Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab (1703–1792) was an influential Arabian religious scholar whose teachings gave rise to a reform movement that profoundly shaped the religious and political landscape of the modern Middle East. Born in Najd, in the Arabian Peninsula, he lived during a period when local religious practices, tribal rivalries, and fragmented political authority shaped much of Arabian life. Drawing upon the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the theological tradition of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, he called for a renewed emphasis on tawhid, the absolute oneness of God, and urged Muslims to abandon practices he considered incompatible with authentic Islamic monotheism.

This volume explores Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab’s religious ideas, reformist ambitions, and controversial legacy. His criticism of saint veneration, appeals for intercession, and certain popular devotional practices brought him into conflict with established religious authorities. His alliance with Muhammad ibn Saud in 1744 proved decisive, joining his religious programme with a political movement that eventually contributed to the emergence of the Saudi state. The expansion of this alliance transformed the Arabian Peninsula and influenced debates about Islamic theology, religious authority, and reform far beyond its borders.

Part of the Minds of the Muslim World series, this book examines Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab’s life and the historical circumstances surrounding his movement. By exploring both his stated objectives and the controversies surrounding his teachings, it offers readers a deeper understanding of a figure whose ideas continue to influence religious debates and political developments across the Muslim world.