How a pact between a preacher and a prince defined a modern kingdom
In short: Saudi Arabia’s political legitimacy is deeply rooted in its status as the birthplace of Islam and its unique alliance with a strict religious movement. By positioning itself as the custodian of the two holiest cities, the ruling family has long used faith to shape both domestic policy and international influence.
The modern Saudi state traces its origins to an 18th-century alliance between the religious scholar Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and the regional leader Muhammad ibn Saud. This partnership established a foundation for the first Saudi state, centered on a strict interpretation of the Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence. Known in the West as Wahhabism, its adherents often call themselves Salafis or muwahhidun. This ideology became a defining social and political force, with the Saudi royal family relying on its tenets to justify their governance and maintain their authority as the custodians of Mecca and Medina.
While Sunni Islam is the state religion, the country is home to a minority Shia population, primarily concentrated in the eastern oases of Al-Hasa and Al-Qatif, as well as Najran. These communities have historically faced significant persecution and systematic discrimination in areas ranging from education to public worship. Furthermore, the kingdom maintains strict prohibitions on the public display or practice of non-Muslim faiths. While foreign workers make up a substantial portion of the population—estimated at over one-third of the 35 million total in 2022—they are restricted to private worship, and proselytizing remains illegal.
In recent years, the religious landscape has undergone notable shifts. Since 2017, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has introduced reforms that curtailed the power of the religious police and lifted long-standing bans on activities like cinema and women driving. These changes represent a departure from the rigid social restrictions that characterized the kingdom for decades. Despite these modernizations, the government retains firm control over religious expression, and the state continues to define itself through its historical and religious identity, balancing its traditional foundations with the demands of a rapidly changing globalized society.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Saudi Arabia - Islam, Sunnis, Shiites | Britannica
- Also: Religion in Saudi Arabia
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