Every year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is honored with the opportunity to host millions of guests who come here to fulfill their obligation towards Allah, by performing Haj or Umrah. Many of these pilgrims come to Saudi Arabia with mixed feelings. For them Saudi Arabia is not only the land of the two Holy mosques, home to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), but also the country of Sheik Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab and the land of “Wahabism” as they call it. Even though the life of Sheik Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab, his writings & teachings are well known, published and accessible to everybody who is interested, whatever is said about him is filled with both facts and fictions. The correct way of analyzing this subject has to be based on the known writings and statements of the person we are about to talk about. If any criticism is made but quotes are never given, doubts are appropriate. “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah, as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety. And fear Allah, for Allah is well acquainted with all that you do.” (al-Maaidah, Verse 8) During the time of Sheik Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab people were again caught in ignorance, abandoned the clear teachings of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and had returned to Shirk. Sufi orders practiced things that could only be called Islamic if one would totally ignore both the Qur'an and the Sunnah. People would sing, dance and play musical instruments, calling it worship of Allah; polytheistic practices (such as the cult of grave-worship) were widespread. The gravesites of righteous people were visited and prayers were offered to seek their support or intercession with Allah. Mausoleums were built over Abu Talib's gravesite as well as over the gravesite of Khadeejah. Sheiks of the Sufi orders or righteous people were admired as Saints and worshipped. Although they did not call these visits pilgrimage, in essence it was the same. For some of them, visiting the Prophet's grave was more important than performing Haj. The basic teachings of Sheik Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab confronted all these un-Islamic practices, not more and not less. “And verily, we have sent among every Nation a messenger proclaiming: ‘Worship Allah alone and eschew all false gods.” (al-Nahl, Verse 36) “I created not the jinn and mankind except to worship Me alone.” (Al-Dhaariyaat, Verse 56) It is based on these clear verses of the glorious Qur'an that ibn Abdul Wahab began his mission and carried it on throughout his lifetime. “Verily, the one who mixes partners in worship with Allah (Shirk), then Paradise has been made forbidden for him and his final abode will be the hellfire. And the wrongdoers will not have any helpers.” (Al-Maaidah, Verse 72) Paradise is forbidden for the one who commits shirk. Shirk wipes out all of one's good deeds and it leads one to abide in hellfire eternally. Whoever places intermediaries between himself and Allah, calling unto them and asking help or intercession from them, and seeking reliance in them, has committed shirk according the following statements of Allah: “And those who take supporters besides Allah, they say: we don't worship them except for the purpose of bringing us closer to Allah.” (AS Zumar, Verse 3) But Allah declares them disbelievers and liars because of this statement of theirs. “And they worship besides Allah that which can neither harm them nor benefit them, and they say: These are our intercessors before Allah.” (Yoonus, Verse 18) To all the ones who opposed his struggle for true Tawheed in his lifetime, Sheik Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab once wrote: “I remind those who oppose me that the obligation upon the people is to follow what the Prophet informed his ummah with, his Sunnah. And I say to them: The books are with you. Look in them and do not take any of my speech. However when you come to know the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that are in your books then follow it even though most of the people oppose it. Do not unconditionally obey me or anyone else except for the command of Allah's Messenger, which is found in your books. And know that nothing can save you from hellfire except for following Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him). This wordly life is temporary and it is not proper for someone with common sense to be forgetful about Paradise and Hell.” __
