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The question

What is Wahhabism, and does the questioner exhibit its characteristics? Furthermore, what is the validity of what is said about it regarding its stringent fatwas, such as the prohibition of the Prophet's birthday, and its erroneous beliefs concerning creed, such as their saying that Allah sits upon the Throne, and their reliance on the fatwas of Ibn Baz, Ibn al-Qayyim, and Ibn Taymiyyah?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

We revere Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab for his efforts in supporting the Sunnah and combating polytheism, and we believe that our reverence for him and our conviction in the correctness of his views necessitate us being described as "Wahhabis." We also venerate Sheikh Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz and call for consulting his fatwas, which are based on evidence. We consider Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah a great renewer (mujaddid); Hafiz Ibn Hajar praised him, describing him as Sheikh al-Islam, affirming his knowledge, asceticism, and jihad, and that his imprisonment was due to matters of ijtihad, not disbelief (kufr). As for celebrating the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid), we believe it is an innovation (muhdath) and was not practiced by the righteous predecessors (salaf salih). Regarding the issue of istiwa' (God's 'ascending' or 'establishing Himself' over the Throne), we, along with the aforementioned shaykhs, affirm for Allah istiwa' over the Throne in a manner befitting His majesty, without resemblance (tashbih) or questioning of the how (kayfiyyah).

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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