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The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
golden calf; and (4) this religion attempts to get between them and the
forbidden, evil wealth that they are acquiring. 1
His Methodology of Dawah [Propagating the Faith] and of Ordering
Good and Eradicating Evil
The one who is propagating the faith of Islam has many
avenues open to him. In general, these avenues may be divided into
two major categories: those of speech and conveyance and those of
action. In the first category, one finds sermons 2, speeches, lessons,
religious responsa, personal advice, letters, debates 3, books and
admonishing by speech. In the latter category, one finds jihad,
changing the evil with one’s hands, distributing books, giving
presents, softening the hearts with wealth, training students and
sending them with financial assistance to other areas, building Islamic
centers and mosques. 4 One finds that Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
took advantage of each and every one of these possible means. For
example, in 1167 A.H., he sent his student and scholar Isa ibn Qaasim
to Riyadh to teach them their faith. Isa attracted such a devoted
following in Riyadh that when Dahhaam ibn Dawwaas violated the
pact between him and Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab, these students
fled with Isa ibn Qaasim from Riyadh, leaving their wealth and
possessions behind for the sake of the faith. 5
In studying Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab’s approach to
ordering good and eradicating evil, it is clear that he kept in mind the
very principles that must guide this concept. For example, he would
move from one step to another depending on what was most
appropriate given the circumstances and what was sanctioned by the
Shareeah. A very important principle that he stressed is that if an
action to remove a harm leads to greater harm, then the action is not to
1 Abdul-Muhsin ibn Baaz, vol. 1, p. 464, quoted from ibn Ghannaam, vol. 1, p.
185.
2 In volume eleven of Muallifaat, there is a collection of thirty-eight of
Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab’s sermons (khutbahs). In general, they are
very succinct and replete with verses of the Quran and hadith.
3 For a description of the importance of debating and Muhammad ibn Abdul-
Wahhaab’s capability of debate, see Abdul-Muhsin ibn Baaz, vol. 1, pp. 120-
124.
4 Abdul-Muhsin ibn Baaz, vol. 1, p. 103.
5 Ibn Ghannaam, vol. 2, p. 19; Abdul-Muhsin ibn Baaz, vol. 1, p. 118.