Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab

Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab was a Saudi reformer who lived, taught and died in the city of Diriyah, and called for the oneness of God and a return to what the Prophet, peace be upon him, brought. [2][11]

His call rested on the oneness of God. It was not a new religion: its source is the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and a number of impartial travellers and Orientalists acknowledged as much. [2]

His name is tied to the Saudi family through a pledge of allegiance made between the two imams, Muhammad bin Saud and Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab. After his firm alliance with the Saudi family in the mid-eighteenth century, the influence of the First Saudi State spread from Diriyah, and his teachings strengthened the standing of the historic At-Turaif District. [2][11]

Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab called people to the oneness of God and to a return to what the Prophet, peace be upon him, brought, and made clear that his call was not a new religion but drew on the Qur'an and the Sunnah; a number of impartial travellers and Orientalists affirmed this. [2]

He had a teaching station in Al-Qassim Region, where he stayed at the Mosque of Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab in the Al-Hilaliyah centre while travelling between Madinah and Al-Uyaynah, teaching people the affairs of their religion. The mud-built mosque is historically linked to the First Saudi State. [1]

A pledge of allegiance took place between the two imams, Muhammad bin Saud and Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab. Diriyah became a centre of the reformist call, and after the firm alliance between them in the mid-eighteenth century the influence of the First Saudi State spread from Diriyah. [2][11]

Diriyah was the base of the First Saudi State. Mani' Al-Muraydi founded it on the banks of Wadi Hanifah about six centuries ago, and it later became the capital of the First Saudi State and a centre of important phases in the history of the Saudi State. [10] The historic At-Turaif District in Diriyah recounts the history of Diriyah as the starting point of the Saudi State in 1727. [9] Imam Abdulaziz bin Muhammad bin Saud chose At-Turaif in 1766 as the seat of government and the residence of the ruling family, and it extends over about 235,000 square metres. [7]

Diriyah, represented by the historic At-Turaif District, is recorded among six Saudi sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, alongside Historic Jeddah, Hegra, the Rock Art of Hail, the Hima Cultural Area and the Al-Ahsa Oasis. [8]

The Mosque of Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab stands in the Al-Hilaliyah centre of Al-Qassim Region. Its historical value lies in its having been a teaching station for the Sheikh on his route between Madinah and Al-Uyaynah, and in its link to the First Saudi State. [1]

The mosque received the Prince Sultan bin Salman Award for Architectural Heritage, in the category of care for historic mosques, in 1436 AH, corresponding to December 2014. [1]

The Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Grand Mosque was built in Dumat Al-Jandal Governorate in Al-Jawf Region in 1373 AH, during the reign of King Saud. It is one of the oldest congregational mosques in the governorate, with an area of 2,000 m² and parking of 2,500 m². [5]

In Turaif Governorate in the Northern Borders Region, the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Grand Mosque is among the largest congregational mosques in the governorate, with a total land area of 13,168 m². [6]

The Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Chair for Moderation and its studies, at the Islamic University of Madinah, works to spread the principle of moderation, to defend the call of Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab and to refute the doubts raised about it. [3]

The chair's output has included three academic studies and 13 research papers, which drew a strong response from specialists across Saudi universities. [3]

The Centre for Call and Guidance in Jazan Region organised a preaching lecture titled "The Call of Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab" at the Grand Mosque of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Ad-Dair Bani Malik Governorate, as part of the Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab academic course in Muharram 1436 AH, corresponding to November 2014. [4]

Q: What did Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab call for? A: He called for the oneness of God and a return to what the Prophet, peace be upon him, brought; his call was not a new religion but drew on the Qur'an and the Sunnah. [2]

Q: Where did Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab live and teach? A: He lived, taught and died in Diriyah, and he had a teaching station at the Al-Hilaliyah Mosque in Al-Qassim Region. [1][11]

Q: What relationship linked Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab to the Saudi family? A: A pledge of allegiance took place between the two imams, Muhammad bin Saud and Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, and after it the influence of the First Saudi State spread from Diriyah. [2][11]

Q: What are the most prominent places that bear his name today? A: The Al-Hilaliyah Mosque in Al-Qassim; the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Grand Mosques in Dumat Al-Jandal and Turaif; and the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Chair for Moderation at the Islamic University of Madinah. [1][3][5][6]

Q: When did the Al-Hilaliyah Mosque receive the Prince Sultan bin Salman Award for Architectural Heritage? A: In 1436 AH, corresponding to December 2014, in the category of care for historic mosques. [1]