The article appears confused about the correct relationship between Wahhabism and Sunnism, and instead of identifying their "distinctive practices and beliefs" has listed a number of tendencies that are not in fact peculiar to Wahhabis in current or past Muslim history.
Wahhabism does not denote a distinction from other contemporary Sunnis in the understanding and application of Islamic law and jurisprudence (i.e. applied Islam) for they follow the Hanbali Sunni school for the most part, and nobody denies it being a core Sunni school. Hence many of their opinions in this matter are quite within the line of historical Sunni opinions.
Wahhabism is Salafism rendered Saudi. The distinction it does denote from other contemporary Sunnis is its emphasis on Unitarianism and its rejection of practices that it believes undermines such a concept. In particular, things like what it views as exaggerated veneration of the dead and/or powers other than God, as you have correctly mentioned.
The reason there is an impression that they are more willing to excommunicate people from Islam is because they classify the above mentioned practices as contradictory to Islam. And many Muslims do in fact practice one of them or the other. However what the article overlooks is that, nevertheless, Wahhabis do not give a blanket ruling of excommunication on these other Muslims. That is because they believe the vast majority to be insufficiently aware and cannot, thus, be held accountable until such an ignorance is lifted. Hence, in practice, it is only in a case by case basis that excommunication does happen, and that is not all too common, despite impressions otherwise.
Finally, "whipping" people to prayer has long been abandoned in Saudi, what is left is only the closure of shops during prayer times.
Please do allow this point of view to reach your audience.
The article appears confused about the correct relationship between Wahhabism and Sunnism, and instead of identifying their "distinctive practices and beliefs" has listed a number of tendencies that are not in fact peculiar to Wahhabis in current or past Muslim history.
Wahhabism does not denote a distinction from other contemporary Sunnis in the understanding and application of Islamic law and jurisprudence (i.e. applied Islam) for they follow the Hanbali Sunni school for the most part, and nobody denies it being a core Sunni school. Hence many of their opinions in this matter are quite within the line of historical Sunni opinions.
Wahhabism is Salafism rendered Saudi. The distinction it does denote from other contemporary Sunnis is its emphasis on Unitarianism and its rejection of practices that it believes undermines such a concept. In particular, things like what it views as exaggerated veneration of the dead and/or powers other than God, as you have correctly mentioned.
The reason there is an impression that they are more willing to excommunicate people from Islam is because they classify the above mentioned practices as contradictory to Islam. And many Muslims do in fact practice one of them or the other. However what the article overlooks is that, nevertheless, Wahhabis do not give a blanket ruling of excommunication on these other Muslims. That is because they believe the vast majority to be insufficiently aware and cannot, thus, be held accountable until such an ignorance is lifted. Hence, in practice, it is only in a case by case basis that excommunication does happen, and that is not all too common, despite impressions otherwise.
Finally, "whipping" people to prayer has long been abandoned in Saudi, what is left is only the closure of shops during prayer times.
Please do allow this point of view to reach your audience.