A critical analysis of the religio_political conditions of modern saudi arabia

The beginning of the 12* century A.H./18* century A.D. witnessed the religious and moral degradation of the Muslims all over the world was at its lowest ebb especially in the province of Najd in central Arabia. More so because over the centuries this province of Arabia had became neglected due to its geographical location. Lying amongst the vast sand dunes of Arabia and also due to the fact that the centre of the Muslim empire had drifted far away from Arabia and the only important province for the rulers was the province of Hejaz which contained the two Holy cities of Mecca and Medina to which flocked the Muslims from all over the world every year and so they realized that the Ottoman Caliphs were the rulers of the Holy cities who bore the title of Khadim al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn. They had deviated from the spirit and stipulated standards of Islam to such an extent that even the non-Muslims wondered at the disparity between the Muslims of early times and those of the present era. It may be pointed out that the simple, clear-cut, chaste monotheism of Islam constituting the nucleus of the Islamic religious thought was completely eroded by saintworship among its followers. The religious practices of the Muslims of this area had become encumbered with all sorts of un-Islamic rites, superstitions and innovations comparable to those of the pre-Islamic Arabs consequently, the ignorant majority of the Muslims, bedecked with amulets, charms and rosaries preferred to go on pilgrimage to the tombs of the fakirs or dervishes,