Critical Analysis of the Wahhabi View on Polytheism: Examining Ontological Polytheism

The first and most important issue in monotheistic thought is the unity of God's essence. In this article, one of the claims of Wahhabism—namely, that polytheists were free from ontological polytheism—is examined and critiqued. Wahhabis believe that polytheists only deviated in the monotheism of worship, but there were no polytheists in other types of monotheism, especially ontological monotheism. Using a descriptive-analytical method and drawing on historical materials and the statements of Sunni commentators, we have shown that this claim is incorrect and is refuted due to the affliction of a group of polytheists with ontological polytheism. Moreover, some groups of disbelievers believed in equating the Almighty God with idols. Another group believed in attributing children to God, limiting God's power, and consequently denying perfection to the Divine Essence. Belief in dualism and the trinity are other examples contradicting ontological monotheism. Therefore, the Wahhabi claim regarding the monotheistic nature of all polytheists in ontological monotheism is flawed.