Refutation of the Fabrications Against the Shaykh of Islam Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab and His Call

Q: What is the ruling on one who engages in attacks and fabrications against the Imam, the Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him), and his call, describing him as an innovator who brought a fifth school of jurisprudence, and describing his followers as Wahhabis, and other such descriptions that the enemies of this call may cast upon the Imam?

A: This is the ignorance of the ignorant. Those who opposed the Shaykh are of two types: a group opposed him on the issue of shirk (associating partners with Allah); they opposed him because he called to tawhid (the oneness of Allah), while they were polytheists and misguided. Another group consists of ignorant people who were deceived by the callers to falsehood; they are ignorant people who followed ignorant people, or followed those with malicious intent. The polytheists opposed the Messengers and fought the call of the Messengers out of ignorance and misguidance. Other people, with full knowledge—such as the Jews and their like—opposed the Messengers and opposed what the Messengers brought, with full knowledge; out of envy, tyranny, and obedience to their desires. We ask Allah for safety.