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The Life, Teachings and Influence of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab
In 1202 A.H., Suroor died and was followed by Ghaalib,
beginning perhaps the most strained relationship between the Shareefs
and al-Diriyyah. In the first two years of his rule, Ghaalib
consolidated his internal power. After that, he requested that al-
Diriyyah send a scholar to dialogue with the scholars of Makkah.
Again Abdul-Azeez al-Husayyin was sent. This time, though, the
scholars of Makkah refused to meet with him. 1 According to al-
Uthaimeen, it seems that this was done at the request of Ghaalib
himself. This might have been nothing but a ploy before his planned
military offensive in the following year. 2
The Ottoman rulers had long since given the go ahead to bring
an end to this small but troublesome nascent state in Najd. According
to al-Uthaimeen, the Shareefs of Makkah kept putting off any attack
of al-Diriyyah for a number of reasons. First, they probably did not
consider the state or message to be “too dangerous.” Second, they also
probably hoped that the internal opposition in Najd would bring an
end to the nascent state. Third, they probably thought that the stopping
of their pilgrims would be such a morale blow that it would greatly
damage the call. Finally, they must have thought that the Tribe of
Khaalid in al-Ahsaa, which had much stronger incentives to end the
nascent state, would have taken care of the problem. 3
By the time that the nascent state had gained control over
virtually all of Najd, on the verge of controlling all of al-Ahsaa and
having the possibility of influencing the tribes living between Makkah
and Najd but under the authority of the Shareef, there was no question
that the rulers of Makkah had to resort to something of a military
nature. Hence, in 1205 A.H. the first troops of the Shareef were
dispatched against the followers of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab.
However, the followers of Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhaab defeated
them.
1 Ibn Ghannaam, vol. 1, pp. 173.
2 Al-Uthaimeen, Al-Shaikh Muhammad, p. 68.
3 Al-Uthaimeen, Al-Shaikh Muhammad, p. 69.