The word “wahabi”

I have often come across those wahabis on internet who ask:”who are Wahabis’? Or What does that term mean? It acts as litums test to confirm that most of the people asking this question are real Wahabis.

I have also met those Wahabis who deny that nothing like”Wahabism” exist. And a few among them say that this term was coined by the British and muslims should not use it!

The truth of the matter is that the term Wahabis was used by many Islamic scholars. The Ahlus sunnah scholars like Shaykh Dahlan (rh) wrote books like Fitnatul Wahabiya. When Ibn Abdul Wahab Najdi started his adventure of killing sunni muslims , many scholars of the Indian subcontinent refuted his belief. In fact one of the earliest book refuting Ibn Abdul Wahab Najdi was published from India. History is witness that many sunni scholars wrote books refuting ‘Wahabism’ and many book titles contain this word’ Wahabism/ wahabiyyah ‘etc.

The general population of Indian Subcontient started using this term for those who showed dis respect to prophet, were againt Mawild , those who propogated LA MADHABI view , those who were against the life of prophet in grave etc. Only in the recent years the general population of the indian subcontinet has come to know the wahabi Mujassima belief.

If we look at those books which were written during the rise and spread of wahabism in India , we find that normal population was very much using this word’Wahabis”. So we find a question in Fatawa Rashidiya” Who are Wahabis” and what are their beleif? Also in Ahlus sunnah books like Fatawa ridhwiyah we have many questions dealing with Wahabis/ Najdis.

The Wahabis were looked down by the sunni population of the subcontinent and till present time this word is used for those who show dis respect to prophet. In As shabus Thaqib , Mawlana Hussein Tandvee writes that” Wahabis consider A STICK TO BE MORE BENIFICIAL than prophet and they say” what can prophet do to us?

Over the period of time , when Wahabi fitnah was clear , every one started hating wahabis. The Wahabis realised that this term has become very common and it is used in a dis respectful way . So the Indian Wahabi scholar , Mawlana Batalvee wrote a letter to the Britih Colonial power that , this word Wahabi should not be used in official usage and the term” Ahle hadith’ should be used.

This request was accepted officialy by the British government. But it is of no use! The whole sunni population uses this word” WAHABIS” , reminding them that they are the true followers of Ibn Abdul Wahab al Najdi al Tamimi.

Here is the historical letter which was written by the Wahabis to the British government. Insha Allah , more scans from the Books of Indian Wahabi scholars will be provided later to show their belief.