RIYADH, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of
Islam and a nation where religion and government are deeply entwined and where
faith and identity are virtually identical.
But since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, religion in Saudi Arabia--especially the kingdom's rigidly conservative Wahhabism strain of Islam--has come under increasing criticism both inside and outside of the country, with some critics maintaining it contributes to extremism and terrorism.
Others, however, such as cleric Sheik Abded Muhsin al-Ubakyan, reject the criticism, arguing Saudis are simply following the true path of Islam as preached by the 18th century religious reformer Mohammed Abdel Wahhab.
"He came and found people worshipping idols, graves and trees," Ubakyan told the PBS program "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly." "`This is not Islam,' Abdel Wahhab came to say. `This is wrong,' and (he) returned people to the correct understanding of Islam."
Wahhab formed an alliance with local tribal leaders--the al Sauds--around the desert town of Dirayah. Out of that 18th century political and religious union, modern Saudi Arabia was born. The religious followers of Wahhab gave the ruling
family religious legitimacy, and in return the clerical establishment was given nearly free rein in determining Saudi social and religious policy.
The result is a very conservative interpretation of the Qur’an with religious police enforcing the country's strict social codes, including rigid gender separation at work as well as in restaurants, banks and other public establishments.
"In modern society, there is corruption that results from the mixing of men and women," Ubakyan said. "From desire comes adultery, illegitimate children, and sexual disease."
Wahhabism also decrees that Islam is the only recognized religion and non-Muslims are banned from public worship or evangelizing. Some Wahhabi clerics preach against tolerating other faiths, as well as
Muslim sects that don't share their interpretation of the Qur’an.
"Anyone who is not a Muslim is an infidel, no matter what religion he is," said Suleiman al Duwaish, a cleric and religious scholar.
"We also recognize the difference between which of these infidels deserve to be cursed and those who don't," he added. "God himself differentiated between Jews and Christians. While both being infidels, Christians are closer to Muslims than the Jews and less of an enemy than them as well."
Traditionally, it has been taboo to criticize the religious establishment, and most Saudis have enormous respect for their
spiritual leaders. But a series of deadly al-Qaida attacks in the last several years have begun to change both government and popular attitudes.
Some, like religious reformer Khaled al Ghannami, a former Wahhabi, believe that Wahhabism nurtures extremism.
Continued on page 2: The Saudi government tackles terrorist militancy. »
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