Knowra Salafism Salafism Salafism is a broad Sunni movement that calls for emulating the earliest Muslim generations. Its adherents differ over theology, religious practice, and political engagement.
Salaf : The early Muslim generations whom Salafis regard as exemplary models of faith and practice. Salafism takes its name and central normative ideal from these generations.
Sufism : Islamic traditions of spiritual discipline, devotion, and inward cultivation, often organized through Sufi orders. Salafi critiques often target Sufi rituals, saint veneration, and the authority of spiritual lineages.
Ibn Taymiyyah : A medieval Hanbali scholar whose writings criticized religious practices he considered unsupported by scripture. His scripturalist arguments became important resources for later Salafi thinkers.
Quietism : A Salafi approach that prioritizes religious teaching and obedience to Muslim rulers while discouraging political opposition. It represents one influential approach to politics within Salafism.
Islamic education : The teaching of Islamic scripture, theology, law, and practice in formal and informal settings. Salafi institutions have influenced curricula, preaching, and religious study in many countries.
Sunni Islam : The largest branch of Islam, grounded in the authority of the Prophet Muhammad’s community and its inherited traditions. Salafism is a movement within Sunni Islam, not a separate major branch.
Ash'ari theology : A Sunni theological tradition associated with Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari that uses rational argument to defend doctrine. Salafis commonly reject or contest theological methods associated with Ash'ari schools.
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab : An eighteenth-century Arabian religious reformer who called for exclusive devotion to God and opposition to practices he deemed polytheistic. His movement helped establish a durable political and religious center for modern reformism.
Islamism : Political movements that seek to shape government and society according to interpretations of Islam. Salafi Islamists engage organized politics more actively than quietist currents generally do.
Islamic da'wah : The invitation to Islam and the communication of Islamic teachings through preaching and other forms of outreach. Preaching and outreach have been central means of Salafi expansion beyond its original centers.
Show all 26