Wahhabism (Arabic: الوهابية, Wahabism, Wahabbism, Whahhabism) is an Islamic movement, named after Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (1703–1792). It is the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and recently Western Iraq. In Pakistan also, it has become dominant and Jama'at ud Da'wah is the leading organization inviting people to the purely Qur'an and Sunnah based approach.

The term "Wahhabi" (Wahhābīya) is rarely used by members of this group today, although the Saudis did sometimes use it in the past. The currently preferred term is "Salafism". From at least 1914, they usually called themselves the Ikhwan, the Brethren. The term Wahhabism was originally bestowed by their opponents.

The Wahhabis claim to hold to the way of the Salaf as-Salih, the "pious predecessors" as earlier propagated mainly by Ibn Taymiyya, his students Ibn Al Qayyim al-Jawziyya, and later by Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab and his followers.

Beliefs
Wahhabism accepts the Qur'an and hadith as fundamental texts, interpreted upon the understanding of the first three generations of Islam. It also accepts various commentaries including Ibn Abd al-Wahhab's book called Kitab al-Tawhid ("Book of Monotheism"), and the works of the earlier scholar Ibn Taymiyya (1263–1328).

Wahhabis differ from the orthodox traditionalist Sunnis in that they do not follow any specific madhhab (method or school of jurisprudence), but claim to interpret the words of the prophet Muhammad directly, using the four maddhabs for reference. However, they are often associated with the Hanbali maddhab. Wahhabi theology advocates a puritanical and legalistic stance in matters of faith and religious practice.

Wahhabis see their role as a movement to restore Islam from what they perceive to be innovations, superstitions, deviances, heresies and idolatries. There are many practices that they believe are contrary to Islam, such as:

Listening to music

Photographs or drawings of human beings or other living things which contain a soul, unless you are the King of the country, where your picture is allowed to be shown everywhere

Praying at tombs (praying at Mohammed's tomb, the prophet of Islam, is also considered shirk (polytheism))
Invoking any prophet, Sufi saint, or angel in prayer, other than God alone (Wahhabis believe these practices are polytheistic in nature)

Following or strictly adhering (taqlid) to one of the four madhabs of Islamic jurisprudence, "except for one who is under necessity and can not reach the Sunnah

Celebrating annual feasts for the Mohammed or Sufi saints (see mawlid and urs)

Wearing charms, and believing in their healing power

Innovation in matters of religion (e.g. new methods of worship) - Bid‘ah

It is as a result of these and several other beliefs that Wahhabis may brand people from Sunni sects, and particularly those of the Shia sect, as heretics. This has led many to associate Wahhabis with takfiris.

Modern spread of Wahhabism
In 1924 the Wahhabi al-Saud dynasty conquered Makkah and Madina, the Muslim holy cities. This gave them control of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage, and the opportunity to preach their version of Islam to the assembled pilgrims. However, Wahhabism was a minor current within Islam until the discovery of oil in Arabia, in 1938. Vast oil revenues gave an immense impetus to the spread of Wahhabism. Saudi laypeople, government officials and clerics have donated many tens of millions of US dollars to create religious schools, newspapers and outreach organizations.

Wahhabism spread into Oman during the 18th century where it played a role in the internal disputes and succession struggles of the country. Ultimately however, its influence lessened over time despite early success.

Wahhabism is also thought to have had a large impact in the Qatar peninsula. It caught on with many of the tribes of the penisula and was a motivating factor in the efforts of the Al Thani clan (the current ruling dynasty of Qatar) to resist attempted conquest by the Al Khalifa clan (the current ruling dynasty of Bahrain) who rejected Wahhabism. Wahhabism also set apart Qatar from the rest of the Persian Gulf States. This may have been part of the reason that Qatar did not join the United Arab Emirates as was suggested by the British at the time.

Salafism and Qutbism
Hassan al-Banna, the Egyptian founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, is said to have been influenced by the Wahhabis, but was a known Sufi. The Muslim Brotherhood also claimed to be purifying and restoring original Islam, but its goal wasn't to call to Tawheed (true Islamic Monotheism), but rather to amass Muslims of different beliefs into its group. When the Muslim Brotherhood was banned in various Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia gave refuge to Brotherhood exiles, who in turn influenced modern-day terrorists such as Osama bin Laden. This proved to be a horrible mistake later on, though, and Salafis in Saudi Arabia now reject the Muslim Brotherhood. Most Wahhabis, or Salafis, rejected what they call Qutbism, as a deviation from true Salafism.