Salafi movement

Salafi movement. It is a Sunni revivalist movement within Islam that advocates a return to the practices of the first three generations of Muslims, known as the Salaf. The movement emphasizes adherence to the Quran and the Sunnah as understood by these early communities, rejecting later theological and legal innovations. It has significantly influenced modern Islamic thought and spawned diverse movements across the Muslim world.

Origins and early history

The intellectual foundations are often traced to the medieval scholar Ahmad ibn Hanbal and his defense of traditionalist theology during the Mihna. Later, the works of the Damascus-based scholar Ibn Taymiyyah, who wrote extensively against practices he deemed innovations, became highly influential. The modern revival is frequently associated with the 18th-century reformer Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, whose alliance with Muhammad ibn Saud led to the establishment of the First Saudi State in the Arabian Peninsula. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, figures like Muhammad Abduh and Rashid Rida through publications such as Al-Manar helped synthesize these ideas with modern concerns, spreading them from Egypt across the Islamic world.

Core beliefs and doctrines

Central to its doctrine is the concept of Tawhid, strictly emphasizing the oneness of God and opposing any practices seen as shirk, such as the veneration of Sufi saints or visiting tombs. The movement upholds the principle of independent legal reasoning based directly on primary texts, often critiquing the traditional schools of Islamic jurisprudence. It strongly rejects theological speculation associated with Islamic scholastic theology and movements like Ash‘arism. Adherents follow a literalist hermeneutic, championing the Athari creed, and are characterized by a distinct approach to hadith scholarship and a puritanical stance on social issues.

Major branches and contemporary movements

The movement is not monolithic and includes several major strands. The quietist or Madkhali strand, dominant in Saudi Arabia, advocates political quietism and obedience to rulers. The activist strand, associated with organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood, engages in political and social reform. The most prominent militant strand is jihadist Salafism, exemplified by groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Other significant movements include the Ahl-i Hadith in South Asia and various Salafi preachers across Africa.

Influence and global presence

The movement has a substantial global footprint, heavily promoted by Saudi Arabia through institutions like the Islamic University of Medina and the Muslim World League. It has established significant communities and missionary efforts, known as dawah, in regions including Western Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia. Its influence is evident in the prevalence of specific styles of dress, such as the niqab for women, and in the funding of mosques and Islamic educational centers worldwide. The movement has also profoundly impacted modern theological debates and legal discourses in countries from Egypt to Indonesia.

Criticism and controversy

The movement has faced extensive criticism from both within and outside the Muslim world. Many Sufi orders and traditional Sunni scholars accuse it of excommunicating other Muslims and fostering division. Its strict interpretations on social issues, including gender roles and religious policing, have drawn condemnation from human rights organizations. The militant jihadist branch is linked to global terrorism, including attacks like 9/11 and the 2015 Paris attacks. Furthermore, its doctrine has been criticized by modernists and intellectuals, such as those at Al-Azhar University, for being rigid and incompatible with contemporary pluralistic societies.

Category:Salafi movement Category:Islamic branches Category:Islamic revival