The significance of the life and writings of ʿAbdullāh al-Hararī (d. 1429/2008): A response to Wahhābī influence in the Levant

Mohammad, Bakir Mohammad Saleh (2021) The significance of the life and writings of ʿAbdullāh al-Hararī (d. 1429/2008): A response to Wahhābī influence in the Levant. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

With the rise of modern-day Islamic reformers, ʿAbdullāh b. Muḥammad al-Hararī (d. 1429/2008) stands out from his contemporaries. This study does not merely shed light on al-Hararī’s life and works. Rather, it is also concerned with the impact he had on the study of Islam in the 21st century. By analysing the majority of al-Hararī’s works, a unique insight into his emphasis on ʿaqīda (Islamic creed) and the impact he had on anti-Wahhābī discourse can be deduced. As the title indicates, al-Hararī’s daʿwa (lit. call) grew to become one of the most influential and controversial daʿwas in Lebanon, and consequently the Islamic World. This research is primarily triggered by the scarcity of adequate studies in Western Academia on al Hararī’s life, coupled with the rise of anti-Hararī rhetoric in the Arab World. While it would be worthwhile to examine the practical methodologies through which al-Hararī’s ideology spread – via the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects and its worldwide branches – this thesis is chiefly concerned with the discourse surrounding the ideology adopted and promoted by al-Hararī, including his views on anthropomorphism, taʾwīl, tabarruk amongst other concepts. As a reformer, he sought to unify Muslims by stressing the importance of ʿaqīda, as well as devoting much of his life to warning against what he calls “al-Firaq al Thalāth”, or the Three Sects, namely: Wahhābīs, Ikhwānīs and Taḥrīrīs. Even after his death, his impact is becoming increasingly noticeable.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Supervisor's Name: Ridgeon, Dr. Lloyd and Yazaki, Dr. Saeko
• Date of Award: 2021
• Depositing User: Bakir Mohammmad
• Unique ID: glathesis:2021-82184
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 May 2021 10:28
• Last Modified: 06 Aug 2025 08:35
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.82184
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/82184