Salafi–Sufi relations

The relationship between Salafism and Sufis – two movements of Islam with different interpretations of Islam – is historically diverse and reflects some of the changes and conflicts in the Muslim world today. Salafism is associated with literalist , strict and puritanical approaches to Islam, following only Quran , hadith and the salafs . In the Western world , it is often associated with the Salafist jihadism . Sufism is associated with the rectification of the soul ( tasawuf ) and is mainly focused in becoming a better Muslim and person to achieve a higher status in paradise, mostly following the Islamic saints and pious leaders. While there are Muslims who believe that Salafism and Sufism "overlap", the Salafi response to Sufism has been called "polemical". According to various observers, Salafists have been "usually ... unrelentingly hostile to devotional Sufi practices", arguing that Sufism is "irreconcilable with true Islam", and one of the elements "corrupting" modern day Islam. Relations between the two movements have been described as one with "battle lines drawn", or a "rift" found in "practically every Muslim country", and in "the Muslim diasporic communities of the West" as well. Akbar Ahmed Journey Into America: The Challenge of Islam , 2010, page 261 "The relationship between Salafis and Sufis, in particular, is complicated and reflects some of the changes and current conflicts in the Muslim world." Dr Abdul Haqq Baker , Extremists in Our Midst: Confronting Terror, Palgrave Macmillan, 2011 An Introduction the Modern Middle East: History, Religion, Political Economy ... Contextualising the Salafi-Sufi Conflict . The rift between the Salafis/Wahhabis and the Sufis is not unique to the Caucasus. It is found in practically every Muslim country today (as well as the Muslim diasporic communities of the West), : |journal= ignored ( help )

Relations between two Islamic theological schools Since the classical era, traditional Islamic religious culture was divided between two main theological schools, Sufi - Ash'arism represented by Ghazzali (1058-1111) and Salafism represented by Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328). The dispute between these two schools of thought dominated the Sunni world, splitting their influence across religious communities and cultures, with each school competing for scholarly authority via official and unofficial religious institutions. The relationship between Salafism and Sufism – two movements of Islam with different interpretations of Islam – is historically diverse and reflects some of the changes and conflicts in the Muslim world today. Salafism is associated with literalist approaches to Islam, giving importance to literal interpretation of Qur'an , hadith and attaining tazkiya (self-purification) by imitating Muhammad and the salaf (the first generations of Muslims). Sufism is associated with the rectification of the soul ( Tasawwuf ) and is mainly focused in becoming a better Muslim to achieve a higher status in paradise by imitating the Islamic saints ( Awliyaa ) and pious leaders. Both Sufism and Salafism are not inherently political. However, unlike Sufism, Salafism can be a powerful basis for social mobilization against grievances including colonialism, corruption, economic inequality, political disenfranchisement and other forms of injustice. Sufi moral authority has also been used for grassroots social mobilization, including the instigation of rebellions and insurgencies. Some Sufis and Salafis may cooperate on shared commitments to democracy, social justice, tolerance and non-violence. Others may also cooperate together on Islamist causes. Although Salafism and Sufism "overlap", they also differ on key doctrinal issues. Salafi-Sufi debates are often called "polemical". Both Sufis and Salafis are unequivocal against modernist approaches to Islam and condemn any form of Hadith rejectionist tendencies. Salafis are critical of various Sufi rituals arguing that such rituals are "irreconcilable with true Islam", as well as condemning the Sufi focus on spirituality alone while shunning the material world. Relations between the two movements have been described as one with "battle lines drawn", or a "rift" found in "practically every Muslim country", and in "the Muslim diasporic communities of the West" as well. Some segments of Muslim community are tired of recurring Sufi-Salafi theological debates and often voice their dissatisfaction with these debates which divides the Muslim community , in their opinion. Akbar Ahmed Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam , 2010, page 261 "The relationship between Salafis and Sufis, in particular, is complicated and reflects some of the changes and current conflicts in the Muslim world." Abu Rumman, Mohammad (2014). Perspectives on Terrorism . 7 (6): 58– 78. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0) license. Contextualising the Salafi-Sufi Conflict . The rift between the Salafis/Wahhabis and the Sufis is not unique to the Caucasus. It is found in practically every Muslim country today (as well as the Muslim diasporic communities of the West), : |journal= ignored ( help )

Relations between two major Islamic schools of thought Salafism and Sufism are two major scholarly movements which have been influential in Sunni Muslim societies. The debates between Salafi and Sufi schools of thought have dominated the Sunni world since the classical era, splitting their influence across religious communities and cultures, with each school competing for scholarly authority via official and unofficial religious institutions. The relationship between Salafism and Sufism — whose interpretations of Islam differ — is historically diverse and reflects some of the changes and conflicts in the Muslim world . Salafism is associated with literalist approaches to Islam, giving importance to literal interpretation of Qur'an , hadith and attaining tazkiya (self-purification) by imitating Muhammad and the salaf (the first generations of Muslims). Sufism is associated with the rectification of the soul ( tasawwuf ) and is mainly focused in becoming a better Muslim to achieve a higher status in paradise by imitating the Islamic saints ( awliya ) and pious leaders. Both Sufism and Salafism are not inherently political. However, many Sufis and Salafis have championed common political causes and engaging in Islamist activities. Although Salafism and Sufism can "overlap", they also differ on key doctrinal issues. Salafi-Sufi debates are often called "polemical". Both Sufis and Salafis are unequivocal against modernist approaches to Islam and condemn any form of Hadith rejectionist tendencies. Salafis are critical of various Sufi rituals arguing that such rituals are "irreconcilable with true Islam", as well as condemning the Sufi focus on spirituality alone while shunning the material world. Relations between the two movements were described by some Western observers as one with "battle lines drawn", or a "rift" found in "practically every Muslim country", and in "the Muslim diasporic communities of the West" as well. Many Muslim scholars and activists are weary of recurring Sufi-Salafi debates and often voice criticism against such polemics, arguing that these debates polarize the Muslim community . In past centuries, traditional Islamic religious culture was divided between two main trends, the first being Sufi-Ash'arite, whose chief spiritual representative was Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058-1111), and the second being Salafism, represented by Ibn Taymiyyah (1263-1328) Akbar Ahmed Journey into America, 2010, page 261 "The relationship between Salafis and Sufis, in particular, is complicated and reflects some of the changes and current conflicts in the Muslim world." Abu Rumman, Mohammad (2014). Perspectives on Terrorism . 7 (6): 58– 78. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0) license. Contextualising the Salafi-Sufi Conflict . The rift between the Salafis/Wahhabis and the Sufis is not unique to the Caucasus. It is found in practically every Muslim country today (as well as the Muslim communities of the West) : |journal= ignored ( help )