Editing Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (section)

== Rise of Emirate of Dir'iyyah ==
{{Main|Emirate of Diriyah}}
{{Further|Demolition of al-Baqi|Wahhabi sack of Karbala|Wahhabi War}}
[[File:First Saudi State Big.png|thumb|right|200px|[[Emirate of Diriyah]], the first Saudi state (1727–1818)]]

The 1745 pact between Muhammad ibn Saud and Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhab marked the rise of the [[First Saudi State|First Saudi state]], the Emirate of Diriyah, which was established in 1727. By offering the [[House of Saud|Al-Saud]] a clearly defined religious mission, the alliance provided the ideological impetus to Saudi expansion.<ref name="Met92"/> Deducing from his bitter experiences in 'Uyaynah, Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab had understood the necessity of political backing from a strong [[Islamic state|Islamic political entity]] to transform the local socio-religious status quo and also safeguard Wahhabism's territorial base from external pressure. After consolidating his position in Diriyah, he wrote to the rulers and clerics of other towns; appealing them to embrace his doctrines. While some heeded his calls, others rejected it; accusing him of ignorance or sorcery.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Crawford|first=Michael|title=Makers of the Muslim World: Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab|publisher=One World Publications|year=2014|isbn=978-1-78074-589-3|location=London|page=44}}</ref>

=== War with Riyadh (1746–1773) ===
{{See also|Riyadh}}
Realising the significance of efficient religious preaching (''[[Dawah|da'wa]]''), Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab called upon his students to master the path of reasoning and proselytising over warfare to convince other Muslims of their [[Islah|reformist]] endeavour.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Romero|first=Juan|title=Terrorism: The Power and Weakness of Fear|publisher=Routledge|year=2022|isbn=978-1-032-19806-4|location=Abingdon, Oxon |pages=243, 251|chapter=|doi=10.4324/9781003260943}}</ref> Between 1744 and 1746, Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab's preaching continued in the same non-violent manner as before and spread widely across the people of [[Najd]]. Rulers of various towns across Najd pledged their allegiance to Ibn Suʿūd. This situation changed drastically around 1158/1746; when the powerful anti-Wahhabi chieftain of [[Riyadh]], Dahhām ibn Dawwās (fl. 1187/1773), attacked the town of [[Manfuhah|Manfuha]] which had pledged allegiance to [[Emirate of Diriyah|Diriyah]]. This would spark a nearly 30-year long between [[Diriyah]] and Riyadh, which lasted until 1187/1773, barring some interruptions.<ref>{{Cite book|last=M. Bunzel|first=Cole|title=Manifest Enmity: The Origins, Development, and Persistence of Classical Wahhabism (1153-1351/1741-1932)|publisher=Princeton University|year=2018|location=Princeton, New Jersey, USA|pages=243–244}}</ref> First conquering Najd, Muhammad ibn Saud's forces expanded the Wahhabi influence to most of the present-day territory of [[Saudi Arabia]],<ref name="Met92" /> eradicating various popular practices they viewed as akin to polytheism and propagating the doctrines of ʿAbd al-Wahhab.<ref name="Met92" /><ref>[[#EBOHis|EBO ''History of Arabia'' 2011]]</ref>

Muhammad Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb maintained that the military campaigns of the [[Emirate of Diriyah|Emirate of Dirʿiyya]] were strictly defensive and rebuked his opponents as being the first to initiate ''[[Takfir]]'' (excommunication).<ref>{{Cite book|last=M. Bunzel|first=Cole|title=Manifest Enmity: The Origins, Development, and Persistence of Classical Wahhabism (1153-1351/1741-1932)|publisher=Princeton University|year=2018|location=Princeton, New Jersey, USA|page=244}}</ref> Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab had defined [[jihad]] as an activity that must have a valid religious justification and which can only be declared by an ''[[Imam]]'' whose purpose must be strictly defensive in nature.<ref>{{Cite book|last=J. Delong-Bas|first=Natana|title=Wahhabi Islam:From Revival and Reform to Global Jihad|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2004|isbn=0-19-516991-3|location=New York|pages=202–203|quote="Ibn Abd al-Wahhab described jihad as an activity that must always have a religious justification and can only be declared by the religious leader (imam) and whose intent and purpose must be strictly defensive in nature."}}</ref> Justifying the Wahhabi military campaigns as defensive operations against their enemies, Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab asserts:<blockquote>"As for warfare, until today, we did not fight anyone, except in defense of our lives and honor. They came to us in our area and did not spare any effort in fighting us. We only initiated fighting against some of them in retaliation for their continued aggression, [The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof] (42:40)... they are the ones who started declaring us to be unbelievers and fighting us"<ref>{{Cite book|last=M. Bunzel|first=Cole|title=Manifest Enmity: The Origins, Development, and Persistence of Classical Wahhabism (1153-1351/1741-1932)|publisher=Princeton University|year=2018|location=Princeton, New Jersey, USA|page=244}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Abu alrub|first=Jalal|title=Biography and Mission of Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab: Second Edition|publisher=Madinah Punlishers and Distributors|year=2013|isbn=978-0-9856326-9-4|editor-last=Mencke|editor-first=Alaa|pages=267, 276}}</ref></blockquote>

==== Rebellion in Huraymila (1752–1755) ====
In 1753–4, the Wahhabis were confronted by an alarming number of towns renouncing allegiance and aligning with their opponents. Most prominent amongst these was the town of [[Huraymila]], which had pledged allegiance to Dir'iyah in 1747. However, by 1752, a group of rebels encouraged by Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb's brother, [[Sulayman ibn Abd al-Wahhab|Sulaymān]], had initiated a coup in Huraymila and installed a new ruler that threatened to topple the Wahhābī order. A fierce war between Diriyah and Huraymila began in a magnitude that was unprecedented. Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab held a convocation of Wahhabis from all the settlements across Najd. Reviewing the recent desertions and defeats, he encouraged them to hold fast to their faith and recommit to the struggle.<ref>{{Cite book|last=M. Bunzel|first=Cole|title=Manifest Enmity: The Origins, Development, and Persistence of Classical Wahhabism (1153-1351/1741-1932)|publisher=Princeton University|year=2018|location=Princeton, New Jersey, USA|page=247}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Crawford|first=Michael|title=Makers of the Muslim World: Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab|publisher=One World Publications|year=2014|isbn=978-1-78074-589-3|location=London|page=47}}</ref>

The ensuing battles and the re-capture of Huraymila in 1168/1755, constituted a significant development in Wahhabi expansionist stage. [[Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud|Abd al-Azeez]], the son of [[Muhammad bin Saud Al Muqrin|Muhammad ibn Saud]], had emerged as the principal leader of the Wahhabi military operations. Alongside a force of 800 men, accompanied by an additional 200 under the command of the deposed ruler of Huraymila, Abd al Azeez was able to subdue the rebels. More significantly, the rationale behind the campaign was based on Ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb's newly written epistle ''Mufīd al-mustafīd'', which marked a shift from the earlier posture of defensive [[Jihad]] to justify a more aggressive one. In the treatise, compiled to justify Jihad pursued by [[Emirate of Diriyah|Dir'iyyah]] and its allies, Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab excommunicated the inhabitants of Huraymila and declared it as a duty of Wahhabi soldiers to fight them as apostates. He also quoted several ''[[Quran|Qur'anic]]'' verses indicative of offensive forms of jihād.<ref>{{Cite book|last=M. Bunzel|first=Cole|title=Manifest Enmity: The Origins, Development, and Persistence of Classical Wahhabism (1153-1351/1741-1932)|publisher=Princeton University|year=2018|location=Princeton, New Jersey, USA|pages=247–249}}</ref>

=== Capture of Riyadh and Retirement (1773) ===
The last point of serious threat to the Saudi state was in 1764-1765. During this period, the [[Isma'ilism|Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa]] of [[Najran|Najrān]] alongside their allied tribe of [[Ajman (tribe)|'Ujman]], combined forces to inflict a major defeat on the Saudis at the Battle of Hair in October 1764, killing around 500 men. The anti-Wahhabi forces allied with the invaders and participated in the combined siege of Dirʿiyya. However, the defenders were able to hold onto their town due to the unexpected departure of the Najranis after a truce concluded with the Saudis. A decade later in 1773-'4, 'Abd al-Azeez had conquered [[Riyadh]] and secured the entirety of al-ʿĀriḍ, after its chieftain Dahham ibn Dawwas fled. By 1776/7, [[Sulayman ibn Abd al-Wahhab]] had surrendered. The capture of Riyadh marked the point at which Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab delegated all affairs of governing to [[Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al Saud|'Abd al-Azeez]], withdrew from public life and devoted himself to teaching, preaching and worshipping. Meanwhile, 'Abd al-Azeez would proceed with his military campaigns,  conquering towns like [[Sudair|Sudayr]] (1196/1781), [[al-Kharj]] (1199/1784), etc. Opposition in towns to the North like [[Al-Qassim Province|al-Qaṣīm]] was stamped out by 1196/1781, and the rebels in [[Unaizah|ʿUnayza]] were subdued by 1202/1787. Further north, the town of [[Ḥaʼil|Ḥāʾil]], was captured in 1201/1786 and by the 1780s; Wahhābīs were able to establish their jurisdiction over most of [[Najd]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=M. Bunzel|first=Cole|title=Manifest Enmity: The Origins, Development, and Persistence of Classical Wahhabism (1153-1351/1741-1932)|publisher=Princeton University|year=2018|location=Princeton, New Jersey, USA|pages=249–250}}</ref><ref name="Crawford 2014 47–48">{{Cite book|last=Crawford|first=Michael|title=Makers of the Muslim World: Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab|publisher=One World Publications|year=2014|isbn=978-1-78074-589-3|location=London|pages=47–48}}</ref><ref name="Abu alrub 2013 92">{{Cite book|last=Abu alrub|first=Jalal|title=Biography and Mission of Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab: Second Edition|publisher=Madinah Punlishers and Distributors|year=2013|isbn=978-0-9856326-9-4|editor-last=Mencke|editor-first=Alaa|page=92}}</ref>