Muhammad bin Saud was the founder of the first Saudi state, known as the Emirate of Diriyah, in the 18th century. He was born in 1687 and became the ruler of Diriyah in 1727. His alliance with the religious leader Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab helped establish a unified political and religious framework that laid the foundation for modern Saudi Arabia. Under Muhammad bin Saud's leadership, the Emirate expanded its territory and influence, promoting the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam. His reign marked the beginning of a significant transformation in the Arabian Peninsula, leading to the eventual establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the 20th century.