Final answer:
The Wahhabi movement is strongest in Saudi Arabia due to historical ties between the Wahhabi religious leaders and the Saudi royal family since the 18th century, the country's absolute monarchy which enforces conservative Islamic beliefs, and Saudi Arabia being the birthplace of Islam with the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Wahhabi movement's strength in Saudi Arabia is deeply rooted in the country's history and its political structure. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam, and the Wahhabi interpretation of Sunni Islam has been influential since the 18th century, when it was founded by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.
This movement sought to return to the earliest practices of Islam and was marked by a literal interpretation of the Qur'an and the Hadith.
Its spread and power were solidified through a pact between Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab and the Al Saud family, the founders of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, forming a strong alliance between the Wahhabi religious movement and the royal political power.
Saudi Arabia's governance as an absolute monarchy, coupled with its immense oil wealth, allowed the country to promote and enforce a conservative version of Islam internally and, to an extent, globally as well.
The legal system of Saudi Arabia is based on Sharia law, aligning with conservative Wahhabi doctrines. Moreover, the presence of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina provides religious legitimacy and the cultural impetus to maintain and reinforce Wahhabi principles.
The state has consistently suppressed alternative interpretations of Islam and utilized oil revenues to strengthen religious institutions that align with Wahhabi ideology.
Measures such as outlawing gambling, alcohol consumption, and the promotion of other religions underpin the movement's prominence.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia's geopolitical actions and its relationship with Western powers, notably the United States, have at times heightened fundamentalist claims and provided fodder for extremist groups, further weaving the Wahhabi movement into the fabric of Saudi culture and identity.