Dawat al-Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Salafiyya la Wahhabiyya
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- Dawat al-Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Salafiyya la Wahhabiyya
Dawat al-Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Salafiyya la Wahhabiyya (The Call of Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab: Salafi, Not Wahhabi) is an Arabic treatise by Ahmad ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah al-Husayn (known as Abu Abd Allah) on the theological foundations and history of the 12th-century AH reform movement of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1115–1206 AH) . The work focuses on vindicating the movement against accusations of theological innovation and sect-formation by arguing that it represented a continuation of early Islamic orthodoxy (Salafiyya) rather than a novel school (Wahhabiyya) .
Background and Purpose
The author composed the book as a rebuttal against critics and detractors of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab's reform movement . In his introduction, al-Husayn describes the religious and political circumstances of the Muslim world, criticizing grave-visitation practices, saint veneration, and contemporary ideological deviations, while drawing parallels to the state of Najd prior to the rise of the reform movement . He contends that adversaries popularized the designation "Wahhabism" to alienate the public from the call, which he defines as an effort to restore pure monotheism (tawhid), enforce Islamic law, and dismantle superstitious innovations .
The work includes a formal foreword (taqdim) by Shaykh Abd al-Aziz ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al al-Shaykh, an advisor at the Saudi Royal Court, who commended the treatise for its grounding in the objectives of Islamic law (maqasid al-sharia) and its defense of the movement's Salafi aims .
Structure and Contents
The book is organized into thematic chapters (abwab) that combine biographical history, political chronology, and polemical refutations:
- Life and Lineage of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab: Covers his genealogy within the Tamim tribe, his family background of scholars and jurists in Najd, and his early education (Chapter 4) .
- The Alliance with Diriyah: Examines his departure from Uyaynah, his arrival in Diriyah, and the pact established between him and Amir Muhammad ibn Saud (Chapter 11) .
- Saudi Political History: Chronicles the expansion and succession of the Saudi state, including the establishment of the Second Saudi State from 1238 to 1309 AH (1819–1890 CE) (Chapter 14) .
- Refutation of Polemical Accusations: Addresses specific claims raised by opponents, such as the allegation that Ibn Abd al-Wahhab claimed prophethood, citing and responding to arguments made by critics such as Ibn Afaliq and Alawi ibn Ahmad al-Haddad (Chapter 18) .
- Internal and Scholarly Opposition: Discusses the opposition Ibn Abd al-Wahhab faced from his brother, Sulayman ibn Abd al-Wahhab, and the events surrounding his dissent in Huraymila (Chapter 19) .
- Impact Across the Islamic World: Details the religious and intellectual influence of the movement outside the Arabian Peninsula (Chapter 21) .
Publication
The book was cataloged by the King Fahd National Library in 1420 AH (circa 1999–2000 CE) and published in Riyadh by Dar Alam al-Kutub .
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