Wahhabi Islam: From Revival and Reform to Global Jihad

Abstract

Before 9/11, few Westerners had heard of Wahhabism. But what were the origins of the movement often touted as the intellectual and spiritual inspiration for Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda? In the first study ever undertaken of the writings of Wahhabism's founder, Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1702-1791), Natana DeLong-Bas shatters the stereotypes and misconceptions. Using original research, Wahhabi Islam presents the potentially controversial argument that the modern notion of Wahhabism (as ascetic, puritanical and narrow-minded) distorts M I A Wahhab's teachings, which were far more modernist, tolerant and broadminded. But, as the author demonstrates, his ideas were distorted by his followers into the movement that still carries his name today. Contemporary extremists like Osama bin Laden do not have their origins in Wahhabism. This groundbreaking book fills an enormous gap in the literature on the Middle East by returning to the original writing of Wahhabism's founder.

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