Sheikh-ul-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab (A Reviver and Reformer of Islam)

Birth and Family
Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab was born in 1703 (1115 AH) in al-‘Uyainah, near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He came from a respected family of scholars. His father was a knowledgeable scholar, and his grandfather was the chief scholar of his time.

Childhood and Education
He grew up under his father’s care. By age ten, he had memorized the Qur’an. He studied tafseer (Qur’an explanation), hadith (Prophet’s sayings), and fiqh (Islamic law). He loved the works of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim. Later, he performed Hajj in Makkah, then went to Madinah to study with great scholars like Sheikh Abdullah bin Ibrahim an-Najdi and Sheikh Muhammad Hayat as-Sindee. He also traveled to Basrah in Iraq and other places to gain more knowledge.

The Situation of His Time
In Najd and many other areas, people had fallen into wrong practices. They worshipped graves, trees, stones, caves, and even jinn. Magicians and fortune tellers misled people, and some scholars taught false ideas for money. These practices were also found in Makkah, Madinah, and Yemen.

His Mission
Sheikh Muhammad was very saddened by this. He decided to call people back to Tawheed — worshipping Allah alone. He urged people to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah instead of blind traditions. He invited scholars to help, but while some supported him, others opposed him because they feared losing power and wealth.

In al-‘Uyainah and Then Diriyah
He moved to al-‘Uyainah, where the ruler, Uthman bin Ma’mar, welcomed him. Together, they removed false practices like worshipping graves and trees. His reputation spread widely.

But the ruler of al-Ahsa, Sulaiman bin Urai’ar, saw him as a threat and ordered Uthman to kill him. Uthman became afraid and asked Sheikh Muhammad to leave. Sheikh Muhammad then went to Diriyah.

Partnership with Amir Muhammad bin Saud
In Diriyah, he met the ruler Muhammad bin Saud. They agreed to work together. Ibn Saud promised to support his mission, and Sheikh Muhammad promised to remain by his side. Together, they worked to spread Tawheed, revive the Sunnah, and fight against shirk (polytheism) and innovations.

Dar’iyah Becomes a Learning Center
In Diriyah, Sheikh Muhammad found peace to teach. Many people came from near and far to learn. Even Ibn Saud and his family studied under him. Diriyah became full of students, and he taught Qur’an, Sunnah, Tawheed, and fiqh. His enemies spread lies about him, calling him a sorcerer or heretic. Still, he continued teaching and debating with patience. His message spread across Arabia and reached other lands like Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, India, and Africa.

Death and Legacy
He spent about 50 years teaching, writing, and calling people to pure Islam. He died in 1792 (1206 AH) in Diriyah. After his death, his sons, grandsons, and students continued his mission. His family became known as Aal al-Sheikh, and many of them remained respected scholars.

His Writings
He wrote many important books, including:

• Kitab at-Tawheed
• Kitab al-Kabaair (Major Sins)
• Kashf al-Shubuhat (Clarification of Doubts)
• Al-Usool al-Thalatha (The Three Fundamentals)
• Mukhtasar Seerat ar-Rasool (Summary of the Prophet’s Life)
• Masail al-Jahiliyah (Matters of Ignorance)
  …and others.

Impact of His Work
Because of his efforts:

• People stopped worshipping graves, shrines, and trees.
• They returned to worshipping Allah alone.
• The Qur’an and Sunnah became central again.
• Mosques were filled with prayers.
• Peace and safety spread across Najd.

Even after his death, his students and family spread his teachings far and wide, helping Islam return to its pure form.