Salafist ideology will be discredited
By: Iqbal Al Gharbi
Salafism is a religious trend that advocates a literal and ultra-orthodox reading of Islam. Salafism is sometimes considered a sectarian movement, and it has been growing in the Maghreb since the eighties.
Salafism is derived from the Arabic word “salaf”, which literally means “predecessors”. The term “essalaf essalah” means “pious predecessors”, and refers to the companions of the Prophet Muhammad.
Salafism is not a homogeneous movement, but rather a complex and ever-changing one covering a wide spectrum of political opinions that often castigate each other.
In Tunisia, for instance, there are three major Salafi trends:
- Predicative or missionary Salafism aiming for the latent Islamisation of society, as well as its purification and education. This movement advocates an apolitical, nonviolent vision of Islam, for an organized lifestyle based on the fatwas, i.e. religious opinions, of Saudi scholars.
- Jihadist Salafism advocating direct, violent action, and claiming affiliation with al-Qaeda.
- The Liberation Party, “Hizb Tahrir”, campaigning for the re-establishment of the Caliphate and the overthrow of “infidel regimes”.
Salafists are a minority – as some experts estimate their number to be about 6,000 -, but they take center stage with their activism and dramatic interventions, such as accusing Nessma TV of broadcasting a blasphemous film, and trying to impose the niqab on the Manouba Faculty of Letters.
Furthermore, it must be recognized that the Salafi ideology controls several places of worship and most of the Islamic literature exposed in front of mosques.
But what’s the future of Salafists in the 21st century?
It should be emphasized that the practice of power and the need for alliances will bring a lasting change to the “Islamist” parties that came into power in Tunisia and Morocco. After decades of generational and organizational stagnation due to repression, these parties will experience new dynamics and internal conflicts.
Gobalization and global interdependence will determine new positions and a common ground for a watered down Islamist ideology that respects the modern legacy of Maghreb countries.
Moreover, these ruling parties that will be in charge of the economic and social sectors, will adopt a logic of compromise and gradualness. Consequently, they will face Salafism that is often in a position of breakage and rejection.
This situation will lead to disputes and divisions. Activists will have to position themselves behind doves and hawks, and extremist activists may join Salafists in a violent, anti-state and anti-West opposition.
This inevitable confrontation will weaken the Salafists who are not protected by the “Islamic state”. In the short term, they may make the most of the disillusionment of activists who are disappointed by the policies of Islamic governments, but they will be unable to have a global political vision because their role is merely that of a conservative lobby.
Other Opinions
- The Maghreb between Islamists and Salafists
It is difficult to make final conclusions about the Arab… more
- No Salafism with moderate Islam, and no Islamists amidst moderation
From the very beginning, let’s avoid the blatant confusion in… more
- Maghreb Islamists to strengthen democracy and fight extremism
It should first be noted that the victory of Islamists… more
News from Magharebia
- Libya captures US mission attack suspect
Libyan officials and citizens alike say the country risks isolation… more - Algeria protects energy facilities
Algeria is making adjustments to the security of gas and… more - International summit addresses Sahel security
International stakeholders in Mali join to discuss ways to provide… more - Libyan Islamists impose sharia in Sirte
A video of Islamists whipping young men has caused outrage… more - Libya deploys first drones
Unmanned Libyan drone aircraft are being used for the first… more - More news from Magharebia
Your Comments
commentsAnonymous About 12 months ago
In my opinion, your report is a good interpretation of events, however reduced and lacking of some crucial points. Salafism is not only a strict reading of Quran and Sunnah, but rather an unchangeable and legislated way of behaving. There is no point in talking, as do educated people, of the partition between the core of things and their forms, to conclude that Salafist thinking will urge us backwards and that we are going to ride camels again. Besides, Salafism is on the rise in all Muslim countries, and the changes and overthrows of the political regimes, by civil war (Libya) and military interventions (Iraq), or peaceful resistance of the people (Tunisia, Bahrein, Yemen…), end all in the rise of Islamists. Since the introduction of satellite channels, educational and religious programs have been proliferating, gathering young people ; that is the reason for the great support for the Ennahdha party, which a few days before the fall of Ben Ali’s regime was almost non-existent. The rejection of European culture, along with the feeling of injustice caused by the western policy towards Palestinian people, prove that the rise of Salafists will be stronger and faster in the coming months.
Report Abuse
Anonymous About 12 months ago
How can we talk about TV and satellite channels while promoting beliefs and customs dating back to antiquity? The thermal engine, the telephone, electricity, electronics and all medical and scientific progress were not invented while riding camels or sitting under tents in the deserts of the Middle East, but RATHER in the West. If you don’t like the European culture, nobody forces you to accept it, or to come to Europe and endure it. You can still live like in “the old times” while keeping your beliefs in your Middle Eastern deserts. As for the injustice against the Palestinian people, DO NOT mix up the Israeli policy adopted by the State of Israel with the rest of the world.
Report Abuse
Anonymous About 10 months ago
You have not understood a thing about salafism, we are not opposed to a useful technology for men, car, phone, etc… we are opposed to the perversity coming from some of these. The salafism is back because of the philosophical Islam diversity, which perverted the original texts, Islam is one and not plural, we return to the origins and the understanding of our pious Forefathers (Salaf), the Prophet Mohammed, peace and prayers be upon Him, came with a complete religion valid until the end of times, and not a religion which adapts to men desires or, as some say in a given context, if we want to reform Islam, we need another Prophet and we know that there will be no other after Mohammed (peace be upon Him), except the return of Jesus, Mary’s son, peace be upon him, to kill the Antechrist.
Report Abuse
Anonymous About 10 months ago
The nation of Islam is one nation where there are neither doctrines nor parties. Its authority is the Messenger of Allah and his companions and its Constitution is the Koran and the Sunnah of the Prophet. If it sticks to this path it will be empowered and victorious thanks to Allah and if it deviates from it then it will fail, God forbid
Report Abuse
Anonymous About 2 months ago
How sad religion is … Human beings are so naive…
Report Abuse
Anonymous About about 1 month ago
When you hit women because they do not wear the headscarf, and when you break everything in a university, where is religion? When a man tells you his opinion and you beat him up because you don’t agree with him, where is religion? For you, it’s very simple, we should either agree with you, or we will be considered non-Muslims. I pray Allah to spare Algeria, and that the government will do its best to prevent you from doing what you did in Tunisia or Egypt.
Report Abuse
Anonymous About about 1 month ago
Religion are mental viruses. Computer viruses colonize inside hard drives, biological viruses colonize living bodies, and mental viruses colonize cognitive systems. They use them for their very survival and format them so that they can spread. Using a type of viral proselytizing activity. In the human cognitive system, there is a cut-off zone, a gap, a schizoid confrontation line which is uncomfortable and even painful, beyond which are two violently conflicting positions. On the one hand, the need to survive, to last, to overcome all obstacles in order to continue to exist and, on the other hand, the certainty of death. The viruses called religions are adapted to settle into this area of division. They act as a glue, as an anaesthetic for this existential conflict. Between the host – the believer – and the virus – the belief -, there is a mutual exchange of services. The virus brings relief to the believer – psychologically softie – and the believer ensures the survival and propagation of the virus. He accomodates it, feeds it and spreads it. The contract between host and virus is called “faith”. Mehdi.
Report Abuse