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

The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
the leader of Riyadh, attacked Manfoohah (just south of Riyadh),
which was in alliance with al-Diriyyah. It seems that the only reason
he attacked Manfoohah was because it was in alliance with al-
Diriyyah. 1 Due to the alliance, al-Diriyyah had no option but to come
to the defense of its partner. Thus, as ibn Ghannaam noted, the first
fighting that took place was actually in self-defense, assisting one of
the call’s partners. Indeed, Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab himself
stated in a letter to Abdul-Rahmaan al-Suwaidi, “As for fighting, until
today we have never fought anyone except in the defense of life and
honor.” 2
By this time, al-Diriyyah had become a strong and unique
force in Najd. People from all over the area, from various tribes, had
come to join the group of Muslims under the guidance of Muhammad
ibn Abdul-Wahhaab. Their morale was very high and they were ready
to fight for their new noble purpose. There is no doubt that the
presence of such a city-state in that region would arouse the fears of
“the powers that be” at that time. Indeed, by the time of the incident of
89, 90, 92, 104, 106, 119-124, 126, 133, 135, 136. See also ibn Bishr, vol. 1, p.
43ff.
1 Since Riyadh lies between al-Diriyyah and Manfoohah (see Figure 2), Dahhaam
may have taken that alliance as a threat to his own independence. Another
reason he may attacked Manfoohah was in revenge for them removing his
family from being its rulers.
2 Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab, Muallifaat, vol. 7, p. 38. Note that the jihad
that ibn Abdul-Wahhaab and his followers participated in has led to the claim
that the call spread only through force and violence. This is the same type of
allegation that the old school Orientalists made concerning the spread of Islam
as a whole. In reality, Islam is a religion that speaks to the mind and heart of
the individual, giving clear proofs to its truthfulness. Those who do not wish to
see this truth spread will not have the means to combat it in an honest, logical
and rational manner. Hence, they have to resort to other means. These means
include fabricating lies concerning the religion and attacking it physically. This
has been the pattern that has repeated itself throughout the history of Islam,
including in the life of ibn Abdul-Wahhaab. Muslims have no option but to
defend their faith with rational arguments as well as with the use of force.
Otherwise, the worldly “powers that be” will not allow this truth to be spread
as, in general, it is not in their interest. As Allah has said, “And did not Allah
check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of
mischief: but Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds” (al-Baqarah 251). Jihad
is, then, similar to the claims of others who claim that they have the right to
spread truth, justice and democracy throughout the world, because they
believe—so they claim—that such is the way that people will be truly free. If
they have that right to make that claim and to spread their message in the
ways that they do, Muslims also should have the same right to spread the true
religion of God throughout the world.
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