Radicalization Series IV – Salafism as a Utopian Movement

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9 Responses

  1. M.N.Silva says:

    I really enjoyed this post.

    I have two questions:

    – How far can we isolate Salafism as a utopian movement within Islam? It cannot possibly be the only such islamist utopian doctrine…

    – Also absent from your article is how western political philosophy influences expat salafis.
    Don’t you think that transnational political ideology is very much a western concept and that the jihadi political militancy has also influenced the Salafi social culture and ideals?

  2. martijn says:

    M.N.Silva said:

    I really enjoyed this post.

    I have two questions:

    – How far can we isolate Salafism as a utopian movement within Islam? It cannot possibly be the only such islamist utopian doctrine…

    – Also absent from your article is how western political philosophy influences expat salafis.
    Don’t you think that transnational political ideology is very much a western concept and that the jihadi political militancy has also influenced the Salafi social culture and ideals?

    Thanks. With regard to the first question. You are right of course, there are probably many and how to isolate Salafism from the rest is actually an ongoing topic of debate within our research group. Self-identification as Salafi or by referring to a Salafi manhaj is an important one, but not enough (since for example Hizb ut Tahrir branches also self identify themselves as salafi on occasion).

    Furthermore in my work it refers to those Muslims who try to emulate (not just refer) the ‘pious predeccors’ as closely as possible and in all domains of life. Central is the doctrine of tawhid and a very strict understanding of it. Also they reject following the four different schools of Islamic law. Of course other groups may have this in common with the Salafis but with regard to the Salafis I think it is their strictness and devotion with regard to shaping their lives according to (their idea of) the norms and practices of the Salaf that stands out.

    Of course the situation gets complicated because outsiders (such as me but also security services, policy makers and so on) also use the label Salafism.

    I think you are right with regard to your second question; I did not include it here because I thought it would become too complicated for a blogpost. Maybe I should do that in the near future. I love to hear your thoughts on the topic.

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