Is 'Wahhabism' Responsible for the Recent Rise in Terrorism?

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    Award for Extended Project

    Is Wahhabismresponsible for therecent rise in terrorism?

    Robert Charles McWhinnie 2011

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    1

    Introduction................................................................................................................. 2

    What is Wahhabism?................................................................................................ 4

    Saudi Arabia A Wahhabi state .............................................................................. 5

    Usamah bin Laden: a Saudi Wahhabi? .................................................................... 6

    Alleged Wahhabi link to extremism and extremist claimants to Wahhabism....... 8

    Do Wahhabis purport an extremist methodology or speak out against terrorism? 12

    Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 16

    Appendix................................................................................................................... 17

    1. Wahhabi scholars regarding terrorism ............................................................... 17

    2. A brief word onJihad........................................................................................... 20

    3. Interview with a Wahhabi .................................................................................. 22

    Suggested websites ................................................................................................... 30

    Bibliography ............................................................................................................. 31

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    Introduction

    The world has watched in shock and horror the worrying rise in Islamic-based terrorist acts and

    the spread of extremist ideology. The aeroplanes slamming into the World Trade Centre in New

    York City was to change the political, economical, social and religious stability of the world,

    from London through to the far reaches of the Far East such as Indonesia.

    Understandably, the first immediate reaction of the world was who has done this? Whoever is

    responsible must be brought to justice. Immediate suspicion was placed upon the one who

    bombed the World Trade Centre in the 90s: Usamah bin Laden. When it was discovered that 15

    of the 19 hijackers were from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the spiritual home of the religion

    of Islam and the homeland ofUsamah bin Laden the Kingdom and its socio-religious system

    and its way of life were brought under critical scrutiny from the west. The media let loose a

    barrage of accusations and declarations of war upon Saudi Arabia, causing the public to become

    suspicious and angry towards them. The blame for the attacks and the consequential rise in

    terrorism and extremism was laid squarely upon the Islamic methodology which is the state

    religion and political system of Saudi Arabia: commonly referred to as Wahhabism. Since then,

    every act of terror by Muslim extremists is consequently linked to and blamed on the Wahhabimethodology:

    Wahhabism continues to be stridently linked to Al-Qaeda; the Taliban Movement; the

    madrasas (religious schools) of Pakistan; the Sunni resistance in Iraq; the war in

    Chechnya; unrest in Dagestan; anti-government activism in Uzbekistan; multifarious

    attempted and successful bombings in Europe and elsewhere; the need for change in US

    foreign policy toward Saudi Arabia; the security threat posed by mosques in the US; and,

    review of the US armed forces chaplaincy policy.1

    The alleged silence from those who adhered to this methodology regarding these terrorist acts

    and the fact that many of the extremist groups who affiliate themselves with Wahhabi titles and

    1 The Wahhabis are coming, the Wahhabis are coming! M. Reza Pirbhai, assistant professor of history at

    Louisiana State University

    http://www.counterpunch.org/pirbhai10272007.html

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    rhetoric was enough to label the Wahhabis as solely responsible for the recent rise in terrorism

    and the spread of extremist ideologies.

    What I intend to do is to establish the historical context of the Wahhabi movement and its

    modern-day context. Throughout the various media outlets, a wealth of information can be found

    which lays the blame of the recent rise in terrorism and extremism on the Wahhabi movement.

    I will analyse a few of these and take them into consideration, then investigate the Wahhabi

    response. I will also interview a British post-graduate student who is studying Islamic sciences in

    a Wahhabi university in Saudi Arabia for more of a knowledge-based response to the

    accusations of extremism made against Wahhabism.

    It is only fair to present both sides to such a debate, and it seems the Wahhabis have not been

    allowed a platform to defend themselves. Given the state of fear that the western world is

    gripped in at the moment from Islamic extremism, it may prove to be a useful source of

    information and should hopefully give us all a better understanding of the topic from a non-

    biased perspective. After analysing Wahhabi literature and its response with regards to the

    recent rise in terrorism, we will see if the impression that we, the public, are given is as accurate

    as we are all led to believe: that Wahhabism is violent, it is intolerant, and it is fanatical

    beyond measure Wahhabism is the most extreme form of Islamic fundamentalism2

    Robert C. McWhinnie

    2Ground Zero and the Saudi Connection Stephen Schwartz

    http://www.spectator.co.uk/essays/all/9312/part_2/ground-zero-and-the-saudi-connection.thtml

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    What is Wahhabism?

    In order to understand how this term Wahhabi came into being, and to understand the mentality

    of those who are adherers to the Wahhabi ideology and whether they can be linked to modern-

    day extremism, it is important that we know what a Wahhabi is and where they come from.

    The Term Wahhabi was a term that originated with the Muslims. It goes back to the name of a

    famous Islamic scholar, a Shaykh, whose name was Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab. He was

    born in 1703AD in the town of Uyaynah in the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia.3

    He noticed how

    many of the Muslims had moved away from the original teachings of Islam and had allowed a

    flood of innovated practices with regards to worship and religious teachings to become

    common practice. These innovated practices are called in Arabic Bidah4

    and are considered a

    sin amongst Wahhabis. They preach a return back to the original acts of worship and religious

    practices as it was done so by the early ancestral Muslims5. However, this should not be

    confused with the accusation that Wahhabis oppose modernity and technological advancement

    and desire live as if in the dark ages. Rather, the Wahhabis strictly call for all acts of worship

    to be returned to its original monotheistic state and for Muslims to approach Islam whilst looking

    at the Muslims in the time of the Prophet for the best examples of how to be good Muslims.

    We interviewed Samir Debazzi, a post-graduate British student currently studying in the

    Wahhabi institute; The Islamic University of Madinah, based in the city of Madinah, Saudi

    Arabia. We asked him:

    Question: It is said that Salafis are trying to go back in time and do not embrace

    modernity, is this not the case?

    Answer: This not the case at all, since the meaning of returning back to the way of the

    earlier generations means with respect to the practice and implementation of the

    religion, rather Muslims made great advances and contributions in many different fields,

    3was born in 1115H. This is the year he was born according to the Islamic lunar calendar, which coordinates

    with 1703AD. Kitab At-Tawhid Sheikh-ul-Islam Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab. Dar-us-Salam Publications.

    Riyadh Saudi Arabia 1996. Page 94

    ABidah literally means innovation. Any innovation with regards to religious affairs, such as specific acts of

    worship and general Islamic practices, is frowned upon by the Wahhabi Muslims5

    Known in Arabic asAs-Salaf us-Saalih The Pious Predecessors. One who adheres to the religion as it waspracticed by the Salaf(ancestors) refer to themselves as Salafi, and this is the more correct term as opposed to

    Wahhabi, which is considered an insult by the Salafi Muslims.

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    such as geography, physics, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, pharmacology,

    architecture, linguistics and astronomy. Algebra and the Arabic numerals were

    introduced to the world by Muslim scholars, including the zero. The Astrolabe, the

    Quadrant, and other navigational devices and maps were developed by Muslim scholars

    and played an important role in world progress, most notably in Europe's age of

    exploration.6

    Many differing groups formed, all bringing with them new ideologies, beliefs, customs and

    practices, of whichMuhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab and those who followed him, were opposed

    to. These groups labelled the followers of Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab: Wahhabis amocking wordplay of the end ofMuhammad bin Abdul-Wahhabs name. These labellers oppose

    the Wahhabis as they felt that their alternative forms of worship and practices are Islamically

    correct.

    Interestingly, the name Abdul-Wahhab literally means in English The servant ofAl-Wahhab.

    It is common for Muslims to have as their name Abd... servant of then proceeded by one

    of the many names of God mentioned in the Quran, i.e. Allah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheemetc.

    Al-Wahhab is also a name of God as mentioned in the Quran:

    (They say): Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided

    us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are Al-Wahhab (the Bestower).7

    Some may question, that whilst they mock the name ofMuhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, do they

    not at the same time mock a name of God?

    Saudi Arabia A Wahhabistate

    Before I investigate whether Wahhabism is responsible for the recent rise in terror, I will show

    the connection between Wahhabi Islam and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    6For the full interview, see the section 2 of the appendix: Interview with a Wahhabi

    7The Noble Quran. Surah Al-Imran [3:8]

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    In 1740AD, after accepting the teachings ofMuhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, PrinceMuhammad

    bin Saudgranted him protection in the district ofDiriyah, near modern-day Riyadh.8

    This close-

    knit regal and religious alliance was the founding stone that helped to shape the Kingdom of

    Saudi Arabia into a modern-day 21st

    century theocratic religious state. When the great grandson

    ofMuhammad bin SaudAbdul-Aziz bin Abdur-Rahman Al-Saud along with other members of

    the House of Saud, recaptured the various regions of Arabia, they brought the tribes together

    under the patronage of the House ofSaud. On September 23, 1932, the country was named the

    Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as an Islamic state, with Arabic designated as the national language

    and the Holy Quran as its constitution.9

    With the historical allegiance between the ruler Muhammad bin Saudand the scholar

    Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, the interpretation and understanding of Islam as it was

    propagated by Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab was now part of the national constitution and

    Saudi Arabia became a theocratic state: Its rules and regulations are governed by the Holy

    Quran and the Sunnah (teachings and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad).10

    As a result, the

    complete political, educational and economical system of Saudi Arabia was established within

    the parameters set by the Islamic Law11

    Usamah bin Laden: a Saudi Wahhabi?

    Usamah bin Laden has been the poster boy for the alleged Wahhabi terrorists for many years.

    When we see those Muslims walking around our towns and cities whom adhere to Wahhabi

    Islam, some of us liken them Usamah bin Laden due to his Wahhabi appearance: long beard,

    long flowing white robes, a Saudi-style headscarf, or Shamagh. But is this a justifiable likeness

    for us to make? Being that much of the modern-day terrorism is connected in one form or

    another with Usamah bin Laden, we must ask the question, is he a Wahhabi?

    8The History of Saudi Arabia The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, London

    http://www.mofa.gov.sa/Detail.asp?InSectionID=1545&InNewsItemID=244089

    Ibid10

    Government The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Londonhttp://www.mofa.gov.sa/Detail.asp?InSectionID=1545&InNewsItemID=2440911

    Arabic: Shareeah

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    Usamah bin Laden was born in Saudi Arabia into a large family who were from Yemen

    (neighbouring country to the Kingdom). After moving to Saudi Arabia his father built the family

    into the richest non-royal family in Saudi Arabia by being contracted by the Saudi royal family

    with major national construction projects. Whilst attending a university in Jeddah, the

    international port of Saudi Arabia, bin Laden was educated by dissenting radical extremist

    teachers.12

    From here he was involved financially in funding the Muslim fighters in Afghanistan

    to fight off the Soviets and eventually saw a little combat himself. As we are all aware, this led to

    his destructive path of extremism. Saudi Arabia in due course revoked his citizenship.

    Because bin Laden was born and raised in a Wahhabi country like Saudi Arabia, it is assumedthat he is a Wahhabi also.

    13However, as mentioned before Usamah bin Laden is not a Saudi by

    birth. He was born and grew up a Yemeni and although they are Arabs, the Yemenis do not hold

    a strong social status amongst the Saudis. So bin Laden may never have really felt an affiliation

    to Saudi Arabia from a nationalistic perspective, thus nullifying the repeated emphasis that he is

    a Saudi Arabian.

    According to Haneef James Oliver, Usamah bin Ladens family hailed from a region in Yemen

    (Hadramout) which is known to be the spiritual home for the Muslim group: the Sufis.14 The

    Sufis are in the complete opposite to the Wahhabis and the Wahhabis have vast amounts of

    literature which attack the Sufis on the basis that they have many innovated forms of worship15.

    Any Muslim who adheres to the Wahhabi or Salafi methodology of Islam takes great pains in

    differentiating with regards to matters of creed: from what acts of worship and practices are

    authentically confirmed in the ancient texts to what is a newly invented Bidah, and warning

    against that. This is not the case with Usamah bin Laden as he has been documented as praising

    acts of worship which are a Sufi practice, and speaking of the act as if it were acceptable16. This

    is something that a Wahhabi would never do.

    12The Most Wanted Man is Back Lisa Beyer http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101010924/wosama.html

    13 Osama Bin Laden, named by US officials as the main suspect for the 11 September against America, is Saudi

    born and a Wahhabi. From the article Analysis: Inside Wahhabi Islam by Roger Hardy

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1571144.stm14

    The Wahhabi Myth Haneef James Oliver. Page 1515

    See page 4 for information on innovation: Bidah16

    Ibid, page 17

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    In retrospect, extremists claiming to be Wahhabis were a rarity and these so-called extremist

    Wahhabi groups that we hear of today have roots that go back to other groups and individuals

    who were (and still are in some aspects) in direct ideological, sometimes physical warfare with

    the Wahhabis. It has been suggested that this recent phenomenon of extremists affiliating

    themselves with Wahhabi/Salafi titles and using Wahhabi literature to justify their actions and

    ideologies became more widespread after Muslim fighters fought a bloody 13 year war in

    Afghanistan20

    .

    most scholars date the ascendancy of militancy within the wider Salafi community to the

    war of resistance against the soviet occupation of Afghanistan during the 1980s. Congressional Research Service

    21

    At the time of the Jihadagainst the Soviets, Muslims from around the world who aspired to

    defend the liberty and religion of their fellow Muslims in Afghanistan from the Communists

    were encouraged by both Muslim and Western democratic countries to go to Afghanistan to

    become a part of the resistance against the Soviets. At the time the Muslim guerrilla fighters

    were deemed by the West to be freedom fighters, as they were meeting the Western agenda to

    defeat Communism and thus provided funding and training for the guerrilla fighters. President

    Ronald Reagan himself said, To watch the courageous Afghan freedom fighters battle modern

    arsenals with simple hand-held weapons is an inspiration to those who love freedom.22

    However, after the Soviets retreated and the Communist regime were ousted, many of the

    different factions of the Mujahideen (Muslim soldiers) who had a variety of conflicting

    theological practices and political goals turned on each other and created a civil war, which

    lasted until the Taliban regime took control.

    A contributor to the Jihad against the Soviets was Saudi Arabia. They provided volunteers,

    training, funding and religious instruction via scholars and teachers throughout. Usamah bin

    20(1979 1989) to repel the Soviet Union and the further civil war to expel the Afghan Communist regime (1989

    1992).21

    Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report The Islamic Traditions of Wahhabism and Salafyya

    Christopher M Blanchard http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/81366.pdf22

    Message on the Observance of Afghanistan Day March 23rd

    1983 President Ronald Reagan

    http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1983/32183e.htm.

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    Laden controlled a particular faction which was all Arab and received funding from Saudi Arabia

    and indirect funding from the United States23

    . This could have been what propelled some fighters

    to become aware ofWahhabi tendencies and practices, and were more than likely attracted by

    authenticity of the Wahhabi methodology and how it returns all affairs back to the scriptures

    for validation. However, when civil war broke out, many factions formed a united front in order

    to annihilate the Wahhabi factions.

    It was from here many fighters left and went to enlist in further battles such as Bosnia, Chechnya

    etc. Usamah bin Laden remained close with his particular faction, and formed what is known as

    Al-Qaeda which started as a database of fighters. However, having returned home after manyyears of war and many of them being treated with suspicion and hostility from their own

    governments, were left feeling disenfranchised by the influence of the West throughout Muslim

    lands. They became emotional and angry towards their countries and begun to take on board

    teachings from speakers and teachers who catered for their anger.

    A new breed of terrorists who were gowned in the garments of the Wahhabis started to emerge.

    They would use the works of traditional Islamic scholars of which the Wahhabis also used, but

    entirely out of context, and combine that with the works of so-called revolutionary writers

    which catered for much of the dissatisfaction of Muslims worldwide, regarding their poor social

    footing in a global sense, in order to gain the support of normally law abiding Muslims

    throughout the world.

    From these revolutionary writers, those who were more prominent was an Egyptian by the

    name of Sayyid Qutb, his mentor Hassan Al-Banna and their spiritual leader Sayd Abu Ala

    Maududi who was Pakistani. These individuals would go on to build the foundations ofIkhwan

    ul-Muslimeen (The Muslim Brotherhood) which was a political, revolutionary group who

    propagated that salvations lies in the removal of the current rulers and monarchs of the Muslim

    lands and replacing them with rulers who adhered to the Islamic system of rule24. This removal

    consisted of Communist-style revolutions, overthrowing governments and the assassination of

    23Although this is a subject of much dispute.

    24Arabic: Khilaafah

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    the rulers as well as anyone who opposed them. Due to his dangerous political ideology and after

    the attempted assassination of the second president of Egypt General Gamal Abdul Nassir, Qutb

    was executed and proclaimed as a martyr by his supporters. Eventually his continuing and

    growing ideology led to the assassination of the third President,Anwar Al-Sadat.

    It is in the works of Sayyid Qutb and Hassan Al-Banna that the true seeds of modern-day

    extremism can be found. Wahhabi scholars and organisations worldwide have published and

    distributed countless numbers of works exposing Qutb and Al-Banna and how their dangerous

    and deviated works are alien to the essence of Islam, yet due to the deviations of the likes of

    Usamah bin Laden, Hamza The Hook Al-Misri25

    , Abdullah The Jamaican Faisal26

    , AnwarAl-Awlaki

    27, Umar Bakri The Tottenham Ayatollah Muhammad

    28and many others,

    Wahhabism has now become synonymous with Qutbism. This is a case of extremist

    Qutbists coming adorned in the gowns of Wahhabism in order to gain more mainstream

    support from the generally unaware masses who do not have the knowledge or ability to

    differentiate between the two opposing ideologies, thus provoking emotional responses and

    anger amongst them towards governments, rulers and the West.

    Throughout the media, Sayyid Qutb is claimed to be a leading Islamic Wahhabi/Salafi scholar

    and there seems to be a lack of distinction between Sayyid Qutb and the mainstream Wahhabi

    scholars, leading one to believe that Sayyid Qutb and the extremists hordes are

    Wahhabi/Salafi.29

    25Mustafa Kamel Mustafa. Born in Egypt in 1958 and claims to have his left eye permanently damaged, as well as

    his arms and other injuries clearing mines in Afghanistan. Former head of Finsbury Park Mosque and the group

    Supporters of Shariah. Currently in prison for instigation of acts of terrorism.26 Trevor William Forest. Born in Jamaica 1968. A Muslim convert and self-appointed Shaykh. Spent many yearsin the UK inciting hatred and terrorism to both Muslims and non-Muslims. Served a prison sentence for soliciting

    murder, and was deported to Jamaica upon release in 2008.27

    Born in Mexico 1971 to an Arab family. Soon became a religious leader in adulthood and was heavily influenced

    by extremist leaders and by the writings of Sayyid Qutb (see page 15). Continues to justify the removal of rulers of

    Muslim countries with as much bloodshed as possible.28

    Umar Bakri Fustuq. Born in Syria1958. The head of the outlawed groupsAl-Muhajiroun,Al-Ghurabaa and

    Islam4UK. Left the country in 2006 for Lebanon after rumours surfaced he could be prosecuted for serious crimes.

    His British citizenship was revoked by the then British Home Secretary Charles Clarke. Currently held by Lebanese

    authorities who wish to hand him a life sentence on terrorism charges.29

    ...Sayyid Qutb, the most important Salafi thinker of the past half-century and a popular author in the Muslimworld even today, nearly 40 years after his death. Gods and Monster Michael Scott Dolan. The Guardian

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2001/dec/08/artsandhumanities.highereducation?INTCMP=SRCH

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    In the bookThe Rise of Jihadist Extremism in the West we find this said about Sayyid Qutb:

    Sayyid Qutb: The Chief Jihadist Ideologue

    Sayyid Qutb is the most important figurehead of the modern-day extremist-Jihadist global

    movement. No one has influenced the Jihadist methodology and revolutionary ideology over the

    last century more than Qutb, so much so that religious academics, Muslim and non-Muslim

    alike, have labelled this Jihadist phenomenon as Qutbism. From the Algerian FIS and GIA to

    Hamas and Islamic Jihad; from al-Muhajiroun to Al-Qaeda and the Iraqi insurgency, all have

    been directly influenced by the writings and teachings of Sayyid Qutb; the same applies to Abu

    Qatadah, Abu Hamza, Anwar al-Awlaki, Abdullah Faisal, Ibn Laden and Az-Zawarihi.30

    Do Wahhabispurport an extremist methodology or speak out against

    terrorism?

    The short answer is no, they do not purport an extremist methodology and the highly regarded

    Islamic Wahhabi scholars (including the great grandchildren ofShaykhMuhammad bin Abdul-

    Wahhab whom teach in Saudi Arabia today) have time and again strenuously warned against

    terrorism and acts of extremism. Whilst the Wahhabis do not shy away from the fact that the

    Jihad, as it is understood in the scriptures, are a part of the religion of Islam, they make it very

    clear that it takes different forms, and the Jihad that requires fighting or combat is legislated in

    specific times and places (such as in self-defence) and even that is also heavily regulated31

    . It

    certainly does not consist of killing non-combatants, women, children, livestock, crops, treachery

    and suicide bombings! Just like you find in most countries, throughout periods of time and

    civilisations, the Islamic state also aims to have a military wing which defends its borders and

    people.

    I will now present some statements from various Wahhabi scholars in summary, in order to

    show that the reality of the Wahhabi approach to terrorism is in actuality a direct ideological

    attack on all those who condone or partake in terrorism and extremism rather than being a cause

    30The Rise of Jihadist Extremism in the West Salafi Publications, p.24 25

    31See Appendix: A brief word on Jihad

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    for the recent rise in terrorism. The book published by Salafi Publications: Islamic

    Condemnation of Terrorists, Hijackers & Suicide Bombers contains various articles and

    statements from various major scholars whom all Wahhabis regard highly, from all the leading

    Wahhabi scholars of the Middle East to the average layman on the streets of London.

    All Wahhabis look up to with the greatest amount of respect and humbleness to these two

    specific scholars whose statements I have analysed regarding this topic. They are Shaykh Abdul-

    Azeez bin Baz and Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen. If the accusations that

    Wahhabis are responsible for the recent rise in terrorism are to be true, then these two highly

    regarded leading figureheads of the modern-day Wahhabi movement will demonstrate this intheir teachings and interpretations of the scriptures of Islam.

    32

    What we find from the Shaykh, Abdul-Azeez bin Baz, whom was the former leading cleric,

    Mufti, of Saudi Arabia and died 13th May 1999, is that he was staunchly and strenuously

    opposed to all acts of terror, murder, extremism and suicide missions! He advised Muslims

    worldwide not to co-operate with such criminals, nor communicate with them, rather, they are

    to be cut off and warned against their evil. In fact, Shaykhbin Baz regards such terrorists as

    brothers of the Devils!

    While the UK was granting refuge to known terrorist and extremist agitators in the 90s, Shaykh

    bin Baz addressed the danger ofUsamah bin Laden, his supporters (some of whom were in the

    UK) and the corruption they were spreading throughout. He regarded the call of bin Laden as

    corrupt and misguided and bin Laden and his ilk are deemed as callers to great evil and

    immense corruption and the general masses are advised to warn and destroy their publications

    and to not co-operate with them in anything.Bin Baz finally advises bin Laden and his like to

    leave alone this disastrous path, and to fear Allaah and to beware of His revenge

    As for the common practice of terrorists to hijack airplanes, kidnappings and bombings, then

    Shaykh bin Baz said that such acts are extreme great crimes, the world over and advises

    32For full statements and quotations, see the appendix Wahhabi scholars regarding terrorism

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    governments and those responsible from amongst the scholars and other than them to exert

    themselves as much as possible in ending this evil.

    The other leading scholar from the Wahhabi methodology, the Shaykh, Muhammad bin Salih

    Al-Uthaymeen, also demonstrates that terrorism is totally unrelated to the Wahhabis. With

    regards to suicide bombings, then his opinion was that those who tie explosives to themselves is

    neither a hero or a martyr, but a criminal who has committed an atrocity by way of committing

    suicide, so whoever commits suicide then he will be considered eternally to Hell-Fire.Shaykh

    Al-Uthaymeen comes to the conclusion that these explosive acts of suicide where a handful of

    people die usually women and children will probably make the enemy more determined, andthis action will provoke malice and bitterness to such an extent that he may seek to wreak havoc

    upon the Muslims.ShaykhAl-Uthaymeen expands upon this and demonstrates that when one

    Palestinian blows himself up and kills six or seven people, then in retaliation they [the Israelis]

    take sixty or more. The Shaykh emphasises that the one who becomes a suicide bomber has in

    fact wrongfully committed suicide this person is not a martyr.

    ShaykhAl-Uthaymeen also speaks of the typical heinous act of attacking the enemy via blowing

    themselves up in a car, of which the Shaykh also regards as simply an act of suicide and not a

    form of martyrdom in any way, shape or form. Regarding these people blowing themselves up,

    the Shaykh refers the Holy Quran and says:

    And from that which is surprising, is that these people kill themselves despite Allaah having

    forbidden this, as He says:

    And do not kill yourselves. Surely Allaah is Most Merciful to you

    Surah an-Nisa [4]:59

    The Shaykh explains that such people have complete disregard for what is allowed and forbidden

    in the Islamic legislation regarding fighting and combat. These people who commit such terrorist

    acts do not desire anything except revenge of the enemy, by whatever means , and all of thisin

    order to satisfy their thirst for revenge.

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    The common act of these so-called Wahhabi extremist groups such as those we see in the

    media gathering at the places where British soldiers are returning from war to parade in town

    centres, chanting slogans, curses and carrying placards with statements which are disrespectful to

    the soldiers and the British public, is a complete contrast to what this eminent Wahhabi scholar

    advises the Muslims living in non-Muslim lands. ShaykhAl-Uthaymeen advises the Muslims to

    have respect and courtesy towards the non-Muslims when residing in their lands for there is an

    agreement between you and them. For the non-Muslim lands, such as the UK and US could

    choose to persecute or expel the Muslims from their lands, So preserve this agreement, and do

    not prove treacherous to it, since treachery is a sign of the hypocrites, and it is not from the wayof the believers. The Shaykh uses scriptural evidence from a reported statement of the Prophet

    Muhammad to highlight the great crime of killing someone of which you have an agreement

    with (such as the July 7th bombings in London, 2005, and the September 11th attacks in New

    York, 2001): the Prophet said: Whoever kills one who is under an agreement of protection will

    not smell the fragrance of Paradise.

    ShaykhAl-Uthaymeen concludes that the claim of the extremists that the blood and wealth of

    the non-Muslims is lawful to take by way of force and murder, is a lie. A lie about Allaahs

    religion, and a lie in Islamic societies.

    The opinions and statements made by these two individuals can be generalised to all those who

    adhere to the Salafi/Wahhabi methodology, for these two scholars are highly regarded and

    referred to and will continue to be so for many years to come. What they have expressed and

    advised with regards to terrorism is far from the accusations of those who oppose them. The

    Wahhabi approach to terrorism and extremism is far from the claim that they are responsible of

    the rise in terrorism.

    The fact that these two enormous figures in the Muslim world passed away before the major

    terrorist atrocities that have occurred since September 2001, but there words are still applicable

    and referenced frequently by Wahhabis worldwide, including Saudi Arabia on a governmental

    scale. The Wahhabis are free from the accusations of terror and extremism.

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    Conclusion

    Whether it is wilful arrogance, or innocent ignorance, I find it highly unsettling that the

    Wahhabis en masse are being labelled and blamed for acts of extremism and terrorism when

    the true position of those who are genuinely Wahhabi in every sense of the word are only a

    simple click away on the internet. There is no doubt that there are those extremist elements, as I

    mentioned previously who are trying to hijack the Salafi/Wahhabi methodology to gain support

    from the unaware and disenfranchised mass of Muslims throughout the world. But as much as

    these extremists attempt to claim to be Salafi/Wahhabi, time and again their false claims are

    severely refuted by the true Salafi/Wahhabis. Yet, these facts are ignored by the mass media,

    and the more the Wahhabis attempt to free themselves from atrocities, there are those, such as

    Stephen Schwartz, who are given precedence in the media to speak as an expert on the

    Wahhabis and slander them with statements such as Not all Muslims are suicide bombers, but

    all Muslim suicide bombers are Wahhabis33. Taking a sweeping, slanderous statement such as

    this, and comparing it to the true position of the most prominent ofWahhabi scholars this age

    has seen (Shaykhbin Baz and ShaykhAl-Uthaymeen), one should be able to easily ascertain that

    there is certainly an underlining hatred and rejection of the Wahhabi methodology.

    Is it fair that the Wahhabis are not given the platform to defend themselves in the face of such a

    torrent of accusations? Is it fair that whenever a matter arises regarding Islam and the Muslims,

    the first place that the mass media will go to for the Islamist perspective is either the hate-

    spouting extremists, or those Muslims who sacrifice much from their religion in the name of

    integration and public image?

    Is it fair that Wahhabis up and down the country feel like this tolerant country has gone back

    in time forty years, and again we are beginning to see and hear racist, arrogant and bigoted

    attitudes beginning to solidify with a good helping of an official public pardon from the mass

    media? Reports of Muslim women being attacked with baseball bats for wearing the Hijab,

    mothers and their children having bottles of beer thrown over them, Mosques being firebombed

    and its attendees being attacked going to and leaving from worship. Face veils which have been

    33Ground Zero and the Saudi Connection Stephen Schwartz

    http://www.spectator.co.uk/essays/all/9312/part_2/ground-zero-and-the-saudi-connection.thtml

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    worn by many Muslim women for decades are suddenly now a major social barrier issue and

    should be banned. Men, women and children up and down the country being laughed at, spat

    upon, mocked, attacked, jeered, sneered, rejected and refused, because it so happens a very

    small, extreme idiotic few whom resemble the Wahhabis in appearance happen to look like

    them?

    Over the past few months of research, I have come across a number of Wahhabi organisations

    both here in the UK and internationally (with the organisation Salafi Publications who are based

    in Birmingham, UK, being the more prominent both here and internationally) whom have a vast

    wealth of information and clarification on the true Islamic stance regarding terrorism (as well asmany other matters relating to Islam and common misconceptions). I find it entirely surprising

    and saddening that in this day and age despite the great advances that we have made in

    technology, access to information and educational development, we still, generally as a nation,

    choose to forget all that, and simply point the finger at those who we thinkare the criminals, and

    persecute them regardless of what they say.

    I only hope that this minute effort I have made in preparing this paper will help to raise some

    level of awareness in those who read this.

    Appendix

    1. Wahhabi scholars regarding terrorism

    Shaykh Abdul-Azeez bin Baz Former Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (died13

    thMay 1999)

    - On terrorists and their groups:they are not to be co-operated with, nor are they to be given salutations [N.B. the Islamic

    greeting of As-Salaamu alaykum peace be onto you]. Rather, they are to be cut off from, and

    the people are to be warned against their evil. Since they are a tribulation and are harmful to the

    Muslims, and they are the brothers of the Devils!

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    Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen (died January 5th

    2001)

    - On suicide bombingsas for what some people do tying explosives to themselves and then approaching

    unbelievers and detonating amongst them, then this is a case of suicide So whoever commits

    suicide then he will be considered eternally to Hell-Fire

    if he kills himself along with ten, or a hundred, or two hundred people, then Islaam will not

    benefit by that, since the people will not accept Islaam Rather it will probably just make the

    enemy more determined, and this action will provoke malice and bitterness to such an extent that

    he may seek to wreak havoc upon the Muslims.

    when one Palestinian blows himself up and kills six or seven people, then in retaliation they

    take sixty or more.

    those people who perform these suicide (bombings) have wrongfully committed suicide this

    person is not a martyr.

    - Attacking the enemy by blowing up carsthis type of suicide is well known and widespread amongst the people And from that which

    is surprising, is that these people kill themselves despite Allaah having forbidden this, as He

    says:

    And do not kill yourselves. Surely Allaah is Most Merciful to you

    Surah an-Nisa [4]:59

    And many amongst them do not desire anything except revenge of the enemy, by whatever

    means, be it halal (permissible) or haraam (impermissible). So they only want to satisfy their

    thirst for revenge.

    - Dealing with non-Muslims and living in non-Muslim landsLikewise I invite you to have respect for those people who have the right they should be

    respected, from those between you (meaning Muslims) and whom there is an agreement (of

    protection) [i.e. non-Muslims]. For the land you are living in is such that there is an agreement

    between you and them. If this were not the case they would have killed you and expelled you. So

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    preserve this agreement, and do not prove treacherous to it, since treachery is a sign of the

    hypocrites, and it is not from the way of the believers.

    And know that it is authentically reported from the Prophet that he said; Whoever kills one

    who is under an agreement of protection will not smell the fragrance of Paradise.

    Do not be fooled by those sayings of the foolish people: those who say: Those people are non-

    Muslims. So their wealth is lawful for us [i.e. to misappropriate or take by way of murdering and

    killing]. For by Allaah this is a lie. A lie about Allaahs religion, and a lie in Islamic

    societies.

    O my brother Muslims! O youth! Be true in our sayings with your brothers, and with those non-

    Muslims whom you live along with

    2. A brief word on Jihad

    Modern-day Muslim terrorists claim that they are waging a Jihadagainst the non-Muslims, so it

    is important to clarify the use and terminology of the word Jihad. While Jihad does mean at

    times holy war, both Muslims and non-Muslims alike forget, neglect or just do not realise that

    Jihadcan have a variety of meanings and it is more linguistically correct to translate Jihadas to

    struggle. Being an Arabic word, the construct of the word has a root form, and it goes back to

    the root verb Jahada. Looking in an Arabic-English dictionary I am told to go to the word

    Ijtahada to know whatJahada means:

    To strive, endeavour, try hard, make every effort, attempt strenuously, take pains; to be

    or become diligent, sedulous, assiduous, hardworking, industrious; to strain, exert

    oneself, put oneself out, work (too) hard.34

    So Jihad is regarded as something that is fought by Muslims throughout their lives, firstly

    against themselves and their own desire to sin and commit acts such as lying or adultery which

    34Al-Mawrid Arabic-English Dictionary. p.38

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    are frowned upon in Islam. When one goes out to work, to strive, to feed the family, this is also

    regarded as a Jihad. Ultimately, when a Muslim is in the ranks of a Muslim Army under

    legitimate leadership, or one has had his land invaded by oppressive or enemy forces, or is

    defending himself when attacked on the street, when fighting in such situations this is regarded

    as one of the highest forms of Jihad (the other being calling the people to worship God

    Almighty). With this form ofJihad there are a series of rules and regulations which must be

    adhered to in order for it to be an accepted legitimate Jihad. For example, the Prophet

    Muhammad used to advise the Muslims before entering into any battle,

    Proceed in the Name of Allah and for Allah and upon the Religion of AllahsMessenger: Do not kill the very old or a child or a woman and do not press heavily by

    exceeding the limits. Collect the (war) booty, reconcile, and do good as Allah loves the

    good doers.35

    There are other similar rulings found in the ancient texts that rule that trees must not be cut

    down, animals must not be killed, agriculture must not be destroyed, those who are prisoners of

    war must not be chained or shackled. They must be clothed with your clothes and fed from the

    same plate as you. Any combatant who asks for mercy or surrenders on the battlefield must be

    cared for, looked after and protected. The places of worship such as churches or synagogues and

    its worshippers must be left alone and protected. At the time of battle, the battle must be accurate

    and swift, with the forbiddance of torture or prolonged excessive pain (such as what you see

    taking place in modern-day combat zones, where extremists will slowly and mercilessly cut off

    the heads of their murder victims, including non-combatants and women!)

    This is in stark contrast to what we hear in the media as to what has taken place in Iraq,

    Afghanistan, New York City, London, Morocco, Algeria, Madrid, Pakistan, India, Palestine,

    Indonesia and anywhere else that these terrorists have committed atrocities. The majority of the

    time the victims are women and children who are killed indiscriminately, people who may

    actually be sympathetic to the plight of Iraqi children or Palestinians, people who have never

    taken up arms against any Muslim and may never in their lifetime.

    35Jihad in the Quran and Sunnah Sheikh Abdullah bin Muhammad Humaid, p.37-38

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    3. Interview with a Wahhabi

    Could you tell us a little about yourself, i.e. your name, where do you come from, andhow long have you been a Wahhabi/Salafi for?

    My name is Samir Debbazi. I come from England. I have been a Salafi for about 12 years

    Are you or your family converts to Islam?My father was born and raised a Muslim. My mother is a convert; she converted about 30 yearsago.

    In your view, where does the term Wahhabi come from and is it deemed offensive? The word Wahhabism is in fact nothing but a meaningless appellation which is used by people

    in two cases: The term Wahhabism is often used to describe those who closely stick to the

    verses of the Quran and the narrations of the Prophet Muhammad (MayAllah raise his rank and

    grant him peace) in all religious affairs. Consequently, instead of directly attacking Islam for

    those things that do not appeal to their desires, they call anyone who follows these texts

    Wahhabis.

    Another different and contemporary usage has appeared for this term. Anybody who belongs to

    any of the current Qutbisttype groups or movements that call for political overthrows, endless

    blind purportedJihads which are based upon principles other than those found in Islam and led

    by people who have no knowledge based background in Islamic scholarship, are entered into a

    giant umbrella group called Wahhabism. This is done even though these are followers of

    Sayyid Qutb despise the Salafi/Wahhabi scholars and their creed.

    Hence, in the first case, Wahhabism is used to mean anything I don't like about Islam, and in

    the second case, anything I don't like about what the contemporary Qutbist movements do;

    things that have no basis in Islam.

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    Would it be more respectful to refer to those of the Wahhabi methodology as Salafi?Yes

    What exactly is the Salafi/Wahhabi way and what distinguishes it from moreallegedly moderate groups such as the Sufis?

    The correct way of referring to them is by terming them Salafis, as they are those who adhere to

    the way of the Salaf- the Prophet Muhammad (mayAllah raise his rank and grant him peace)

    and his companions.

    Following the way of the Salaf is the way which has been legislated in the Quran and Sunnah,

    the very sources of Islam. The Prophet (MayAllah raise his rank and grant him peace) said to his

    daughter Fatimah: Indeed, I am for you a blessed Salaf.

    When asked about which was the correct and acceptable way of understanding Islam, the

    Prophet (MayAllah raise his rank and grant him peace) replied by saying: That which I and

    my companions are upon.

    Similarly,Allah says in the Quran that He is pleased with the companions

    ...and also those who follow them exactly (in faith).

    As such, He said regarding the Prophet (MayAllah raise his rank and grant him security) and his

    companions:

    So if they believe as you (i.e. the Salaf) believe, they are indeed rightly guided.

    All of the orthodox scholars of Islam followed the way of the Salafin understanding religion.

    This returning back to the ways of the early generations, it is said that Salafis aretrying to go back in time and do not embrace modernity, is this the case?

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    This not the case at all, since the meaning of returning back to the way of the earlier generations

    means with respect to the practice and implementation of the religion, rather Muslims made great

    advances and contributions in many different fields, such as geography, physics, chemistry,

    mathematics, medicine, pharmacology, architecture, linguistics and astronomy. Algebra and the

    Arabic numerals were introduced to the world by Muslim scholars, including the zero. The

    Astrolabe, the Quadrant, and other navigational devices and maps were developed by Muslim

    scholars and played an important role in world progress, most notably in Europe's age of

    exploration.

    How long have you been in Saudi Arabia, and what is it that you are studying outhere?

    I have been out here for 8 years, I am studying the correct methodology of the propagation of

    Islam and its application in modern times.

    As explained before in my introduction letter, I am preparing a dissertation titled: IsWahhabism responsible for the recent rise in terrorism. What prompted me to take

    this as a topic is the common theme that is found in the media that those of the

    Wahhabi brand of Islam are proponents of terror and extremism. What is your view

    on the accusation that Salafis are proponents of intolerance and terror?

    My view is that this is complete nonsense. Salafis around the world take their knowledge from

    the same pool of scholars, and you will never hear of our scholars condoning or praising any acts

    of terror or extremism, so likewise you will never find us who affiliate ourselves with this

    blessed methodology condoning or praising acts of murder, suicide bombings and the likes of

    this, regardless of the reasons or circumstances behind these acts. Our esteemed and late scholar,

    Shaykh Al-Uthaymeen had a tele-link with the Muslims in Birmingham in July 2000, and in this

    tele-link, he strongly warned the Muslims in the UK and non-Muslim lands generally against

    agitating and committing acts of treachery or terror against the people of the lands in which we

    reside. This is because we Muslims have been allowed to stay in these lands, and allowed to

    continue to worship and call to Islam. The US and UK government could easily outlaw Islam

    and turn the Muslims out, but they havent. So it is not for any of us to now rise up against our

    hosts with violence and terror. This is not from Islam, and completely forbidden! We have a

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    sacred agreement with our hosts that must be honoured and protected. The Prophet (May Allah

    raise his rank and grant him peace) said:

    Whoever kills one who is under and agreement of protection will not smell the fragrance of

    Paradise.

    Jihadist groups such as the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria (GIA), the Al-QaedaOrganization in the Islamic Maghreb formerly known as The Salafist Group for

    Preaching and Combat (GSPC), Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Al-Shabaab in Somalia and in

    the UK Al-Muhajiroun, or Islam4UK as they are known as now, all claim that they

    are in fact followers of the Salafi way. They claim that they call to Tawheed and

    Dawah, but they also claim that they combine this with Shariah Law and Jihad,

    elements which they accuse moderate Salafis (such as scholars in Saudi Arabia and

    organizations like Spubs) of abandoning. What are your thoughts on this?

    Shaykh Abdul-Maalik ar-Ramadani al-Jazaairee is a Salafi scholar of Algerian descent who

    has much insight into the tragedy that befell Algeria at the hands of terrorists. He was asked

    about these groups the GIA and the GSPC, and his response can be made applicable to all of

    these extremist groups who affiliate themselves with Salafiyyah such as the ones you mentioned.

    He said:

    How can, with all of this, making permissible the blood of the police and killing them, be clean

    (i.e. permitted)? Then they live on stolen monies which have been ransacked from people by

    force! They destroy the souls of the Muslim soldiers As a result, we do not however absolve

    ourselves from Salafiyyah as it is the truth, yet we absolve ourselves for Allaah from the

    Salafist Group for Dawah and Combat and from all those who grasp weapons today in our

    country against the system or the people.

    I say this so that the creation know that the ascription of those revolutionary groups (i.e. the

    GSPC) to Salafiyyah is a distortion of Salafiyyah, just as how ascribing deviant Muslims to Islam

    is also a distortion of Islam, blocking the true path of Allaah and causing people to flee from the

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    victorious ones (firqat un-Naajiyah). However, Salafiyyah is Salafiyyah, just as Islaam is Islaam,

    even though it is distorted by the deviants.36

    Is it possible that these groups may have derived or interpreted their understanding ofIslam and interpretation of extremist acts from the works of early Salafi scholars such

    as Ibn Taymeeyah and Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab? If not, then why not?

    Not at all. Our scholar, Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, clarified this issue in the media here in Saudi.

    He said:

    Some of the hypocrites and ignoramuses claim that the Muslim schools taught them this

    ideology, and that the teaching methodologies (curriculums) comprise such a deviated ideology,

    and they request change in the methodologies of teaching. We say (in response): Indeed, the

    proponents of this ideology (of terrorism) did not graduate from the Muslim schools, nor did they

    take knowledge from the Muslim scholars because they (themselves) declare as unlawful

    studying in these schools, institutes and faculties.

    So if they didnt receive their understanding from the works of the Salafi scholars,from whom did they receive this ideology? (Sayyid Qutb, Mauwdudi, Al-Banna etc)

    The real proponents of this deviated, murderous mentality comes from the books ofSayyid Qutb,

    Ayman Az-Zawahiri [Usamah bin Ladens second-in-command], Hassan Al-Banna, Abu Ala

    Mouwdudi and all of these individuals constructed and are affiliated with the group Ikhwan ul-

    Muslimeen who has its roots in Egypt.

    Are these individuals or organisations that you mentioned not upon the Salafimethodology?

    Not in the slightest.

    36Al-Akaabir fi maa Uhdira min Dimaa fil-Jazaair [The Legal Verdicts of the Senior Scholars Regarding

    the Killings in Algeria] - (Cairo: Daar Imam Ahmad, 1426 AH/2005 CE), p.16-17

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    So what group then do these extremist elements who claim to be Salafi actually fallunder? Can you elaborate on this/these group(s)?

    The Khawaarij, literally translated as The Rebels. They are a group who have been around

    since the time of the Prophets Companions. They revolted against the Muslim rulers, killed

    civilians, harmed and murdered not only those whom they consider 'non-Muslim' but even

    Muslims who have fallen into sin. They are an extremist group who have surfaced throughout the

    ages. The fact is that it has always been the Salafis who have warned against them in their

    writings, their books, their lectures and in recent times by recordings, radio announcements and

    so forth.

    So in your view, the claim that the recent rise in terrorism is not stemming fromWahhabism, but from these groups who are attempting to hijack the Wahhabi/Salafi

    banner?

    Without a shadow of a doubt.

    Is Usamah bin Laden and his organisation Salafi?No. Far from it!

    Have you ever personally had any confrontations with members of these groups anddid you manage to get across the true Salafi methodology as you see it to them?

    Yes. I am from Tottenham in North London and, unfortunately, me and my fellow Salafi

    brothers and sisters were surrounded by the worst of these groups at one time or another. In

    Tottenham we had Umar Bakri and his groupAl-Muhajiroun, in Edmonton we had Abdullah Al-

    Faisal the Jamaican and up the road in Finsbury Park we had Abu Hamza Al-Misri. They all had

    a large following, and we would constantly find ourselves having to defend the religion of Islam

    against the filth they were spreading. We now have an organisation in Tottenham called The

    Light of Islaam Tottenham Dawah, and we have aligned themselves with other Salafi

    organisations in the UK. We have worked hard in clarifying Islam to the people, and freeing

    Islam from the extremists and the lies purported by them. Since we set up in 2004, we have

    gladly watched these extremists fizzle away as their leaders were arrested and organisations

    outlawed. Good riddance!

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    In the media we are led to believe that Saudi Arabia is brimming with Mosques thatcontinuously put out the message that is deemed to be of hatred to non-Muslims and

    non-conforming Muslims, to the downfall of the West generally and America

    specifically. Is this a reality?

    There was a time where the Muslim Brotherhood Ikhwan ul-Muslimeen had infiltrated a

    number of organisations, such as summer camps, and they had exploited this and a number of

    people did get caught up in extremist activities. However, the Saudi authorities had caught them

    out and they were prosecuted accordingly. As for Imams and preachers spouting hate from the

    pulpits in the Mosques, then this has also taken place, but there are special Anti-Terror

    investigation units whose role it is to seek these people out, and they are shut down and arrested

    immediately. Some have slipped through the net, no doubt, but it is government policy to shut

    down such activities rather than promote them and allow for them to take place.

    It should be noted though that whenever these extremist elements have been caught out, the link

    has always led back to the Muslim Brotherhoodorganisation. As pointed out by the Saudi

    Interior Minister, Prince Naif bin Abdul-Aziz to the Kuwaiti newspaper 'Al-Siyasa'in which he

    said, All our problems stem from the Muslim Brotherhood.

    As a Westerner, are you treated with suspicion by the locals and the authorities? Howdo you find it living there?

    No. I have been treated with the upmost respect and honoured as a guest here.

    It is claimed that Saudi Arabia and its Wahhabi religious establishment does not doenough to speak out and deal with the issue of terrorism, rather it is claimed that they

    fuel it. What is the reality of the Saudi Arabian authorities and its religious

    establishment towards terrorism and extremism and do they combat it?

    The reality is that Saudi Arabia has done more in combating the recent rise in terror probably

    more so than any other country on earth. Thousands of extremists have been arrested and put on

    trial here. Thousands of them renounced their ways and are under strict observation programmes

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    where their activities are monitored. Those elements that was directly involved or responsible for

    terrorist acts or murder have been either imprisoned or executed according to Islamic Law for the

    crime of murder accordingly.

    In fact, a few years ago, King Abdullah offered an amnesty. He gave exactly one month for all

    suspected terrorists to hand themselves in to the Saudi authorities and they will not be sentenced

    with capital punishment, but a prison sentence and an opportunity to join the reform programme

    which was set up by Prince Naif, the Ministry Interior. By the time the month was up, thousands

    had handed themselves in, some were actually in the safe haven of other Arab countries, but they

    chose to jump on a plane and hand themselves in to the Saudi authorities. The amnesty was so

    successful, that the King extended it for a further few weeks, and more had handed themselves

    in. Have you ever heard of anything like that in the US and the UK? After the amnesty was up,

    the authorities and specialist anti-terror squads sought out the remaining terrorist suspects and

    rained upon them fire!

    The Saudi authorities works very closely with the religious establishment here in the Kingdom,

    and the making offatwas or religious rulings, which turn out to be an extremist element are

    criminalised and diminished.

    So to suggest the Saudi Arabia has not being playing a part in combating extremism and

    terrorism is entirely inaccurate. While Britain was granting asylum to extremist elements in the

    80s and 90s, Saudi Arabia was warning against these individuals and their message of terror. But

    it was either ignored, or fell on deaf ears.

    So Saudi Arabia and the Islamic scholars have been warning against such individualsfor some time, before September 11

    th

    ?The Islamic scholars have been warning about the likes of these individuals for hundreds of

    years, rather the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessing ofAllah be upon him) warned about

    these types of people by name and then by way of warning against their ideology.

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    Are there not any establishments in the UK who are Salafi and publically speak outand refute the extremist elements?

    Yes. The main one in the UK is Salafi Publications. There are others, but this one is the more

    prominent one.

    So why do we not hear of anything from them in the mass media? All we seem to hear are fellow Muslims condemning terrorism and blaming the Wahhabis for extreme

    ideologies.

    There have been some reports, I know there was an article about the anti-terror conferences

    arranged by Salafi Publications, but the media generally do not seem to be interested, which is a

    shame. The media seem to prefer speaking to either extremist groups like Al-Muhajiroun

    representatives or Muslims who are opposed to the Salafi way.

    I understand you are extremely busy as a post-graduate student, and I thank you foryour time and wish you all the best for your studies.

    It was a pleasure. Thank you for the opportunity.

    Suggested websites

    www.salafipublications.com

    www.islamagainstextremism.com

    www.answering-extremism.com

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