What is the "Wahhabi Myth”?
In understanding the Wahhabi Myth, one must know the origins of the word “Wahhabi.” The term Wahhabi is used to identify the Muslims who are fanatics and follow the teachings of Qur’an and the prophet Muhammad in all of its religious aspect, verbatim. Ironically, instead of attacking the culture and teachings of Islam, it is the followers who believe in its teaching that are attacked and branded as Wahhabi. The more contemporary use of wahhabi is to define any Muslims who belongs to the Extreme or Qutbist type of political group or movement often associated with extremist Muslims and terrorist groups that calls for political revolution. The followers of terrorist groups that call for Jihad are based on principles that are not found on the teaching of Islam. Or that Islam’s teachings are used as guised for “holy war” which are indeed senseless acts of terrorism. In either sense, the term ‘Wahhabi’ is used in negative or derogatory manner.
In terms of the Wahhabi myth, the current trend on the war against terrorism is slowly becoming a fight against wahhabism. Unfortunately Arab terrorist groups like the al-Qaida have capitalized on this concept to further their message of a jihad. It is a mistake to refer to wahhabism as synonymous to terrorism. But since this is the case, extremist group was able appeal to the Muslim community throughout the word. The blinded Muslims are recruited with the misconception that their ‘jihad’ is for Allah. The fight against terrorism might soon be a fight against Muslims and Islamic teaching which is not actually true. The fight against terrorism is a war against senseless violence against innocent civilians.
