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The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
destruction), and to the second may Allah grant you conquests the
spoils of which would make up for the tax you exact.” The attitudes
of Shaikh al-Islam [ibn Abdul-Wahhaab] show clearly how he was
most careful to stick to the Quran and the Sunna. 1
The anonymous author of Lam’ al-Shihaab fi Seerah
Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab states that ibn Saud also made the
stipulation that the rule would have to remain among his descendents
while Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab and his descendants would be
allowed to look after religious matters. Al-Uthaimeen states that it is
apparent that no such stipulation took place, although that is what
eventually did take place. Actually, it was only natural that such did
take place given the environment and means at that time: the Family
of Saud was already established as the leaders of Diriyyah and the
family of ibn Abdul-Wahhaab had the means and ability to be the
religious leaders. 2
Now with the true freedom to spread his message, ibn Abdul-
Wahhaab concentrated on teaching and giving lectures in the mosque.
Large numbers benefited from his explanations of some of the most
basic concepts of Islam—concepts that the people there had become
unfamiliar with (and unfortunately even today many Muslims remain
unfamiliar with). In addition to the locals of al-Diriyyah, many
supporters, students and others who heard of ibn Abdul-Wahhaab’s
call were flocking to al-Diriyyah. Many of them came from the ruling
families of their locales. Others who came were quite poor and were
forced to work at night and so attended the lectures during the
daytime, as ibn Bishr noted. 3 Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab noticed
the hardship that they were facing and he began to borrow money
from wealthier people to help meet some of the expenses of the poorer
1 Ahmad Abdol Ghafour Attar, Muhammad ibn Abdel Wahhab (Mecca Printing
and Information, 1979), p. 51. This is also the way that Vassiliev understood
the action. Vassiliev (p. 82) writes, “Although Ibn Abd al-Wahhab did not object
to the first condition, he rejected the second, promising Muhammad ibn Saud
that his share in the returns from raids and jihad would far exceed the
proceeds from taxation.”
2 Al-Uthaimeen, Al-Shaikh Muhammad, p. 55.
3 Ibn Bishr, vol. 1, p. 37. Ibn Bishr noted that the situation was soon to change,
just as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told ibn Abbaas,
“Know that victory comes with patience, rescue comes with hardship and
difficult circumstances come with ease.” Recorded by Ahmad.
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