These two articles describe how the Wahhabi sect of Sunni Islam, brought to power in 1744 through a pact between Muhammed ibn Saud and Muhammed ibn Abd al-Wahhab during the conquest of the Arabian peninsula, provides the philosophical basis for ISIS’ interpretation of Islam. This form of Islam
1. gave moral cover to the al-Sauds as they dealt harshly with the other Arabian tribes during their conquest.
2. allows almost any action by ISIS for the attainment of political means by providing an Islamic cover.
3. has made the al-Saud family somewhat captive to their own radicalized population.
4. forced the al-Saud family to focus Wahhabi energies outside the kingdom by financing radical Islamic schools all over the Muslim world and by supporting jihadist movements.
This small movement, though its views are anathema and foreign to a majority of Muslims, has had an outsized influence on the Muslim world through its partnership with the now oil-rich al-Saud family.