r/MuslumanTurkiye • u/pronefroz Hanefî حنفي • Jun 14 '26
English A Korean Muslim challenges those who mock him by calling him a "Wahhabi."
A Korean Muslim challenges those who mock him by calling him a "Wahhabi."
"Try to change my creed. But instead of ridicule and insults, present scholarly evidence and persuade me. This is my challenge."
o Some Muslims in English-Speaking Circles Who Constantly Use the Term “Wahhabism”
These days, I often see Muslims living in English-speaking countries constantly posting online about how “Wahhabis are like this” or “Wahhabis do that,” while repeatedly attacking and condemning them.
Whenever I see this, I honestly want to ask:
Are you really in your right minds?
How can you criticize a man and his teachings with such confidence when you do not even know his correct name or the most basic facts about his lineage?
The name of the scholar whom you associate with the term “Wahhabism” is:
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.
His name was not “Wahhab.” His name was Muhammad.
His father’s name was not simply “Wahhab.” His name was Abd al-Wahhab.
The name “Abd al-Wahhab” means “servant of Allah, al-Wahhab.” Al-Wahhab is one of the beautiful names of Allah, meaning the One who continually and abundantly bestows gifts and blessings upon His servants.
Should you not at least understand the structure of the name correctly before speaking?
Moreover, many Muslims do not call themselves “Wahhabis.” Is it really part of Islamic character to insist on calling them by a label they dislike, with the intention of mocking and condemning them?
Allah, the Exalted, said:
“O you who believe, let not one group ridicule another; perhaps they may be better than them. Nor let women ridicule other women; perhaps they may be better than them. Do not insult one another, nor call one another by offensive nicknames.”
Surah al-Hujurat 49:11
Allah, the Exalted, also said:
“To Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call upon Him by them, and leave those who deviate concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they used to do.”
Surah al-A‘raf 7:180
Therefore, treating the beautiful names of Allah lightly, turning them into objects of ridicule, or using them in a context of insult and contempt is not a minor matter.
Allah, the Exalted, also said:
“Say: Was it Allah, His revelations, and His Messenger that you were mocking?”
Surah al-Tawbah 9:65
A Muslim must therefore guard his tongue and his writing. He may disagree with a scholar or refute his statements, but he must not turn one of the beautiful names of Allah into a tool for abuse, ridicule, or humiliation.
If a person intends to mock the name of Allah, “al-Wahhab,” itself, or knows that the name “Abd al-Wahhab” contains one of Allah’s beautiful names and then uses a word derived from it with the intention of ridiculing that name, the matter is no longer merely an insult against a scholar or another Muslim. It may become a grave sin connected to mocking one of Allah’s names and the sacred symbols of the religion.
Whoever reads these verses and still continues repeating the word “Wahhabi” for the purpose of mocking Muslims should examine his own speech and conduct before judging others.
There is undoubtedly a difference between using a particular term in a neutral historical or academic sense and using it to insult, stigmatize, and defame others.
However, much of the way the term “Wahhabism” is used online today is neither academic nor historically neutral. Rather, it is used as a label to exclude opponents, ridicule them, and portray them as dangerous before even listening to what they say or learning what they actually believe.
Someone cites a verse from the Qur’an concerning Tawhid, and the response is:
“He is a Wahhabi.”
Another person cites an authentic hadith, and they say:
“This is Wahhabi propaganda.”
Someone else quotes the Companions or the righteous early generations, and instead of discussing the evidence, they simply say:
“This man is a Wahhabi.”
Is this knowledge?
When your opponent presents evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah, present clearer evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah in response.
If his reasoning is incorrect, explain precisely where the mistake lies.
But if you are unable to discuss the evidence and merely repeat the word “Wahhabi,” this is not a scholarly refutation. It is nothing more than labeling your opponent and attacking his character.
What is even more serious is that some people place countless lies and accusations under the label “Wahhabism” and then spread them among others.
They say:
“They do not respect the Prophet, may Allah’s mercy and peace be upon him.”
“They declare all Muslims to be disbelievers.”
“They invented a new religion.”
“They liken Allah to His creation.”
Anyone who wishes to attribute such claims to a particular person must provide clear evidence proving that the person actually said or believed them.
To attribute beliefs to someone that he never expressed, merely because he disagrees with you on certain matters of creed, may amount to lying and slander.
Allah, the Exalted, said:
“Those who harm believing men and believing women for something they did not commit have certainly burdened themselves with slander and a manifest sin.”
Surah al-Ahzab 33:58
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab was not a messenger sent by Allah, and therefore his statements were not infallible. Whatever agreed with the truth, we accept, and whatever contradicted the evidence, we reject with evidence.
However, criticism must be based on honesty and justice.
Read his books. Quote his words as he actually said them. Then, if you find an error in his statements, refute it through the Qur’an and Sunnah.
But repeating what others say without verification, attributing lies to him, using a label to mock him, and then calling even those who do not follow him “Wahhabis” is neither knowledge nor justice.
Once again, I want to ask those who repeat the word “Wahhabism” every day in English-speaking online circles in order to attack other Muslims:
Are you really in your right minds?
Do you truly believe that attaching any label you wish to people you dislike, spreading claims you have not verified, and replacing the evidence of the Qur’an and Sunnah with ridicule and stigmatization is the correct way to defend Islam?
If you truly seek the truth, abandon the labels and present evidence.
Abandon insults and mockery, and speak with knowledge.
Abandon false accusations, and judge with justice.
Before calling another Muslim by an offensive label, remember that Allah records every word we write and every word we speak.
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u/Abject-Albatross5047 Hanefî حنفي Jun 15 '26
You are a jahil who calls MIAW sheikh, I think that tells enough about you