David Commins: evaluation

Transcript context

…If you were to define Wahhabism, pull it out of the Saudi context, but just theologically, what is distinct about it compared to other forms of Sunni Islam? It is a theological position on how you define belief. The teachings of the founder of this school of thought, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab — so it’s named after him — argued that it is not enough to affirm that you believe in one God. You must also actively negate any deviation from correct belief in God. Therefore, it has an activist impulse toward what it regards as heresy or unbelief. Whereas in the Sunni tradition, theology had evolved different schools of thought that were, I would say, mutually tolerant. They didn’t persecute each other for what they regarded as incorrect religious practice based on incorrect theology. It really is a theological conviction that was new in the history of Muslim societies and would probably have not made much of an impact had it not gained the support of the Saud family in the 1740s. Now, Mecca is open to all Muslims, right?…

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