Force and Fanaticism: Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia and Beyond
by Simon Ross Valentine
14 Members (4.25)
On This Page
Description
Wahhabism is an Islamic reform movement found mainly in Saudi Arabia. Closely linked to the Saudi monarchy, it enforces a strict code of morality and conduct monitored by mutawa (religious police), and governs every facet of Saudi life according to its own strict interpretation of Shariah, including gender segregation. Wahhabism also prohibits the practice of any other faith (even other forms of Islam) in Saudi Arabia, which is also the only country that forbids women from driving. But what show more exactly is Wahhabism? This question had long occupied Valentine, so he lived in the Kingdom for three years, familiarising himself with its distinct interpretation of Islam. His book defines Wahhabism and Wahhabi beliefs and considers the life and teaching of Muham-mad ibn Abd'al Wahhab and the later expansion of his sect.Also discussed are the rejection of later developments in Islam such as bid'ah; harmful innovations, among them celebrating the prophet's birthday and visiting the tombs of saints; the destruction of holy sites due to the fear of idolatry; Wahhabi law, which imposes the death sentence for crimes as archaic as witch- craft and sorcery, and the connection of Wahhabism with militant Islam globally. Drawing on interviews with Saudis from all walks of life, including members of the feared mutawa, this book appraises of one of the most significant movements in contemporary Islam. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
Member Reviews
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Radical Islam/Islamism
75 works; 6 members
Author Information
6 Works 23 Members
Simon Ross Valentine is an Associate Professor at Bradford University.
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- William Gifford Palgrave; T. E. Lawrence; Louis Alexandre Olivier De Corancez; Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab; Sayyid Qutb; Harry St. John Philby (show all 37); Muhammad Ibn Saud; Abdul-Aziz Ibn Muhammad; Abdullah Ibn Saud; Abdulaziz Ibn Abdul Rahman Ibn Faisal Ibn Turki Ibn Abdullah Ibn Muhammad Al Saud; Faisal of Saudi Arabia (Faisal Ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud); Saud Ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud; Fahd of Saudi Arabia (Fahd Ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud); Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud; Abdul-Aziz Ibn Abdullah Al ash-Sheikh; Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz; Georg August Wallin; Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, second Muslim Caliph; Sir Wilfred Patrick Thesiger; Taqi al-Din Ahmad Ibn Taymiyya; Johann Ludwig Burckhardt; Anwar el-Sadat; Muhammad Qutb; Lieutenant General Sir Lewis Pelly; Gamal Abdel Nasser; Muhammad (Prophet); Laurent Murawiec; Osama bin Laden; Abdullah Azzam; Hamza Kashgari; Raif Badawi; Ayatollah Ruhollah Moosavi Khomeini; Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje; Uthman Ibn Muammar; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal; Gertrude Bell; Muhammad Bin Abdallah al-Qahtani
- Important places*
- Uyayna, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Ta'if, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Unaizah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Najaf, Iraq (show all 15); Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Karbala, Iraq; Al-Kharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Ha'il, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Diriyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Buraidah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Important events*
- Wahhabi sack of Karbala (1801); Ottoman–Wahhabi War (1811-1818); Emirate of Nejd (1824-1891); Emirate of Diriyah (1744-1818); Mecca Grand Mosque Seizure; Battle of Sabilla (1929) (show all 10); Treaty of Darin (1915); Treaty of Jeddah (1927); Ta'if massacre (1924); Sykes–Picot Agreement (1916)
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 14
- Popularity
- 1,676,618
- Rating
- (4.25)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
