Ahl al-Sunnah from the Perspective of Wahhabism

Question

What is the view of Wahhabism regarding Ahl al-Sunnah?

The Wahhabi sect considers Ahl al-Sunnah to be exclusively limited to Wahhabism. This sect declares Muslims, including Ahl al-Sunnah, as infidels and considers killing them permissible. From the perspective of Wahhabism, following the four schools of thought (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali) is an innovation (bid'ah), and they also reject the theological schools of Ahl al-Sunnah. While Wahhabism considers following the four schools of thought and the theological schools of Ahl al-Sunnah as innovations and illegitimate, they themselves claim to follow the Salaf (early generations of Muslims).

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab's Position on Ahl al-Sunnah

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the founder of Wahhabism, at the beginning of his mission, held a small book and declared, "I take God as my witness that I follow this book, and everything in it is true." At that moment, Ali ibn Rabi'ah, a member of the Tamim tribe and a follower of Ahl al-Sunnah, asked him, "What should we do if someone does not accept this book?" He replied, "We will solve the matter with the sword." Ali ibn Rabi'ah asked, "How does someone become deserving of death for not accepting this book?" Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab responded, "Because they are polytheists and infidels." After the crowd dispersed, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab returned home, and his cousin Abdullah ibn Hussein came to him and said, "Is it true that you are rebelling with this new sect of yours?" He replied, "Yes." His cousin said, "By God, if you invite even one person from Bani Sinan to this sect, I will cut off your head." On the same day, a battle broke out between him and his cousin, resulting in several deaths.

Takfir of Sunni Muslims by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab

After launching his rebellion against Muslims, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab said, "The polytheism of Muslims is more severe than the polytheism of the idolaters during the Jahiliyyah period." The Wahhabis have gone to such extremes in declaring Muslims and Ahl al-Sunnah as infidels that they even invalidate the acts of worship performed by Muslims before they became Wahhabis. Zayni Dahlan states that Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab forced those who converted to his sect and had previously performed the Hajj to repeat the Hajj, telling them that their first Hajj was performed in a state of polytheism and was invalid. He also required new converts to recite a third testimony after the Shahadah, declaring that they had previously been infidels and that their parents had died in a state of disbelief. If someone refused to recite this testimony, they were ordered to be killed. He openly stated that Muslims had been infidels for six hundred years and considered all Muslims, except his followers, as polytheists and infidels, making their blood and wealth permissible.

Permissibility of Killing Ahl al-Sunnah

Wahhabism considers killing Ahl al-Sunnah and their scholars permissible. Ibn Abidin, a prominent Hanafi scholar of Ahl al-Sunnah, states, "The Wahhabi sect considers all Ahl al-Sunnah as infidels and only regards themselves as monotheists. In general, anyone who disagrees with their beliefs is considered a polytheist and infidel, and for this reason, they consider the killing of Ahl al-Sunnah and their scholars permissible."

Rejection of the Four Sunni Schools of Thought by Wahhabism

Wahhabism does not accept any of the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence (Hanbali, Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanafi), just as it rejects the theological schools of Ahl al-Sunnah, such as the Ash'aris, Mu'tazilis, Maturidis, and Sufism. In their doctrinal principles, Wahhabis follow Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, who revived the ideas of Ibn Taymiyyah. He believed that what is understood from the apparent meanings of Quranic verses and hadiths must be acted upon and believed in. Therefore, he issued fatwas based on his understanding and adhered to them with zeal.

In jurisprudential matters, Wahhabis believe that one must refer to the Salaf al-Salih (righteous predecessors) and base their actions and beliefs on their understanding, as they lived during the time of prophethood and the revelation of the Quran. Since the early Muslims understood the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Quran better, their understanding is considered authoritative. Thus, they claim to follow a line of thought called Salafism or Salafi ideology.

One of the fundamental differences between Wahhabism and other Sunni sects is that Wahhabism, unlike other Sunni sects, believes that the door of ijtihad (independent reasoning) is open and does not follow the four schools of thought. They reject the claim of the scholars of the four schools that ijtihad is impossible after the four schools.

Wahhabis believe in the principle of free ijtihad and do not consider following the four schools of thought necessary. Muhammad ibn Ismail al-San'ani, a contemporary of Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, writes, "The jurists of the four schools do not permit ijtihad contrary to their school, but this is an incorrect statement that only an ignorant person would utter." Therefore, Wahhabis, unlike the four schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Hanbali, and Shafi'i), believe in the openness of ijtihad and reject the claim of the jurists of the four schools that ijtihad is not permissible after the four schools.

Wahhabi leaders have strongly criticized the blind following of the four schools by Ahl al-Sunnah, considering it a form of blind imitation. Ibn Taymiyyah, regarding the imitation of the four schools, says, "Whoever says, 'I am a Shafi'i in jurisprudence and an Ash'ari in theology,' these two statements are contradictory, and such a belief is considered apostasy."

Muhammad ibn Ismail al-San'ani also writes in his book "Tathir al-I'tiqad," p. 510: "The jurists of the four schools do not permit ijtihad contrary to their schools, and this is an incorrect statement that only an ignorant person would utter."

After explaining that Wahhabism considers following the four schools of thought as an innovation, it is necessary to note that, according to Wahhabi scholars, it is obligatory for all people to reach the level of ijtihad and avoid imitation as much as possible. If someone cannot perform ijtihad in all matters, they should do so to the extent possible and avoid imitation. However, if they are unable to perform ijtihad, they may imitate.

Following the Salaf al-Salih from the Wahhabi Perspective

Wahhabis claim to refer to the Salaf al-Salih for understanding religious matters. However, in cases where there is no explicit text, they refer to the fatwas of Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Muhammad ibn Abd al-Latif, one of the descendants of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, writes at the end of the fifth treatise in "Al-Hadiyyah al-Sunniyyah": "Our school is Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and we do not claim ijtihad or advocate for it. However, if a authentic hadith from the Prophet becomes clear to us, we act upon it and do not prioritize anyone's opinion over it."

Although Wahhabis claim independence in ijtihad and consider their leaders the greatest mujtahids, they have strongly criticized the imitation of the four schools by Sunni scholars. In practice, however, they follow the Hanbali school, centered on the ideas of Ibn Taymiyyah and Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.