Note: In what follows, Raymond Ibrahim reviews Force and Fanaticism: Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia and Beyond, by Simon Ross Valentine. A shorter version of the book review first appeared in the Middle East Quarterly (Fall, 2016, vol. 23, no. 4).
Valentine, a British Methodist pastor and teacher who taught in Saudi Arabia, has written a useful book about the desert kingdom. Most interesting is its exploration of how the monarchy is “the single greatest force in spreading Islamic fundamentalism”; it “has spent as much as $100 billion to spread Wahhabism in the West,” yet “America and Britain have been, and are continuing to be, implicit supporters of Wahhabism.”
Valentine discusses the background of how this “unholy alliance” came about. He warns: “If the West simply ignores it, Saudi Arabia’s role in international terrorism seems likely to worsen rather than conveniently disappear.” This is troubling considering that “ISIS is Saudi Arabia’s latest monstrous contribution to world history.”
The author explores important topics, including the mutawwa, or religious police, and provides useful historical context, discussing the origins of “Wahhabism,” its alliance with the House of Saud, and the oil discoveries that changed everything.
This position appears to be based on the author’s own cultural presuppositions. Thus he “felt confused and puzzled” to hear of Wahhabi intolerance, including the “attempt to propagate their beliefs by force,” prompting him to wonder:
Can you force someone to love God?…. In all the conversations I had with ulema, imams, Mutawa [religious police] and Saudis generally there was never a mention of “love,” the idea that God loved me, just frightful talk of hell, burning and future pain if I did not believe and accept the Wahhabi faith.”
Had Valentine engaged in a critical reading of Islamic doctrine and history—as opposed to projecting his Christian notion of God onto Islam—he would’ve known that Muhammad, followed by countless caliphs and sultans throughout the centuries, did “propagate their beliefs by force” (the overwhelming majority of today’s Muslim world was taken from non-Muslims “by force”) and that although Islam attributes 99 characteristics to God, “love” is not one of them.
Valentine’s readers would’ve benefited much more had he simply laid out his useful information concerning the inner workings of the Saudi regime and its unholy alliance with the West, without trying to tackle the deeper question of what Islam “really” is—leading to yet another book marred with Islamic apologetics.

Ali Bey says
God loves you so much that he created Hell just in case you don,t return his love to Him.
Michael says
Ali Bey
Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). No human being need go there. But the God of love will not force anyone to return His love. He will not overrule anyone’s choice to avoid Him.
Ali Bey says
Does somebody knows when that photo was taken? And why Hillary was not requested to wear a head scarf?
Jay Boo says
Hillary is Satan
Therefore the two Muslim men wearing artificial halos made a special exemption for her as one of Muhammad’s favorite companions.
Susette says
Post-menopausal women are not required to wear a veil, perhaps because they are not “sexually attackable.”
Allah says, “And as for women past child-bearing who do not expect marriage, it is no sin upon them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment. But to refrain is better for them. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower” (al-Nur 60). However, if she is going to be having adornments [such as make-up and jewelry], she may not take off her outer covering. Having adornments includes beautifying the face.
My God, they make women sound like Christmas trees…
Angemon says
Nope. ISIS is the result of Saddam’s and Assad’s policies.
JIMJFOX says
Nope- ISIS is Islam in it’s purest Mohammedan form.
Educate yourself.
Mark Swan says
You are right JIMJFOX ISIS is just Islam running free.
Jay Boo says
Mark
Regardless,
JIMJFOX is a jerk.
You missed JJ’s main purpose.
His irrelevant and non sequitur response has nothing to do with Angemon’s comment.
JIMJFOX is only here to be an A-Hole
Jay Boo says
Despite JJ’s insulting remark, I agree
ISIS is not two people (Saddam and Assad)
Allan Mandrowski says
Nope. ISIS exists because of USA support for “moderate rebels” who turn out to be virtually all affiliated to al-qaeda off shoots and straight ISIS in the end. We supply, arm these “rebels”, which are mostly FOREIGN nationals waging jihad in Syria. Syrians back Assad, certainly those Syrians who aren’t Sunni-Muslim.
Why are you shilling for the Jihadis and its US enablers?
Saudi Arabia beheading people in accordance with Sharia left right and center, and Hillary / Bush / and co shake happily hands with these savages.
Angemon says
I guess Mr. Valentine must think that Iran is a Wahabi nation like Saudi Arabia…
Jack Diamond says
Wahhab did not found a new sect. He taught what the Qur’an and sunnah teach, that Islam is perfect and everything wrong in the Muslim world thereafter comes from innovation in religion. He is but one of many who have brought about the reformation of Islam, just not the kind of reformation infidels had in mind.
gravenimage says
True, Jack. People ask where the Islamic “Reformation” is–well, this was it.
Allan Mandrowski says
The USA lays in bed with Saudi Arabia. The most evil nation on this planet. Where human rights are non-existent, beheadings are prolific and no other religion than Islam or irreligion is allowed.
We back, support and arm the “moderate rebels” who then turn out to be affiliated to all sorts of jihadist groups, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS. On top of that most of these “rebels” are FOREIGN fighters waging Jihad in Syria, whereas most Syrians – especially those who aren’t Sunni-Muslim support Bashar Al-Assad, because they know what is in store for them when these “moderate” rebels are in power. Their heads will be next to their bodies.
Let Angemon and Gravenimage defend US policy, shaking hands and all smiles with the greatest savages this Earth has seen: Saudi Arabia Wahabi Islam.
Jay Boo says
Head-bump Hillary says Russia is the greater enemy.
gravenimage says
Allan Mandrowski wrote:
Let Angemon and Gravenimage defend US policy, shaking hands and all smiles with the greatest savages this Earth has seen: Saudi Arabia Wahabi Islam.
………………………
What calumny–when have I–or Angemon–*ever* defended Saudi Arabia, or the foolish West believing these savages are our “allies”?
ron says
its all part of the plan,the book of revelations unfolding before our very eyes.