Book Review: Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab Ahlul Sunnah Fatwas Against The Nasibi Wahabis

Ahlul Sunnah Fatwas Against The Nasibi Wahabis

Book Review: Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab Ahlul Sunnah Fatwas Against The Nasibi Wahabis

Before Buying, Better to Read the Book Review: Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab Ahlul Sunnah Fatwas Against The Nasibi Wahabis by Legaproblema.com - Why do historical religious fatwas against Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab remain a lightning rod for sectarian debates within the Muslim world? This book compiles centuries of Ahlul Sunnah condemnations of the Wahabi movement, framing its founder Muhammad Abdul Wahab as a divisive figure accused of heresy and rebellion against orthodox Sunni Islam. Rooted in the classical Sunni jurisprudential tradition, it highlights how early scholars labeled Abdul Wahab followers as Khawarij (dissenters) and ahlul bidah (innovators), terms that carry grave theological implications within the ahlul sunnah wal jama ah framework. For example, the 19th-century scholar Ehsan Ellahi documented fatwas declaring “whoever follows Najdee beliefs is an enemy of Islam”¹, underscoring the deep-rooted opposition from mainstream Sunni scholars who saw Wahhabism as a threat to the unity and orthodoxy of ahlul sunnah. Modern Barelvi scholars like Amjad Ali have reinforced these critiques in works such as Bahar Shariath¹, emphasizing the gulf between Wahhabi doctrines and traditional Sunni beliefs, especially regarding practices like saint veneration and intercession.

Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab, born in 1703 in the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula, was a Hanbali jurist and theologian who sought to purify Islam by returning to what he considered the original teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, rejecting centuries of accumulated practices he viewed as bid'ah (innovation). His movement, often called Wahhabism or al-Muwahhidun (the Unitarians), emphasized strict monotheism and condemned practices like saint worship and grave visitation, which are widely accepted within the ahlul sunnah wal jama ah tradition. This theological divergence between muhammad abdul wahab and ahlul sunnah scholars forms the core of the fatwas compiled in this book, illustrating the enduring conflict between reformist and traditionalist interpretations of Islam.

Book Details

Author

Ahmad Sayyid Kazmi and Amjad Ali

Original Language

Arabic

Translation

English

Publisher

Bareylvi Electorate Press.

ISBN

-

Length

450 pages

Genre

religious scholarship and historical polemic

Structure and Contents

What makes this compilation a critical resource for understanding the clash between ahlul sunnah wal jama ah and Wahhabi ideologies? The book is meticulously structured to guide readers through the historical, theological, and socio-political dimensions of this conflict:

• Historical Context: Detailed examination of the rise of Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab and the establishment of the Wahhabi movement in 18th-century Najd, including his alliance with Muhammad bin Saud and the formation of the Emirate of Diriyah.
• Fatwa Compilation: Over 200 rulings from eminent Sunni scholars such as Allamah Ibne Abdideen and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Asari, who represent the mainstream ahlul sunnah stance against Wahhabi doctrines.
• Doctrinal Comparisons: Systematic contrasts between ahlul sunah waljamaah principles—rooted in the four Sunni madhabs—and Wahhabi interpretations, highlighting differences on issues like intercession, saint veneration, and legal methodology.
• Modern Relevance: Analysis of how these historical fatwas continue to influence contemporary sectarian dynamics within South Asia and the broader Muslim world, particularly in contexts where Wahhabi ideology has gained political and social traction.

Strong Points of the Book

Does assembling 19th-century fatwas and theological critiques help modern readers navigate the complex landscape of Islamic orthodoxy? The book greatest strength lies in its archival rigor and comprehensive presentation of Sunni scholarly opposition to Wahhabism. For example, it reproduces a 1361 Hijri edict stating “Deobandis and Wahabis possess kufr beliefs… their marriages are void”¹, providing concrete evidence of the historical severity with which mainstream ahlul sunnah scholars viewed Wahhabi doctrines. Such fatwas underscore the perception of Wahhabism as a heretical deviation from orthodox Sunni Islam, or ahlul bidah. The book also includes comparative tables that clarify doctrinal differences, such as the permissibility of intercession and grave visits, which are accepted by ahlul sunnah wal jama ah but categorically rejected by Wahhabis:

Issue	Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jama Ah	Wahhabi Position
Intercession (Shafa'ah)	Permissible and encouraged as part of Sunni tradition	Considered shirk (polytheism) and strictly forbidden
Grave Visits (Ziyarat)	Recommended for blessings and spiritual connection	Prohibited as an innovation and form of idolatry

By presenting these detailed theological contrasts, the book equips readers—especially those within the ahlul sunnah community—with scholarly ammunition to understand and counter Wahhabi critiques.

Impact and Legacy

How has this book influenced Sunni discourse and sectarian relations, particularly within South Asia? The compilation has become a foundational text for ahlul sunnah wal jama ah scholars and institutions opposing the spread of Wahhabi ideology and its variants, such as Deobandi Salafism. Its unequivocal declaration that “Wahabis are apostates”¹ has shaped mosque policies, educational curricula, and community boundaries, with some Sunni mosques barring Wahhabi adherents from participation¹. This has reinforced sectarian identities and contributed to ongoing debates about religious authority and authenticity within Sunni Islam. The book legacy lies in its role as a theological bulwark for ahlul sunnah orthodoxy, preserving traditional Sunni interpretations against reformist movements perceived as ahlul bidah.

Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab

Criticism of the Book

Is this compilation a balanced scholarly work or a polemical manifesto? Critics argue that the book selectively emphasizes the most severe fatwas against Wahhabism, often neglecting the nuanced theological debates and the political context surrounding the emergence of muhammad bin abdulwahab. The absence of primary Wahhabi counterarguments and reliance on secondary sources such as Al Bareylviaath¹ weaken its academic neutrality. Moreover, some scholars contend that the book confrontational tone exacerbates sectarian divisions rather than fostering intra-Muslim dialogue. This critique highlights the tension between defending orthodox ahlul sunnah wal jama ah beliefs and engaging constructively with reformist Islamic thought.

Comparison With Other Similar Books

How does this book compare with other works addressing Wahhabism, such as The Wahhabi Myth by Hela Ouardi? While Ouardi offers a dispassionate historiography that situates Wahhabism within the political and social upheavals of 18th-century Arabia, this compilation adopts a more confrontational theological tone. It focuses primarily on doctrinal anathemas and fatwas, reflecting the ahlul bidah versus ahlul sunnah dichotomy. Unlike Ouardi broader historical analysis, this book serves as a direct refutation of Wahhabi beliefs from the perspective of traditional Sunni jurisprudence, making it a more polemical than academic resource.

Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jama Ah: Doctrinal Foundations

What defines the orthodoxy of ahlul sunnah wal jama ah, and how does it contrast with Wahhabi interpretations? The book emphasizes strict adherence to the four Sunni madhabs Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali and the acceptance of saint veneration, intercession, and established religious practices. These are foundational to ahlul sunnah identity and are categorically rejected by Wahhabi reformism. For example, a 1254 Hijri fatwa by Allamah Ibne Abdideen condemns Wahhabis as “worse than Christians” for declaring Sunni practices as shirk (polytheism)¹. The book thus situates Wahhabism as a theological aberration within the broader Sunni tradition, reinforcing the boundaries of ahlul sunnah wal jama ah orthodoxy.

Final Ruling

Book Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab Ahlul Sunnah Fatwas Against The Nasibi Wahabis This compilation remains an indispensable resource for understanding the historical and theological tensions between ahlul sunnah and Wahhabi movements. While its unapologetic stance reflects the worldview of ahlul sunnah wal jama ah scholars, it is essential to approach it alongside critical historiography and contemporary scholarship to gain a balanced perspective. The book serves more as a theological manifesto defending traditional Sunni orthodoxy against perceived innovations (ahlul bidah) than as a neutral academic study.

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