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

The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
Sunnah. However, concerning those matters in which there is room for
ijtihaad (juristic reasoning), he would be as accommodating as
possible, unifying the Muslims and bringing their hearts together.
Among other things, this demonstrated—and only Allah knows the
inner secrets—that his intent was not to rule over people or to be harsh
with people. Instead, it is apparent that his intent was only that of
goodness, trying to bring the people to the path of Allah. For example,
as was noted in Chapter 3, he would leave the people to follow their
own schools of fiqh, unless there was something established by
unequivocal evidence in the Quran or Sunnah (such as requiring the
stillness and calmness in each position of the prayer).
Furthermore, in dialogue, ibn Abdul-Wahhaab would stress the
common beliefs that the discussants held. In numerous letters, for
example, he would stress that he believed in the intercession given to
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) by Allah, the
importance of respecting the Imams of the four schools of fiqh, the
importance of loving and respecting the pious and righteous and so on.
However, at the same time, he would stress what is common and
derived from the Quran and Sunnah but would not accept anything
that is beyond that. In his letter to the people of al-Qaseem, for
example, he wrote, “I affirm the miracles of the pious and what they
have of having the truth shown to them. However, [by such things]
they do not deserve any of the worship of Allah nor should anything
that only Allah can do be sought from them.” 1 In the same letter, he
also discusses in detail his belief about the Messenger’s intercession
and where he agrees with his opponents and where he disagrees with
them. 2
1 Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab, Muallifaat, vol. 7, p. 11.
2 Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab, Muallifaat, vol. 7, pp. 9-10. Cf., Abdul-Muhsin
ibn Baaz, vol. 2, pp. 762-763.
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