Is Wahhabism a fifth school of thought or does it follow some of the four schools of thought?

 

The answer: This term is often used by many people to refer to the call of Sheikh Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab bin Suleiman Al-Tamimi Al-Hanbali, may Allah have mercy on him. They call him and his followers “Wahhabis.” It is known to anyone with the slightest insight into the movement and call of Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, may Allah have mercy on him, that he promoted the pure monotheism and warned against all forms of polytheism, such as attachment to the dead, trees, stones, and the like. In terms of creed, he followed the methodology of the righteous predecessors, and in jurisprudence, he followed the school of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal Al-Shaybani, may Allah have mercy on him, as evidenced by his books, fatwas, and the writings of his followers, including his sons, grandsons, and others. All of these have been printed and distributed among people.

Imam Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, emerged at a time when Islam was in a state of alienation, and ignorance had spread over the Arabian Peninsula and beyond, except for what Allah willed. Idol worship and the worship of false gods had become widespread. Sheikh Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, rolled up his sleeves, struggled, and dedicated his efforts to eliminating the paths of misguidance, using various means to spread pure monotheism free from superstitions among the people. By the grace of Allah, Imam Muhammad bin Saud, the Emir of Diriyah at that time, accepted this call and supported it along with his sons, those under his command, and those who followed him in this good cause. May Allah reward them all with the best, forgive them, and guide all their descendants to what pleases Him and benefits His servants.

The regions of the Arabian Peninsula continue to live under the influence of this blessed call to this day. His call, may Allah have mercy on him, was in accordance with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. Wahhabism is not a fifth school of thought as claimed by the ignorant and the malicious, but rather it is a call to the Salafi creed and a renewal of the forgotten aspects of Islam and monotheism in the Arabian Peninsula as mentioned earlier.