We’ve written quite a lot about Saudi Arabia, and there’s a reason for that. Many people cant accept certain realities about the country, even when there is undeniable evidence in front of them. It’s because accepting the truth is uncomfortable, or goes against what people are used to believing.
One thing we’ve noticed is how they rely completely on state-approved scholars without really thinking things through for themselves. Instead of engaging with ideas critically, they repeat what they’ve been taught, and quickly label anyone who disagrees with them as mubtadi khawarij. This kind of mindset doesn’t help the Ummah, it shuts down discussion and makes it harder to deal with serious political and religious issues in a thoughtful way.
The Nation-states fail to stand up for Muslims who are suffering around the world, and that raises real questions. How can people feel satisfied with systems thats unable to respond to injustice? We’ve written before about these failures, and about what real change could look like.
While working on another piece about Saudi Arabia, we came across an interesting academic article. It looks at how the Saudi government, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has managed its relationship with religious scholars (the ulama), especially during the changes brought by Vision 2030.
The article explains that many conservative scholars were uncomfortable with some of the reforms, things like reopening cinemas, promoting entertainment, and giving women more freedom in public life. They saw these changes as clashing with traditional values, and some openly criticized them.
To deal with this, the government used a few clear strategies:
- A “carrot and stick” approach: scholars who supported the reforms were rewarded with influence and positions, while those who opposed them were sidelined or punished.
- Changing the narrative: the government reduced the power of religious institutions and presented reforms as part of a “moderate” version of Islam, while also separating religion from economic decisions.
- Careful selection of scholars: by promoting more supportive voices, the state made sure that official religious bodies backed its policies.
Over time, the focus of the country also shifted. Instead of framing everything in religious terms, the government started emphasizing nationalism and economic progress. This made it easier for people to accept the changes.
Looking at the bigger picture, it’s clear that Saudi Arabia has changed a lot. In the past, religious scholars had real influence alongside political leaders. Today, power is much more centralized, and the role of the ulama is more limited.
Religion is still there, but its role has changed, it now tends to support the state, rather than act as an independent force that can challenge it.
In the end, Vision 2030 isn’t just about improving the economy. It’s also about strengthening control, reducing opposition, and reshaping how the government maintains its legitimacy.
This article is very benificial for us, so read it!
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