The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ... - IslamHouse.com

163
The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
name for many locales was “Wahhabism,” which had already faced so
much negative and false propaganda that the mere mention of the
name would keep many from even looking into what the movement
was teaching. (Today, the term “Wahhabism” is still being used to
give the impression that Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab and his
followers were nothing but some kind of fringe “movement.”
However, other derogatory-sounding labels have also been applied to
those who follow the Quran and Sunnah. These terms include
“fundamentalist” and “extremist.”)
(4) The continuous attacks upon “Wahhabis” led to a situation
where it was dangerous for people to show any liking or link with
them. Hence, even if someone greatly admired ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
and closely followed his teachings, he may not have had the ability to
express that publicly or it would not be prudent or beneficial to
express it publicly. To take one example, in 1908, Muhammad
Rasheed Ridha, while visiting Damascus, gave a lecture in a mosque.
A disturbance broke out when Ridha began discussing the concept of
shirk and praying to intercessors rather than to God. Saalih al-Tunisi
stood up in the mosque and warned the people about following the
ways of the “Wahhabis.” This disturbance had actually been preplanned.
Ridha then left Damascus, leaving the salafi scholars Bitaar
and Jamaal al-Deen al-Qaasimi to have to face the accusations of
having “Wahhabi” views. Commins describes the aftermath,
The anti-salafi ulama accused Qasimi and Bitar of sharing Rida’s
Wahhabi views, and they instigated crowds against the two men.
Qasimi’s enemies even tried to have him relieved of his posts at the
Sinaniyyah mosque. In this intimidating atmosphere, both salafi
shaykhs secluded themselves in their homes, and for three months
Jamal al-Din abandoned his posts. During that time he went out
only for the Friday congregational prayer at a mosque near his
home. Ten days after the outbreak, Qasimi wrote in his diary:
“Since the day of al-Shaykh Rashid Rida’s story on 29 Shaban until
today, my brothers and I are annoyed and distressed, staying at
home because the townspeople plot against us and accuse my
brother Id of causing the disturbance.” Three months passed before