Shaykh Ibn `Abdul­Wahhab then moved to Iraq to seek knowledge. He went to Basra and studied with its scholars as much as he could. He started his Da`wah there and called the people to follow Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah) and hold fast to the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet). He announced that it was the duty of every Muslim to practice Islam strictly in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah. He engaged in debates and discussions with scholars concerning this issue. One of his famous shaykhs was Shaykh Muhammad Al­Majmu`y. However, some unscrupulous scholars in Basra rebelled against him and he along with his Shaykh were harmed as a result. Consequently, he left Basra with the intention to head for the Levant (the region covering Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine), but he was unable to go there, due to lack of finance. He, thus, left Basra to Al­Zubayr, then moved from Al­Zubayr to Al­Ahsa' where he met its scholars and discussed some of the principles of Islam. He finally moved to Huraymila' in the 1140s A.H. (Allah knows best). He chose that city because his father was the judge of Al­`Uyaynah and when a dispute arose between him and its ruler, he moved to Huraymila'

in 1139 A.H. Shaykh Ibn `Abdul­Wahhab, thus, went to his father in Huraymila' in 1140 AH, or shortly thereafter. He settled there and was busy with his studies, teaching and propagating until his father died in 1153 A.H. After this, he faced much suffering at the hands of some people of Huraymila' who even attempted to kill him. It was said that some of them tried to get to him by climbing the wall leading to his home, but they became frightened and escaped when some people saw them. As a result, the Shaykh (may Allah be merciful with him) moved to Al­`Uyaynah.

The reason for the people's anger at him was his attempts to enjoin the good and forbid the evil. He even urged the rulers to inflict Ta`zir (discretionary punishment) on criminals who used to rob and harm people. When those wicked people, who were known as 'bondsmen', learned that the Shaykh was against them and their deeds and that he was urging rulers to punish them and curb their evils, they became enraged and tried to kill him, but Allah saved him. The Shaykh, thus, moved to Al­`Uyaynah which was governed at the time by `Uthman ibn Nasir ibn Ma`mar, who welcomed the Shaykh with hospitality and promised him total support and help in his Da`wah.

The Shaykh worked in teaching, guidance, and Da`wah. He continued calling people to do good and love each other for the Sake of Allah. He, consequently, became famous in Al­`Uyaynah and attracted people from neighboring villages. One day, the Shaykh said to Prince `Uthman, "Let us destroy the dome built on the grave of Zayd ibn Al­Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), for it was built without guidance and Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) is not pleased with such deeds. Also, the Messenger (peace be upon him) has forbade building domes or Masjids (mosques) on graves. This dome has been a source of Fitnah (temptation) for the people, as it has affected their `Aqidah (creed) and led them to committing Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship). Therefore, it must be destroyed." The Prince said, "I have no objection to what you are saying." The Shaykh said, "But I fear that the people of Al­Jubaylah may revolt against us." Al­ Jubaylah was a village near the grave. `Uthman marched with an army of 600 soldiers to destroy the dome; and the Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him) accompanied them. As soon as they approached the dome, the people

of Al­Jubaylah went out to defend it, but when they saw Prince `Uthman with his army, they refrained. The Shaykh destroyed the dome with his hands and Allah's help. Let us briefly describe the prevailing conditions in Najd before the call of the Shaykh (may Allah be merciful with him) and about the reasons for it. The people of Najd before the call of the Shaykh lived in conditions that could not be approved of by any believer. Major Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) spread widely, and the people worshiped domes, trees, rocks, caves, or those who claimed to be Awliya' (pious people) even if they were insane and mindless. Also, sorcery and soothsaying prevailed in Najd. The people used to ask practitioners of these evils for help and believed them. No one expressed any disapproval of these deeds except those whom Allah willed. The people were only preoccupied with fulfilling their worldly concerns and desires. Only a few people would observe optional night Prayers or support Islam. The same conditions prevailed in Al­Haramayn A l­Sharifayn (the Two Sacred Mosques: the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah) and in Yemen where committing Shirk, building domes on the graves, and supplicating to the Awliya' and seeking their help became widespread. Thus, conditions were no different either in Yemen or in Najd where the people worshiped graves, caves, trees, and madmen. Supplicate to the jinn (creatures created from fire) became common in Najd. The people used to seek their help, offer them sacrificial animals, and place idols in their homes hoping for their help and fearing their harm. When the Shaykh saw that Shirk was dominating the people and that no one disapproved of it and was ready to call the people back to Allah, he decided to work singlehandedly and patiently in this field. He knew that nothing could be achieved without struggle, patience, and suffering. He, thus, exerted much effort in teaching, guiding, and instructing the people in Al­`Uyaynah. He wrote to many scholars requesting their support and struggled against acts of Shirk and superstitions. Many of the scholars of Najd, A l­Haramayn, Yemen and other places, responded and sent him letters of support. However, there were other scholars who disagreed with him, dispraised his call, and condemned and shunned him. Those who disagreed with him were of two types. One group consisted of the ignorant people,

who knew nothing about Islam and Tawhid and followed falsehood, Shirk, Bid`ah (innovation in Islam), superstitions, etc., which their forefathers had upheld. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says about them: We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we guide ourselves by their footsteps.

The second group, on the other hand, were knowledgeable but responded negatively to the Shaykh due to envy and stubbornness. They were afraid that the people would question their integrity, and might ask why they remained silent without warning people against such evils until Ibn `Abdul­Wahhab appeared and manifested Al­Haqq although they were scholars and did not object to this falsehood. They, thus, envied him and were embarrassed. They were obstinate regarding Al­Haqq and preferred this world to the Hereafter, like the Jews. We ask Allah to grant us safety!

The Shaykh carried on patiently and did his best in Da`wah. He received encouragement from scholars and influential persons inside and outside the Arabian Peninsula. He sought the help of his Lord (Glorified and Exalted be He). He had already started to study the Qur'an, and was skilled in Tafsir (exegesis of the meanings of the Qur'an) and deducing meanings from the Qur'an. He also worked hard in studying the Prophet's biography and that of his Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet). He embarked on his studies until he deduced what helped him stand firm in his Da`wah. He was determined to spread his Da`wah among the people and wrote to rulers and scholars requesting their help, without fearing the consequences of his actions. Allah fulfilled his good hopes, granted him success in spreading the Da`wah, made him a supporter of Al­ Haqq, and favored him with followers and helpers. Consequently, true Islam prevailed and the word of Allah became uppermost. The Shaykh persevered in his Da`wah in Al­`Uyaynah and went on teaching and guiding the people to Islam. He struggled to remove any traces of Shirk. However, when he saw that his Da`wah was not sufficiently effective, he decided to physically remove Shirk as much as he could. He told Prince `Uthman ibn Ma`mar that the dome at the grave of Zayd had to be destroyed. Zayd ibn Al­Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was the brother of `Umar ibn Al­Khattab, Amir Al­Mu'minin (Commander of the Believers) ­ may Allah be pleased with all of them.

He fell as a martyr in the fighting against Musaylimah Al­Kadhab in 12 A.H. He was buried there and people built a dome over his grave. It may be the grave of another person, but it is said that it is his grave. `Uthman agreed and the dome was destroyed. Praise is due to Allah that the dome was destroyed and none of its traces has remained up till now. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) ensured that it was never rebuilt because it was destroyed out of sincere intention with the objective of supporting Al­Haqq. There were other graves, one of which was said to be the grave of Dirar ibn Al­Azwar, over which there was a dome that was also destroyed. Similarly, other symbols of Shirk in addition to caves and trees, which people worshiped other than Allah, were all destroyed and people were warned against this evil practice. The Shaykh (may Allah be merciful with him) continued in his Da`wah through words and actions. One day, a woman came to him and confessed that she had committed Zina (adultery) several times. After realizing that she was sane, married, and had confessed without any external compulsion, he gave the order that she should be stoned as a punishment, as he was Judge of Al­`Uyaynah at the time. He became famous for destroying the dome of Zayd, stoning the adulterous woman, calling to Allah, and attracting people to Al­ `Uyaynah.

Meanwhile, the Prince of Al­Ahsa' and its surrounding areas ­ who belonged to the tribe of Khalid Sulayman ibn `Uray`ir Al­Khalidy ­ heard about the Shaykh and his Da`wah and about the news of destroying domes and carrying out Hudud (ordained punishments for violating Allah's Law). He became concerned, because robbery, murder, and violating sanctities were common among Bedouins, except those whom Allah had guided. He, thus, feared that the Shaykh would attain an even higher position and remove his power. He wrote to Prince `Uthman threatening him and ordering him to kill the Shaykh in Al­`Uyaynah. He wrote in the letter, "We have heard that this person, who is living under your rule, does such and such. Either you kill him, or we will stop paying the Khiraj (tribute) which we are bound by promise to give you." He was to give Prince `Uthman a Khiraj of gold. `Uthman felt worried and feared that the Prince of Al­Ahsa' might not give him the Khiraj or fight him if he disobeyed his orders. He, thus, said to the Shaykh, "This prince sent me a letter to do such and such.

We would never wish to kill you, but we are afraid of the prince and cannot stand against him; so please leave." The Shaykh said, "I am simply calling the people to Islam and to the fulfillment of the Testimony of Faith that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Whoever holds fast to Islam and upholds it truthfully, Allah will help him and make him the ruler of his enemies' lands. Hence, if you endure, keep righteous, and accept this good, then rejoice, for Allah will help and protect you from this prince and others. Allah will also give you power over his land and his tribe." The Prince said, "O Shaykh! We cannot fight him, nor can we oppose him." Consequently, the Shaykh had to leave Al­`Uyaynah to Al­ Dir`iyyah on foot until he arrived at the end of the day. He left Al­`Uyaynah early in the morning on foot because `Uthman did not provide him with any means of transportation. On reaching the city, he went to the house of a person who was one of the best personalities there. His name was Muhammad ibn Swaylim Al­`Ariny. It was said that this person felt afraid when the Shaykh came to his house and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for him. He feared the Prince of Al­Dir`iyyah, Muhammad ibn Sa`ud, but the Shaykh reassured him, saying, "Rejoice, for I am calling to Islam and Allah will definitely make it victorious." Muhammad ibn Sa`ud heard about the arrival of Shaykh Ibn `Adbul­Wahhab.

It was said that it was his wife who informed him about the Shaykh. Some pious people went to her and requested her to tell her husband about the Shaykh and persuade him to accept his Da`wah and support him. She was a righteous and kind woman, and when her husband Muhammad ibn Sa`ud, the Prince of Al­ Dir`iyyah and its surrounding villages, saw her, she said, "Here is a great fortune sent to you by Allah; a man calling people to Islam, Qur'an, and Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). What good fortune! Rush