A Discourse on Wahabiism

Yesterday, an article came out about how the National Safety Council was 'worried' that Muslim religious leaders like former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri, as well as several Umno ulama, were actually proponents of Wahabi teachings.

The story was interesting to me mainly because though I've heard the term Wahabi many times, I realised that I wasn't really sure what it was, what it meant or why the Malaysian government was so scared of it.

So, I took my question to that place where all questions are answered. No, not Wikipedia. Facebook. I put up a question on my wall and the result was a fascinating and stimulating discussion. I was touched and glad that so many of my Muslim friends took a lot of time and thought to actually guide me through what is obviously a very complicated theological subject.

I am reproducing the conversation here, verbatim, for easy future reference.


Marc Lourdes

Can somebody tell me why Wahabism is banned in Malaysia? I'm always hearing about it, but don't really understand it.


Norzilawati Ismail

a follower of ʿAbd al-Wahhab (1703–1792), who stringently opposed all practices not sanctioned by the Koran. The Wahhabis, founded in the 18th century, are the most conservative Muslim group and are today found mainly in Saudi Arabia....sorry if I'm wrong...:)


Marc Lourdes

Ahhhh...so if they're strict followers of the Quran, why are they banned in malaysia?


Petah Wazzan Iskandar

de most wahabi country is Saudi Arabia....byk cara mereka ni, berlainan Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah....but Malaysia dpt byk duit dr Arab Saudi....so.....


Marc Lourdes

So, in what ways are the Wahabbi's different from the Sunni Muslims here?


Petah Wazzan Iskandar

dalam mudah kata, WAHABI - pergerakan fahaman baru yang tidak selari dgn Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (sunni).....


Norzilawati Ismail

Because their practices wasn't based by the Quran....Quran and Sunnah as the guidelines...they're away from it...


Marc Lourdes

Ahhh...okay. So they are considered more extremist in their beliefs?


Petah Wazzan Iskandar

Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (sunni) follow Quran, Sunnah, Hadis dan Ijtimak Ulamak.....dats de 4 roots paling penting......Malaysia adalah Sunni but most of de duit, come from them....
they r not ekstrem but some of their ways, terpesong dr cara sebenar......


Marc Lourdes

Ohhh...okay. Thanks guys!


Petah Wazzan Iskandar

what i can say, fahaman wahabi sudah lama meluas n ssiapa yang tidak mahir dgn ajaran Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (sunni), memang x nampak perbezaannya.....tapi apapun, setiap penganut has their own right untuk memilih Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (sunni), wahabi, syiah dan macam2 lagi...


Zikri Kamarulzaman

If we were a wahabi muslim nation, women can't drive.. or maybe that's just a saudi thing.


Petah Wazzan Iskandar

nope..wahabi xde kaitan dgn drive..itu undang2 sana je.....jgn terkeliru....


Zikri Kamarulzaman

oh ok. oh well, mazhab2, sunni, shiite, wahabi, ismaili blablabla, just too much political bollocks behind it if u ask me.


Marc Lourdes

No la. It's different religious teachings, which is a whole different kettle of fish altogether. Though, religion is often subverted for politics.


Petah Wazzan Iskandar

hehhe...dats ur opinion....dont worry k, its not political but ilmu yg diterima berbeza....yg uat politik ialag org yang mmerintah....


Ili Liyana Mokhtar

this is such a good discussion. Bertambah ilmu hari ni. Terima Kasih :)


Marc Lourdes

Ha! Itu la! I learned something i didn't know before today. :)


Sakina Mohamed


I actually have attended a few lectures with learned scholars from all mazhabs (school of thoughts) and found out many Malaysian Muslims are quite ill-informed about Wahabinism (including me). To spare unnecessary details, they were just a movement that brought people back to the ways of the Sunnah. The big no-no thing they did was get all Muslims to pray to one imam at Masjidil Haram (where the Kaabah is). Many Muslims don't know this, but there used to be four imam, each representing a mazhab, praying at once facing each side of the kaabah. This goes against what is taught by the prophet s.a.w. Some guy in the UK saw this as a chance to provoke Muslim disunity and unrest and spread this hoax called Wahabbinism that is so widely believed because it is perpetuated across the web. Most Muslims who have never met a real life scholar will only refer to magazines and the web, when they are actually more reliable sources. I am not putting down anyone, because what I said applies to me as well.


Sakina Mohamed

I urge anyone (Muslims or not) who have a question about Wahabbinism, to seek knowledge from scholars (ulama). Ulama are not your local ustaz. These are people classically trained in Islamic knowledge and many branches of fiqh, and they are familiar with all mazhab.

This is a very popular question at lectures, but I have never met a scholar that says Wahabbinism is against the sunnah. I might not do a good job explaining it here, but they will. Interestingly, Wikipedia gives an almost accurate description of Wahabbinism, though the followers never call themselves Wahabbi. They will say they are simply trying to get people to follow the sunnah (like levelling of graves, which is unpopular among Muslims who have poor knowledge of hadith and sunnah of the Prophet s.a.w). Sorry for the long post Marc Lourdes, hope it is useful.


Marc Lourdes

So they prayed TO the imam?


Sakina Mohamed

They pray like everyone else..to one imam in any one congregation. After Muhammad s.a.w and the caliphates died, people began to "innovate" Islamic teachings to suit their culture and lifestyles. It went on for centuries, until many people had little idea that what they were doing is against the sunnah. So this guy and his band of bros decided to set things straight and keep it real. Naturally, they became unpopular la. You know la, like election kotor for years, ppl used to money politics, tetiba a group of ppl nak change, you think those used to the "peace" nak give up without a fight? Even when they found out they were wrong, they still want to stick to it..so they spread this urban legend called "Wahabbinism" and propagate it.


Marc Lourdes

Fear tactics la tu


Sakina Mohamed

Well it worked. You know, Islam is about pondering and questioning. Even the oneness of God, we should believe because we have pondered about it, and that increases faith. Problem is when ppl repeat what they hear without verifying facts..


Marc Lourdes

Yup, true dat. Not enough rational analysis out there.


Weween Raja Adam

wow Sakinah, that is such a good explaination, THANK YOU. can i be ur friend? hehe


Weween Raja Adam

anywayz, marc - thought u might find this useful - http://drmaza.com/home/?p=​805#more-805


Weween Raja Adam

i agree with Sakinah. thing is, because Malaysia practices mazhab shafie and i wont say that is wrong but Islam is supposed to follow the Quran and Hadith/Sunnah (Rasullah's way of doing things) But sadly, it has been misinterpreted in so many wrong ways and whats even more screw up is because we have to make way for Muslim "head of state" who are probably arent Islamic themselves. So religion, instead of following the Quran and Sunnah, its being practice to suit the lifestyle and culture for the people in Malaysia. and then, u have people like Dr Asri who tries to correct that - than the authority play with the law to brand him as extremist. when he is actually promoting the Quran and Sunnah. Wahhabi is a "brand" to create fear. LIke u knnw, the Islam Hadhari and dunno lah how many more Islam brand out there. But Islam, is all about following the Quran and Sunnah.


Weween Raja Adam

Its so hard to make right a wrong that has been practices for generation in Malaysia or anywhere kan.. For example, Prophet Muhammad saw said "Do not celebrate my birth date and do not celebrate my death" (Hadith) but in Msia we have public holiday and we celebrate the Prophets Birth Date in a huge way that goes on for weeks. I wont say that is wrong but if Islam is to follow Quran and Hadith than why do we tokok tambah such practice? And when this kind of things are being pointed out, authority will straightaway say we are Wahabi. and suddenly jadi terrorist or againts Islamic teaching. anywayz, sorry such long post =) i need to vent the misconception after Dr Asri's case resurrected.. yet again. Sengal lah


Marc Lourdes

But in Islam, can one branch say another is terpesong and haram?


Sakina Mohamed

Weween, sure :)

Marc Lourdes- I'm not sure what you mean by branch..

all the four mazhabs were founded by four very learned Imam who were actually students and teachers of each other. They were not only extremely well-versed in the Quran and Sunnah but also science, algebra, philosophy, alchemy - u get the drift. The last of them was Shafiee (which Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore subscribe to). In my adulthood I learned that none is more supreme or correct than the other. The Shafiees tend to be more particular - we take a "better safe than sorry" stance.

Something can only be haram if it goes against what is prescribed by Allah and His messenger Muhammad s.a.w. You can't have just one of it. For example, if you believe in the Quran alone but not the sunnah, then it is clear that there is a deviation there.


Celia Alphonsus

This was a brilliant discussion. Thank you Marc Lourdes for asking the question, Sakina and the others for such insightful commentary. I am a little less confused now. You know..instead of getting old fogeys for inter-faith discussions...it should be people our generation.


Marc Lourdes

So, what is the basis for Malaysia proscribing wahabism? Does it really have a religious basis or is it merely a political game?


Marc Lourdes

Weween, Sakina - you guys should get to know one another. Y'all will get along famously, I'm sure. Two brilliant and very cool ladies. :)


Sakina Mohamed

You can bet your bottom dollar it's the latter :)

Celia - Why thank you, and you're welcome :)


Presenna Nambiar

If only we were all so rational and understanding when it comes to religion.. You guys are great :)

Laviinia Dhana
This was an enlightening read.... Thanks Sakina and Weween !!!


Celia Alphonsus

Marc Lourdes this should be documented for posterity somehow. You know as an example of rational, intelligent discourse.


Marc Lourdes

‎Celia Alphonsus One step ahead of you. ;) http://vitruvianman.blogsp​ot.com/2011/07/discourse-o​n-wahabiism.html


Celia Alphonsus

Hehehehe... ;) Excellent.

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