Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Da'iyat al-Tawhid wa al-Tajdid fi al-Asr al-Hadith
- Author died
- 1416 AH
- Editions
- Idārat al-Thaqāfah wa-al-Nashr, Jāmiʻat al-Imām Muḥammad ibn Saʻūd al-Islāmīyah
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Da'iyat al-Tawhid wa al-Tajdid fi al-Asr al-Hadith (Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab: Caller to Monotheism and Renewal in the Modern Era) is a scholarly treatise by the Iraqi scholar and man of letters Muhammad Bahjat al-Athari (1322–1416 AH / 1904–1996 CE), examining the reformist call, core theological principles, and revivalist impact of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab .
Background and Composition
The work originated when the leadership of Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh invited Muhammad Bahjat al-Athari to contribute to an academic symposium dedicated to the study of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab . In his opening remarks, al-Athari noted his initial hesitation to write on a subject whose source materials and native historical environment belonged to the scholars of Najd, before deciding to accept the invitation and offer an analytical evaluation .
Methodology and Themes
Unlike conventional biographical works that focus primarily on chronological narratives of political and military events, al-Athari's study focuses on the internal substance, foundations, methodology, and spreading of the reform movement .
The work addresses several core themes:
- Intellectual and Religious Stagnation: Al-Athari contextualizes the rise of the movement against the prevailing intellectual inertia, imitation (taqlid), and theological innovations (bida') that had spread across Muslim societies in prior centuries .
- Monotheism and Religious Unity: The author depicts Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab as a reformer who rejected sectarian fractionalization, calling Muslims back to the original source texts—the Quran and the prophetic Sunnah—and restoring uncompromising monotheism (tawhid) .
- Countering Misconceptions: Al-Athari addresses historical polemics against the reform call, arguing that the designation "Wahhabism" was promoted as a polemical label under Ottoman political opposition to depict the revivalist movement as an illicit innovation rather than an adherence to orthodox prophetic teachings .
Publication and Reception
The book was published in Riyadh by Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University through its Department of Culture and Publishing in Sha'ban 1404 AH (May 1984 CE), and a second edition was issued in 1406 AH .
The publication includes a preface by Dr. Abdullah ibn Abdulmohsen Al-Turki, then rector of the university, who commended al-Athari's analytical depth, balanced judgment, and literary presentation, distinguishing it from conventional historical compilations .
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