and all along I also thought part of saudi is wahabi, but I also knew it followed Hanbali madhab.
Thanks for the interesting explanation !!!
September 4, 2008 at 2:03 am
That was nice to read. It was indeed the “genetically” bit that had me confused.
Being used to hearing the term Wahabi as applied to “followers of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab” by outsiders, I just didn’t ‘get it’
. But thank you for the explanation. So you’re Sheikh Mohammed’s tribe-mate 
!
(And, oh, Saudis are not the only people who get called ‘Wahhabi’. In the Sub-continent, you can find people using the term ‘Wahhabi’ for anyone who appears ‘rigid’ or ’strict’ in their beliefs (according to the observer) – some ‘Barelvis’ use the term for ‘Salafis’, ‘Tablighis’ and ‘Deobandis’ – very odd and amusing if you know that the ‘Salafis’ lump all ‘Barelvis’, Tablighis and Deobandis together as ‘innovators’ of the highest order.)
September 7, 2008 at 2:58 am
I have never heard either term used, but I feel pleased to be set straight anyway! Thank you for your information and for your blog. I really like it.
September 18, 2008 at 9:59 am
Sheikh Muhammed Ibn Abdul-Wahhab (rahimahullah) was a mujaddid (renewer/reviver of the Deen) at his time. Like SaudiWoman mentioned he aided the eradication of acts of shirk (polytheism) in the region (may Allah reward him)…
Thank you Saudi Woman for writing this post.
-Scribbler
December 10, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Very good and informative post, SaudiWoman. I think I’ll just save the link of this post and give it to anyone who confuses the term.
I remember…. during my first few weeks in the states, years and years ago… I met an Egyptian guy at the local mosque, and i introduced myself as Nader from Saudi Arabia. He asked me “Are you a wahabi”? Back then, I didn’t know what that meant, so I said I don’t know. He said.. ohh.. you’re from Saudi Arabia, you must be one. I said ok, if you say so. So I turn my back to him and he goes and asks another guy about me, while I still could hear everything. The guy told the Egyptian man my full name, and then the Egyptian guy comes to me running and saying “you are a wahabi!” دا انتا وهابي!!, because I happen to belong to the same tribe as Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulwahab!
January 6, 2009 at 5:50 pm
من میخواهم از اعتقادات شما آگاه شوم
January 9, 2009 at 12:24 pm
People call saudis as WAHABI because they follow Abdul wahab najdi’s teachings. Every body knows that all saudis are not from Abdul wahab najdi’s TRIBE.
January 9, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Read the book, it is a very interesting book about how a british spy used Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab an-Najdi to form the deviated sect of Wahabi aka Salafi. It shows us the British plan to destroy Islam in 21 specific ways. This is a MUST READ for every muslim. It also goes into detail on how they created other deviated sects mostly in India.
You can read it for free here: http://www.hakikatkitabevi.com/downl…BritishSpy.pdf
January 19, 2009 at 5:04 pm
you forgot to say that they consider all other Muslims heretics. Y
ou forgot to say that they require their women to cover fully (head to toe, only a little slit for the eyes so that they can see where they are being led by thier men).
And what about education , science etc??
And what is wrong with saints and Shiism?
February 16, 2009 at 6:30 pm
This must be a time-honored misunderstanding, as I learned about the conservative brand of Islam, Wahhabism, when I was lived in Saudi Arabia in the seventies, a teenage dependent of an American Aramco employee. I don’t dispute the facts as you have presented them, but I do think it is a shame that Saudi society is so closed that a foreigner can live there for years without really getting to know Saudi people at all. I just found this blog – looking forward to making up for lost time.
February 22, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Thats funny. I just happen to be studying this particular topic in Islam and its Empires.
Of course, your right on all of it!
anthrogeek10
February 22, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Hope said:
“you forgot to say that they consider all other Muslims heretics. Y
ou forgot to say that they require their women to cover fully (head to toe, only a little slit for the eyes so that they can see where they are being led by thier men).
And what about education , science etc??
And what is wrong with saints and Shiism?”
Actually,
“head to toe, only a little slit for the eyes so that they can see where they are being led by thier men).”
Covering is an Islamic practice. The Saudi women do not have to wear niqab (the covering for the face). they do however have to wear hijab and the abaya.
“And what about education , science etc??”
Women are not legally prevented from an education in Saudi Arabia.
“And what is wrong with saints and Shiism?”"
The veneration of saints IS outlawed in KSA because they think that it is a form of shirk (worshipping someone other than Allah). The issue between Shias and Sunnis is mainly political. There are other countries (Bahrain) in thr Gulf where it is practiced.
Educate yourself before spewing venom.
anthrogeek10
March 3, 2009 at 9:21 am
These DEOBANDI and WAHABI fanatics should be dealt with firmly.Root cause of current terrorrism are DEOBANDI and WAHABI fanaticts.
March 14, 2009 at 1:55 pm
The term wahhabi was first used by Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab’s brother Sulaiman in his book “Ash Shaw’iqul Ilahiyah firraddi all Wahabiyah”.
The term was also adopted by the Mufti of Mecca, Sheik Sayid Ahmad Zaini Dahlan who had a personal encounter with the wahhabi bandits when they conquered Mecca. His book entitled “Ad Durarus Saniyah firraddi alal Wahabiyah” has the term wahhabi.
The problem with this movement was its penchant for declaring those who do not follow them as kufur or non believers. They spend to much time in semantic, redefining what constitute bida’ah (innovation) and shirk (or polytheism), and label their opponents, including those who follow the imam madhab guilty of such practice. It was an effective way to identify an enemy and destroy them. The employment of mutawwa is a manifestation of these wahhabi philosophy.
Off course these movement regard the label wahhabi as derogatory because it is associated with its dark past.
Realising this pitfall of promoting distorted version of Islam King Abdullah has recently introduced reform which has now include the madhab scholars in its Ulema Council.
March 14, 2009 at 6:44 pm
The Wahabis, who call themselves Salafis, are a group who had
appeared in the last few centuries and hold beliefs contrary to the
Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah.
They try to pull the wool over our eyes by affiliating themselves
with the Salaf (Sahabah and Tabi’en) but in effect their beliefs and
practices are completely in contradictory with those of the Salaf.
The Wahabis are in essence Mujassimah (anthropomorphists-Those who
attribute
a body to Allah Ta’ala).
They attribute a hand, leg, face etc to Allah Ta’ala, while the
illustrious Ulama of the Ahlus sunnah wal Jama’ah hold fast to the
belief that Allah knows best the meaning of these words.
Similar is the case with all the sifat (qualities) etc in the Quran
ie. the Wahabis take them on there apparent meaning , claiming that
interpreting the Quran is not permissible, while we say that Allah
knows best what it means or at times we interpret it in a suitable
manner.
-The Wahabis reject the permissibility of using a deceased person as
a intermediary in dua, while we hold that it is permissible.
-The Wahabis reject the Ambiyaa being alive in their graves
- The Wahabis hold that Allah is really resting on His throne in the
sky, while we hold that this is from the Mutashabihaat.(Those unclear
statements hose meaning is only known to Allah).
- The Ulama of the Ahlus sunnah wal Jamaa’ah disagree with the
destruction of numerous blessed historical landmarks by the Wahabis.
-The Ulama of the Ahlus sunnah wal Jamaa’ah hold that taqleed of one
mazhab is necessary, while the Wahabis generally do not adhere to a
mazhab and claim that following one imam blindly is Bidah and shirk.
-There are dozens of other differences.
The Wahabis are vehement opponents of the Asharis and Maaturidis, who
constitute the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah and are two groups whose
beliefs are correct. They also vehemently oppose tawassuf.
It is necessary for us to be on our guard against them as they are
very active propagators of their Baatil and false beliefs.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
March 15, 2009 at 7:00 am
Dear Madam
Wahabi i.e Ibn Abdul Wahab Najidi is the enemy od Islam
Who belong to Najidi region of Arab. Prophet Muhammad Pease be upon him has informed muslims that from Najid
” The horn of evil(shaitaan),All major Fitnaas will be born there” (Sahee Bukharii,Sahee Muslim(Mutafaku Aliya))
If Ibn Wahaab was so saviour of Islam why Prophet said that.Down with Najidi(Ibn Wahaab)and also Saudi kingdom.
Mohammad Idrees Bhat
Baramulla ,Jammu AND kashmir
Pin-193101
March 17, 2009 at 3:54 am
Dear Viewers
I can provide numerous facts about Ibn Abdul Wahaab Najidi.
March 23, 2009 at 6:10 pm
The sister who wrote the above article clearly explains that there is no such term as WAHABI. But some of you are still ignorant and arrogant enough to use the word and bash your fellow muslims- subhanaAllah.
Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahaab was a reviver of the SUNNAH- Yes he was a scholar that was a salafi and his work will forever remain prominent for muslims- whether they are in Saudi or anywhere else in the world. If you have issues with your FELLOW muslims, you dont openly bash them online- where is your hikmah?
March 25, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I really thank Saudi Woman for giving us a brief about what Wahabism is. Prophet warned us that there would be 72 Fiqahs before Qiyammah and it seems we’re dividing each other by using derogatory terms. Living in Saudi Arabia, I know there is no such open pratice of Wahabism. Infact, Saudi society is much better and saved from Bidah. Thank You Saudi Woman!
August 13, 2009 at 1:15 pm
It seems you are a product of some Taliban/wahabi madrasa.
March 28, 2009 at 8:47 am
This is in reply to the write up posted by juggyguggy who dare not to reveal his identity. Without prejudice let me state honestly and I pray to Allah if I am wrong please show me the right path and if juggyguggy is wrong please show him the right path for there is only one sarate mustaqeem the right path which goes straight to jannah. I hubly suggest this man to Read and Research this will inshahallah help him to shed doubts from his mind. Please see my esponse below:
juggyguggy Says:
March 14, 2009 at 6:44 pm
The Wahabis, who call themselves Salafis, are a group who had
appeared in the last few centuries and hold beliefs contrary to the
Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah. This is absolutely not correct. In fact they are the group of people who are actually ahle sunnah wal jamah (ASWJ) since the time of prophet Mohammed saw. You are pseudo ASWJ. You are misguided and heretics. You are guided by some soofi somewhere some saint some where who did this who did that and so on. You never thought to refer to koran you never felt like refering to sahee hadees when ever in your whole life time even once referred to any hadees you referred with an intention to justify your aqeedah and deeds and never ever to seek truth.
They try to pull the wool over our eyes by affiliating themselves
with the Salaf (Sahabah and Tabi’en) but in effect their beliefs and
practices are completely in contradictory with those of the Salaf. Do you know the beliefs and practices of Sahaba RA and salfe saleheen. I think you know nothing.
The Wahabis are in essence Mujassimah (anthropomorphists-Those who
attribute
a body to Allah Ta’ala). This is an absolute lie. They believe in ayat Lais Kamislahi Shai. Nothing like him. Dont attribute such a big lie to them. How would you face Allah on the day of Judgement.
They attribute a hand, leg, face etc to Allah Ta’ala, while the
illustrious Ulama of the Ahlus sunnah wal Jama’ah hold fast to the
belief that Allah knows best the meaning of these words. Yes they believe this because it is mentioned in Quran it is mentioned in Hadees but they do not attribute kafiya. Like Imam Malik RA was once asked about Astawa. Imam Malik RA replied Astawa maloom kaifya majhool and asking on this subject is biddah. Similarly Legs, Hands, Wajd eyes are mentioned in Quran And hadees but we dont know anything about kaifya because allah knows best about kaifya it was not mentioned. They do not unncessary ask and discuss on this subject as SAHABA did when ever any ayat revealed on this subject they used to have firm belief on that but nevered asked about kafia. Whether it is Arrahman Ala Al Arsh Al astawa or the hadees that Prophet Mohammed SAW said that Dajjal has one eye and your rab has two. Hear it and believe it simple. Now this hadees will save you from the trap of dajjal when he will proclaim that he is the lord you will deny by remembering this hadees how just think about that.
Similar is the case with all the sifat (qualities) etc in the Quran
ie. the Wahabis take them on there apparent meaning , claiming that
interpreting the Quran is not permissible, while we say that Allah
knows best what it means or at times we interpret it in a suitable Not in meaning but in kaifya Allah knows best.
manner.
-The Wahabis reject the permissibility of using a deceased person as
a intermediary in dua, while we hold that it is permissible.
So does sahaba no example if you have please give authentic reference.
-The Wahabis reject the Ambiyaa being alive in their graves. Impossible why he was buried then you stupid nonsence.
- The Wahabis hold that Allah is really resting on His throne in the
sky, while we hold that this is from the Mutashabihaat.(Those unclear
statements hose meaning is only known to Allah). Replied already
- The Ulama of the Ahlus sunnah wal Jamaa’ah disagree with the
destruction of numerous blessed historical landmarks by the Wahabis. A place of Shirk see for urself in AJMER in INDIA and similar place around the world.
-The Ulama of the Ahlus sunnah wal Jamaa’ah hold that taqleed of one
mazhab is necessary, while the Wahabis generally do not adhere to a
mazhab and claim that following one imam blindly is Bidah and shirk. Sahaba never did it this is another proof that salafees are true representative of sahabas RA
-There are dozens of other differences.
The Wahabis are vehement opponents of the Asharis and Maaturidis, who
constitute the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah and are two groups whose
beliefs are correct. They also vehemently oppose tawassuf. Asharis and Maaturidis are heretics their belief run counter with Quran and Hadees.
It is necessary for us to be on our guard against them as they are
very active propagators of their Baatil and false beliefs. It is necessary for us to befriend with them and learn from them you idiot.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
April 13, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Im a Wahabi
August 13, 2009 at 1:17 pm
You will go hell with abdul wahab Najdi
May 24, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Assalam Alaikum,
I want to know why Muslims can’t buy land in Saudi Arab ?
It is something which is against the shariah and it can be counted as Bid’ah , something Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w) never preached or did he?
and since 1920 when Saud family got hold of Arab why it is that they never asked muslim Ummah to re-establish Khilafah and rather started pallying with America ?
Thanks………Syed Abdul Aziz.
July 6, 2009 at 4:11 am
Those who follow Sheikh Muhammed Ibn Abdul-Wahhab is a wahabi and those who follow Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal is a Hanbali and so on. There are four renowned mazhab agreed by ijma’ ‘ulama and wahabi is not included.
Even arabs in Saudi as sister mentioned during Ibn Wahhab’s time are far away from islam, what about the rest of muslims whose countries have been colonised and westernised? There were many renowned scholars in Makkah during Ibn Wahhab’s time. What happened to them? Because they are not arabs?
July 22, 2009 at 12:25 am
Dear Saudi woman
since we are talking here about tribes.. would you happen to have any link that explains the division of tribes and the subcategories that exist in the present? How can I know from what tribe a person is nowadays?
I have a friend with all these last names:
Almatroud, Alsahali and Saad and I would like to know to which tribe he belongs . Also I would like to know if this is a a traditional tribe or what is this tribe famous for.
Thank you very much for all your wonderful information.
Salam!
July 26, 2009 at 9:36 am
Wahabis are Najdis whom beloved prophet predicted as fitna.
following link illustrates this fact.
August 13, 2009 at 2:00 pm
This is a great post, and a much needed clarification for all, as to what wahabi, salafi, and hanbali mean. I hope you have occasion to publish the information widely, both in the academic and lay presses.
October 15, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Great blog, shame I just fell upon it.
I was wondering if you know that the first to coin the “wahabi” term is actually Sulaiman bin Abdulwahab, his brother and a fellow jurist, in his treaties: “الصواعق الالهية في الرد على الوهابية”
Also, it is historically and terminologically inaccurate to state that by the late 19th century there has been polytheism or paganism in Arabia. It is true, however, that by Abdulwahab’s time in Arabia the practice of saintship and Karamat was rampant. Though as many jurists have debated this does not attain a level of “shirk” or anti-taoheed as long as the belief is that the saint will only bring you closer to God because of his/her Karamat, but the saint is not God.
Keep up the good work, you have a new fan
October 16, 2009 at 3:47 pm
What the hell is american army doing in the Saudi Arabi