The transformation of the Ottoman perception of the Wahhabi movement: from negotiation to confrontation (1745-1818)

This study examines the transformation of the Ottoman perception of the Wahhabi movement by problematizing how the Ottoman empire politically and religiously reacted against the Wahhabi movement, how it perceived the Wahhabis and what policies were implemented against them. By this means, it aims to explain the implications of the Wahhabi movement over the Ottoman Empire and how the Ottoman official perception towards the Wahhabis transformed over time in regard to internal and external problems from the beginning of the movement in 1745 to its temporary end in 1818. In order to provide answers for these questions, this study considers the general political conditions of the 18th century within the Ottoman Empire and the Islamic world as well as attempting to discuss the characteristic features of the Wahhabi movement by utilizing primary and secondary sources. Therefore, this thesis argues that between 1745 and 1802, the Ottoman Empire considered the Wahhabi movement as a regional problem, while between 1803 and 1818 as an existential problem for its presence in the region