This book examines the attitudes of the Saudi ‘ulāmā’ toward the Shī‘a. It is an in-depth study of the theological convictions of the ‘ulamā’ and their political motivation when examining Shī‘a sects, communities, and political actors. The Saudi ʻulamā’ are known for their strong opposition to Shīʻa theology, Shīʻa communities in Saudi Arabia, and external Shīʻa influences such as Iran and Hezbollah. This strong hostility, combined with the influence of the ‘ulamā’ within the Saudi state and the Muslim world, has led some commentators to blame the Saudi ʻulamā’ for what they see as growing sec ... More

This book examines the attitudes of the Saudi ‘ulāmā’ toward the Shī‘a. It is an in-depth study of the theological convictions of the ‘ulamā’ and their political motivation when examining Shī‘a sects, communities, and political actors. The Saudi ʻulamā’ are known for their strong opposition to Shīʻa theology, Shīʻa communities in Saudi Arabia, and external Shīʻa influences such as Iran and Hezbollah. This strong hostility, combined with the influence of the ‘ulamā’ within the Saudi state and the Muslim world, has led some commentators to blame the Saudi ʻulamā’ for what they see as growing sectarian conflict in the Middle East. However, there is very little understanding of what lies behind the positions of the ‘ulamā’, and there is a significant gap in the literature dealing with the polemics directed at the Shīʻa by the Saudi ʻulamā’. Accordingly, this book looks behind the discourse of the Saudi ʻulamā’ with respect to Shīʻ īsm and various Shīʻa communities, both within and outside Saudi Arabia. It seeks to explain the attitudes of the ʻulamā’ by analyzing their sermons, lectures, publications, and religious rulings. It finds that the ‘ulamā’ are not only governed by their theological convictions against the Shīʻa, but are motivated by political circumstances involving Shīʻa communities within the Saudi state and abroad. The book further discovers that political events affect the intensity and frequency of the rhetoric of the ‘ulamā’. The book also finds a limited degree of diversity within the Saudi religious circles on the Shī‘a question.