'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I: Historical and Political Materials: Précis of Nejd Affairs, 1804-1904.' [‎5r] (9/68)

PRECIS OF NEJD AFFAIRS.
1804 — 1904 .
*L—Rise of the Wahabis under Abdul Wahab ante 1740.
The sect of Wshahis was founded by Abdul Wahab, and bis son, Mahomed
bin Abdul 'Wahab, in the early part of the 18th century, in the country of Nejd
in Arabia. Abdul Wahab was a native of Nejd. Like the prophet of Islam, he
beranlifeasa travelling merchant. In this capacity he visited Basrah and
Baghdad, and even journeyed through Persia. On his return to Nejd, he began
to promulgate his peculiar tenets, which did not involve the idea of a- Reforma-
tion like Protestantism, but rather a return to the primitive simplicity which
prevailed amongst the early followers of Islam, whilst the Prophet was still
alive.
2 Under such circumstances, the Wahabis were neither Sunnis nor Shiahs.
Both the latter sects sprung up after the
Neither Sunnis nor SKaht. death of Mahomet, and under circum
stances which involved a veneration for certain individuals as successors of
Mahomet; a veneration or adoration that is altogether opposed to the e ssence
of Wahabism, which forbids all invocations to any man whatever, whether
Saint or Prophet. The Sunnis pin their faith upon the three first Caliphs, Abu-
beker, Omar, and Othman, whom they considered to be the only true successors
of the Prophet. The Shiahs, who deny the right of the three first Caliphs to
succeed Mahomet, assert that Ali, the fourth Caliph, and husband of Maho-
met’s daughter Eatima, and Ali’s two sons, Hassan, and Hussein, were the imme
diate successors of the Prophet. The Sunnis invoke the four first Caliphs. The
Shiahs invoke Ali and his two sons. Besides thepe early Caliphs, both Sunnis
and Shiahs ofier up prayers to numbers of saints. Abdul Wahab, however,
was above all such considerations. He reverted to the first formula of Islam,--
«« There is but one God 1” He taught that God alone was the proper object of
worship and invocation; and that Mahomet, Jesus Christ, Moses, and others,
who were respected by the Sunnis as prophets, were, in reality, nothing more
than great men.
3 It will thus he seen that whilst the rise of the 'Wahabis is to he aseribed
to a date so late as the commencement of
the last century, the causes of that rise
may be referred to a very remote period.
Prom time immemorial there has been al
ways an opposition between the people of
Nejd, or the central table land of Arabia,
and the people of Hejaz on the coast of
the Bed Sea. The people of Nejd are
sober and austere, averse to all foreign
luxury and display, and tenaciously
attached to their ancestral usages. The
people of Hejaz on the sea^eoast are, on the other hand, light and volatile, dis
solute in their manners, and fond of ornament and magnificence. This opposi
tion between the people of the central highlands, and the livelier people on the
sea-coast, has been aggravated by political events. During the century which
preceded the advent of Mahomet, the men of Nejd had maintained a supremacy
in Arabia ; hut in consequence of the spread of Islam, this supremacy was ulti
mately transferred to the men of Hejaz. Again there was a rivalry of prophets.
When Mahomet began to preach in Hejaz, a rival prophet, named Moseilemah,
began to preach in Nejd. Mahomet, treated Moseilemah with scorn, and nick
named him “the Liar,” hut whenever a new chapter of the Koran was promul
gated by Mahomet, a burlesque imitation of it was promulgated by Moseilemah.
A collision between the followers of the rival prophets was consequently to be
expected; but the men of Hejaz were for a long period afraid to attack the men
of Nejd. It was only after the former had been disciplined by extended con
quest that they marched against Nejd. Then an obstinate battle ensued in
which Moseilemah was slain ; hut Riadb, the capital of Nejd and nat ive place of
* This and the 2nd Chapter are taken from the excellent introductory Chapter of Captain Talboys Wheeler a History
of the Wahabis.
the Bed Sea.
Central Begion
Eastern Begion
Early opposition between Nejd and Hejaz.
Important divisions.
Western Region on ( l.—Heja*, the cradle of Islam*
comprising Mecca and
Medina.
2.—Nejd. the central land now
occupied by the Wahab'8,
but sometimes stretching to
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
— Oman, under the Imam
of Maskat, between the Per
sian Gulf and the Indian
Ocean.
\
r