salafism in Egypt
Table of Contents:
Brief Overview 3
Who are the Salafists 3
Salafis before the Egyptian Revolution 5
Salafis after the Egyptian Revolution 8
Al-Nour Party 10
Salafism Vs Muslim Brotherhood 11
Conclusion 12
Citations 14
Brief Overview:
During the past few months, an incredibly new kind of politics emerged in Egypt after the fall of the Mubarak regime. The excessive presence of the Salafis in the Egyptian streets, Shopping Malls, Sporting Clubs, and governmental entities drew my attention significantly. I never thought that they are present in Egypt long ago in huge numbers. Through my research I realized their sneaky behavior, where they managed to spread and influence thousands if not millions of Egyptians in secret. Today, they are key players in the Egyptian politics. It is exactly like waiting for the right opportunity to emerge and gain power. This sudden appearance, I believe, brought with it a state of chaos.
Who are the Salafists:
Salafi are a group of people who refers to the pure interpretation of Islam, which also implies to the strict, fundamentalist understanding of Islamic texts, most prominently the Quran. Salafists have ultraconservative Islamic views that focus in making Islam not only a way of life but also a way of running a state. The word Salaf indicates to “early Muslims” or someone who lived up to the first 400 years after Prophet Muhammad. They believe that the Islam practiced at the time of the prophet is the purest of all; as a result, true Muslims should practice the Islam the way they did back then. Nevertheless, the governing system should abide by the Sharia law. Salafism emerged in a clear form in the 1300s as a reaction to the rigid institutions and perceived corruption of Islamic faith and practice. It condemned the rigid adherence to specific schools of Islamic law, the elaborate
Brief Overview 3
Who are the Salafists 3
Salafis before the Egyptian Revolution 5
Salafis after the Egyptian Revolution 8
Al-Nour Party 10
Salafism Vs Muslim Brotherhood 11
Conclusion 12
Citations 14
Brief Overview:
During the past few months, an incredibly new kind of politics emerged in Egypt after the fall of the Mubarak regime. The excessive presence of the Salafis in the Egyptian streets, Shopping Malls, Sporting Clubs, and governmental entities drew my attention significantly. I never thought that they are present in Egypt long ago in huge numbers. Through my research I realized their sneaky behavior, where they managed to spread and influence thousands if not millions of Egyptians in secret. Today, they are key players in the Egyptian politics. It is exactly like waiting for the right opportunity to emerge and gain power. This sudden appearance, I believe, brought with it a state of chaos.
Who are the Salafists:
Salafi are a group of people who refers to the pure interpretation of Islam, which also implies to the strict, fundamentalist understanding of Islamic texts, most prominently the Quran. Salafists have ultraconservative Islamic views that focus in making Islam not only a way of life but also a way of running a state. The word Salaf indicates to “early Muslims” or someone who lived up to the first 400 years after Prophet Muhammad. They believe that the Islam practiced at the time of the prophet is the purest of all; as a result, true Muslims should practice the Islam the way they did back then. Nevertheless, the governing system should abide by the Sharia law. Salafism emerged in a clear form in the 1300s as a reaction to the rigid institutions and perceived corruption of Islamic faith and practice. It condemned the rigid adherence to specific schools of Islamic law, the elaborate
Citations: Schielke, Samuli. "You 'll be late for the revolution!" An Anthropologist 's Diary of the Egyptian Revolution. April 14, 2012. Web. Stanley, Trevor Nuh Ha Mim Keller. “Who or what is a Salafi? Is their approach valid?” masud.co.uk. 1995 Web.. Prinsloo, Aidan “Salafism on the Rise in Egypt”. The Telegraph WikiLeaks. Feb 12, 2012. Web. Ashour, Omar “Will the Salafis change tack?” El-Ahram Weekly Online. 2-8 February 2012. Issue No. 1083. Web, Topol A Husain, Ed.“Where Next for Egypt’s Salafis?” The Arab Street. April 10, 2012. Web.