|
|
Article: Strict Wahhabism: A split branch or Islamic diversity?(A)(Nation)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- October 11, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: Larry Witham
An obscure sectarian divide in U.S. Islam is gaining more attention as the nation tries to understand the world's second-largest faith.
Wahhabism, a strict form of Muslim orthodoxy backed by Saudi Arabia's wealth and its members' missionary zeal, may have overshadowed alternative strands of Islam here, its critics say.
Others say Wahhabism, which is more likely to claim it is "true Islam" and expect other Muslims to conform, is merely part of the faith's diversity.
"Wahhabism is identifiable only with American Muslims in Saudi religious organizations," said Sulayman Nyang, a professor of Islam at Howard ...