Wahhabism (Arabic: وهابية‎, Wahhābiyyah) or Wahhabi mission[1] (/wəˈhɑːbi, wɑː-/;[2] Arabic:ألدعوة ألوهابية‎, al-Da'wa al-Wahhābiyyah ) is a religious movement or sect or form[3] of Sunni Islam[4][5][6] variously described as "orthodox", "ultraconservative",[7] "austere",[3]"fundamentalist",[8] "puritanical"[9] (or "puritan").[10] It describes an Islamic "reform movement" to restore "pure monotheistic worship",[11] or an "extremist pseudo-Sunni movement".[12] Adherents often object to the term Wahhabi or Wahhabism as derogatory, and prefer to be called Salafi ormuwahhid.[13][14][15]

Wahhabism is named after an eighteenth century preacher and scholar, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703–1792).[16] He started a revivalist movement in the remote, sparsely populated region of Najd,[17] advocating a purging of practices such as the popular cult of saints, and shrine and tomb visitation, widespread among Muslims, but which he considered idolatry, impurities and innovations inIslam.[5][18] Eventually he formed a pact with a local leader Muhammad bin Saudoffering political obedience and promising that protection and propagation of the Wahhabi movement, would mean "power and glory" and rule of "lands and men."[19] The movement is centered on the principle of Tawhid,[20] or the "uniqueness" and "unity" of God.[18]

The alliance between followers of ibn Abd al-Wahhab and Muhammad bin Saud's successors (the House of Saud) proved to be a rather durable alliance. The house of ibn Saud continued to maintain its politico-religious alliance with the Wahhabi sect through the waxing and waning of its own political fortunes over the next 150 years, through to its eventual proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, and then afterwards, on into modern times. Today Mohammed bin Abd Al-Wahhab's teachings are state-sponsored and are the dominant form of Islam[3][21] in 21st century Saudi Arabia.

The majority of the world's Wahhabis are from Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia.[22]46.87% ofQataris[22] and 44.8% of Emiratis are Wahhabis.[22] 5.7% of Bahrainisare Wahhabis and 2.17% of Kuwaitis are Wahhabis.[22]

Wahhabis are the "dominant minority" in Saudi Arabia.[23] There are 4 million Saudi Wahhabis(concentrated in Najd) representing 22.9% of the population.[22][24] With the help of funding from petroleum exports[25] (and other factors[26]), the movement underwent "explosive growth" beginning in the 1970s and now has worldwide influence.[3] The movement is centered on the principle of Tawhid,[20] or the "uniqueness" and "unity" of God.[18] The movement also draws from the teachings of Medieval theologian Ibn Taymiyyah and early juristAhmad ibn Hanbal.[27]

Wahhabism has been accused of being "a source of global terrorism",[28][29] and for causing disunity in the Muslim community by labeling non-Wahhabi Muslims asapostates[30] (takfir) thus paving the way for their bloodshed.[31][32][33] It has also been criticized for the destruction of historic mazaars, mausoleums, and other Muslim and non-Muslim buildings and artifacts.[34][35][36] The "boundaries" of what make up Wahhabism have been called "difficult to pinpoint",[37] but in contemporary usage, the terms Wahhabi and Salafi are often used interchangeably, and considered to be movements with different roots that have merged since the 1960s.[38][39] [40] But Wahhabism has also been called "a particular orientation within Salafism",[5] or an ultra-conservative, Saudi brand of Salafism.[41][42]

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