Mushahadati fi al-Mamlaka al-Arabiya al-Saudiya
- Author died
- 1422 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Āthār lil-Nashr wa-al-Tawzīʿ
Mushahadati fi al-Mamlaka al-Arabiya al-Saudiya (My Observations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is a short treatise by the Yemeni Salafi scholar Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadii (d. 1422 AH / 2001 CE), recording his observations during his medical trip to Saudi Arabia and his formal retraction of previous criticisms of the Saudi state .
Background and Composition
The text originated as an audio recording made on Thursday, 15 Rabi' al-Awwal 1422 AH, shortly before al-Wadi'i's death . Al-Wadi'i explained that after falling ill and receiving initial treatment at al-Thawra Hospital in Sanaa, physicians advised him to seek treatment abroad, recommending Saudi Arabia for its medical facilities . Despite prior reluctance and previous imprisonment in Medina and Riyadh, he agreed to travel after scholar Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin interceded on his behalf with Saudi authorities to secure entry for medical care .
Upon arriving in Riyadh, al-Wadi'i was received by officials from the Ministry of Interior, lodged in a hotel, and admitted to a hospital for approximately ten days . He was subsequently transferred to Jeddah, where he met with the Minister of Interior, Prince Nayef, who offered to arrange treatment abroad in any country of his choice; the United States was chosen due to specialized advanced care for liver ailments . Al-Wadi'i also traveled to Mecca, staying at the Dar al-Azhar hotel and performing acts of worship at the Grand Mosque .
Content and Themes
The treatise addresses several key topics relating to his stay, his assessment of the Saudi state, and theological-political clarifications:
- Retraction of Criticisms: Al-Wadi'i explicitly recanted his earlier criticisms of the Saudi government, stating that he made the declaration voluntarily to clear his conscience before death and out of gratitude for the state's hospitality and aid . He instructed his publisher, Sa'id bin Umar Hubayshan of Dar al-Athar, to remove past critical remarks against Saudi Arabia from future printings of his books .
- Denial of Takfir and Rejection of Extremism: He refuted accusations that he ever declared the Saudi state to be disbelieving (takfir), affirming that it is a Muslim state . When asked about Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, al-Wadi'i rejected claims that he had endorsed a book of takfir by him, dismissing al-Maqdisi as an unqualified individual whose writings are filled with errors, and noting that he had previously directed his student Abd al-Aziz al-Bura'i to critique a manuscript sent by al-Maqdisi .
- Security and Application of Islamic Law: Al-Wadi'i praised the state's enforcement of Islamic legal penalties (hudud and qisas), attributing the low crime rates and widespread safety in the country to adherence to the Quran and Sunnah . He commended King Fahd for supporting the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice with approximately 300 vehicles .
- Hajj Services and Public Works: He highlighted the state's management and expansion of the Two Holy Mosques, security arrangements for pilgrims, and preventative measures such as fireproof tents in Mina . He also praised the incorporation of prayer rooms on hospital floors, as well as Saudi humanitarian projects in Yemen, including al-Salam Hospital in Sa'dah and another hospital in Hajjah providing free medical treatment and surgeries .
- Support for Sunnah Scholars: He commended the state's honoring of scholars of orthodox creed, framing it as adherence to the counsel of King Abdulaziz, while warning against empowering sectarian or partisan groups .
Reception and Publication
The booklet includes an introduction by al-Wadi'i's successor at Dar al-Hadith in Dammaj, Yahya bin Ali al-Hajuri, dated 22 Muharram 1426 AH . Al-Hajuri presented the work as evidence of al-Wadi'i's adherence to truth and willingness to correct past stances, citing precedents from early Islamic authorities on the nobility of retracting erroneous judgments . Al-Hajuri emphasized that continued polemics regarding al-Wadi'i's past statements on Saudi Arabia should be dismissed as baseless agitation following this publication .
Answer updated