In countries of the Indian Subcontinent, there are two groups of Muslims who call themselves Wahabis and Sunnis. They are always engaged in vigorous arguments which may sometimes lead to fighting. Nevertheless, their worship is very similar. Could you please explain the difference between the two?
No group actually calls itself Wahabis. However, people may call some of those who express certain views as Wahabis, which is a name supposed to refer to the followers of Imam Muhammad ibn Abdulwahhab who was a great reformer and scholar. He lived in Najd over 200 years ago and worked hard to eradicate all innovations from Islamic worship. Such innovations had crept into the practices of Muslim communities due to ignorance and long periods of decline undergone by Muslim communities. He maintained that the example of the Prophet i.e. the Sunnah should be followed diligently. There is no disagreement among scholars that this is required of every Muslim. It is unfortunate that some of the practices which Imam Muhammad ibn Abdulwahhab spoke very strongly against still persist in some Muslim communities. These include such terrible practices as visiting the graves of supposedly saintly people and asking the dead to intervene with Allah on behalf of the visitor for any purpose. Such a practice Islam shuns, since it is a manifestation of associating partners with Allah.
Imam Muhammad ibn Abdulwahhab belonged to the Sunni Muslims who, by virtue of their name, should follow the Sunnah, or the example, set by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, with diligence. Hence, it is wrong to classify Muslims as Wahabis and Sunnis, since the followers of Imam Abdulwahhab belong to the Sunni group of Muslims.
The vigorous arguments and fighting you have spoken of are certainly deplorable. This happens, nevertheless, because people are sometimes too rigid in their views. Those who insist on following the Sunnah of the Prophet diligently should have the patience to teach their fellow Muslims, with respect and compassion, that some of their practices are unacceptable from the Muslim point of view. Had they done so, they would find better response by other Muslims.
A wajib is also obligatory, but to a lesser degree. Witr prayer, after Isha, is considered wajib by certain schools of thought. While its omission is strongly reprehensible, it does not specifically incur punishment.
Is it forbidden for a Muslim man to carry anything made of gold or of silk? The other day I was told that silver too is forbidden, but the so-called "white gold" is allowed. I tried to refute both points without success. It seems that some people do not realize that "white gold" is just as much gold as the "yellow" variety. The hard metal in yellow gold is copper, while in white gold it can be nickel or palladium or platinum. In other words, white gold can be considerably more expensive than yellow gold of the same carat. Please comment.
I agree with you entirely about white and yellow gold. They are both the same with regard to what is permissible and what is forbidden. It is not he color which matters, but the substance. Since it is gold, then it is forbidden for men to wear. But wearing is the key point. As far as jewelry is concerned, a man is forbidden to wear what is made of gold or any jewelry in which gold constitutes a considerable portion. As for silk, wearing garments made of silk is forbidden, but it is not forbidden to carry either article or to buy it, since they are permissible for women. If you are going home on vacation and you want to buy an article of jewelry for your wife or you mother or sister, then it is perfectly legitimate to do so and to carry it home with you.
As for jewelry for men, it is permissible for a Muslim man to wear a silver ring or to have his sword, or gun or helmet or belt of similar articles adorned with silver. But other articles are not permissible to adorn, even with silver. As for gold, nothing is permissible unless required by necessity, such as tooth fillings.
Perhaps the person who told you that silver articles are also forbidden for men has confused jewelry with other articles. It may be useful to point out here that it is forbidden for men and women alike to eat or drink in plates or glasses or cups made of gold or silver.
The Prophet says: "Do not drink in utensils made of gold or silver and do not eat in plates made of either. Such articles are for them in this life and for you in the life to come" (related by Al-Bukhari). What the Prophet means is that such articles may be used by non-believers in this life, but in the life to come it is only the believers who will enjoy using them, as the non-believers will be suffering in hell. The Prophet is also quoted as saying: "A person who drinks in a cup made of silver drags the fire of hell into his tummy" (Related by Al-Bukhari). It is also forbidden to have cups, plates or other utensils made of silver or gold or to order them to be made. Again this is applicable to both men and women. The reason for this prohibition is that it is evidence of squandering one's money and showing off.