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The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
(8) Taking advantage of the “forms” of media, in particular,
the letter writing and the contacts during the pilgrimage when Makkah
was under the control of the followers of Muhammad ibn Abdul-
Wahhaab in 1217-1226.
(9) Travels and contact with other lands—especially among
the students: After the fall of al-Diriyyah, some of ibn Abdul-
Wahhaab’s descendents were banished to Egypt. Although some were
executed, others simply lived as banished citizens, with ibn Abdul-
Wahhaab’s grandson Abdul-Rahmaan ibn Abdullah even teaching
Hanbali school of jurisprudence at al-Azhar. 1 In addition, later
descendents and followers also studied and interacted with scholars in
Syria and the Indo-Pak subcontinent.
(10) The effect of the opponents who made people turn their
attention to the call itself—bad publicity is sometimes still publicity.
Indeed, their attacks on the teachings and call also led to the jihad
itself which greatly helped spread the teachings.
(11) The results of objective study of Muhammad ibn Abdul-
Wahhaab from peoples of all walks of life, including even Orientalists
and travelers.
One might quickly also note some of the factors that prevented
him from having an even greater influence throughout the world:
(1) The role of the opponents in propagating negative and false
propaganda. These will be discussed in more detail in the next
chapter. Many times, the writings of the opponents would reach a land
before the letters, writings or teachings of ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
reached that land. Hence, there was already a great bias present.
(2) The long, entrenched ignorance: This is not something that
can be eradicated quickly and easily.
(3) The long, entrenched heresies and customs that people had
taken as part of the religion: Again, people become accustomed to a
way of life and take it as their religion. It becomes very difficult for
many to give up, for example, what they saw as the life of their
presumably “pious forefathers.”
(4) Personal motivations and interests: Recognizing the truth is
not always sufficient. There also has to be a desire in one’s heart to
live by that truth. That desire must overcome many obstacles, as often
1 Vassiliev, p. 158.