Wahhabi facts for kids

Wahhabism is a very traditional and strict way of practicing Sunni Islam. It is mainly followed in countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Many people believe that a scholar named Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab started this movement in the 1700s. He wanted Muslims to go back to the way Islam was practiced by the first few generations of Muslims, believing it was the purest form.

What is Wahhabism?

Wahhabism is a set of beliefs and actions that come from the teachings of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. He was a religious reformer who lived in the middle of the 1700s in central Arabia.

Different Views on Wahhabism

People have different ideas about what Wahhabism means:

• Some see it as a very strict and traditional way of following Islam. They believe it focuses on returning to the earliest practices of the religion.
• Others, like Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz (who was a governor in Saudi Arabia), say it is simply "pure Islam." They believe it follows Sharia law perfectly and should just be called Islam.
• Some people who disagree with it say it can lead to intolerance. They also believe it has a very simple way of understanding religious ideas and makes it hard for Islam to change with different times and places.

History and Influence

The ideas of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab became very important in the Arabian Peninsula. His teachings helped form the First Saudi State in 1744. This state grew into what is now Saudi Arabia.

Key Beliefs

Followers of Wahhabism believe in:

• Focusing only on the worship of Allah (God) and avoiding anything that might seem like worshipping others.
• Following the Quran and the Sunnah (the teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad) very closely.
• Rejecting practices they see as new or not part of early Islam, such as visiting graves or celebrating certain holidays.

Related pages

• Salafi

Images for kids

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  The First Saudi state 1744–1818

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  Ibn Saud, the first king of Saudi Arabia

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  Ottoman return of Mecca 1813 after being ousted by Salafis.

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  Battle of Medina (1812), Ottoman Army regains Medina from Salafis.

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  Ottoman loyalists gather against the Arab Revolt.

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  Al-Baqi' before the demolition by king Ibn Saud in 1925.

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  The grave of Aminah; it was destroyed in 1998 by the Saudi Arabian government.

See also

In Spanish: Wahabismo para niños