after muhammad ibn abd al wahhab got exiled from uyaynah, he sought refuge in diriyah, where some of his followers were residing. at that time, muhammad bin saud was the local chieftain of diriyah. two brothers and the wife of muhammad bin saud were followers of muhammad ibn abd al wahhab's ideology. they encouraged cooperation between muhammad bin saud and muhammad ibn abd al wahhab. muhammad ibn abd al wahhab needed military support to secure his ideology and preaching, while muhammad bin saud needed pastoral support. fulfilling these needs eventually led to an alliance between the scholar muhammad ibn abd al wahhab and the local ruler muhammad bin saud creating the first saudi state, the emirate of diriyah.