'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Nejd [Najd] Affairs, 1804-1904' [‎1f] (14/72)

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PRECIS OF NEJD AFFAIRS.
1804—1904.
*1.—Eise of the Wahabis under Abdul Wahab ante 1740.
The sect of Wahabis was founded by Abdul Wahab, and his son, Mahomed
bin Abdul Wabab, in the early part of the 18th century, in the country of Nejd
in Arabia. Abdul Wahab was a native of Nejd. Like the prophet of Islam, he
began life as a travelling merchant. In this capacity he visited Basrah and
Baghdad, and even journeyed through Persia. On his return to Nejd, he began
to promulgate his peculiar tenets, which did not involve the idea of a Reforma
tion like Protestantism, but rather a return to the primitive simplicity which
prevailed amongst the early followers of Islam, whilst the Prophet was still
aJive.
2. Under such circumstances, tbeWahabis were neither Sunnis nor Shiahs.
. Both the latter sects sprung up after the
Neither Sunnu nor Sh%ahs, , x j i
death of Mahomet, and under circum
stances which involved a veneration for certain individuals as successors of
Mahomet; a veneration or adoration that is altogether opposed to the essence
of Wahabism, which forbids all invocations to any man whatever, whether
Saint or Prophet. The Sunnis pin their faith upon the three first Caliphs, Abu-
beker, Omar, and Othman, whom they considered to be the only true successors
of the Prophet. The Shiahs, who deny the risht of the three first Caliphs to
succeed Mahomet, assert that AH, the fourth Caliph, and husband of Maho
met's daughter Patima, and Ali's two sons, Hassan, and Hussein, were the imme
diate successors of the Prophet. The Sunnis invoke the four first Caliphs. The
Shiahs invoke Ali and his two sons. Besides these early Caliphs, both Sunnis 1
and Shiahs ofler up prayers to numbers of saints. Abdul Wahab, however,
was above all such considerations. He reverted to the first formula of Islam,—
" There is but one God l w He taught that God alone was the proper object of
worship and invocation; and that Mahomet, Jesus Christ, Moses, and others, [
who were respected by the Sunnis as prophets, were, in reality, nothing more
than great men.
3. It will thus be seen that whilst the rise of the "Wahabis is to be ascribed
... to a date so late as the commencenu nt of
Early opposition between Neid and Heiaz. . it . j ji * j.i i. •
J * T the last century, the causes of that rise
Important dtvtstons. i « i . i • t
Western Be S ion o 0 ( the cradle of i s w ma y be referred to a _ very rem ote period,
the Bed Sea. J comprising Mecca and Prom time immemorial there has been al-
C Medina. ways an opposition between the people of
_ . . — . ( 2 7cfapied% c Tht al wi n b 0 iZ Nejd, or the central table land of Arabia,
en ra egion ... < but som etim e t stretching to anc l file people of HejaZ OU the COast of
the Feman Gnif. the Bed Sea. The people of Nejd are
^ under tne Xmaiu « - . j n o •
Eastern Re ion \ of Mftskat ' between the Per- sober and austere, averse to all foreign
as em egwn ^ ^n^uuif and the Indian luxury and display, and tenaciously
attached to their ancestral usages. The
people of He'jaz on the sea^coast are, on the other band, light and volatile, dis
solute in their manners, and fond of ornament and magnificence. This opposi
tion between the people of the central highlands, and the livelier people on the
sea-coast, has been aggravated by political events. During the century which
preceded the advent of Mahomet, the men of Nejd had maintained a supremacy
in Arabia; but in consequence of the spread of Islam, this supremacy was ulti
mately transferred to the men of Hejaz. Again there was a rivalry of prophets.
When Mahomet began to preach in Hejaz, a rival prophet, named Mo«eilemah,
began to preach in Nejd. Mahomet, treated Moseilemah with scorn, and nick
named him " the Liar," but whenever a new chapter of the Koran was promul
gated by Mahomet, a burlesque imitation of it was promulgated by Moseilemah.
A collision between the followers of the rival prophets was consequently to be
expected; but the men of Hejaz were for a long period afraid to attack the men
of Nejd. It was only after the former had been disciplined by extended con
quest that they marched against Nejd. Then an obstinate battle ensued in
which Moseilemah was slain ; but Biadh, the capital of Nejd and native place of
* This and the 2nd Chapter are taken from the excellent introductory Chapter of Captain Talboys Wheeler 's History
«f the Wahabis.