Wahhabism, also known as Salafism, is a branch of Sunni Islam that emerged in the 18th century in central Arabia. It is a puritanical and conservative interpretation of Islam that insists on a literal interpretation of the Koran. Wahhabis believe that they are adherents of the true, authentic Islam and that all those who don't practice their form of Islam are heathens and enemies. They are vehemently opposed to Sufism and Shi'ism, which they consider to be polytheistic. Wahhabis also reject the veneration of shrines, tombs, and sacred objects, and they enforce strict codes of public behaviour, including mandatory observance of Islamic rituals and gender segregation. Wahhabism is prevalent in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where it is the dominant faith.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
View of other faiths | All those who don't practice their form of Islam are heathens and enemies |
View of other Muslims | Those who don't follow their interpretation of Islam are kafirs (deniers of God), mushrik (putting gods next to God) or enervators (the lightest accusation) |
View of Shia Muslims | Heretics |
View of Sufis | Heretics |
What You'll Learn
- Wahhabis believe that followers of other faiths are heathens and enemies
- They believe that the Prophet Muhammad should not be revered
- They believe that Muslims should not make intercessory prayers to God through the Prophet or saints
- They believe that the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam is the only true form of Islam
- They believe that followers of other faiths should be humiliated and destroyed
Wahhabis believe that followers of other faiths are heathens and enemies
Wahhabism is a branch of Sunni Islam that insists on a literal interpretation of the Koran. Strict Wahhabis believe that all those who don't practice their form of Islam are heathens and enemies. Wahhabism is the dominant faith in Saudi Arabia, and has been for over two centuries.
Wahhabis believe that their form of Islam is the only true form of Islam, and that all other ways of practising Islam are wrong. They believe that the Koran and the Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet) are the only sources of doctrine, and that any other sources are innovations (bid'ah). Wahhabis believe that the correct worship of God is the criterion for being a Muslim, and that any act or statement that indicates devotion to a being other than God is tantamount to idolatry (shirk).
Wahhabis believe that the core of Islam is Tawhid (monotheism) and that any act that implies worship for another creature makes one an idolater. Wahhabis believe that Muslims who disagree with their definition of monotheism are not misguided Muslims, but outside the pale of Islam altogether. Wahhabis believe that the criterion for one's standing as a Muslim is correct worship as an expression of belief in one God.
Wahhabis believe that the Wahhabi mission, or da'wah Wahhabiyya, is the idea of spreading Wahhabism throughout the world. They believe that Islam is a complete way of life which has prescriptions for all aspects of life. Wahhabis believe that there are three objectives for Islamic government and society: to believe in Allah, enjoin good behaviour, and forbid wrongdoing.
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They believe that the Prophet Muhammad should not be revered
Wahhabis believe that Prophet Muhammad should not be revered and that any act or statement that indicates devotion to a being other than God is to associate another creature with God's power, and that is tantamount to idolatry (shirk).
Wahhabis believe that Prophet Muhammad should not be revered because they believe that the criterion for one's standing as either a Muslim or an unbeliever is correct worship as an expression of belief in one God. They believe that any act or statement that indicates devotion to a being other than God is to associate another creature with God's power, and that is tantamount to idolatry (shirk).
Wahhabis believe that Prophet Muhammad's name should not be recited during congregational prayers and that Muslims should not make intercessory prayers to God through the Prophet or saints. They believe that Muslims should not revere the dead and that Muslims should not make pilgrimages to tombs and shrines of Muslim saints.
Wahhabis believe that Prophet Muhammad's name should not be inscribed in mosques and that Muslims should not celebrate the Prophet's birthday. They believe that Muslims should not pray to God while visiting tombs, including the tomb of Prophet Muhammad. They believe that Muslims should not direct their prayers to Prophet Muhammad or saints, but only to God.
Wahhabis believe that Prophet Muhammad's teachings should not be interpreted by scholars and that Muslims should not blindly follow any madhhabs (schools of thought) of Islamic jurisprudence. They believe that Muslims should ground Islamic principles solely on the Quran and Hadith, rejecting much material derived within Islamic culture.
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They believe that Muslims should not make intercessory prayers to God through the Prophet or saints
Wahhabism is a branch of Sunni Islam that follows the teachings of Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, after whom the movement is named. It is the dominant form of Sunni Islam found in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, as well as some pockets of Somalia, Algeria, Palestine, and Mauritania.
Wahhabism is often regarded as a strict and uncompromising interpretation of Islam, and its adherents are often accused of deviating from traditional Shari'a law. They believe that Muslims should not make intercessory prayers to God through the Prophet or saints. They also reject the practice of venerating saints and visiting their tombs and shrines, which were widespread among the people of Najd, the central Arabian region where Wahhabism was established.
Wahhabis believe that their interpretation of Islam is the one true form, and that all other forms are deviations. They see themselves as adherents of the "true, authentic Islam" or "original Islam" that existed during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. They advocate a return to the original teachings of Islam as incorporated in the Quran and the Sunnah (traditions of Muhammad), with a condemnation of all other sources of doctrine as innovations (bid'ah).
Wahhabism is closely associated with the Athari (traditionalist) school of theology, which is characterized by a reliance on the literal or apparent meaning of the Quran and hadith. They emphasize the importance of Tawhid, or the oneness of God, and oppose practices that they believe imply polytheism (shirk).
The Wahhabi movement is not without its critics, who argue that it fosters intolerance, promotes simplistic theology, and restricts Islam's capacity to adapt to diverse and shifting circumstances. Some critics also accuse Wahhabism of being a misguided creed that deviates from traditional Islamic law and promotes extremist ideologies.
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They believe that the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam is the only true form of Islam
Wahhabism is a branch of Sunni Islam that is considered by its followers to be the only true form of Islam. It is a strict and conservative interpretation of Islam that insists on a literal interpretation of the Koran. It is named after Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, an eighteenth-century Hanbali scholar.
Wahhabism is the dominant form of Sunni Islam in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, as well as some pockets of Somalia, Algeria, Palestine, and Mauritania. It is also the official creed in Saudi Arabia, where it has been the dominant faith for over two centuries.
Wahhabis believe that their interpretation of Islam is the only true form of Islam, and that all other interpretations are incorrect. They believe that the Koran should be interpreted literally and that all those who do not practice their form of Islam are heathens and enemies. They hold in contempt any deviations in belief and practice found in other Muslim communities and spurn Bid'ah, or innovations separate from the doctrines and practices set out by the Qur'an.
Wahhabis believe that the rest of the Muslim community should emulate their "proper" view of Islam. They see themselves as adherents of the true, authentic Islam, or the so-called original Islam that existed in the time of the Prophet. They believe that Islam has been corrupted by other interpretations and that it is their duty to restore Islam to its pure form.
Wahhabis are particularly vehement towards Islamic mystics, the Sufis, for their attempts to experience Allah personally rather than through strict adherence to Islamic law. They also oppose the veneration of Muslim saints and pilgrimages to their tombs and shrines, which were widespread among the people of Najd, the central Arabian region where Wahhabism originated.
Wahhabis believe that Muslims who do not follow their interpretation of Islam are not simply misguided Muslims but are outside the pale of Islam altogether. They believe that the criterion for being a Muslim is correct worship as an expression of belief in one God and that any act or statement that indicates devotion to a being other than God is tantamount to idolatry (shirk).
Wahhabis are known for their policy of "compelling its own followers and other Muslims strictly to observe the religious duties of Islam" and for the "enforcement of public morals to a degree not found elsewhere". They emphasize the "purification of Islam", which can be very repressive to followers. While other Muslims might urge salat prayer, modest dress, and abstention from alcohol, for Wahhabis, these practices are not only urged but publicly required of men. For example, not only is modest dress prescribed, but the type of clothing that should be worn, especially by women, is specified (a black abaya, covering all but the eyes and hands). Not only is wine forbidden, but so are "all intoxicating drinks and other stimulants, including tobacco".
Wahhabis are not unanimous in what is forbidden as a sin. Some Wahhabi preachers or activists go further than the official Saudi Arabian Council of Senior Scholars in forbidding certain practices, such as playing football, which is considered a non-Muslim and foreign practice.
Wahhabis believe that Islam forbids the travelling or working outside the home by a woman without her husband's permission. They also believe that sexual intercourse out of wedlock may be punished with flogging.
Wahhabis believe that it is imperative for Muslims not to befriend, ally themselves with, or imitate non-Muslims or heretical Muslims, and that this "enmity and hostility of Muslims toward non-Muslims and heretical must be visible and unequivocal".
Wahhabis believe that armed jihad is a sacred endeavour that must have a valid religious justification and can only be declared by an Imam. They believe that the purpose of combat is to safeguard the community from the aggression and military attacks by various external threats.
Wahhabis have been criticized by other Muslims for going beyond the bounds of Islam in their restricted definition of tawhid (Islamic monotheistic tenets) and for being too willing to commit takfir (excommunicate) Muslims found in violation of Wahhabi doctrines. They have also been criticized for rejecting taqlid (imitation of juristic precedent) and advocating for the opening of ijtihad (independent legal judgement).
Wahhabism has been variously characterized by historians as "orthodox", "puritan(ical)", or "revolutionary", while its adherents describe it as an Islamic "reform movement" to restore "pure monotheistic worship".
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They believe that followers of other faiths should be humiliated and destroyed
Wahhabism is a strict form of Sunni Islam that insists on a literal interpretation of the Koran. Adherents of Wahhabism believe that all those who don't practice their form of Islam are heathens and enemies.
Wahhabis believe that followers of other faiths should be humiliated and destroyed. They believe that the lives of Shias, Sufis, and other supposedly unorthodox Muslims should be extinguished and that all other faiths should be humiliated and destroyed.
Wahhabis believe that the Wahhabi form of Islam is the one true form of Islam. They believe that theirs is the one true form of Islam and that all other forms are deviations. They believe that all other forms of Islam are wrong.
Wahhabis believe that followers of other faiths are infidels and enemies. They believe that all other faiths should be humiliated and destroyed. They believe that the lives of those who follow other faiths should be extinguished.
Wahhabis believe that followers of other faiths should be converted to Wahhabism. They believe that those who do not convert should be humiliated and destroyed. They believe that followers of other faiths are infidels and enemies.
Wahhabis believe that followers of other faiths should be treated with intolerance and violence. They believe that followers of other faiths are inferior and should be subjugated. They believe that followers of other faiths should be discriminated against and persecuted.
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Frequently asked questions
Wahhabism is a branch of Sunni Islam that advocates for a return to the original teachings of Islam as incorporated in the Quran and the Sunnah (traditions of Muhammad). It is considered the dominant form of Sunni Islam in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and some pockets of Somalia, Algeria, Palestine, and Mauritania.
Wahhabis believe in the absolute oneness of God (Tawhid) and reject all acts that imply polytheism (shirk), such as visiting tombs and venerating saints. They also condemn any deviations in belief and practice found in other Muslim communities and spurn Bid’ah, or any innovation separate from the doctrines and practices set out by the Quran.
Wahhabism was founded in the 18th century by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, after whom the movement is named. It was initially established in the central Arabian region of Najd and later spread to other parts of the Arabian Peninsula.
Wahhabis believe that theirs is the one true form of Islam and that all those who don't practice their form of Islam are heathens and enemies. They regard non-Wahhabi Muslims as either kafirs (deniers of God) or mushrik (those who put gods next to God). They also believe that followers of other faiths are not accepted by God and should be hated, persecuted, or even killed.
Wahhabism has spread globally through the funding of mosques, schools, education materials, and scholarships by the Saudi government and charities. Additionally, the discovery of oil in Arabia in the 20th century gave Wahhabism a "preeminent position of strength" in Islam worldwide.