SHEIKH-UL-ISLAM MUHAMMAD BIN ABDUL WAHHAB A RENOWNED REVIVER AND A GREAT REFORMER

 SHEIKH-UL-ISLAM

MUHAMMAD BIN ABDUL WAHHAB

A RENOWNED REVIVER AND A GREAT REFORMER

His Birth and Lineage:

Sheikh-ul-Islam, Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, was born in 1115 H. in the city of Uyainah, seventy kilometers northwest of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He

belonged to a highly respectable and scholarly family;

Education:

Sheikh-ul-Islam acquired his primary education from his esteemed father at his native place

and was nurtured under his guidance. He was intelligent enough to memorize the Qur'an by heart at the very tender age of ten only. He read the books on Tafseer (exegesis), Hadith and Fiqh. From the very outset, he was greatly interested in studying the works of early scholars,

particularly those of Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taimiyah and his noble disciple Allamah Ibn Qaiyim.

Condition of Najd:

In those days, the people of Najd were badly indulged in polytheistic deeds and un-Islamic

practices. They were completely overwhelmed with polytheism. The graves, trees, stones, caves, evil spirits and insane persons were regarded as deities.

Mission of Da'wah:

Sheikh started his mission. He invited the people to the Tauhid (Islamic Monotheism) and

guided them to the Qur'an and Sunnah. He urged upon Ulama to strictly follow the Qur'an and

Sunnah and derive the issues directly from them. A number of scholars from Makkah, Al-Madinah and Yemen accepted his invitation, and supported him. But apart from them, there were also such ignorant and selfish scholars who criticized him and kept themselves aloof.

Arrival at Uyainah:

There were numerous tombs, graves, caves, trees..etc, which were worshipped by the

Muslims. With the help of Amir Uthman bin Ma'mar, most of them were extirpated by Sheikh.

He became engaged in purifying the people from polytheistic and heretic rituals in Uyainah and

its surroundings.

Exit from Uyainah and Entrance to Dar'iyah:

The people of Dar'iyah knew the Sheikh very well and they were also aware of his mission.

When the ruler of Dar'iyah Amir Muhammad bin Saud came to know about the arrival of the

Sheikh in his territory, he was much pleased and visited him at his place. Muhammad bin Saud

belonged to a pious family and himself was a practical Muslim.

Dar'iyah, the Centre of Da'wah:

At this time Sheikh found himself in a peaceful environment, most suitable for his work of

Da'wah. He seized the golden opportunity and started to educate the masses. People of Dar'iyah and its surroundings resorted to him for the lessons in Islam. Amir Muhammad bin Saud presented himself before the Sheikh as one of his students of Islam along with the members of his

family. Dar'iyah was crowded with the people visiting for learning. Sheikh started teaching,

preaching and inviting people to Allah. The concourse of people and far-reaching effect of his mission made him far-famed which rendered his enemies into jealous. They started false propaganda against the Sheikh and even blamed him of blasphemy, He even debated his opponents in the best manner and in a polite way. This attitude proved very effective and rendered his opponents to be his supporters.

Correspondence with Rulers:

Sheikh drew the attention of the rulers and the scholars of each region towards the polytheism and heresy in which the people were indulged, and invited them for their eradication. For the purpose, he stepped into correspondence. He wrote letters to the rulers, elites and scholars of Najd, Riyadh, Kharj, towns of the southern region, Qaseem, Hayel, Washm, Sudair etc. He also wrote to the outstanding Ulama of Ahsa, Makkah and Al-Madinah.

Death:

He breathed his last on the last day of the month of Dhul-Q'adah in 1206 H (1792 A.C).

Impact of  Da'wah:

People abandoned worshipping graves, tombs, shrines, trees etc. and all the more they

deserted all of them and practiced the pure faith of Islam.

Some of his works:

Despite the fact that Sheikh-ul-lslam Muhammad bin AbdulWahhab was a reformer and a man of Da 'wah, he still engaged in writing also. His some famous works are as follows:

1. Kitab At-Tawhid

2. Kitab AI-Kabaair

3. Kashf Ash-Shubhat

4. Mukhtasar Seerat Ar-Rasool

5. Masail Al-Jahiliyah

6. Usool Al-Iman

7. Fadail Al-Qur'an

8. Fadail Al-Islam

9. Majmu' Al-Ahadith

10. Mukhtasar Al-Insaf wa Ash-Sharh Al-Kabeer

11. Al-Usool Ath- Thalatha

12. Aadab Al-Mashi ila As-Salat

And others

Reference: Kitab ut Tauheed - Mohammad Ibn e Abdul wahab.