Wahhabiinfluenced

Wahhabiinfluenced is a descriptor used in scholarly, media, and policy contexts to indicate that a person, institution, movement, or form of religious practice has been shaped by Wahhabi doctrine or its organizational networks. The term derives from Wahhabism, a revivalist movement that emerged in the Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula in the 18th century under Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and gained political power through an alliance with the House of Saud.

Ideology and scope: Emphasis on tawhid (monotheism), rejection of practices considered innovations or idolatry, and a literalist interpretation of the Qur'an and Hadith. It has historically opposed certain Sufi customs, grave worship, and religious institutions it regards as corrupt or polytheistic. It advocates a puritanical approach to worship, dress, and public life, and supports a centralized, state-backed religious authority in its most influential settings.

Spread and influence: Through the Saudi state and later global networks, Wahhabiinfluenced ideas have reached mosques, schools, charitable organizations, and media in many Muslim-majority and minority contexts. In some regions, governments or reformist movements have adopted policies or practices consistent with Wahhabi-influenced interpretations; in others, the label is contested or used to describe broader Salafi currents rather than formal Wahhabism.

Criticism and nuance: The term is debated among scholars because "Wahhabi" can be pejorative or inaccurate for describing diverse groups; many adherents prefer to identify with Salafi or Muwahhidun labels. The scope of influence is varied and changes over time, reflecting political, social, and economic factors.

See also Wahhabism, Salafism, Saudi Arabia.