# Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab

> Islamic Saudi scholar, jurist and eponym of Wahhabi movement (1703–1792)

**Wikidata**: [Q69351](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q69351)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_ibn_Abd_al-Wahhab)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/muhammad-ibn-abd-al-wahhab

## Summary
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab was an Islamic Saudi scholar and jurist who founded the Wahhabi movement, a Sunni Islamic revivalist and fundamentalist movement. He is best known as the eponym of the movement, which later became influential in Saudi Arabia and beyond. His writings, including *Kitab al-Tawhid* and *The Three Fundamental Principles*, shaped Sunni Islamic thought and legal scholarship.

## Biography
- Born: 1703 (exact location unknown)
- Nationality: Saudi Arabian
- Education: Trained as a jurist under Muslim legal scholars (*ulema*)
- Known for: Establishing the Wahhabi movement and authoring foundational Islamic texts
- Employer(s): No specific employers listed; associated with early Saudi religious institutions
- Field(s): Islamic jurisprudence, Sunni theology

## Contributions
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab authored *Kitab al-Tawhid* and *The Three Fundamental Principles*, which became cornerstone texts of the Wahhabi movement. His teachings emphasized strict adherence to Sunni orthodoxy, particularly in matters of faith and practice, influencing later generations of Muslim scholars and leaders.

## FAQs
**What was Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab’s primary contribution to Islam?**
He founded the Wahhabi movement, a Sunni revivalist movement that emphasized strict adherence to Sunni orthodoxy and influenced Saudi religious and political development.

**Where did Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab work?**
There is no specific information on his employers, but his teachings were adopted by early Saudi religious institutions and later became foundational to Saudi Arabia’s religious identity.

**What books did Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab write?**
He authored *Kitab al-Tawhid* and *The Three Fundamental Principles*, which shaped Sunni Islamic jurisprudence and theology.

## Why They Matter
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab’s work laid the groundwork for the Wahhabi movement, which later became a dominant force in Saudi Arabia. His teachings on Sunni orthodoxy and legal scholarship influenced generations of Muslim scholars, including those who shaped Saudi Arabia’s religious and political landscape. Without his contributions, the modern Wahhabi movement and its impact on global Sunni Islam would not exist.

## Notable For
- Eponym of the Wahhabi movement, a major Sunni revivalist movement
- Author of *Kitab al-Tawhid* and *The Three Fundamental Principles*, foundational texts in Sunni Islamic jurisprudence
- Influenced the religious and political development of Saudi Arabia

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab was born in 1703. He trained as a jurist under Muslim legal scholars (*ulema*), specializing in Islamic jurisprudence and Sunni theology.

### Founding the Wahhabi Movement
In the early 18th century, he established the Wahhabi movement, which emphasized strict adherence to Sunni orthodoxy. His teachings were adopted by early Saudi religious institutions, shaping the movement’s early development.

### Key Works
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab authored *Kitab al-Tawhid* and *The Three Fundamental Principles*, which became cornerstone texts of the Wahhabi movement. These works outlined his views on faith, practice, and legal scholarship, influencing later generations of Muslim scholars.

### Influence on Saudi Arabia
The Wahhabi movement, founded by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, became a dominant force in Saudi Arabia. His teachings on Sunni orthodoxy and legal scholarship shaped the religious and political landscape of the region, influencing leaders such as Muḥammad Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī and Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʻUthaymīn.

### Legacy
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab’s contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and Sunni theology remain influential. His writings continue to be studied by scholars and leaders, including those associated with the First Saudi State and later Saudi Arabian scholars. The Wahhabi movement, which he founded, remains a significant force in Sunni Islam.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Dictionary of African Biography
4. [Source](https://irp.fas.org/eprint/iraqi/wahhabi.pdf)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. CiNii Research
7. Integrated Authority File
8. SNAC
9. Babelio
10. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia
11. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
12. Sapere Encyclopedia
13. [Source](https://www.islamieducation.com/ibne-abdul-wahab-and-wahhabis/)
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. Quora
16. LIBRIS. 2012
17. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/muhammed-b-abdulvehhab)
18. Golden
19. HMML Authority File
20. Catalogo of the National Library of India