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The Hanbali and Wahhabi Schools of Thought as Observed Through the Case of Ziyarah

Zargar, Cameron

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures.
The Hanbali madhhab (school of jurisprudence) underwent great changes due to the influence of two major scholars who challenged the system of taqlid (adhering to the views of a certain scholar or school of thought), Ahmad Taqi al-din Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 1327/8 C.E.) and Muhammad Ibn `Abdi'l-Wahhab (d. 1791/2 C.E.). Both would emphasize a return to the Qur'an and sunnah (the words and deeds, or, exemplary model) of the Prophet of Islam in the form of an anti-madhhab stance that can clearly be observed in rulings that pertain to ziyarah (visiting graves). However, despite his opposition to taqlid, Ibn `Abdi'l-Wahhab was clearly influenced by the opinions of Ibn Taymiyyah. Similarly, Ibn `Abdi'l-Wahhab's views would be echoed by later jurists who came to be known as the "Wahhabis." In this way, one might argue that initial opposition to taqlid ultimately led to further taqlid and what can be classified as a new madhhab. In order to demonstrate the changing views concerning ziyarah in the Hanbali madhhab, I will examine the major works of Hanbali jurists before and after Ibn Taymiyyah. It will be shown that matters that Wahhabi jurists consider to be prohibited (such as kissing or wiping the graves of righteous figures) or even heretical (like seeking forgiveness or intercession from the deceased) were not viewed as such before Ibn Taymiyyah. Rather, Ibn Taymiyyah's views gradually gained legitimacy in the Hanbali madhhab until they were formally propagated by Ibn `Abdi'l-Wahhab and the Saudi state. But Ibn `Abdi'l-Wahhab caused a further break in the Hanbali madhhab due to his opinion that a large number of Muslims had apostatized. His views gained legitimacy by means of their implementation in Arabia. What would eventually emerge was a group of scholars who employed the same methodologies and proofs as Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn `Abdi'l-Wahhab while simultaneously insisting that they were not a new madhhab, but rather, the true followers of the path of the earliest generations of Muslims, or, the salaf. In the following pages, I will address the opinions concerning ziyarah of Hanbalis and Wahhabis and ask whether the trends observed necessitate that Wahhabism be classified as a new madhhab.
Nada Moumtaz, Dr. (Advisor)
Sabra Webber, Dr. (Committee Member)
89 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zargar, C. (2014). The Hanbali and Wahhabi Schools of Thought as Observed Through the Case of Ziyarah [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1398829915

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zargar, Cameron. The Hanbali and Wahhabi Schools of Thought as Observed Through the Case of Ziyarah. 2014. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1398829915.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zargar, Cameron. "The Hanbali and Wahhabi Schools of Thought as Observed Through the Case of Ziyarah." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1398829915

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)