Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab was born in 1115 AH/1703 CE in the town of al-Uyaynah in Najd, into a family of Hanbali scholars and judges—both his father and grandfather held that role. He memorized the Quran early and studied Hanbali jurisprudence, then traveled to the Hijaz and Iraq in pursuit of knowledge and to observe conditions among Muslims in different regions.
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab called for what he considered a renewal of the doctrine of monotheism (tawhid) as he understood it from the writings of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, opposing practices he viewed as shirk and religious innovation prevalent in parts of Najd at the time, such as the veneration of tombs and shrines. He authored a concise treatise, «Kitab al-Tawhid», outlining the principles of his call based on the Quran and hadith. His movement faced early opposition until, in 1157 AH/1744 CE, he formed an alliance with Muhammad ibn Saud, ruler of al-Dir'iyyah—an alliance that became the nucleus of the First Saudi State.
His Legacy
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab died in al-Dir'iyyah in 1206 AH/1792 CE, by which time his movement had become firmly established in Najd and its surroundings. His writings, most notably «Kitab al-Tawhid», remain a central reference within the modern Salafi movement, and continue to be the subject of extensive scholarly discussion and debate today.
