Wahhabism / Salafism

Muhammad Ibn ʿAbdul-Wahhab declared that tawassul (asking Allah by means of the Prophet ﷺ or righteous people) is shirk (polytheism). This is one of the earliest and central claims of Wahhabi doctrine.

“He falsely claimed visiting the grave of the Prophet… and performing the tawassul by him as shirk. Additionally, he falsely claimed visiting the graves of other prophets and righteous Muslims (awliya’) and performing tawassul by them was shirk as well.” — Fitnatul-Wahabiyyah, p. 3, section: Some of the Beliefs of Ibn ‘Abdul Wahhab

Ibn ʿAbdul-Wahhab taught that calling upon the Prophet ﷺ or righteous Muslims—alive or dead—is an act of major polytheism (shirk akbar), equating it with idol worship.

“He added to this by saying, ‘To call upon the Prophet… when performing tawassul by the Prophet is shirk.’ He passed the same judgment of shirk on the ones who call upon other prophets and righteous Muslims…” — Fitnatul-Wahabiyyah, p. 3–4, section: Some of the Beliefs of Ibn ‘Abdul Wahhab

The Wahhabis forbade the practice of visiting the graves of the Prophet ﷺ and righteous people, claiming such visits were either innovation or shirk.

“He also considered visiting the grave of Prophet Muhammad and the graves of other prophets and righteous Muslims for blessings as blasphemy.” — Fitnatul-Wahabiyyah, p. 6, section: The Methodology of Ibn ‘Abdul Wahhab

Additionally, when the Wahhabis took control of Makkah: “The people were prohibited from doing what the Wahhabis incorrectly believed to be blasphemy, like performing tawassul and visiting the graves.” — Fitnatul-Wahabiyyah, p. 17, section: The Capture of Makkah

Ibn ʿAbdul-Wahhab claimed that the Ummah had fallen into shirk for centuries, and that he alone had revived true religion and purified tawḥīd.

“He claimed people had been following the shirk for six-hundred years and he revived their Religion for them!!” — Fitnatul-Wahabiyyah, p. 4, section: Alliance with the Suʿudiyy Family

This is reinforced by his general tone in Kitāb at-Tawḥīd, where he accuses Muslims of idolatrous practices common in his time. Though no exact number is given, he describes conditions in Makkah and Madinah as having returned to pre-Islamic polytheism

A recurring theme in Wahhabi doctrine is the idea that any Muslim who disagrees with their views is a disbeliever (kāfir). Followers were taught that it was permissible to kill such people and seize their property.

“These masses started to believe that whoever does not believe in what Ibn ’Abdul-Wahhab said is a blasphemer, and it is Islamically lawful (ḥalāl) to shed his blood and plunder his money.” — Fitnatul-Wahabiyyah, p. 4, section: Alliance with the Suʿudiyy Family