The world of Islamic spirituality is enormous. There are several different schools, and a few are even more popular than others. It is straightforward to understand which is right and which is wrong. So how do you determine which school is right for you? You might be surprised to learn that there are some essential things you should know before you choose a religion.
History
The history of the Saudi spiritual sheikh (شيخ روحاني سعودي) stretches back to the early 17th century. This is the period in which Muhammad bin Saud first founded the First Saudi State. He was a visionary ruler with a remarkable grasp of the Islamic world.
As the years passed, his reign marked the growth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a leading political and economic power. The era of tribal warfare ended when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established.
However, restless Bedouins did not remain content with the emergence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They felt a duty to continue their jihad on neighboring territories. Eventually, the Ottomans conquered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
By the mid-18th century, the Al Saud family regained control over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They expanded the kingdom throughout much of the Arabian Peninsula.
Political influence
Regarding Saudi Arabia’s politics, religion has long been a soft power tool for the monarchy. It has also played a key role in delegitimizing popular uprising movements. However, it is essential to note that religion’s influence is now being brought under the direct control of the monarchy.
The modern state of Saudi Arabia has shown that it is the political superiority of its religious elites. It is also worth noting that Saudi clerics sometimes engage in controversial practices, including inciting discrimination or hatred. This is a critical issue that the Saudi government needs to address. To counter these practices, the royal family needs to expand its participation in the public and private sectors. They should also do more to ensure minority rights.
The free Saudi spiritual sheikh number (رقم شيح روحاني سعودي مجاني) is an impressive feat of piety. The monarch shares the honor of being the country’s official religious leader with a group of high-flying clerics. They see themselves as the guardians of the kingdom’s storied Wahhabis legacy.
Sell-out stances
A recent European Saudi Organization for Human Rights tally revealed that 41 people face the axe. This includes the famously reclusive Mohammed Bakr al-Nimr. Although he was released on February 26, the reasons behind his detention are still under wraps. It is not known if he is a terrorist or simply an outspoken critic of the monarchy.
What is the same is the extent to which religious leaders fall in line with state-sanctioned policy decisions. Despite occasional outbursts, the cynic in me would say that the Saudi leadership has mainly been noncommittal in its approach. The latest edition of the royal regulations contains preambles that assert that sharia is still the basis for all Saudi regulations.
Sui Iuris sheikhs
The term “sui iuris” is often used in English law. This is a Latin phrase describing an item of some quality or importance. It can also be spelt sui juris or si iuris and is a word that is pronounced like Italian or English.
A “sui iuris” sheikh is a man or woman over sixty years of age who is not illiterate or accustomed to the latest fads. A Sheikh may or may not be a Christian but is undoubtedly wealthy and possesses no qualms about using the word “church” in a self-propagating manner.
The “sui iuris” Sheikhs of the Arabian gulf are known to be descendants of Ghassanid King Chemor Jablah. He ruled two small sheikhdoms in Mount Lebanon for about 500 years until 1747 CE. However, the Ghassanid royal family had to give up Mount Lebanon’s territory after Islam’s advent.
Language
Sheikh, or sheikha, is Arabic for a spiritual leader, especially a religious scholar. In addition to being used for Islamic religious scholars, the sheikh is also used to refer to a tribal head.
Several well-known ayatollahs live in Saudi Arabia. However, this does not mean that they are local Marjas. Many of the ayatollahs in the kingdom live in Najaf or Qom. They have close ties to the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and imitate his religious tenets. The following is a brief look at the lives and careers of some of the ayatollahs.
Shaykh Muhammad al-Sanad was born in 1961 in Bahrain. After receiving a degree in engineering in London, he studied in Qom for five years, where he met and befriended the leading scholars. He then relocated to Najaf and became the pillar of the seminary there.