Who was Rabee al-Madkhali, proponent of Saudi Arabia's 'quietist' Salafism?

Prominent Saudi Islamic scholar Rabee al-Madkhali died on Wednesday at the age of 92, leaving behind a much-contesed legacy due to his influence on Islamic political thought and the Salafi movement.

Promoting a stringently quietist school of thought, he became the progenitor of a movement that was widely accused of enabling authoritarianism by silencing dissent.

Career

Born in 1931 in Saudi Arabia, al-Madkhali studied under many of the prominent scholars of the Salafi movement, including former Saudi Grand Mufti Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz and hadith scholar Nasir al-din al-Albani — two of the most influential figures in 20th century Salafism.

He later served as a lecturer at the University of Madinah.

Al-Madkhali would rise to prominence in the 1990s due to his fierce criticism of Islamic political movements, most notably the Muslim Brotherhood and figures like Sayyid Qutb.

'Madkhalism'

Al-Madkhali's ideology became known as 'Madkhalism' — a term not used by adherents of the movement, but mostly by its detractors.

The Madkhali movement places great emphasis on obedience to Muslim rulers, discouraging political activism and protest—even against tyrannical governments—as long as they upheld Islam in a general sense. His writings frequently warned against "fitna", or discord, and like other Salafis, he called for what he interpreted as an authentic version of Islam.

"These individuals were cultivated upon lies and they do not wage war against their opposers except with lies, they have no evidence with them," al-Madkhali once said in response to a question about followers of the Brotherhood and Qutb.

This methodology, sometimes seen as part of a broader "second wave' of the Salafi movement, sharply contrasted with the way in which the Saudi state itself was founded, through an act of rebellion against the Ottoman empire.

Followers of al-Madkhali were sharply critical of the 2011 'Arab Spring', and in the aftermath of the uprisings have highlighted the huge death tolls in Syria, Libya as vindication of their stance.

"A word can have grave implications, it can destroy lives or even countries. Look at the Arab 'spring' how it started with peaceful 'words' then ended up with mass destruction. May Allah protect us all from the fitna of speech," wrote prominent Emirati social media figure Faris al-Hammadi in 2023.

Hammadi, who is considered by his critics as a 'Madkhali', has also against boycotts of products to support the Palestinian cause due to the effect it may have of the plans of the rulers.

As an extension of their criticism of the Brotherhood, Madkhalis have also spoken vocally against Hamas in the Palestinian territories, with some blaming the Islamist group for the tens of thousands of deaths in the occupied territories.

The movement's critics have argued that this stance has bolstered authoritarianism in the Muslim world, silencing dissent under the guise of religious obedience.

Activists who speak up against governments are often labelled as 'Kharijis', or secessionists, by the Madkhalis, who view the preservation of order as top priority.

Within the broader Salafi movement, the Madkhalis have also been sharply critical of jihadi groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

Mixed reactions

Al-Madkhali's death has drawn mixed reactions on social media, with some heaping praise on the late scholar, and others remaining critical.

"Hassan Al Banna will forever be remembered as a great real world revivalist of Islam. Madkhali's twisted ideology will be buried by the very tyrants that he serviced his whole life," wrote one social media user, referring to the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Another X user sad: "Rabee Al Madkhali has passed away. In'sha'Allah he'll find out Allah's mercy is vast and not just reserved for a handful of people on his manhaj. May Allah forgive his sins and mistakes."