Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab

Muhammad ibn Abdul-Wahhab at-Tamimi (1703-1792 CE / 1115-1206 AH) was a Hanbali scholar and revivalist from Uyaynah in the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula. He pursued Islamic knowledge from a young age, memorizing the Quran early and studying under his father, who was a Hanbali judge. He later traveled to Medina, Basra, and other centers of learning, studying under scholars including Muhammad Hayat as-Sindhi, who encouraged him to focus on combating innovations and superstitions.

The central theme of his scholarship was the call to tawhid: the absolute oneness of Allah in worship, lordship, and His names and attributes. He wrote Kitab at-Tawhid, which became his most widely read work, presenting evidence from the Quran and Sunnah for pure monotheism. He also authored the Thalathah al-Usul (Three Fundamental Principles), al-Qawaid al-Arba (The Four Rules), and Kashf ash-Shubuhat (Clarification of Doubts), all concise yet powerful treatises on creed. His Masa'il al-Jahiliyyah identified pre-Islamic practices that had crept back into Muslim societies.

After facing opposition in his hometown and in other settlements, he found support in the ruler Muhammad ibn Saud of Diriyah, and together they established a movement that combined scholarly reform with political authority. His intellectual legacy draws heavily on the writings of Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim, emphasizing direct engagement with the Quran and Sunnah. He passed away in Diriyah and his descendants (the Al ash-Sheikh family) continued to serve as leading religious scholars in the Arabian Peninsula.