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

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The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
wrote, “Knowledge is not to be called knowledge unless it bears fruit
[that is, deeds]. If it does not bear any fruit, it is ignorance. Thus,
Allah says, ‘Those who truly fear Allah among His servants are the
knowledgeable’ [Faatir 28].” 1 As was noted above, ibn Abdul-
Wahhaab’s approach was: attaining belief and knowledge,
implementing it, spreading it to others and then remaining patient on
that path. Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab quoted soorah al-Asr to support this
approach. 2
Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab was just as much concerned about the
proper and essential education of women as he was for men. In any
kind of society, women are bound to play an important role. However,
they are of utmost importance in an Islamic society in which family
and moral values are stressed. It does not benefit the society when the
greatest caretaker of the future generation is not knowledgeable of the
religion and morals of the society. Thus, in numerous letters, ibn
Abdul-Wahhaab stressed that the religion must be taught to both men
and women. In a letter quoted above, he stated, “The conclusion is
that the issues of tauheed are not from those matters which are the
concern of the mutawwas alone. Instead, researching these issues and
learning them are a necessary obligation upon the scholar, the
ignorant, the male, the female…” 3 On another occasion, he wrote that
the teachings of the faith “must be spread among the people, the
women and the men.” 4 When speaking about loving for the sake of
Allah, hating for the sake of Allah, having loyalty for the sake of
Allah and disassociating for the sake of Allah, he said that the men
must learn this and “it is obligatory upon the men to teach their wives
and the members of their household this aspect.” 5
This spread of education wherein the masses can understand
the teachings and be able to defend it themselves must have
1 Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab, Muallifaat, vol. 7, p. 162.
2 Cf., Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab, Muallifaat, vol. 1, p. 185.
3 Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab, Muallifaat, vol. 7, p. 189.
4 Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab, Muallifaat, vol. 7, p. 127 and p. 323.
5 Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab, Muallifaat, vol. 7, p. 127. Muhammad ibn
Abdul-Wahhaab also worked to remove some of the wrong that was being done
to the women in his society. In addition to encouraging their education, he also
fought against the common practice of leaving endowments that practically
prevented women from receiving their rightful inheritance.