Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Officially, all Saudis are Muslim; 15% are Shiites who live particularly in the eastern
provinces. The practice of other religions is strictly forbidden in Saudi Arabia. Non-
Muslims cannot even be buried within the borders of the Kingdom.
Wahhabi Islam
Islamic orthodoxy in Saudi Arabia is Wahhabi Islam (an offshoot of Hanbali or the 'liter-
alist' school of Islamic interpretation). It's named after Mohammed ibn Abd al-Wahhab,
who preached his 'new' message in the 18th century - essentially a call to return to the
Arab purity of Islam and a rejection of Sufism, Turkish and especially Persian influences
on Islamic thought and practice.
At the heart of the Wahhabi doctrine is a denunciation of all forms of mediation
between Allah and believers, and a puritanical reassertion of
tawhid
(the oneness of God).
Under the Wahhabis, only the Quran, the Sunnah (the words and deeds of Mohammed)
and the Hadith (Mohammed's sayings) are acceptable sources of Islamic knowledge.
Under Wahhabi doctrine, communal prayers are a religious duty and rulings on personal
matters are interpreted according to Sharia'a.
One of the primary undercurrents in modern Saudi Arabia is the battle over who can be
considered the true inheritors of the Wahhabi legacy. Famously, Al-Qaeda believes that it
is they, not the Al-Sauds, who are the real guardians of Wahhabism.
PREPARING FOR PRAYER
In Saudi Arabia,
everything
closes during
salat
(prayer time). Strictly enforced, it can last for up to 30 minutes. If
you're already inside a restaurant and eating, you'll usually be allowed to finish your meal (with the curtains
drawn and door locked), but note that most places won't let you in unless they think you can finish in time. In
shops, banks and other places, you will usually be asked to leave to avoid problems with the
mutawwa
(religious
police). Business also stops temporarily in offices.
Prayer times vary throughout the Kingdom and from day to day, and there are at least four during business
hours. A list of prayer times appears daily on page two or three of
Arab News
.
Religion in Public Life
Wahhabi Islam is a dominating factor in daily life for many, if not most, Saudis, yet this
has not led to rejections of technology, the mass media, or a lack of awareness about the
outside world and social currents swirling beyond the Kingdom's borders.
The ubiquitous satellite dish is seen on buildings throughout the country (including the
holy city of Medina) and foreign news channels are easily captured with the right receiver.
