Wahhabis: Media Has Not Portrayed Us Accurately

Wahhabi Scholars and Speakers Answer Accusations Made Against Wahhabism

Wahhabis are not mentioned in a fair light, because they do not organize themselves to counter claims that are made in the media, says the author of The 'Wahhabi Myth." Haneef James Oliver, a history major who has made an in-depth study of the past and contemporary Muslim sects, writes that the word Wahhabi in itself is a misnomer. Instead, states Oliver, Wahhabis term themselves Salafis, which he explains is an ascription to the way of the Salaf, an Arabic term which includes the Prophet of Islam and his disciples.

Osama bin Laden is neither a Wahhabi, nor is he liked by those who adhere to the way of Wahhabism or Salafism," states the author. To prove his point, Oliver quotes the major scholars of Saudi Arabia criticizing and warning against Bin Laden, as well as Bin Laden himself calling them an idol to be worshipped aside from God."

Adhering to Salafism himself, Oliver states that The 'Wahhabi Myth" is a reply to the many matters that he mentions are misrepresented in the media. Quoting from some of the most famous Saudi Salafi scholars, he states that it is his intention to show that the Salafi scholars of Saudi Arabia are completely against all acts of terrorism, such as hijacking planes and suicide bombings."

Those individuals inside and outside of Saudi Arabia who call to such acts," he continues, are followers of a revolutionary ideology brought about within the past century called Qutbism."

Oliver states that it is high time the media begin to make this distinction, especially since many members of the media have already identified that the intellectual drive behind al-Qaeda and other contemporary Muslim groups and movements is Sayyid Qutb, who was a Sufi from Egypt, not a Salafi from Saudi Arabia."

Furthermore, he maintains the media has already showed that the source for these ideologies of insurgency can be found in European revolutionary ideas propounded by the likes of Rousseau, Voltaire, Marx, Engels and Lenin: Its quite amazing," says Oliver. It keeps getting repeated that al-Qaeda are Wahhabis, when the media has already admitted that al-Qaeda and the revolutionary groups are all disciples of Sayyid Qutb, who was an Egyptian Sufi."

Major excerpts of the book have been posted at the authors' website.