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This term “Wahhabi”, in reality is a Turkish political term. It spread during the era when the Turks turned away from ruling according to Islam. This was doing the time when the native son of our homeland was in Egypt. What is his name? Muhammad Ali Pasha; his origin is from Albania. He was a ruler in Egypt during his time. Naturally, he claimed he was living under the Sultanate of the Ottoman Empire. A man from the people of knowledge appeared from the land of Najd, his name was Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab; not Abdul Wahhab, but his name was Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab. He went to various Islamic countries that were known for knowledge during those days, such as Egypt, Cairo, and Shamand he acquired knowledge. Then he returned to his homeland which was called Diriyah. As expected, when someone becomes learned, he will recognize the ignorance his people are upon. They were worshipping graves, as is still the case today in many Islamic countries, in Sham—my land, and Egypt the land of our brothers; no offense. This calamity has flooded every country. What did this man begin with? He began to teach the people and to warn them against polytheism and idolatry. His Dawah benefitted and was strengthened due to the ruler, the king of Saud during that era, who was the first grandfather (of Saudi Arabia). Our Lord guided him and he followed the Shaykh. Therefore they combined authority and knowledge together. If authority and knowledge are paired together they will bring about benefit. As Uthman ibn Affan may Allah be pleased with him said: Indeed Allah will prevent by way of the ruler that which He will not prevent by way of the Quran1. The movement grew, due to the strength of the ruler. The Dawah spread and they formed an Islamic army for the first time. They began calling the neighboring villages to worship Allah alone without partners. Some of the villages responded positively to the Dawah and the Dawah reached Iraq. As you know in Iraq there were Shia, and what will let you know who the Shia are? They have with them polytheism, misguidance, and other matters as well. Ahlus Sunnah living there was influenced by some of this polytheism.
Unfortunately fierce battles took place. Who instigated the battle? Muhammad Ali Pasha from Egypt instigated the battle. What army was sent to attack? The Turks were sent. This is because the Caliph was in their hands. They ruled over all the Islamic countries. Thus when they saw this Arab movement starting in the Arabian Peninsula they feared the outcome of this movement. They feared they would bring an end to the Ottoman rule, or theTurkish rule; which is the more correct terminology. For that reason they instructed Muhammad Ali to send an army to kill those from Najd; and I don’t not say “to kill the Wahhabis”; and this shall be explained later. Muhammad Ali Pashasent his son Ibrahim Pasha with a huge enormous army from Egypt to the land of Najd and blood flowed like rivers. The result was the brute strength overpowered the correct Dawah and many were killed. The Turks also used means of propaganda, as is the case today you will see that perhaps propaganda will have a greater effect than weapons. They sent out propaganda throughout the Islamic world against this group so the Islamic world would side with the Turks and oppose this group whom they viewed as a new Dawah. This is because this group called the people to the statement of monotheism that “nothing has the right to be worshipped except for Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”. They spread amongst the Muslims that this group does not have a Madhhab(school of thought); rather they have created a fifth Madhhab. They told the Muslims that members of this group say their stick is more honorable than the Messenger peace be upon him. This propaganda they spread was disbelief, sin and slander. This affected the Islamic groups in every country. From the greatest impacts and mistakes they made was they named this group, what? They named them Wahhabis. This is the argument of Allah against His slaves for those who reflect. Wahhabi is an ascription to Wahhab. Wahhab, if we studied the Arabic language is an ascription to whom? It is an ascription to al-Wahhab. Who is al Wahhab? He is Allah the Blessed and Exalted. Thus this is an honorable ascription. This does not degrade the one given this ascription. But most of those who were under the banner of the unjust Turkish political system were non-Arabs and they did not have understanding of the Arabic language. They say ‘Wahhabi, Wahhabi’…
Source: https://mtws.posthaven.com/history-and-origin-of-the-term-wahhabi-explained-by-shaykh-al-albani
