Muhammad bin Saud

Muhammad bin Saud Al Muqrin Al Saud (; 16871765), also known as Ibn Saud, was the emir of Diriyah and is considered the founder of the First Saudi State and the Saud dynasty, named after his father, Saud bin Muhammad Al Muqrin. His reign lasted between 1727 and 1765.

Origins Ibn Saud's family (then known as the Al Muqrin) traced its descent to the Banu Hanifa tribes but, despite popular misconceptions, Muhammad bin Saud was neither a nomadic Bedouin nor a tribal leader. Rather, he was the ruler (emir) of the town of Diriyah near modern-day Riyadh. He had lands there and was involved in financing the commercial journeys of merchants. Furthermore, he was competent and ambitious. Among his siblings were Mishari, Thunayan and Farhan.

Reign Muhammad bin Saud became local emir of Diriyah in 1727. The initial power base was the town of Diriyah where he met Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, who asked for protection. They formed an alliance in 1744 or 1745. Although he accepted the first condition, he did not accept the second one arguing that he would acquire more through the battles and persuaded him not to collect tax. Muhammad bin Saud endorsed his proposal and declared their alliance.

Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab provided Muhammad bin Saud with the military backing for the House of Saud and helped establish the dynasty among other forces in the Arabian Peninsula. In addition, following their alliance Muhammad bin Saud began to collect taxes from his subjects, and the first members of the Najdi-Wahhabi elites emerged. Therefore, the significant elements of the Saudi rule which have existed until now in Saudi Arabia were shaped: the royal family, Wahhabi clerics and tribal subjects.

Muhammad bin Saud initiated attacks against the ruler of Riyadh, Dahham bin Dawwas, in 1747. Muhammad sent one of his slaves, Salim bin Belal Al Harik, to Oman, who was accompanied with an armed group of seventy men, to make the tribes loyal to the Saudis. The tribes, namely Bani Yas, al Shamis and al Nuaimi, initially resisted, but then, obeyed the demand and became followers of Wahhabism together with the Qawasim tribe of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. By the time of his death the majority of the Najdi people and all of those living in the southern Najd were Wahhabi adherents.

Personal life and death Ibn Saud's wife was Moudi bint Abi Wahtan Al Kathir who was instrumental in his meeting with Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab. He had five sons: Saud, Faisal, Abdulaziz, Abdullah and Ali.

Muhammad bin Saud dressed in a plain way and, unlike those of the Mamluk and Ottoman rulers, his armaments were not decorated. He died in Diriyah in 1765 and was succeeded by his eldest son Abdulaziz.

Legacy As the head of a forerunner of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University is named after him.