At present, in the world (especially in Russia), problems associated with the growth of religious extremism, in particular Islamic, are particularly acute in society. In the public mind, Islamic extremism is strongly associated with Wahhabism. At the same time, some Muslims consider followers of this religious movement to be fighters for the purification of Islam. Who is Wahhabi? What is the difference between them and Muslims? What is their ideology? All this will be discussed in this article.
Who are they?
First of all, let's consider who the Wahhabis are. They include followers of Wahhabism - a special trend in Islam. They allow alternative interpretations of the Qur'an and Hadith. The term “Wahhabism” was coined in the 18th century by opponents of the preacher Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab. His ideas about the modernization of Islam were declared incorrect. He himself was declared almost crazy. Currently, the term "Wahhabism" has many interpretations. Thus, representatives of Christianity and atheists often associate Wahhabis with terrorists. People who are not versed in the directions of Islam can consider as such any Muslim who has a beard.
Who are Wahhabis in Islam? For followers of traditional Islam, a Wahhabi is one who adheres to a different interpretation of religion. Thus, the modern interpretation is much wider and includes all Muslims who adhere to an alternative interpretation of Islam. Wahhabis are called both real extremists and Sunnis. In order to understand who Wahhabis really is, you need to know the history of this religious movement.
Occurrence
The founder of this religious movement is the preacher Muhammad Abdel Wahhab, who in the second half of the XVIII century was the leader of the rebel movement on the Arabian Peninsula for independence from the power of the Ottoman Empire. As the ideological basis of the national liberation movement , slogans about the need to fight for the purification of Islam from innovations were used. The basis of the ideas of Muhammad Abdel Wahhab was the denial of the Turkish Sultan as the supreme ruler of all Muslims. Thus, religious slogans were used to justify the national liberation struggle, as is usually the case today. At the beginning of the 19th century, the liberation movement in Arabia was crushed by the troops of the Turkish Sultan. For a while no one heard anything about Wahhabis. One hundred and fifty years later, their slogans were again raised by the young leader Al Saud Abdelaziz, the creator of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With the discovery of huge oil fields in Saudi Arabia to spread Wahhabism throughout the Islamic world, powerful financial support has emerged.
The history of development
Wahhabism as an ideological trend in Islam is closely connected with Saudi Arabia and is used by its ruling circles in achieving the foreign policy goals of gaining dominance in the Islamic world. But many still believe that these people are not Muslims. The Wahhabis seek to purify Islam, but the methods they use to do this are not supported by the holy Quran.
As a result of the Arab-Israeli war of 1973, there was a rapid increase in oil prices, which led to an increase in wealth of the ruling elite of Saudi Arabia. In Jeddah, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Islamic Development Bank are being created, which have become a powerful tool for spreading Saudi influence in Muslim countries.
Wahhabis in the USA
Wahhabism was also used by the United States as an ideological base for counteracting the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan in 1979. Saudi Arabia, the United States and Pakistan contributed to the dissemination of his ideas for organizing jihad in order to combat the Soviet presence in Afghanistan. A side effect of this policy was the emergence of well-trained, who had a powerful ideological motivation for numerous Islamic militants who, after the Afghan war, went into confrontation with the United States and its allies. It was at this time that the United States created the Al-Qaeda organization under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, whose activities then became a major threat to the United States for a long time.
The strengthening of this religious movement and its spread was facilitated by the appropriation by the king of Saudi Arabia of Fahd of the title “Guardian of two shrines” (Mecca and Medina). Thus, Wahhabism, as the official religion of Saudi Arabia, has appropriated power over the main shrines of Islam.
“Wahhabi” is not an abusive word, as many are used to thinking. This term was formed as a result of historical events.
What is going on today?
Currently, Wahhabis in the Islamic world make up about one percent of Muslims. The centers are Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These ideas also formed the ideological basis of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Wahhabism was also accepted by many Islamic radicals simply because they were ready to go to war with the "infidels." Thus, from the end of the 20th century, this ideological trend has become strongly associated with Islamic terrorism. Who is a Wahhabi in reality and how is it different from a traditional Muslim?
Differences of Wahhabis from Muslims
Consider the main features of this trend and its differences from other areas of Islam.
- The followers of Wahhabism literally interpret the Koran, not taking into account the socio-political situation in Arabia during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. Allah is perceived as an individual who has the ability to move freely, but His appearance remains a mystery, for He does not look like anyone or anything. The differences between Wahhabis and Muslims are also manifested in the fact that the former are extremely hostile to cultural values.
- As the basis of the Wahhabi creed, only collections of hadiths of Bukhari and Muslim are recognized and other religious schools are completely denied. They also considered paganism a direct request to Allah ("tawassul"). It is considered undesirable to visit the graves of the associates of Muhammad and other Islamic righteous. The killed Wahhabis, in their own opinion, also do not deserve to be buried according to all Muslim traditions.
- Wahhabis deny the worship of the deceased and simply manic struggle with the graves of their ancestors (destroy them, forbid to make inscriptions and erect monuments). They are desperately waging a fierce struggle with the historical past of the peoples, striving to destroy the shrines and cultural monuments. Thus, they deny nationality, seeking to create a new historical community of Muslims. Their political and religious views are characterized by an extreme degree of radicalism. The rejection of all people who do not accept their views and their culture and worldview are the main signs of Wahhabi.
- Also, followers of this trend are characterized by extreme rejection of non-Muslims who are allowed to kill and wage war with them (jihad). Wahhabis who kill people of other faiths are a phenomenon that is quite common in Muslim countries. The war against the "infidels" is considered a sacred affair of any faithful Muslim. At the same time, national borders are denied. All Muslims serving in government, the army, and the police of non-state countries where Islam is recognized as the official religion are recognized as apostates. Extremely cruel Wahhabis. A photo cannot convey those negative emotions that live in their hearts.
- Wahhabis do not recognize state laws, decisions of secular courts, except sharia law. Wahhabis also deny other movements in Islam (Sunnis and Shiites). Terrorist activities in the name of the interests of Islam (including self-sacrifice) are considered justified and promoted. Moreover, the followers of Wahhabism deny its existence, for for them their religious views are the only true ones.
- Who is Wahhabi and what is the purpose of his ideology? The purpose of these people is to create a single Islamic state (caliphate), functioning on the basis of Sharia law. It is understood that the caliphate will be created on the basis of the dominant role of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, whose ruling elite will occupy an exceptional position. Dogmas of Wahhabism often change depending on the political goals of the main ideologists. At the same time, the general belligerent orientation and denial of dialogue with representatives of other religions remain unchanged.
- How to distinguish Wahhabi from an ordinary criminal? Due to the commonality of Wahhabism with thieves' concepts, these ideas are easily accepted by members of various criminal organizations. The main feature remains extreme radicalism in relation not only to people belonging to other religions, but also to Muslims - followers of other directions in Islam. An irreconcilable struggle must be waged against them until they are completely destroyed. Wahhabis do not associate themselves as part of the people to which they belong. Nationality is denied by them. The main thing is to follow the laws and traditions of Islam in their understanding.
Wahhabism in Russia
In the territory of the Russian Federation, Wahhabism has spread mainly in the North Caucasus (in Dagestan, Karachay-Cherkessia). The reason for this is the presence in these regions of numerous socio-economic problems (unemployment, poverty, corruption in government and law enforcement agencies). The Wahhabis of Dagestan are those people who did not find support in solving their problems or considered themselves infringed by the authorities and law enforcement officials and as a result fell under the influence of Islamic radicals. The dissemination of Wahhabi ideas is facilitated by the activities of emissaries from abroad (primarily from Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan), whose goal is to tear the North Caucasus from Russia and create a caliphate. Their agitation in the late 90s of the XX century contributed to the weakness of the state and two Chechen wars. The spread of radical movements in Islam is facilitated by the religious illiteracy of the population, especially young people, and historical grievances (memory of the Caucasian wars, deportations).
Reasons for weakening the influence of Wahhabism
Until recently, the state could not oppose the spread of extremist ideas with a well-formed national policy. Currently, with the strengthening of state power, the gradual solution of socio-economic problems, the fight against corruption in government, the restriction of the activities of various non-governmental international non-profit organizations, the influence of Wahhabis in the North Caucasus region is declining.
External signs
- Wahhabis stand out for their characteristic appearance. The photo indicates an inalienable attribute of their appearance - a beard. She, according to the followers of Wahhabism, is an indispensable attribute of a man. However, for the purpose of disguise, it is allowed to briefly trim or even shave off the beard. In order not to come into the view of law enforcement agencies, the Wahhabis are trying to disguise themselves and not differ from the bulk of the Muslims. Their propaganda is often hidden. The recruitment approach is carried out after careful examination of the candidates. Currently, the center of efforts has been moved to work with Muslim youth. At the same time, illiteracy, immaturity, a tendency to maximalism in young people are used.
- Also, external signs by which you can distinguish Wahhabis are wearing shortened trousers (above the ankle), a shaven head bald. They can also wear national clothing adopted in Arab countries.
- There are also differences in the practice of performing religious rites. Wahhabis, being in a mosque, do not put a skullcap on their heads and do not use a rosary, which distinguishes them from ordinary believers.
- Wahhabis zealously make sure that their wives completely cover their faces, leaving only their eyes open. Also, followers of radical Islam speak positively about the orders and state system of Saudi Arabia and, more recently, the terrorist state (ISIS), which is banned on the territory of the Russian Federation. Their propaganda literature often has no output or is published under the auspices of the following publishing houses: Badr, Ummah, Tauba, Fajrul-Islamiyah (Fajr), Ibrahim bin Abdul-Aziz al-Ibrahim, Santlada "
Recently, Wahhabis often call themselves Salafists.
Output
Wahhabism as a religious movement within Islam was developed in the 16th century and is associated with a set of internal socio-political contradictions in Arabia, in particular with the struggle against the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Initially, it bore national liberation features, and then, under the influence of the ideas of domination in the Islamic world, which appeared among the ruling elite of Saudi Arabia, as well as under the influence of external forces (USA), Wahhabism took on a radical character. It is characteristic of its rejection of all areas of Islam that run counter to its ideological principles, as well as the declaration of the fight against the “infidels” as a sacred duty of every Muslim. The movement in its modern form is an absolute danger to the state system of the Russian Federation, since it threatens the integrity of the country (tearing away the North Caucasus and other territories with a predominantly Muslim population).
It should be understood that Wahhabism is not a religious movement characteristic of Russian Muslims, but was introduced from outside and is an attempt by external forces to destabilize the political situation in the country. The fight against radicalism should include the elimination of reasons that contribute to the rejection of power on the part of the population, the conduct of broad educational activities, especially among young people, who are most susceptible to the effects of religious propaganda that is alien to the norms of traditional Islam. Along with this, the relevant state bodies need to monitor the activities of various kinds of non-governmental organizations, funded from abroad, and promoting values that are alien to Russian traditions.