For many years and long decades, the discourse and continuous debate have revolved around Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, may Allah have mercy on him, and his call—supporters and opponents, accusers and defenders. What is striking in the words of the Sheikh’s opponents, who attach various accusations to him, is that their speech lacks evidence. There is no witness from his own statements or any basis from his books for what they say. Rather, they are mere claims mentioned by earlier generations and merely repeated by later ones. I do not think any fair-minded person would disagree that the most sound way to know the truth is to refer to the original source and take from the authentic origin. The Sheikh’s books exist, his words are preserved, and by examining them, one can verify the truth or falsehood of what is rumored about him. As for claims devoid of proof, they are a mirage with no reality.
In these pages, I present brief lines from the words of Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, faithfully transcribed from reliable books that compiled his speech. I have done nothing but arrange them. They include responses from the Sheikh himself to the most important accusations leveled against him by his opponents, explicitly stating the opposite of what they claim. I am certain that, by Allah’s grace, they will be sufficient in clarifying the truth for those who seek it. As for those who stubbornly oppose the Sheikh and his call, those persistent in spreading falsehood and disseminating lies, I say to them: Restrain yourselves, for the truth is clear, the religion of Allah is prevailing, and the sun is shining; it cannot be obscured by hands. This is the speech of the Sheikh refuting those claims and dispelling those accusations. If you have any of his words that contradict this, then produce it and do not conceal it… If you do not—and you will not—then I advise you of one thing: That you stand for Allah, free from all bias or partisanship, and sincerely ask Him to show you the truth and guide you to it. Then reflect on what this man says: Did he bring anything other than the words of Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him? Then reflect again: Is there any path to salvation other than speaking truthfully and believing in the truth? If the truth becomes clear to you, then return to sound judgment and adhere to the truth, for it is better than persisting in falsehood. And to Allah all matters return.
The Truth of Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab’s Call
It is appropriate at the outset to quote brief words from Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, may Allah have mercy on him, clarifying the truth of what he calls to, away from the dense veil of propaganda placed by opponents between many people and that call. He says:
“I say, and all praise and favor belong to Allah, and from Him comes strength: My Lord has guided me to a straight path, a true religion, the creed of Abraham, upright, and he was not of those who associate others with Allah. By Allah’s praise, I do not call to any Sufi order, school of jurisprudence (madhhab), theological school (kalam), or any specific Imam whom I greatly respect… Rather, I call to Allah alone, with no partner, and I call to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, which he enjoined upon the first and last of his Ummah. I hope I will not reject the truth if it comes to me. Rather, I call Allah, His angels, and all His creation to witness that if a word of truth comes to us from you, I will accept it with utmost respect and will discard against the wall anything from the sayings of my Imams that contradicts it, except for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, for he only speaks the truth.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/37-38)
“And I—praise be to Allah—am a follower, not an innovator.” (Mu’allafat al-Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab 5/36)
“The correct understanding of the matter is that I say: None should be invoked except Allah alone, with no partner, as Allah Almighty said in His Book: ‘So do not invoke with Allah anyone’ (Qur’an 72:18) and said regarding the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: ‘Say, “Indeed, I do not possess for you [the power of] harm or right guidance.”‘ (Qur’an 72:21) This is the word of Allah and what His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned to us and enjoined upon us… This is what is between me and you. If anything other than this is mentioned, it is a lie and falsehood.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/90-91)
Issue One: The Sheikh’s Belief Concerning the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him
The Sheikh is accused by his enemies of grave accusations related to his belief concerning the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. These accusations are as follows:
First: That he does not believe in the finality of prophethood with the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. So it is said! Yet all of the Sheikh’s books overflow with refuting this misconception and testify to its falsehood. Among his statements is:
“I believe that our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, and no servant’s faith is valid until he believes in his message and testifies to his prophethood.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/32)
“The most fortunate of creation, those with the greatest bliss and highest rank are those who follow him most and are in greatest accordance with him in knowledge and action.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 2/21)
Second: That he belittles the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and does not give him his rightful status. To understand the truth of this claim, I quote some of his words in which he explicitly states his belief concerning the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:
“When Allah, the Exalted, willed to manifest His Oneness, complete His religion, and make His word supreme and the word of the disbelievers inferior, He sent Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the Seal of the Prophets and the beloved of the Lord of the worlds. He has always been famous in every generation and mentioned in the Torah of Moses and the Gospel of Jesus, until Allah brought forth that precious pearl from between Banu Kinanah and Banu Zahrah. He sent him during a gap in messengers, guided him to the straightest path, and he had—before his mission—such signs and proofs of his prophethood that confounded the people of his time. Allah caused him to grow in a beautiful manner; he was the most noble of his people in character, the best of them in morality, the most protective in neighborly ties, the greatest in forbearance, and the most truthful in speech, to the extent that his people called him ‘Al-Ameen’ (the Trustworthy) due to the righteous conditions and pleasing qualities Allah placed in him.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 2/19-20)
“He is the master of intercessors, the possessor of the Praiseworthy Station, with Adam and all beneath him under his banner.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/86)
“The first of the Messengers was Noah, and the last of them and the best of them is Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/143)
“He explained in the most eloquent, complete, and perfect manner. He was the most sincere advisor to Allah’s servants, and he was kind and merciful to the believers. He conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, strove in Allah’s cause as it should be striven, and worshipped Allah until certainty (death) came to him.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 2/21)
He also mentioned, may Allah have mercy on him, that from the meaning of the Prophet’s saying, peace and blessings be upon him: ‘None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child, and all people’ is the obligation of loving him, peace and blessings be upon him, more than oneself, family, and wealth. (Kitab at-Tawhid: 108)
Third: Denial of his intercession, peace and blessings be upon him. The Sheikh himself addresses this misconception, saying:
“Do they claim that we deny the intercession of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him? Glory be to You! This is a great falsehood. Rather, we call Allah to witness that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is the intercessor whose intercession is accepted, the possessor of the Praiseworthy Station. We ask Allah, the Generous, Lord of the Great Throne, to grant us his intercession and to resurrect us under his banner.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/63-64)
“None deny the intercession of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, except the people of innovation and misguidance. However, it only occurs after permission and approval, as Allah Almighty said: ‘And they cannot intercede except for whom He approves’ (Qur’an 21:28) and said: ‘Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?’ (Qur’an 2:255)” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/31)
The Sheikh explains the reason for promoting this false claim, saying:
“These people, when I mentioned to them what Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned, and what the people of knowledge from all groups mentioned—the command to make the religion sincerely for Allah and the prohibition of resembling the People of the Book before us in taking their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah—they said to us: ‘You have degraded the Prophets, the righteous, and the saints.'” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 2/50)
Issue Two: The Family of the Prophet (Ahl al-Bayt)
Among the accusations directed at the Sheikh is that he does not love the Family of the Prophet (Ahl al-Bayt) and belittles their rights. The response to that is that this claim contradicts reality. Rather, he, may Allah have mercy on him, acknowledged their right to love and honor and acted upon it. Indeed, he even criticized those who did not do so.
He, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
“Allah has obligated for the family of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, rights upon the people. It is not permissible for a Muslim to neglect their rights and think that is from Tawhid (monotheism). Rather, that is from extremism. We only objected to honoring them for the sake of claiming divinity for them, and honoring those who claim that.” (Mu’allafat al-Sheikh 5/284)
Whoever contemplates the Sheikh’s biography will find the truth of what is mentioned. It suffices to know that the Sheikh named six of his seven children after the names of the noble Ahl al-Bayt, may Allah be pleased with them: Ali, Abdullah, Husain, Hasan, Ibrahim, and Fatimah. This is clear evidence of the great love and esteem he held for them.
Issue Three: The Miraculous Graces (Karamat) of the Saints
Some people spread that Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab denies the miraculous graces of the saints. This slander is refuted by the fact that the Sheikh, may Allah have mercy on him, stated his clear belief on this matter in several places, contrary to what is spread. Among his statements is, within a text clarifying his creed:
“And I affirm the miraculous graces of the saints.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/32)
I wish I knew how the Sheikh is accused of this when he describes those who deny the miraculous graces of the saints as people of innovation and misguidance, saying:
“None rejects the miraculous graces of the saints except the people of innovation and misguidance.” (Mu’allafat al-Sheikh 1/169)
Issue Four: Excommunication (Takfir)
Among the greatest things spread about the Sheikh and his followers is that they excommunicate the general body of Muslims and that their marriages are invalid except for those who are from them or have migrated to them. The Sheikh refuted this misconception in several places. Among his statements:
“The statement that we excommunicate generally—that is from the slander of the enemies who turn people away from this religion. We say: Glory be to You! This is a great falsehood.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/100)
“They attributed to us various fabrications, so the fitnah became great, and they launched against us the cavalry and infantry of Satan. Among them: Spreading falsehood that a sane person would be ashamed to narrate, let alone be deceived by. And among them: What you mentioned—that I excommunicate all people except those who follow me, and that I claim their marriages are invalid. How strange! How can this enter the mind of a sane person? Would any Muslim say this? I disavow to Allah from this statement, which only comes from one with a disturbed mind and lacking perception. May Allah fight the people of false objectives.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/80)
“I excommunicate the one who knows the religion of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, then after knowing it, reviles it, forbids people from it, and shows enmity to those who practice it. This is the one I excommunicate. And most of the Ummah, praise be to Allah, are not like that.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/73)
Issue Five: The Sect of the Kharijites
Some people accuse the Sheikh of being upon the sect of the Kharijites who excommunicate due to sins. The response to that from the Sheikh’s words is as follows:
He, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“I do not testify for any Muslim that he is in Paradise or Hell except for one whom the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, testified for. But I hope good for the doer of good and I fear for the sinner. And I do not excommunicate any Muslim for a sin, nor do I remove him from the fold of Islam.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/32)
Issue Six: Anthropomorphism (Tajsim)
Among what is circulated about the Sheikh is that he is an anthropomorphist (Mujassim), meaning he likens Allah’s attributes to those of His creation. The Sheikh mentioned his belief in this matter, and it is far removed from what his opponents attach to him. He says:
“From faith in Allah is faith in what He has described Himself with in His Book and on the tongue of His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, without distortion (tahreef) or negation (ta’teel). Rather, I believe that Allah, Glorified and Exalted, ‘There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.’ (Qur’an 42:11) So I do not deny what He has described Himself with, nor do I distort words from their contexts, nor do I deviate in His names and attributes, nor do I inquire into the ‘how’ (takyeef) nor liken (tamtheel) His attributes, Exalted be He, to the attributes of His creation. For He, Glorified be He, has no equal, no peer, no rival, and is not to be compared with His creation. Indeed, He, Glorified be He, knows best about Himself and others, and He is the most truthful in speech and the best in narration. He declared Himself free from what those who engage in ‘how’ and likening from the opponents have described Him with, and from what those who engage in distortion and negation have negated from Him. He said: ‘Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe. And peace upon the messengers. And praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds.’ (Qur’an 37:180-182)” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/29)
“And it is known that negation (ta’teel) is the opposite of anthropomorphism (tajseem), and the people of one are enemies to the people of the other, and the truth is the middle between them.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 3/11)
Issue Seven: Opposing the Scholars
Some people say that Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab opposed all the scholars in what he called to, did not pay attention to their statements, did not rely on their books, but rather came out with something new and brought a fifth school of thought. The best to clarify the reality of the situation is the Sheikh himself, where he says:
“We are followers of the Book, the Sunnah, the righteous predecessors of the Ummah, and the relied-upon statements of the four Imams: Abu Hanifah al-Nu’man ibn Thabit, Malik ibn Anas, Muhammad ibn Idris (al-Shafi’i), and Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on them.” (Mu’allafat al-Sheikh 5/96)
“If you hear that I issued a fatwa with something in which I went against the consensus of the people of knowledge, then confront me with the statement.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/53)
“If you claim that the people of knowledge are upon something contrary to what I am upon, then their books are present.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 2/58)
“I argue with the Hanafi using the words of the later Hanafis, and with the Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali—each I argue with using the words of the later scholars of his school whom they rely upon.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/82)
“In summary, what I reject is: Belief in other than Allah in that which is not permissible for other than Him. If I said it from myself, then reject it. Or if it is from a book I came across that is not acted upon, then reject it likewise. Or if I transmitted it from the people of my school, then reject it. But if I said it based on the command of Allah and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, and based on what the scholars have agreed upon in every school, then it is not fitting for a man who believes in Allah and the Last Day to turn away from it for the sake of the people of his time, or the people of his land, or because most people in his time have turned away from it.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/76)
Conclusion
In conclusion, here are two pieces of advice presented by the Sheikh:
The first: For those who strive against this call and its followers, incite against it, and attach to it various accusations and falsehoods… To these, the Sheikh says:
“I remind those who oppose me that it is obligatory upon people to follow what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, enjoined upon his Ummah. And I say to them: The books are with you; look into them and do not take anything from my speech. But when you know the speech of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, which is in your books, then follow it even if it contradicts most people… Do not obey me, and do not obey anyone except the command of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, which is in your books… And know that nothing will save you except following the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The worldly life is vanishing, and Paradise and Hellfire are such that the sensible person should not forget them.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/89-90)
“I call those who oppose me to four things: Either to the Book of Allah, or to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, or to the consensus of the people of knowledge. If he still stubbornly opposes, then I call him to mutual imprecation (mubahalah).” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/55)
The second advice: For those upon whom the matter has become confused. The Sheikh says:
“Upon you is abundant supplication to Allah and prostrating before Him, especially at times when supplications are answered: like the last part of the night, after the obligatory prayers, and after the adhan. Also, with the transmitted supplications, especially the one mentioned in the Sahih that he, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say: ‘O Allah, Lord of Jibreel, Mika’il, and Israfeel, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You judge between Your servants in that wherein they differ. Guide me to the truth in that which they differ, by Your leave. Indeed, You guide whom You will to a straight path.’ So upon you is insistence with this supplication before the One who answers the distressed when he calls upon Him, and before the One who guided Ibrahim to oppose all people. And say: O Teacher of Ibrahim, teach me.
If opposing people becomes difficult for you, then contemplate the statement of Allah Almighty: ‘Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know. Indeed, they will never avail you against Allah at all.’ (Qur’an 45:18-19) ‘And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah.’ (Qur’an 6:116)
And reflect upon his saying, peace and blessings be upon him, in the Sahih: ‘Islam began as something strange and will return as something strange as it began’, and his saying, peace and blessings be upon him: ‘Indeed, Allah does not take away knowledge…’ to the end of the hadith, and his saying: ‘Upon you is my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-guided Caliphs after me’, and his saying: ‘And beware of newly invented matters, for every innovation is misguidance.’” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 1/42-43)
“If it becomes clear to you that this is the truth in which there is no doubt, and that the obligation is to spread it among the people and teach it to women and men, then may Allah have mercy on the one who fulfills the obligation upon him, repents to Allah, and admits his fault, for the repentant from sin is like one without sin. And perhaps Allah will guide us and you and our brothers to what He loves and is pleased with. And peace.” (Ad-Durar As-Sunniyah 2/43)
See the original post here in Arabic: https://www.dd-sunnah.net/forum/showthread.php?s=6f4db45a61513d88425de5c12d69b328&t=86269