al-Mustatab fi Asbab Najah Dawat al-Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab
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- The book is published on the website of the Saudi Ministry of Awqaf without publication details
al-Mustatab fi Asbab Najah Dawat al-Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (The Pleasant Treatise on the Reasons for the Success of the Da'wah of Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab) is a contemporary monograph by the Saudi scholar Abd al-Rahman ibn Yusuf al-Rahma, dedicated to examining the historical, religious, and methodological factors behind the success, spread, and continuity of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab's reform movement.
Background and Purpose
The author explains in his introduction that at a time when the Muslim community is engaged in self-examination and seeking a return to its original foundational sources—the Quran and the Sunnah according to the understanding of the righteous early generations (al-Salaf al-Salih)—it became necessary to outline the distinguishing features and causes of the endurance of the Wahhabi reformist movement. Al-Rahma noted that he initially hoped other scholars would author such an analysis, but took up the task himself after seeing that others were occupied with other commitments.
Structure and Content
The work consists of an introduction, an introductory essay, two main analytical divisions outlining summary and detailed causes, and a conclusion.
Introductory Essay and Summary Reasons
Following the introduction, the book features a section titled "Why We Love This Da'wah and Why It Succeeded and Endured," which serves as a prelude to ten concisely enumerated summary factors (al-asbab al-mujmalah):
- Adherence to wisdom, good admonition, gentleness, ease, and avoiding harshness and alienation.
- Combating religious innovations (bida') and warning against them.
- The comprehensive scope (shumuliyyah) of the call.
- Centrist balance (wasatiyyah) in discourse and practice.
- Balanced respect for the scholars of the Muslim community without exaggeration or neglect.
- Distance from narrow factionalism (hizbiyyah) and tribalism.
- Complete emulation of the early generations (al-Salaf) across all domains.
- Strength of faith and sincerity of purpose among its imams and scholars.
- Dedication, personal sacrifice, and active effort in supporting the call.
- Its emergence in a time of religious decline and departure from the correct path, creating a widespread receptivity for renewal.
Detailed Reasons
The core of the book elaborates on ten detailed causes (al-asbab al-mufassalah):
- First Reason: Its central call to pure monotheism (tawhid) and prioritization of creed.
- Second Reason: Strict adherence to the Prophetic Sunnah and eagerness to follow it.
- Third Reason: High esteem for sacred learning (al-ilm al-shar'i), in its acquisition, foundational principles, and derivative applications.
- Fourth Reason: Its alliance with a ruling authority that supported and championed it, beginning with the historical pact between Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and Imam Muhammad ibn Saud, uniting theological argumentation with political and military strength—a factor highlighted by Sheikh Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz as among the most decisive reasons for its success.
- Fifth Reason: The openness and clarity of the movement, remaining completely free of secrecy or underground activities.
- Sixth Reason: Affiliation purely with Islam and the Sunnah, avoiding sectarian labels and names.
- Seventh Reason: Commitment to the unity of the community (luzum al-jama'ah) and prohibition of discord.
- Eighth Reason: Commitment to enjoining good and forbidding evil.
- Ninth Reason: Employing the jurisprudence of Sharia objectives (fiqh al-maqasid al-shar'iyyah) grounded in recognized legal maxims.
- Tenth Reason: Adherence to the divine orientation (rabbaniyyah) of Islam.
The treatise concludes with a brief summary (al-khatimah) wrapping up the presentation across seventy-eight pages.
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