Religion Turned 'Politics': Saudi-Iran Religious Outreach

Abstract

The Saudi Arabia-Iran rivalry or the Middle East Cold War, exceeds the region when it touches religious regards, which is the religious outreach that the two peripheral regional powers conduct to the Muslim world. This paper aims to explain the religious outreach of Saudi Arabia and Iran, with Indonesia as the main case study. The research also aims to discuss the recent changes in policies and attitudes of Saudi Arabia regarding its religious ideology and the obstacles that Iran is facing in its Islamic revolution. This research found that Saudi Arabia’s religious outreach is decentralized, rapid, and large, while Iran as centralized, quick, and light. Wahhabism-Salafism as an ideology is not limited only in the religious domain, it touches on various domains which is taken as precaution for the moderates, as it leads to uncontrolled and undesirable interpretation which can affect the Saudi’s image. Saudi’s Vision 2030 is a series of rapid efforts the kingdom pursue that includes transforming Saudi’s religious ideology. Whereas Iranian’s centralized religious outreach contributed to the effectiveness and acceptance by the Muslim world, which is predominantly Sunni-Muslim. Although Iran is successful in carrying it out, it is less likely to touch various aspects that are desired.