Dispelling Prevalent Fallacies and the Fictitious Link with Bin Laden
The ‘Wahhabi’ Myth by Haneef James Oliver clarifies many of the gross inaccuracies and outright lies that have been attributed to the belief of the Salafi Muslims (often referred to as “Wahhabis”). Although some reporters have been vigilant enough to rebut some of these widespread fables, most have fallen headfirst into what one discerning reporter called, “the neo-conservative line that the whole conspiracy against America can be traced back to Wahhabism and the government of Saudi Arabia.”
The author of The ‘Wahhabi’ Myth outlines the principles of the Salafi creed in an easy to understand manner. Using many different sources, he carefully presents the arguments of the critics of Salafism and successfully addresses the misconceptions that are contained within these criticisms. Specifically, he addresses the commonly held belief that Osama Bin Laden is a Salafi/”Wahhabi”. He compellingly dispels this myth and unveils the sect that has provoked Bin Laden to become the leader of a terrorist movement.
Karen Armstrong speaks about the difference between Osama bin Laden’s sect (Qutbism) and Salafism/”Wahhabism” in a Guardian article entitled “The label of Catholic terror was never used about the IRA”:
“Bin Laden was not inspired by Wahhabism but by the writings of the Egyptian ideologue Sayyid Qutb, who was executed by President Nasser in 1966. Almost every fundamentalist movement in Sunni Islam has been strongly influenced by Qutb, so there is a good case for calling the violence that some of his followers commit “Qutbian terrorism.” Qutb urged his followers to withdraw from the moral and spiritual barbarism of modern society and fight it to the death.
Western people should learn more about such thinkers as Qutb, and become aware of the many dramatically different shades of opinion in the Muslim world. There are too many lazy, unexamined assumptions about Islam.”
Excerpt from The “Wahhabi” Myth:
The word “Wahabism” is in fact nothing but a meaningless appellation which is used by people in two cases: The term “Wahabism” is often used to describe those who closely stick to the verses of the Qur’an and the narrations of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) in all religious affairs. Consequently, instead of directly attacking Islam for those things that do not appeal to their desires, they call anyone who follows these texts “Wahabis.”
Another different and contemporary usage has appeared for this term. Anybody who belongs to any of the current Qutbist type groups or movements that call for political overthrows, endless blind purported Jihads which are based upon principles other than those found in Islam and led by people who have no knowledge based background in Islamic scholarship, are entered into a giant umbrella group called “Wahabism.” This is done even though these followers of Sayyid Qutb despise the Salafi/“Wahabi” scholars and their creed.
Hence, in the first case, “Wahabism” is used to mean “anything I don’t like about Islam,” and in the second case, “anything I don’t like about what the contemporary Qutbist movements do; things that have no basis in Islam.”
The media and general population are invited to actually begin to study the principles of Salafism/“Wahabism” and report about it accurately, especially as it seems that the “War Against Terrorism” seems to slowly be turning into the “War Against Wahabism.”
Some Western intellectuals are doing something to contest this trend, but they are few and far between, and their knowledge of the nature of Salafism is limited. Gary Leupp, a history professor and coordinator of the Asian Studies Program at Tufts University, posed the following question concerning this current of thought: “In Saudi Arabia itself, is “Wahabism” really the threat posited by some neocons? John Esposito, director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, suggests otherwise.”
Professor Leupp quotes Esposito as saying: “Even conforming to an ultra-conservative, anti-pluralistic faith does not necessarily make you a violent individual.” Leupp adds: “There are of course millions of peaceable if ultra-conservative, anti-pluralistic Christians.”
Driving in his point, Leupp cites F. Gregory Gause III, a professor of political science at the University of Vermont, when he warned the House Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia about the “dangerous trend” of linking “Wahabism” with terrorism, wherein he explained that this phenomena “is not Saudi or ‘Wahabi’ in any exclusive sense. It is part of the zeitgeist of the whole Muslim world right now. It is undoubtedly true that the al-Qa’ida network was able to recruit many Saudis. But it would be a mistake to attribute this simply to some purported affinity between ‘Wahabism’ and al-Qa’ida’s message of jihad.”
Stating that although “some Saudi clerics and intellectuals have supported al-Qa’ida’s message [note: the supporters of Sayyid Qutb, the Qutbists],” he adds that “the vast majority have condemned it [note: the Salafi/“Wahabi” scholars].”
“Moreover,” he says, “Al-Qa’ida has been able to recruit both fighters and intellectual supporters from many countries – Egypt and Pakistan, to name but two – where ‘Wahabism’ is not a prominent intellectual current.”![]()
– abridged from the book: The ‘Wahhabi’ Myth
|
|
Gary Leupp, Saudis on the Defensive, Counterpunch, 28 August 2003.
hmmm too much too much … in maldives wahhab is a sin … cause its like they are touturing prophet mohammed’s way of dressing .
The article talked about the misconceptions that people usually have but did not talk about what true salafism is about in reality. It also didnt clarify exactly how wahhabi’s are different from salafee’s. I agree with adhering strictly to the quran and sunnah, and from what I know of salaf’s, this is what they believe too. What I don’t understand is, why would you want to label yourself as a salaf or anythiing else for that matter. Isnt there just one Islam. You’re either right or wrong. Why not call oneself a muslim, and not qualify yourself. Isnt that the beginning of divisions and ultimately sects etc…which is clearly against what Islam is all about.!???!!
well…im not much into these wahaabiis….but honestly tehse fukin wahaabiss sux…..
salafiyah is not a new relion. salafis are muslims. the smilitude can be mde of when the sahaba and tabi’een called them selves ahla sunnah, this was because they were distinguishing themselves from the shia, then they called them selves ahla sunnah wal jammah and this was to distinguish them selves from those who split off into there own ideas like the jahmiyah and qadariah. for the same reason we say ‘sunni muslim’ this is to clarify that we are not of those people who have rejected the sunnah. so some of the schollars have said to call yourself salafi to distinguish that you are upon the way of the salf not the understanding of the kalaf, as the prophet has spoken good about the salaf and he has said the kalaf are those who will go astray. when one says salafi he is not saying he is a salaf, the ‘i’ at the end tells us that it is a belonging to something not being of it. for instance we say sunni not sunnah when we want to say we fallow the sunnah, we are not saying we are the sunnah. and this is not to say the kalaf were all astray but it is to say the foundations and methodology and understanding was layed down by the salaf and this is the path we are embarking upon.
well.. each person gets to choose the path they want to follow.. and maaiy allah has shown us the right path through the Quran. so that whatever we do, whichever path we follow, the person would be aware. so i dont blame wahhabis at all.. its the path they choose to follow. i think each person should have his or her own right. as long as they dont disturb each other, and give them their own space, i dont mind people around me being wahhabis or anything.
but Poisonweed’s right.. we’re all muslims. wahhabis or salafs or anytying, we’re still a united muslim community praying and believing in one true existance of one same god.
in the end, we’re one and the same thing.
why label ourselves and seperate..?
i just wish everyone learned to accept each other the way they are..
You have the natural advantage in creditor debt program settlement , which may be appropriate for debtors with …
Great Solution
KQia7G hi nice site thx http://peace.com
When you are talking about Wahhabi, Do you know what it is? and how it comes from?? ISLAM simply can means the *WAY of life?? Way here means not the way you like, nor the way your mother or father are, nor the way of your Desire in this sinful world, nor even the way today world prefer you to! But ITS THE WAY ALLAH (swt) HAS REVEALED, Through PROPHET MOHAMMED(pbuh), AND THE WAY Prophet(pbuh) SHOWN us…..Obeying him means doing whatever he shows you to do, and tells to do, Prophet usually did what he told us to do be for followers, And If he can’t he shows.. So The way is Clear.. but If you are not obeying just leave them of without interfering to these,, Allah Is Greater..however you disobey Allah.. Allah is the Greatest….
@Lucifer……. let me face you.. If you come in front of me, I will kill you Insha Allah…. You do not know what you are saying.. Allah Is the Greatest.. We Obey Allah not the Taghut.. and We reject them by heart by everything we do… unlike you people….And We RISE Every name of Allah….Allah if our Protectot, Guider, Helper.. Allah Akbar.. May Allah take the Tongue of Those who are of Taghut Force… May Allah live them long life of This Sinful World..Amin
я бы сказал не интересно, а разумно
you just simply says that this article doesnt mean anything..
its just becoz of u didnt even read it carefully n take a look of it entirely..
its easier to say any article that we read is not interesting at all..but come to think that if u read any article on any topics without any interest n feels really sick of it…u might reject it at ur 1st sight though..
so,u should really think of it b4 reveal any comment that could make others feel hate of reading it..
that’s all..thank you
salaam alaykum.
Alhamdulillah I am a 22 year old english revert and also I am a salafi inshallah. We do not call ourselves wahhabi, this is a derogatory term used by the people who do not like us calling to follow only the qur’an and sunnah. People have culture and the practices of their forefathers and its very hard to accept that maybe not everything they do can be found in the qur’an or hadith, but inshallah we persevere and politely advise our brothers for the sake of uniting the muslims upon haqh.
Labelling yourself does not cause disunity, changing the religion causes disunity. The ansaar and mujahiroon were two labels that the prophet saw gave to people but we do not accuse him of disuniting the muslims. As soon as a I hear salafi I know this person will only take from qur’an and sunnah, its about distinguishing your islam and seperating yourself from the deviated groups and sects.
Salafis are not violent and stay out of politics though, anyone who claims to be a salafi but back bites the rulers or is violent natured is not a salafi. Sheik al albani (ra) is the most well known and greatest salafi scholar of our time
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiii
Dear Readers, ALLAH SWT ordered all believers to obey ALLAH SWT & obey Holy Prophet Mohammed aswell..
ALLAH SWT told us to pray, But Holy Mohammed SAS showed us the methods & timing of prayers ,
If any sect disobey the HOLY prophet Mohammed He will not be treated as Muslim. Holy Prophet was sent as the Rahmat of mankind.
Look at the beauty of our Salat :When we stand for prayer our head appears to be MEEM, Ruku is HAY
when we stand again IT becomes MEEM again & when Prostrate :IT become DAL . Our Prayer is conveyed to ALLAH SWT along with the name of HOLY Prophet Mohammed.(SAS)
Anyone speaks against or speak against Sunna cannot be called a MUSLIM.
Thank YOU
Salaams, can I speak to a moderator of this website inshAllah please?
Salaams is the owner of this site still around?
MashaAllah, excellent work to guide people to the right path.
JazakAllah khair.
Hi,
Today I want share with you a nice service to send anonymous emails with attachments,
Test it for free from here : send emails anonymously
Have fun, and don’t be evil !
See you,
S.