Introduction

This book is based on the author’s PhD dissertation, titled ‘The Discourse and Performance of the Saudi Sunni Islamic Reformist Leadership: 1981-2003’, brought up to date to mid-2006. It investigates the discourse and performance of a contemporary domestic Saudi Sunni Islamic reformist leadership of three ‘new generation’ ‘ulama: Safar al-Hawali, Salman al-Oudah and Nassir al-Omar. As a scholarly Sunni Islamic reformist group, they are a political force that has sought political change and reform in Saudi Arabia through accommodation. Using primary sources, the author examines the development, phases and dimensions of the political struggle of the reformist leadership from 1981 to 2006.