An Exegesis of Wahhabism
by : Syed Kamran Mirza
What is Wahabism (?): many conniving Islamists want to blame Wahabism for the
inherent intolerance of real Islam. That is, they want to portray Wahabism as
the separate or deviant entity of Islam which is being misunderstood (by
westerners) as the real Islam. Most western non-Muslims are also being
misguided by the so called Wahabite type of Islam, which according to some is
not real/true peaceful Islam. Now what is actually Wahabism?
Fact of the matter is, the so-called Wahabism is not a separate religion, nor
is it a ~ separate brand of Islam. Truly, this Wahabism is the new force to
unite Islam into its pristine form that existed in the early Islamic period of
7th century. That is the time of Prophet Muhammad and his four favorite
disciplesKhula-faye-Rashedin. In the early 18th century Mohammad Ibn Abdul
Wahab a famous Saudi religious extremist leader called for a renewal of Islamic
spirit, moral cleansing and the stripping away of all innovations to Islam
since the 7th century. His followers are called Wahabis or wahbite Islamists,
and these followers of Abdul Wahab preach pure and real original Islam which
got the name (erroneously) as Wahabism.
Therefore, Wahabism is not a new brand of Islam or any offshoot of Islam;
rather Wahabism is the re-orientation of the original pure Islam. That is
Wahabism is the old pure wine in a new bottle. Wahabism does not have any
separate scriptural book, Quran and Sunnah (hadiths) are the principle
guidance for Wahabism. Actually, Wahabism is nothing but the real Islam of 7th
century in a sheer rejuvenation by the grace of Arabs petrodollars. Most
importantly, Wahabism (pure islam) is dangerously intolerant towards other
religions and infidels as it was during early period of Islam (Starting from
Prophet Muhammad up to the end period of four rightly guided caliphs).
Followers of Wahabism prefer to identify themselves as Muwahiddunwhich means
the unifiers. Wahabism is simply the political Islam that has been adopted
for power sharing purposes. It has no special practices, nor special rites, and
no special interpretation of the religion Islam that differs from the main body
of Sunni Islam. Wahabite followers consider every Muslims should follow the
practice of Islam like Wahabite Muslims and regard all those who do not follow
them as the heathens and enemies of Islam. Osama bin Laden is the true follower
of Wahabism.
The followers of Wahabism including the Saudi Arabias ruling house of Saud
insist they are simply practicing the true Islam of Prophet Muhammad. Saudi
ruler (King of Saudi Arabia) did not change anything in the theological aspect
of original Islam. But they have changed their own political designation as the
rulers of Saudi Arabia. They are not calling them king (as Islam does not
advocate Kingship); rather Saudi rulers call them The custodian of Islam.
Wahabism got popularity to the west and the Muslim world during the aftermath
of Iranian Revolution in 1979. Billions of Dollars were spent by Saudi to
influence Wahabism ideology as the counter force to Iranian Shiite ideology
throughout the whole Muslim world by building thousands of Mosques, Madrassahs,
Islamic centers etc. Pakistan was flooded with Wahabi madrassas (Islamic school
or factory of terrorism) which was the main focus to the American media after
the 9/11 episode as the breeding ground of Taliban and al-Qaeda Jhadi force.
Sheik Shishu a Kurdish Imam who is the follower of wahabism (when asked by a
Kurdish reporter about wahabism) said: What is Wahabism? there is no such
thing called Wahabism, only true Islam. Saudi students and Saudi citizen also
have the similar opinions about Wahabism.
>From the book Shattering the Myth: Islam beyond ViolencePrinceton
>University Press, 2000). Like many other Saudis in America, Mr. Alahmari does
>not like to refer to the brand of Islam that is exported from his country as
>Wahhabism. "We dont feel Wahhabism is something different," he said. "It is a
>purification of Islam. "
Effects and reflections of Wahabism on the lives of Muslims:
If we recapitulate how Islam as a religion had been practiced during the
decades of 60s, 50s and 40s and beyond, we can surely detect tremendous changes
the way Muslims practice Islam today. During 60s, 50s and 40s and even before
that (for many centuries)Muslims used to practice religion Islam very
privately, easily and peacefully. There was no political influence in Islam and
especially in the Indian sub-continent as well as entire South East Asia Islam
was tremendously influenced by Sufism and other local brand of cultural
admixes. We did not see young people and college students so serious about
religion. Religious activities (mainly five times prayers and fasting during
Romadhan and two Eids) were duty of mainly the elders.
Youngsters were not so serious about religion. During Pakistani era,
political leaders were not spell bound to show up their religious zeal to
appease the voters/publics. Muslim women like Hindu women used to put their
portion of their Saree over their heads (called Ghumta, a century old Indian
costume) but never ever we could see burkha-clad or hijab-clad women among the
city duelers. In very rare cases, burkha-clad rural aristocrat old women were
visible in the country sides.
What do we see for the last several decades?
For the last 30/40 years period, this so called Wahabism (real Islam) has
rapidly invaded the lives of Muslims throughout the whole world. Especially,
Muslim majority countries in the south-east Asia were silently invaded right
before our eyes by this so called wahabite pure islam. Not to be mistaken
thatit came by the name of wahabism, actually it came as the purification of
Islam which was considered polluted by many centuries of neglect by the
guardians of Islam Saudi Arabia. Thanks to two generals (Zia and Ershad) of
Bangladesh for vigorously importing Wahbite Islam in lieu of Arab
petro-dollars.
However we have seen following radical changes in the Muslim majority country
like Bangladesh by the courtesy of Arab petro-dollars:
1.
Massive numbers (mushrooming) of Mosques and Madrasshas, Islamic Universities
thorough out the country producing millions of religiously educated (Talibans)
students who are mainly unproductive young generation for the nation.
2. Mushrooming of religious based political parties. Several dozens of
politically motivated Islamic jihadi parties creating extreme fanaticisms
amongst the young generation and spreading Islamic venom. These Islamic
political parties are fighting tooth and nails to establish Sharia-based
Islamic paradise to take the country back into the 7th century darkness.
3. Some visible cultural changes like: replaced century old habit of saying:
Khuda hafej by the Saudi style: Allah hafej, declaring (by some religious
parties) womens visits of Shaid-Minar, Gaye Holud festival (use of turmeric
baths in marriage ceremony) etc. as un-Islamic.
4. Religious activities (Five times prayers and fasting during Romadhan) have
increased thousand folds amongst the young generation. Restaurants remain
shutting during Ramadhan month even for non-Muslims. Use of Arab garbs amongst
the religious mullahs has increased ten folds. Even common publics (men and
women) changed their dress to become more Islamized (Mucholman) i.e. men wear
loose dress (Kurta-Shallower), grow beards and women wearing Shalower-Qumiz
instead of Bengali Saree and ridiculous looking hijab to show their devotion
towards Islam.
5. Islamic fatwabazi in the country side has taken roots (which was unknown
even in Pakistani era) like epidemics. Stoning deaths, Islamic lashings and
other sharia-based punishments have rampant in Bangladesh.
6. Politicians showing up extreme zeal of religiosity and their main slogans
of politics become who can save Islam more potently. Iftar-culture has
started vigorously amongst the all political parties and pilgrimage to Mecca
(Haj) and visiting other religiously holy places become the rule for
politicians. Tremendous competition between the rival politicians to show up
who is the best Muslim. All these above unproductive and hypocritical
manifestations of politicians were totally unknown even in Pakistani era.
7. Islamization of Arm Forces (which was non-existent in Pakistani time).
During British India or even in Pakistani timeArm forces were totally
secular/progressive minded people. But soon after the assassination of the
father of the Bangali Nation in 1975, Bangladesh Arm-forces were readily
exposed to Islamic fanaticism and very quickly converted the whole Army into a
fanatically India hated Islamized Arm-forces of Bangladesh. Thousands of
regular Joans (soldiers) are ex-madrassah students and bearded soldiers. Jamaat
Guru war-criminal Gulam Azam visits Dhaka cantonment to provide Islamic sermons
to the ordinary soldiers.
8. An utopia of Pir-business has bloomed in Bangladesh (although, wahabite
guardians of Islam do not like it) by the golden opportunity developed due to
the extreme zeal of religiosity among the common publics.
9. Creation of Religious Ministry (Dharmo Montry) , Islamic Foundations
(dozens of them), haj ministry, haj department, haji camps, Tablig Jamat
(Biswa-iztema) are a few cardinal signs of wahabite influence in Bangladesh.
These were unknown even in Pakistani era or during the British India.
10. Islamization of education system as a whole taken roots by this Wahabite
influence. Some over jealous Mullaic intellectuals of Bangladesh discovered
lots of modern budoo science in holy Koran to fool ordinary peoples.
11. Among the general publics pilgrimage to Mecca (haj and Umrha-culture) and
visiting Islamic holy places have increased 100 folds. Pilgrimage to Mecca was
rare thing even in Pakistani time.
12. Loud speaker (Microphone) culture was begun with competition. One can
experience the horrendously disturbing ear-busting sounds of Ajan (call for
prayers), Friday sermons and Gozzals coming from the various Mosques from all
directions. These were totally unknown during periods 30/40 years back
.
13. In general a dangerous movement (utopia) of making Sharia-based Islamic
paradise has been generated in every Muslim majority countries throughout the
whole world because of Wahabite influence.
14. After invading successfully al most all the Muslim majority countries,
this so called Wahabism also occupied 80-90% of the Mosques established in the
infidel lands around the world.
Similar or even more jihadi brand of Islamization changes can be observed in
Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and other Muslim majority countries around the
world.
Conclusion:
Undoubtedly, rejuvenation of real 7th century Islam has taken its ugly roots
among all Muslim countries including Bangladesh and century old Sufi-mixed
peaceful benign Islam has evaporated from Bangladesh and elsewhere in South
East Asia. So it is not correct to claim that Muslims in Bangladesh and other
Muslim majority countries of the world have no idea what Wahabism is until
after September 11th. September 11th episode was only the visible cardinal
sign exhibited by the soldiers of Allah inspired by pure (wahabi) Islam. The
malignant signs of this so called Wahabism (pure Islam) was also taken its
roots among the Muslim expatriates around the world which is clearly visible by
the courtesy of intense religiosity (Ummabazi, various Islamic organization,
hijab culture among the Muslim women who never used hjab/burkha in their own
land before coming to this western infidel lands. All of these above changes
among the Muslims in general are the direct effects/influence of
the propagation of 7th century pure Islam under the false banner of so called
Wahabism.
It is most unfortunate that, at the modern era of 20th and 21st centuries when
entire world was shedding out the century-old religious fervors, and very
rapidly embracing secularism, modern science and technologyMuslims on the
contrary was embracing more and more fanatical religious fervors of so called
Wahabism and going back to the dark days of medieval 7th century life style.
Only Allah knows when Muslims will learn to go forward instead of going
backward!
---------------------------------
Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
