A Crucial Historical Correction Regarding Ibn Abdul Wahhab and the Najdi Da’wah
Often, those who criticize the Najdi Da’wah and Imam Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab present a one-sided narrative. A crucial, missing part of the story is what his opponents first thought of him and his call.
The reality is that the very takfir (declaration of disbelief) he is accused of was freely practiced against him and his followers from the beginning.
Imam Ibn Abdul Wahhab himself wrote in a letter to the people of the Maghrib:
و لهذا قال غير واحد من العلماء يجب هدم القبب المبنية على القبور لأنها أسست على معصية الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم . فهذا هو الذي أوجب الاختلاف بيننا و بين الناس حتى آل بهم الأمر إلى أن كفرونا و قاتلونا و استحلوا دماءنا و أموالنا
Translation: “For this reason, more than one scholar has said it is obligatory to demolish the domes built over graves because they are founded upon disobedience to the Messenger (peace be upon him). This is what caused the disagreement between us and the people, until it led them to declare us disbelievers, fight us, and make our blood and wealth permissible.” [Tasheeh Khata’ Tarikhi Hawl al-Wahhabiyyah, 1/171]
Historical Evidence from Their Opponents:
The Sufi historian Ahmad Zayni Dahlan (a critic) records in his book Fitnat al-Wahhabiyyah that the Najdis sent emissaries to the scholars of Makkah and Madinah (Haramayn) at the VERY BEGINNING to peacefully debate.
What was the result?
Sufi Zayni Dahlan writes that Najdi Hanbalis were imprisoned, and some of them escaped back to Diriyah. This was during the reign of Sharif Mas’ud ibn Sa’id (d. 1165 AH).
It escalated further:
“و صار أمراء مكة بعد ذلك يمنعون وصولهم للحج”
“And the leaders of Makkah after that prevented them from reaching (Makkah) for Hajj.” [Fitnat al-Wahhabiyyah, p. 71]
So, the historical sequence shows:
1. Najdis presented their call for debate.
2. They were declared kafir, imprisoned, and barred from Hajj.
3. They were attacked first. Only then did they fight back in defense.
The Power of Truth: Notable Retractions
Perhaps the most powerful testimony is that scholars from the opposing side, upon engaging in real dialogue with Najdi scholars, recognized the truth and retracted their position.
For example:
What indicates the firmness of the Najdis (in their creed and scholarly confidence) is that a number of Ashʿari scholars returned to the truth after debating some of their own teachers. For example, al‑Talmisani returned (i.e., renounced his former position) after debating Ahmad bin ʿIsa al‑Najdi (the commentator of an‑Nūniyyah). Similarly, Shaykh Abu Bakr Khawqir al‑Makki, the author of Mukhtasar Khawqir in the Hanbali school, was also a student of Zayn al‑Dahlān, but he came back to the Hanbali Salafi doctrine. After Shaykh Ahmad bin Isa met him who was the one who advised Sharif ‘Awn bin Muhammad bin ‘Abd al‑Mu‘in bin ‘Awn and convinced him to remove the domes built over graves, so the Sharif ordered their demolition.
Before King Abdulaziz – may Allah have mercy on him – entered Makkah, the leaders of Makkah of became aware of Sheikh Abu Bakr Khawqir’s call to combat innovations and superstitions. They thus restricted his means of preaching and forbade him from teaching. When they saw his adherence to his creed, the creed of pure monotheism, and his steadfastness in his call, they ordered his arrest. He was imprisoned with criminals in a solitary cell in the year 1339 AH, imprisoned without investigation or trial. He remained in his prison until King Abdulaziz – may God have mercy on him – entered Makkah, upon which he was released along with many wrongfully imprisoned individuals.
[See: Mashahir ‘Ulama’ Najd by Al-Bassam pages 300 onward]Conclusion:
When discussing this history,we must be fair and complete. The narrative that the Najdis were mere aggressors who started with takfir and violence ignores the documented persecution, intellectual oppression, and defensive struggle they faced from established authorities. The subsequent conversion of learned opponents to their creed speaks volumes about its scriptural strength.
Credits: Shaykh Kabir al Asfar