You Can't Understand ISIS If You Don't Know the History of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia

Lakhota

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Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab (the founder of Wahhabism)

BEIRUT -- The dramatic arrival of Da'ish (ISIS) on the stage of Iraq has shocked many in the West. Many have been perplexed -- and horrified -- by its violence and its evident magnetism for Sunni youth. But more than this, they find Saudi Arabia's ambivalence in the face of this manifestation both troubling and inexplicable, wondering, "Don't the Saudis understand that ISIS threatens them, too?"

It appears -- even now -- that Saudi Arabia's ruling elite is divided. Some applaud that ISIS is fighting Iranian Shiite "fire" with Sunni "fire"; that a new Sunni state is taking shape at the very heart of what they regard as a historical Sunni patrimony; and they are drawn by Da'ish's strict Salafist ideology.

Other Saudis are more fearful, and recall the history of the revolt against Abd-al Aziz by the Wahhabist Ikhwan (Disclaimer: this Ikhwan has nothing to do with the Muslim Brotherhood Ikhwan -- please note, all further references hereafter are to the Wahhabist Ikhwan, and not to the Muslim Brotherhood Ikhwan), but which nearly imploded Wahhabism and the al-Saud in the late 1920s.

Many Saudis are deeply disturbed by the radical doctrines of Da'ish (ISIS) -- and are beginning to question some aspects of Saudi Arabia's direction and discourse.

Much More: You Can't Understand ISIS If You Don t Know the History of Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia

This is an interesting read for those who care about such things.
 
Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab is generally acknowledged[10] to have been born in 1703[11] into the sedentary Arab clan of Banu Tamim[12] (the Banu Tamim were not a nomadic tribe) in 'Uyayna, a village in the Najd region of the modern Saudi Arabia.[11][13]

He was thought to have started studying Islam at an early age, primarily with his father, ʿAbd al-Wahhab[14][15] as his family was from a line of scholars of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence.[16]

Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab reportedly spent some time studying with Muslim scholars in the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina after performingHajj (Mohammad Hayya Al-Sindhi)[17][18][19] and in Basra (in southern Iraq).[14][20]

In Mecca, the Hanbali mufti, Ibn Humaydi, perceived Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab to be a poor student, and arrogant and defiant with his teachers, which upset his father. Consequently, Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab did not complete his studies.[21]

Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab's teacher Abdallah ibn Ibrahim ibn Sayf introduced the relatively young man to Mohammad Hayya Al-Sindhi inMedina and recommended him as a student.[22] Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab and al-Sindi became very close and Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab stayed with him for some time.[22] Scholars have described Muhammad Hayya as having an important influence on Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, who taught Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab to utilize informed individual analysis (ijtihad). Muhammad Hayya also taught Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab to reject popular religious practices associated with walis and their tombs that resembles later Wahhabi teachings.[22]Muhammad Hayya and his milieu are important for understanding the origins of at least the Wahhabi revivalist impulse.[23][not in citation given]

Following his early education in Medina, Abdul Wahhab traveled outside of the peninsula, venturing first to Basra. He then went to Baghdad, where he said to have got married to a woman of Najdi origin and settled down for five years. Most sources agree that Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab's reformist ideas were formulated while living in Basra. He returned to 'Uyayna in 1740.

Much More: Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Some more background information.
 
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Learn about them...no. Exterminate them...yes.

Well, sparky, not all bug sprays are effective on all insects. One must know which spray to use. Hence, knowing and understanding your enemy before committing blood and treasure.
 
Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab is generally acknowledged[10] to have been born in 1703[11] into the sedentary Arab clan of Banu Tamim[12] (the Banu Tamim were not a nomadic tribe) in 'Uyayna, a village in the Najd region of the modern Saudi Arabia.[11][13]

He was thought to have started studying Islam at an early age, primarily with his father, ʿAbd al-Wahhab[14][15] as his family was from a line of scholars of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence.[16]

Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab reportedly spent some time studying with Muslim scholars in the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina after performingHajj (Mohammad Hayya Al-Sindhi)[17][18][19] and in Basra (in southern Iraq).[14][20]

In Mecca, the Hanbali mufti, Ibn Humaydi, perceived Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab to be a poor student, and arrogant and defiant with his teachers, which upset his father. Consequently, Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab did not complete his studies.[21]

Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab's teacher Abdallah ibn Ibrahim ibn Sayf introduced the relatively young man to Mohammad Hayya Al-Sindhi inMedina and recommended him as a student.[22] Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab and al-Sindi became very close and Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab stayed with him for some time.[22] Scholars have described Muhammad Hayya as having an important influence on Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, who taught Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab to utilize informed individual analysis (ijtihad). Muhammad Hayya also taught Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab to reject popular religious practices associated with walis and their tombs that resembles later Wahhabi teachings.[22]Muhammad Hayya and his milieu are important for understanding the origins of at least the Wahhabi revivalist impulse.[23][not in citation given]

Following his early education in Medina, Abdul Wahhab traveled outside of the peninsula, venturing first to Basra. He then went to Baghdad, where he said to have got married to a woman of Najdi origin and settled down for five years. Most sources agree that Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab's reformist ideas were formulated while living in Basra. He returned to 'Uyayna in 1740.

Much More: Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Some more background information.
Posted about this long ago.
 
Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab is generally acknowledged[10] to have been born in 1703[11] into the sedentary Arab clan of Banu Tamim[12] (the Banu Tamim were not a nomadic tribe) in 'Uyayna, a village in the Najd region of the modern Saudi Arabia.[11][13]

He was thought to have started studying Islam at an early age, primarily with his father, ʿAbd al-Wahhab[14][15] as his family was from a line of scholars of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence.[16]

Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab reportedly spent some time studying with Muslim scholars in the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina after performingHajj (Mohammad Hayya Al-Sindhi)[17][18][19] and in Basra (in southern Iraq).[14][20]

In Mecca, the Hanbali mufti, Ibn Humaydi, perceived Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab to be a poor student, and arrogant and defiant with his teachers, which upset his father. Consequently, Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab did not complete his studies.[21]

Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab's teacher Abdallah ibn Ibrahim ibn Sayf introduced the relatively young man to Mohammad Hayya Al-Sindhi inMedina and recommended him as a student.[22] Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab and al-Sindi became very close and Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab stayed with him for some time.[22] Scholars have described Muhammad Hayya as having an important influence on Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, who taught Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab to utilize informed individual analysis (ijtihad). Muhammad Hayya also taught Mohammad Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab to reject popular religious practices associated with walis and their tombs that resembles later Wahhabi teachings.[22]Muhammad Hayya and his milieu are important for understanding the origins of at least the Wahhabi revivalist impulse.[23][not in citation given]

Following his early education in Medina, Abdul Wahhab traveled outside of the peninsula, venturing first to Basra. He then went to Baghdad, where he said to have got married to a woman of Najdi origin and settled down for five years. Most sources agree that Ibn Abd-al-Wahhab's reformist ideas were formulated while living in Basra. He returned to 'Uyayna in 1740.

Much More: Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Some more background information.
Posted about this long ago.

How about the OP. Was it also posted long ago?
 
Yes, know thine enemy!

The problem I am having is with the demands for US forces to be stood up against ISIS (or whatever they call themselves these days.)

A superpower doesn't go to war against a gang of thugs and killers irrespective of how much provocation they are using. To do so would be to elevate them above what they are and give them "legitimacy" in the eyes of those who support them and it will be fighting them on their terms and territory.

The smart move is to arm and support those with a motive to take out ISIS instead. ISIS cannot be "wiped out" because it is an idea, a concept, as the OP explains. You cannot defeat an idea with military force. It needs to be defeated in the minds of those it seeks to oppress. The Kurds and other minorities in the region have plenty of motivation to kill off ISIS before they are overrun.

So this is one fight the US needs to sit out as far as troops on the ground go. Certainly we can supply air supremacy to our allies but let's not spill the blood of our finest on the likes of thugs and killers.
 
I hate wahhabi-ism...anyone who eats that super hot green paste in large quantities deserves to have their sinuses burned out !

...oh...sorry...that's wasabi-ism.
 
Yes, know thine enemy!

The problem I am having is with the demands for US forces to be stood up against ISIS (or whatever they call themselves these days.)

A superpower doesn't go to war against a gang of thugs and killers irrespective of how much provocation they are using. To do so would be to elevate them above what they are and give them "legitimacy" in the eyes of those who support them and it will be fighting them on their terms and territory.

The smart move is to arm and support those with a motive to take out ISIS instead. ISIS cannot be "wiped out" because it is an idea, a concept, as the OP explains. You cannot defeat an idea with military force. It needs to be defeated in the minds of those it seeks to oppress. The Kurds and other minorities in the region have plenty of motivation to kill off ISIS before they are overrun.

So this is one fight the US needs to sit out as far as troops on the ground go. Certainly we can supply air supremacy to our allies but let's not spill the blood of our finest on the likes of thugs and killers.
Allies my ass. They are all part of the problem.
 
Yes, know thine enemy!

The problem I am having is with the demands for US forces to be stood up against ISIS (or whatever they call themselves these days.)

A superpower doesn't go to war against a gang of thugs and killers irrespective of how much provocation they are using. To do so would be to elevate them above what they are and give them "legitimacy" in the eyes of those who support them and it will be fighting them on their terms and territory.

The smart move is to arm and support those with a motive to take out ISIS instead. ISIS cannot be "wiped out" because it is an idea, a concept, as the OP explains. You cannot defeat an idea with military force. It needs to be defeated in the minds of those it seeks to oppress. The Kurds and other minorities in the region have plenty of motivation to kill off ISIS before they are overrun.

So this is one fight the US needs to sit out as far as troops on the ground go. Certainly we can supply air supremacy to our allies but let's not spill the blood of our finest on the likes of thugs and killers.


What the US does and does not will depend on the circumstances at the time, our allies are heavily involved at this time. New today: Australia will be supplying the Kurds; of course it best to learn about Wahhabism. Also the differences between Shi'ia, Sunni, AND Sufis. Dr. Annamarie Schimmel wrote a text on Sufism, "Mystical Dimensions of Islam". Her courses required in depth study of the branches, she had spent many years living in the Middle East.

(She spent a few months working for the Nazi government, she did not resist the Reich, instead went to college, studying Islam during the war years. She mentioned being "detained" after the war, by the US Army, I believe. That must be included when discussing her work; she was both a brillant scholar and a radish*)

*Gunter Grass, The Tin Drum.
 
Yes, know thine enemy!

The problem I am having is with the demands for US forces to be stood up against ISIS (or whatever they call themselves these days.)

A superpower doesn't go to war against a gang of thugs and killers irrespective of how much provocation they are using. To do so would be to elevate them above what they are and give them "legitimacy" in the eyes of those who support them and it will be fighting them on their terms and territory.

The smart move is to arm and support those with a motive to take out ISIS instead. ISIS cannot be "wiped out" because it is an idea, a concept, as the OP explains. You cannot defeat an idea with military force. It needs to be defeated in the minds of those it seeks to oppress. The Kurds and other minorities in the region have plenty of motivation to kill off ISIS before they are overrun.

So this is one fight the US needs to sit out as far as troops on the ground go. Certainly we can supply air supremacy to our allies but let's not spill the blood of our finest on the likes of thugs and killers.


What the US does and does not will depend on the circumstances at the time, our allies are heavily involved at this time. New today: Australia will be supplying the Kurds; of course it best to learn about Wahhabism. Also the differences between Shi'ia, Sunni, AND Sufis. Dr. Annamarie Schimmel wrote a text on Sufism, "Mystical Dimensions of Islam". Her courses required in depth study of the branches, she had spent many years living in the Middle East.

(She spent a few months working for the Nazi government, she did not resist the Reich, instead went to college, studying Islam during the war years. She mentioned being "detained" after the war, by the US Army, I believe. That must be included when discussing her work; she was both a brillant scholar and a radish*)

*Gunter Grass, The Tin Drum.
We have misread the circumstances since august of 1945.....time to get back on track.
 
Learn about them...no. Exterminate them...yes.

Well, sparky, not all bug sprays are effective on all insects. One must know which spray to use. Hence, knowing and understanding your enemy before committing blood and treasure.
That's what Obabble is dithering over...learning...we need doing.

In other words, just do SOMETHING - whether it makes sense or not?
The man has been in the seat for 6 years...am I asking too much?
 
Learn about them...no. Exterminate them...yes.

Well, sparky, not all bug sprays are effective on all insects. One must know which spray to use. Hence, knowing and understanding your enemy before committing blood and treasure.
That's what Obabble is dithering over...learning...we need doing.

In other words, just do SOMETHING - whether it makes sense or not?
The man has been in the seat for 6 years...am I asking too much?

Holy shit, you are extraordinarily stupid. Apparently you don't know jack shit about ISIS.
 
Obama has a very full plate - including ISIS and Russia. On top of everything else, he has to defend America from Republican obstructionists in Congress. I don't envy his job.
 
Learn about them...no. Exterminate them...yes.

Well, sparky, not all bug sprays are effective on all insects. One must know which spray to use. Hence, knowing and understanding your enemy before committing blood and treasure.
That's what Obabble is dithering over...learning...we need doing.

In other words, just do SOMETHING - whether it makes sense or not?
The man has been in the seat for 6 years...am I asking too much?

Holy shit, you are extraordinarily stupid. Apparently you don't know jack shit about ISIS.
Get this thru your thick head Tonto, radical Islamists are all the same to me.. We have to address the whole problem ...your dumbass has addressed none.
 

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