For simply abhorring acts of Shirk (polytheism) and bida’a (innovations) in Islam, I’m labeled a Wahabi not just by non-Muslims but also by heterodox Muslim sects and many Muslims in my country who are extremely ignorant about Islam and its basic beliefs.
People use this word wahabi to refer to those who believe in the message of Sheikh Muhammad bin abduAlwahab may Allah be pleased with him who called to nothing but Islam.
The sheikh, one of the greatest personalities in the Islamic history, brought people in Arabia out of darkness into light. But like all great people who bring goodness to this world, he had enemies.
His enemies were against him because he called people who practiced acts of bida’a to return to Islam, the true call of Islam. And that is worshiping Allah alone without associating any partners in His worship. And since they could not prove the sheikh’s call wrong, the label wahabi came into existence to create confusion and more hate against the Sheikh.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him): “If you ask, then ask of Allah, and if you seek help then seek help from Allah.”
One of the acts which go against Islam, that people practiced at the Sheikh’s time and many actually still do in the Muslim world, is going to the pious’ shrines seeking their help. This goes against the basis of Islam. It’s major shirk. And the sheikh simply called to worship and seek help from the Creator, not the created.
I simply don’t understand how the dead can help, and I do not understand why I should pray to and seek help from a human being like me.
“Now those beings that some people invoke beside God cannot create anything, since they themselves are but created. they are dead, not living, and they do not [even] know when they will be raised from the dead! Quran 16:20-21
So wahabism does not exist. It is just a label given to to those who stick to the Quran and the Sunnah (Prophet’s recorded actions and sayings) by people of shirk and bida’a.
What I meant by innovation here is:
any contrived religious matter that infringes upon the jurisdiction of Islamic Law and is done as an act of devotion.
Innovations in formal acts of worship are forbidden. We cannot worship Allah in any manner except the manner that He prescribed for us by way of His Messenger (peace be upon him).
I was just talking about innovations regarding acts of worship in Islam.
Thank you for your comment.
First , no such thing as wahabism. It’s just a label given to Islam and Muslims by saint and grave worshippers.
Second, Islam is perfect. Why add something as an act of worship to a perfect religion? Inventing a new act of worship means Islam to me is not perfect.
I hope I got what you meant by ’bida’a hasana’ right. If not then please explain what you meant by it.
Ibn Wahhab was so extreme and his ideology so intolerant that he was disowned by his own father and his brother wrote a damning book against him, that book is banned in Saudi Arabia till this day.
The Wahhab ideology is one where anything that may be seen s distracting from worship is attacked. That is why, for instance, cinemas are banned in that cruel Kingdom.
Do not be fooled by the whitewashing of this writer, Ibn Wahhab’s call was not just the worship of one God as Muslims already do, but we placed himself as the decider as to who is or isn’t a Muslim.
Wahhabism was established in the Arabian peninsula through widespread violence and British arms.
Look at Saudi Arabia today. Women can’t drive, the sexes can’t intermix, there are public beheadings for lovers, girls who are rapped are punished instead of their victimizers, and recently a widow in her 80s was sentences to 40 lashes all because she was in the private company of her young nephew and his friend who came over to deliver bread. This is a grotesque country under a backward, vile clerical rule. This writer is just a pathetic apologist for bigotry, injustice and violence.
She has defended that pig known as Ibn Wahhab before without any shame. Maybe she needs a personal lesson in Wahhabism to understand that it is wrong.