Arabia of the Wahhabis By St. John Philby
This is a book I had been intending to read for quite some time now. I am finding it utterly fascinating. St. John Philby (Later known as Shaikh Abdullah after his conversion to Wahhabism) is the British agent most directly responsible for advising Ibn Saud and his army of Ikwan raiders in WWI era Arabia. It would not be irrational to propose that without Philby’s guidance and strategic input (as well as his direction as to exactly how far Ibn Saud could invade without incurring the wrath of the British), modern day Saudi Arabia would simply not exist. It is very interesting to read a first hand account of how the camel raiding Wahhabi desert chief, who scarcely understood the concept of a spherical earth, would come to found one of the most influential nations in the world—not least in the Muslim World.
It is also interesting to read Ibn Saud’s view on other Muslims, as it reveals a lot about Wahhabi attitudes towards the general Muslim population.
He then seized the opportunity of launching out into one of his favourite themes—the comparative merits of Christians and non-Wahhabi Muslims, lumped together in the category of Mushrikin. ' Why ! ' he said, ' if you English were to offer me of your daughters to wife I would accept her, making only the condition that any children resulting from the marriage should be Muslims. But I would not take of the daughters of the Sharif or of the people of Mecca or other Muslims, whom we reckon as Mushrikin. I would eat of meat slain by the Christians without question. Ay, but it is the Mushrik, he who associates others in worship with God, that is our abomination.
It also exposes a lot about the role of jihadi ideology in the formation of Saudi Arabia—a fact that we have not escaped even in this modern era. Here’s Ibn Saud on the idea of directing his forces to raid Makkah and Madinah:
but you should know I have but to give the word and a great host would flock to my banner from all parts—from Bisha and Najran, from Ranya and Tathlith and elsewhere. And not one of them but is convinced that death is better than life, not one but lives to die for the great reward, and every one of them convinced that to turn back or hesitate is but to court the certainty of hell-fire.
Topic: What book are you reading?