Salafism: From Its Authentic Concept to Contemporary Distortions

Salafism, meaning adherence to the righteous predecessors, has been used both as a slogan and a label for certain intellectual movements among Muslims. Misunderstanding the term can lead to equating contradictory movements or assigning it to groups with no real connection to it. The term first gained prominence in theological disputes between traditionalists and rationalists over divine attributes. Those affirming these attributes for God were described as followers of the salaf. In the modern era, Islamic reformist movements emerged in response to Western and Eastern dominance, using Salafism as a rallying cry for returning to foundational principles and rejecting un-Islamic innovations. However, Wahhabism, recognizing the term’s appeal, rebranded its takfiri movement under the banner of Salafism.