Blood Brothers Dr. Mohammed al-Massari | Saudi History, The Ikhwan & Ruling by Islam | BB #168
Jun 9, 2025
Dr. Mohammed al-Massari, a Saudi Arabian dissident scholar with a PhD in theoretical physics, shares insights into his upbringing and the historical context of Saudi Arabia. He discusses the rise of Pan-Arabism, the influence of the Ikhwan, and the complex interplay between jihad financing and U.S. policies. Al-Massari reflects on significant events like the Iranian revolution and the Gulf War while advocating for political reform amid exile. He also critiques the discrepancies between Islamic principles and contemporary governance in the Muslim world.
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Pan-Arabism as Ideological Threat
- Pan-Arabism and Arab socialism posed a massive ideological threat to Saudi Arabia in the 50s and 60s.
- Saudi Arabia used an Islamic slogan to maintain legitimacy mainly because the majority of the population was illiterate at that time.
The Early Saudi Ikhwan Anecdote
- The early Saudi Ikhwan were simple-minded Bedouins embracing Wahhabism as a pure form of Islam.
- They fought for truth, not for any kingdom, but were eventually killed due to their expansionist aims and clash with the Saudi state.
King Faisal’s Modernization Tactics
- King Faisal modeled himself after Ataturk to modernize Saudi Arabia while maintaining control.
- He brutally suppressed internal dissent while strategically using the Muslim Brotherhood to bolster Islamic legitimacy.
