Sufi Teacher and Influencer of Ibn Abd al-Wahhab

 

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الصلاة والسلام عليك يا سيدى يا رسول الله

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

The eponymous founder of Wahhabism was Muhammad bin Abd ul-Wahhab of the Najd (1703-1792). Virtually all Wahhabis today are contemptuous of Sufism, branding it a heretical innovation and one of the leading causes of “grave worship” in the Ummah. Yet these Wahhabis are either ignorant of or conveniently ignore the fact that Ibn Abd ul-Wahhab was a student of a Naqshbandi Sufi teacher, Muhammad Hayat al-Sindi (d.1750), “Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab came to Madina as a relatively young scholar and studied under Muhammad Hayya al-Sindi” (Voll, John. Muhammad Hayya al-Sindi and Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab: An Analysis of an Intellectual Group in Eighteenth-Century Madina. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, v.38, no.1, 1975, p.32). As his attribution suggests, Muhammad Hayat al-Sindi was originally from Sindh, in modern-day Pakistan, born in the town of Ghotki, but migrated to and became a permanent resident of Medina. The influence that the Naqshbandi Muhammad Hayat al-Sindi had on Ibn Abd ul-Wahhab was incredibly consequential to the rise of Wahhabism, “Scholars have described Muhammad Hayya as having an important influence on Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, encouraging him in his developing determination to denounce rigid imitation of medieval commentaries and to utilize informed individual analysis (ijtihad). Muhammad Hayya also taught Ibn Abd al-Wahhab a rejection of popular religious practices associated with ‘saints’ and their tombs that is similar to later Wahhabi teachings.” (ibid)

The Saudi and Wahhabi historian, Uthman bin Abdullah bin Bishr (1795-1873) mentions an anecdote which demonstrates how it was Muhammad Hayat al-Sindi who introduced the main idea to Ibn Abd ul-Wahhab which would come to animate his movement and ideology known as Wahhabism:

وحكى ان الشيخ محمد وقف يوما عند الحجرة النبوية عند اناس يدعون ويستغيثون عند قبر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فرآه محمد حياة فأتى الى الشيخ وقال ما تقول قال ان هؤلاء متبرا ما هم فيه وباطل ما كانوا يعملون

It was narrated that Shaykh Muhammad [bin Abd ul-Wahhab] stood one day at the Prophet’s Chamber, with some people praying and calling for help at the grave of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Muhammad Hayat saw him and went to the Shaykh who said, “What do you say?” He [Muhammad Hayat] said, “Indeed, as to these, surely destroyed is what they are engaged in, and vain is what they do” (Unwan ul-Majd fi Tarikh Najd, v.1, p.36)

Muhammad Hayat al-Sindi alluded to the Ayah of the Quran that describes the idol worshipping, pagan nations regarding whom the rebellious Israelites said to Moses to make a god for them like their gods:

اِنَّ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ مُتَبَّرٌ مَّا ہُمۡ فِیۡہِ وَبٰطِلٌ مَّا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ

As to these, surely destroyed is what they are engaged in, and vain is what they do

(Surah 7:139)

One can clearly discern the Kharijite tendency of Muhammad Hayat al-Sindi, which was eventually taken further by his student Ibn Abd ul-Wahhab. Applying an Ayah of the Quran concerning the idol-worshippers to the masses of ordinary Muslims, in this case those praying to Allah at the tomb of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, and seeking the Prophet’s intercession, is classical Kharijite methodology. The eminent Sahabi, Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said about the Khawarij:

إِنَّهُمُ انْطَلَقُوا إِلَى آيَاتٍ نَزَلَتْ فِي الكُفَّارِ فَجَعَلُوهَا عَلَى المُؤْمِنِينَ

They apply the Verses revealed about the unbelievers upon the Believers (Sahih al-Bukhari)

Muhammad Hayat al-Sindi was initiated into the Naqshbandi path by one Abd ul-Rahman al-Saqqaf as mentioned by al-Jabarti:

وممن أخذ عليه بها الطريقة الشيخ ‌محمد ‌حياة السندي

(Ajaib ul-Athar, p.134)

Muhammat Hayat al-Sindi was linked to the famous Ibrahim al-Kurani (1650-1690) through the latter’s son, Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Kurani. Ibrahim al-Kurani, in turn, was the disciple of Ahmad al-Qushashi (1583-1661), a Sufi of the Shattari path, who in turn was the disciple of Ahmad al-Shinnawi (1568-1619), another Shattari Sufi teacher and guide.