"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٠‎٥‎١] (١٧٨٢/١٢٠٦)

0
^ %
' mr l-
3 otitis to i,
iblicinaiiyu,,
1051
CHAPTER VII.
HISTORY OF NAJD OR CENTRAL ARABIA.*
Tlie Wahhabi movement.
The present eta o£ Central Arabian history began with the rise of
Wahhabism, by wlich the course of events in Najd has since been largely
determined. Conseqaently ; in dealing with the era^ it is necessary first of
all to enquire into thj origin of Wahhabism.
Concerning the famder of the Wahhabi sect, though he lived only The founder
a century and a half ago, and though general attention was early "Wahha-
drawn to his proceediigs by their political results, few authentic details
have been preserved aid the extant information is conflicting. It is agreed
that he came of the Bani Tamim, a solid agricultural tribe of Najd,
and 1691 is given as the year of his birth ; but the honour of having been
his birthplace is contested by the southern town of Hautah and the village
of "'Ayainah in "Wadi Hanifah. Even his name is doubtful; by some it
is said that he was called ' Abdul Wahhab, by others that this was his
patronymic, and diat he himself was Muhammad-bin-'A bdul Wahhab-bin-
Sulaiman. He studied abroad at Basrah, at Damascus, and perhaps
elsewhere; but finally he returned to his native country, where, about the
year 174)2, he began to expound and inculcate the doctrines which he had
evolved during his years of study. According to the account which
represents 'Ayainali as his native place, it was there that he began
his public mission and there that he met, after a time, with opposition
* The following are the principal authorities for the history of N ajd: Corancez
Histoire des Wahahis, 1810 ; Sadleir's Diary of a Journey across Arabia in 1819,
published 1866; Mengin's Histoire de VJEgypte sous le gouvernement de Mohammed
Aly, 1823 (not obtained by the present writer); Burckhardt's Materials for a
History of the Wahabys, 1831; Brydges' Brief History of the Wahauby, 1834;
Bombay Selections XXIV, The Persian Gulf, 1856; Palgrave's Narrative of a
Years Journey through Central and Ulastern Arabia, 1862-63, published in 1865;
Colonel L, Felly's Report on a Journey to thfWahabee Capital of Riyadh, 1866 ;
Colonel E. Ross's Memoir on Jtiejd, in the Persian Gulf Admiliistration Report for
1879-80 ; Mr. 0. M. Doughty's Travels in Arabia Deserta, 1888 ; Baron E. Nolde'a
Reise nach Innerarabien, 1895 ; and Mr. J. A. Saldanha's Prdcis of Nejd Affairs,
1804-1904, printed in 1904. The writings of Mr. C. Huber also contain some historical
informatioa regarding Najd.