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

The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
what the most orthodox Turk must admit to be true… The chief
doctrines of the Wahabys, it will be seen, correspond with those
taught in other parts of the Muselman empire. The Koran and the
traditions of Mohammed (Sunne) are acknowledged as
fundamental, comprising the laws; and the opinions of the best
commentators on the Koran are respected, although not implicitly
followed. 1
He then goes on to describe some of their differences with the
“Turks.” He states, “the Wahabys reproach the Turks with honouring
the prophet, in a manner which approaches adoration, and with doing
the same also to the memory of many saints… By once admitting the
Koran as their revealed law, the Turks were obliged to believe
implicitly the numerous passages wherein it is expressly declared that
Mohammed is a mere mortal like themselves. But the fanatic love for
their prophet 2 could not be content with this modest declaration.” 3
Burckhardt then goes on to describe the many reforms and
changes that were brought about by the followers of ibn Abdul-
Wahhaab, in particular the members of the family of Saud, the rulers
of the new state. He describes in some detail how the Saud
government worked, including its policies of justice and its sources of
revenue. He also discusses in some detail military aspects of that early
state. He also describes how the “Wahhabis” first fought against the
Sharifs of the Hijaz, showing that it was originally an act of
aggression on the part of the Sharif. 4
Much of Burckhardt’s work is beyond the scope of this work
and the above gives a sufficient amount of information concerning his
book.
1 Burckhardt, vol. 2, pp. 104-105.
2 This, what Burckhardt calls, “fanatic love” that Sufis and others claim for the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), wherein they go beyond
what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) even requested of
them, is not a true or proper form of love whatsoever. They completely
disregard what Allah or His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
request of them. In fact, to put it into modern terms, this kind of “love” is more
akin to the kind of love that the stalker claims for the stalked. That kind of love
is not appreciated by the stalked and similarly the latter kind of love is not
approved or accepted by the Shareeah.
3 Burckhardt, vol. 2, p. 106.
4 See Burckhardt, vol. 2, pp. 180ff.
278