Who is Wahhabi: photos, signs, differences from real Muslims

Currently, in the world (especially in Russia) in the society the problems connected with the growth of religious extremism, in particular Islamic, have a special acuity. In the public consciousness, Islamic extremism is strongly associated with Wahhabism. At the same time, some Muslims consider the 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 Wahhabis are. These are the followers of Wahhabism, a special current in Islam. They accept alternative interpretations of the Qur'an and hadith. The term "Wahhabism" was put into circulation 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.
At present, the term "Wahhabism" has many interpretations. Thus, representatives of Christianity and atheists often associate Wahhabis with terrorists. People who do not understand the directions of Islam, can consider such a Muslim having a beard.

Who are Wahhabis in Islam? For followers of traditional Islam Wahhabi is one who adheres to a different interpretation of religion. Thus, modern interpretation is much broader 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 Wahhabi really is, it is necessary to know the history of the origin of this religious trend.

Occurrence

The founder of this religious trend is the preacher Muhammad Abdel Wahhab, who in the second half of the 18th century was the leader of the insurgency movement on the Arabian Peninsula for independence from the authority of the Ottoman Empire. As the ideological basis of the national liberation movement, slogans were used about the need to struggle for the purification of Islam from innovations. At the heart of Muhammad Abdel Wahhab's ideas was the denial of the Turkish sultan as the supreme ruler of all Muslims. Thus, to substantiate the national liberation struggle, religious slogans were used, as it usually happens so far. At the beginning of the XIX century, the liberation movement in Arabia was suppressed by the troops of the Turkish Sultan. For a while no one heard about the Wahhabis. A 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 opening of huge oil fields on the territory of Saudi Arabia for the spread of Wahhabism throughout the Islamic world, powerful financial recharge has appeared.

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 still many people believe that these people are not Muslims. Wahhabis seek to purify Islam, but the methods they apply for this are not supported by the Holy Qur'an.

As a result of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, there was a rapid increase in oil prices, which led to an increase in the wealth of the ruling elite of Saudi Arabia. In Jeddah, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Islamic Development Bank are being established , 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 basis for counteracting the deployment of Soviet troops to Afghanistan in 1979. Saudi Arabia, the United States and Pakistan contributed to the spread of his ideas for the organization of jihad in order to combat the Soviet presence in Afghanistan. A side effect of this policy was the emergence of well-trained, powerful ideological motivations for numerous Islamic militants who, after the Afghan war, turned to confrontation with the United States and its allies. It was at this time that the United States established the Al-Qaida organization under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, whose activities then became a major threat to the United States for a long time.

Strengthening of this religioznogo current and its spread contributed to the appropriation of the King of Saudi Arabia Fahd title "Guardian of the two holy places" (Mecca and Medina). Thus Wahhabism, as the official religion of Saudi Arabia, appropriated power over the main shrines of Islam.

"Wahhabi" is not an abusive word, as many people think. This term was formed as a result of historical events.

What is happening today?

Currently, Wahhabis in the world of Islam are about one percent of Muslims. The centers are Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Also these ideas formed the ideological basis of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Wahhabism was also accepted by many Islamic radicals simply on the fact of readiness to go to war with the "infidels". Thus, this ideological trend since the end of the 20th century has become firmly associated with Islamic terrorism. Who is Wahhabi in reality and how does it differ from the traditional Muslim?

Differences of Wahhabis from Muslims

Let us consider the main features of this trend and its differences from other directions of Islam.

1. 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 a physical person who has the possibility of free movement, but His appearance remains a mystery, for He does not resemble anyone and no matter what. The differences of Wahhabis from Muslims are also manifested in the fact that the former are extremely hostile to cultural values.
2. As a basis of the Wahhabi doctrine, only the collections of the hadith of Bukhari and Muslim are recognized, and other religious and legal schools are completely denied. Also they consider paganism a direct request to Allah ("tawassul"). It is undesirable to visit the graves of Muhammad's companions and other Islamic righteous people. The killed Wahhabis, in their own opinion, also do not deserve to be buried in all Muslim traditions.
3. Wahhabis deny worship of the deceased and simply manic struggle with the graves of their ancestors (destroy them, forbid making inscriptions and putting monuments). They are desperately fighting a bitter struggle with the historical past of peoples, seeking to destroy sacred places and cultural monuments. Thus, they deny nationality, seeking to create a new historical community of Muslims. Their political and religious views are extremely radical. The rejection of all people who do not accept their views and their culture and worldview are the main signs of Wahhabi.
4. 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 occurs quite often in Muslim countries. The war against the "infidels" is considered sacred to any faithful Muslim. At the same time, national borders are denied. All Muslims serving in government bodies, army and police of countries that are not states where Islam is recognized as an official religion are recognized as apostates. Extremely cruel people are Wahhabis. The photo can not convey those negative emotions that live in their hearts.
5. Wahhabis do not recognize state laws, decisions of secular courts, except Sharia. Wahhabis also deny other currents in Islam (Sunnis and Shiites). Terrorist activities for the sake of Islam (including self-sacrifice) are considered justified and promoted. At the same time, Wahhabism followers deny its existence, because for them their religious views are the only true ones.
6. 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 exclusive position. The dogmas of Wahhabism often change depending on the political goals of the main ideologists. At the same time, the general militant orientation and denial of dialogue with representatives of other religions remain unchanged.
7. How to distinguish a Wahhabi from an ordinary criminal? Thanks to the commonality of Wahhabism with thieves' notions, these ideas are easily perceived by members of all kinds of criminal organizations. The main feature remains extreme radicalism in relation not only to persons belonging to other religions, but also to Muslims - followers of other trends in Islam. They must be engaged in an irreconcilable struggle until they are completely destroyed. Wahhabis do not associate themselves as part of the people to which they belong. Their nationality is denied. The main thing is to follow the laws and traditions of Islam in their understanding.

Wahhabism in Russia

On the territory of the Russian Federation, Wahhabism 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). Wahhabis of Dagestan are those people who did not find support in solving their problems or considered themselves to be infringed upon by authorities and representatives of law enforcement bodies and as a result fell under the influence of Islamic radicals. The spread of Wahhabi ideas is facilitated by the activities of emissaries from abroad (primarily from Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan), whose goal is to separate the North Caucasus from Russia and create a caliphate. Their agitation activity in the late 90-ies of the XX century contributed to the weakness of the state and the two Chechen wars. The spread of radical movements in Islam is facilitated by religious illiteracy of the population, especially youth, historical insults (memory of the Caucasian wars, deportations).

The reasons for the weakening of the influence of Wahhabism

Until recently, the state could not oppose the dissemination of extremist ideas competently built national policy. At the present time, as the state power is strengthened, the socio-economic problems are gradually solved, the fight against corruption in government bodies, and the activities of various non-governmental international non-profit organizations are restricted, the influence of Wahhabis in the North Caucasus region is falling.

External signs

1. Wahhabis are characteristic of their appearance. Photo indicates an integral attribute of their appearance - a beard. She, in the opinion of the followers of Wahhabism, is an obligatory sign of a man. However, for the purposes of camouflage, it is allowed to cut short or to shave off the beard altogether. In order not to appear in the field of view of law enforcement agencies, Wahhabis try to disguise themselves and not differ from the majority of Muslims. Their propaganda is often hidden. The recruitment approach is followed by careful examination of candidates. At present, the center of efforts is shifted to work with Muslim youth. At the same time, illiteracy, immaturity, and a tendency toward maximalism among young people are used.
2. Also external signs on which it is possible to distinguish Wahhabis are wearing shortened trousers (above the ankles), a shaved head with a shaved head. They can also wear national clothes adopted in the Arab countries.
3. There are also differences in the practice of performing religious rituals. Wahhabis, being in a mosque, do not wear a skullcap on their head and do not use beads, which distinguishes them from ordinary believers.
4. Wahhabis are zealously watching their wives fully cover their faces, leaving only their eyes open. Also followers of radical Islam positively respond to the order and state structure of Saudi Arabia and recently the terrorist state (IGIL), banned in 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), Ibragim bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Ibrahim, Santlada ".

Recently, Wahhabis often call themselves Salafis.

Conclusion

Wahhabism as a religious movement within Islam developed in the 16th century and is associated with a complex of internal socio-political contradictions in Arabia, in particular, with the struggle against the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Initially, it had 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 a radical character. For him, the rejection of all areas of Islam that run counter to its ideological principles is characteristic, as well as declaring the struggle against "infidels" as a sacred duty of every Muslim. The movement in its modern form represents an absolute danger to the state system of the Russian Federation, as it threatens the integrity of the country (rejection of the North Caucasus, other territories with a predominantly Muslim population).

It should be understood that Wahhabism is not a religious trend, characteristic of Russian Muslims, but was introduced from the outside and is an attempt by external forces to destabilize the political situation in the country. The struggle against radicalism must include the elimination of the reasons that promote 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 impact of traditional religious propaganda, which is alien to the norms of traditional Islam. Along with this, the relevant state bodies need to monitor the activities of various non-governmental organizations financed from abroad, propagating values that are alien to the traditions of Russia.