Muhammad bin Saud

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محمد بن سعود
Muhammad ibn Saud ibn Muhammad ibn Muqrin Al Saud
House of Saud
Founder
Offspring

Muhammad ibn Saud (Arabic: محمد بن سعود ) (d. 1765) is considered the first head of the House of Saud, which is technically named for his father, Saud ibn Muhammed ibn Muqrin. He began his power base from the town of Ad-Dar'iyah, where he met Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab. bin Adbul Wahhab came to Saud for protection, and it was granted to him. The two also decided to work together to rid the Arabian peninsula of what they saw as innovations in the practice of Islam by bringing the religion back to its purest form. They formed an alliance, and this was formalized by the wedding of Ibn Saud's son to bin Abdul Wahhab's daughter.

Using the ideology of Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab, Muhammad ibn Saud helped establish the House of Saud among other tribes in the Arabian peninsula. The use of religion as a basis for legitimacy differentiated the House of Saud from neighboring tribes and built support.

Thus, Muhammad bin Saud is considered the founder of the First Saudi State. The way he set up his government has served as model for rulers of the House of Saud until the present day. The government was based on Islamic principles and made use of shura. He ruled from 1744 till his death in 1765.

See also the Second Saudi State, a short-lived state that would give rise to modern Saudi Arabia.

Preceded by
Head of the House of Saud
1744-1765
Succeeded by
Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad bin Saud