Filed with 60.11.1 Islam · Related: 60.11 Religion · 60.3.1 - Foreign Policy
Salafi & Wahhabism
Based on the information provided in the search results, here are the key differences between Salafism and Wahhabism:
Origins and Timeframe:
- Wahhabism originated in the 18th century in the Najd region of Arabia, based on the teachings of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. It was a pared-down, puritanical form of Islam that rejected modern influences.[1][8][13]
- Salafism originated in the late 19th-early 20th century as an intellectual movement at al-Azhar University in Egypt, led by figures like Muhammad Abduh and Rashid Rida. It sought to reconcile Islam with modernism.[1][8][13]
Scope:
- Wahhabism refers specifically to the Islamic doctrine and movement founded by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. It is primarily centered in Saudi Arabia.[1][11][12]
- Salafism is a broader, more general puritanical Islamic movement that has developed at various times and places. It includes but is not limited to Wahhabism.[1][2][11]
Relationship:
- All Wahhabis are considered to be Salafis, as Wahhabism is seen as the Saudi form of Salafism. However, not all Salafis are Wahhabis.[1][2][3][12]
- The Wahhabi movement adopted the Salafi label in the early 20th century. The two movements cross-pollinated and influenced each other, especially after Saudi Arabia started promoting Salafi pan-Islamism in the 1960s-70s.[1][13]
Theology:
- Both emphasize a literal interpretation of the Quran and Hadith and claim to follow the example of the early Muslim generations (Salaf). They reject religious innovations (bid’ah).[6][10][14]
- Wahhabism focuses more narrowly on purging Islam of what it sees as idolatry (shirk), while Salafism tends to emphasize creedal purity more broadly.[12][13]
In summary, Wahhabism is a specific historic movement within the broader Salafi current, originating in 18th century Arabia. While sharing a puritanical religious outlook, Salafism is more expansive and developed in diverse contexts. Over time, the two movements have intersected and influenced each other considerably.
Association with Terrorism
- Islamic State (ISIS) — why ISIS is specifically Salafi-jihadist without equating Salafism as a whole with ISIS
- Special Reports - The Salafist Movement | Al Qaeda’s New Front | FRONTLINE | PBS
- Islamism, Salafism, and jihadism: A primer | Brookings
Based on the information provided in the search results, here is a table of terrorist groups, their main figures, and their relationship to the Salafi movement or other Islamic sects:
| Terrorist Group | Main Figures | Part of Salafi Movement? | Islamic Sect/Ideology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Qaeda | Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi | Yes, part of the Salafi-jihadist movement | Salafism |
| ISIS (Islamic State) | Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi | Yes, follows an extreme interpretation of Salafi-jihadism | Salafism |
| Boko Haram | Abubakar Shekau | Yes, part of the Salafi-jihadist movement | Salafism |
| Al-Shabaab | Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaidah | Yes, part of the Salafi-jihadist movement | Salafism |
| Hamas | Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar | No, Islamist group with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood | Sunni Islam |
| Hezbollah | Hassan Nasrallah | No, Shia Islamist political party and militant group | Shia Islam |
| Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) | Noor Wali Mehsud | Yes, follows Deobandi school with Salafi-jihadist influences | Deobandi school of Sunni Islam |
| Egyptian Islamic Jihad | Ayman al-Zawahiri | Yes, part of the Salafi-jihadist movement | Salafism |
| Armed Islamic Group (GIA) | Antar Zouabri | Yes, part of the Salafi-jihadist movement | Salafism |
It’s important to note that while many of these groups adhere to Salafi-jihadist ideology, they may have varying interpretations and applications of Salafism. Additionally, some groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, while Islamist in nature, do not strictly follow Salafi ideology and have roots in other Islamic sects or political movements.
Citations:
[1] https://ctc.westpoint.edu/salafi-jihadi-activism-in-gaza-mapping-the-threat/
[2] https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs5746/files/Salafism%20in%20America.pdf
[3] https://www.cfr.org/article/sunni-shia-divide
[4] https://seguridadinternacional.es/resi/html/salafism-from-a-religious-movement-to-a-political-force/
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafi_jihadism
[6] https://www.start.umd.edu/publication/globalization-martyrdom-al-qaeda-salafi-jihad-and-diffusion-suicide-attacks
[7] https://www.start.umd.edu/publication/defining-and-understanding-jihadi-salafi-movement
[8] https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/does-isis-really-follow-salafi-version-islamic-law-and-theology
[9] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2347798920921706
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafi_movement
[11] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/islamism-salafism-and-jihadism-a-primer/
[12] https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137409577_8
[13] https://ctc.westpoint.edu/the-salafi-jihad-as-a-religious-ideology/
[14] https://www.csis.org/analysis/escalating-terrorism-problem-united-states
[15] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/experts-weigh-in-part-7-is-quietist-salafism-the-antidote-to-isis/
[16] https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/what-salafism
[17] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology_of_the_Islamic_State
[18] https://ctc.westpoint.edu/al-qaida-and-hamas-the-limits-of-salafi-jihadi-pragmatism/
[19] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/salafi-jihadi-movement-weekly-update-june-28-2023
Citations:
[1] https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/co16254-salafis-and-wahhabis-two-sides-of-the-same-coin/
[2] https://academic.oup.com/book/41500/chapter/352912803
[3] https://www.eurasiareview.com/12102016-salafis-and-wahhabis-two-sides-of-the-same-coin-analysis/
[4] https://islam.stackexchange.com/questions/10559/what-is-the-difference-between-wahhabism-and-salafism
[5] https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/pub/media/resources/9781474479127_Introduction.pdf
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafi_movement
[7] https://www.ide.go.jp/library/Japanese/Publish/Reports/Seisaku/pdf/201307_mide_08.pdf
[8] https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/key2mideast/chapter/who-are-the-salafiswahabis/
[9] https://www.reddit.com/r/islam/comments/biy764/what_is_salafism_and_wahhabism/
[10] https://www.quranspeaks.com/post/what-is-wahhabism-and-salafism
[11] https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/RS21695.pdf
[12] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahhabism
[13] https://jamestown.org/program/understanding-the-origins-of-wahhabism-and-salafism/
[14] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErLFTVlCGaw
Beliefs
Based on the provided search results, here are the main beliefs and principles of the Salafi movement in Islam:
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Following the example of the salaf (the first three generations of Muslims) as closely as possible, as they are considered to have practiced the purest form of Islam. Salafis seek to emulate the practices of Muhammad and his early followers.[1][6][8][18]
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Strict adherence to tawhid (monotheism) and rejection of shirk (polytheism or idolatry). Salafis emphasize worshipping Allah alone.[10][14][18][19]
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A literal interpretation of the Quran and hadith as the only authentic sources of Islamic knowledge, regardless of time or context.[7][10][17][18]
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Rejection of religious innovations (bid’ah) and the belief that Islam should be purified of foreign influences and practices not condoned by Muhammad.[6][10][17]
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Adhering to the Jamaa’ah (the Muslim community), listening to and obeying Muslim rulers.[1][14]
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Refuting those who oppose what they consider the truth.[1][14]
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Salafis can come from any of the four Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence (Hanbali, Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki), though many reject blind adherence to a single school.[6][12]
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The movement encompasses a range of orientations, from quietists focused on religious education and purification, to political activists, to jihadists who engage in violence.[6][8][9]
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Key figures and influences include the medieval scholars Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, and the 18th century Arabian reformer Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.[17][18]
In summary, Salafism is a puritanical Sunni Islamic movement that seeks to practice Islam as understood by the early Muslim generations, rejects religious innovation, and interprets scripture literally. Its adherents span a spectrum from apolitical to politically engaged.
Citations:
[1] https://learnaboutislam.co.uk/2019/02/principles-of-the-salafi-manhaj-abu-iyad/
[2] https://theweek.com/world-news/6073/what-is-salafism-and-should-we-be-worried-by-it
[3] https://seguridadinternacional.es/resi/html/salafism-from-a-religious-movement-to-a-political-force/
[4] https://www.salafisounds.com/what-are-the-principles-of-salafiyyah-by-abu-idrees/
[5] https://www.gotquestions.org/Salafi-Islam.html
[6] https://themaydan.com/2018/03/modern-salafism-one-ideology-many-movements/
[7] https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/1041680/GUIX-501-01-14-W4-S11.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafi_jihadism
[9] https://aeon.co/essays/a-history-of-the-modern-islamic-movement-that-is-salafism
[10] https://www.oasiscenter.eu/en/what-is-salafism-quest-for-purity
[11] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Salafi-movement
[12] https://readingreligion.org/9781107157439/salafism-in-nigeria/
[13] https://soundcloud.com/salafi-publications/sets/the-four-fundamental
[14] https://salaficentre.com/2016/01/31/salafiyyah-is-founded-on-three-fundamental-principles/
[15] http://salafipublications.com/sps/downloads/pdf/TAW010001.pdf
[16] https://www.quranspeaks.com/post/what-is-wahhabism-and-salafism
[17] https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/what-salafism
[18] https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs5746/files/Salafism%20in%20America.pdf
[19] https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/key2mideast/chapter/who-are-the-salafiswahabis/
[20] https://salafibookstore.com/product/explanation-of-the-six-fundamental-principles/
Timeline
Here is a timeline of the Salafi movement in table format, based on the information provided in the search results:
| Time Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 18th century | Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab founds the Wahhabi movement in the Najd region of Arabia, which influences the later Salafi movement. |
| Late 19th - early 20th century | The Salafiyya intellectual movement emerges at al-Azhar University in Egypt, led by figures like Muhammad ‘Abduh, Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, and Rashid Rida. They advocate Islamic reform based on the example of the early Muslim generations (the salaf). |
| Early-mid 20th century | Salafism spreads as a religious reform movement. It remains mostly apolitical, focused on da’wa (preaching), religious education, and emulating the practices of the salaf. |
| 1960s-1970s | Saudi Arabia begins funding the global spread of Salafism, as it gains new oil wealth and competes for influence with Arab nationalism and Islamism. |
| 1970s-1980s | Salafi jihadi groups like Egyptian Islamic Jihad emerge, inspired by thinkers like Sayyid Qutb. They seek to overthrow governments and establish Islamic states. |
| 1980s | The Salafi movement is established in Nigeria by returning graduates from Saudi Arabia. |
| 1990s | The Salafi “Awakening” (Sahwa) emerges in Saudi Arabia, taking on a more political character. Salafi jihadi groups and ideologues become active in Algeria and Egypt. |
| 2000s | After 9/11, Salafi jihadism gains notoriety with the rise of al-Qaeda. Salafism faces new scrutiny. |
| 2011-2012 | Following the Arab Spring, Salafi political parties form and compete in elections in Egypt and elsewhere for the first time. |
| 2014 | The Islamic State (ISIS) declares a caliphate, representing an extreme Salafi jihadi ideology. |
| 2010s-present | Salafism becomes increasingly fragmented between political, apolitical, and jihadi trends. Debates occur over political participation and the use of violence. |
Citations:
[1] https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/pub/media/resources/9781474479127_Introduction.pdf
[2] https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/558204
[3] https://www.ide.go.jp/library/Japanese/Publish/Reports/Seisaku/pdf/201307_mide_08.pdf
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafi_movement
[5] https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780195390155/obo-9780195390155-0070.xml
[6] https://jamestown.org/program/understanding-the-origins-of-wahhabism-and-salafism/
[7] https://carnegieendowment.org/2012/01/24/salafis-in-yemen-caught-in-revolution-event-3519
[8] https://carnegieendowment.org/2015/04/29/egypt-s-salafists-at-crossroads-pub-59928
[9] https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs5746/files/Salafism%20in%20America.pdf
[10] https://aeon.co/essays/a-history-of-the-modern-islamic-movement-that-is-salafism
[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_propagation_of_Salafism
[12] https://seguridadinternacional.es/resi/html/salafism-from-a-religious-movement-to-a-political-force/
[13] https://www.ajis.org/index.php/ajiss/article/view/489
[14] https://www.start.umd.edu/publication/defining-and-understanding-jihadi-salafi-movement
[15] https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/what-salafism
[16] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Salafi-movement
[17] https://www.brookings.edu/articles/islamism-salafism-and-jihadism-a-primer/
[18] https://academic.oup.com/book/1728/chapter-abstract/141357958?redirectedFrom=fulltext
[19] https://scholar.archive.org/work/ve5ne6m3n5hcpcrafpdzmudjd4/access/wayback/http:/www.clagsborough.uk:80/anatomy_of_the_salafi_movement.pdf