Salafi-Jihadism: The History of an Idea

by Shiraz Maher

No topic has captured the public imagination of late quite so dramatically as the specter of global jihadism. While much has been said about the way jihadists behave, their ideology remains poorly understood. As the Levant has imploded and millenarian radicals claim to have revived a Caliphate based on the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed, the need for a nuanced and accurate understanding of jihadist beliefs has never been greater.
Shiraz Maher charts the intellectual underpinnings of salafi-jihadism from its origins in the mountains of the Hindu Kush to the jihadist insurgencies of the 1990s and the 9/11 wars. What emerges is the story of a pragmatic but resilient warrior doctrine that often struggles - as so many utopian ideologies do - to consolidate the idealism of theory with the reality of practice.
His ground-breaking introduction to salafi-jihadism recalibrates our understanding of the ideas underpinning one of the most destructive political philosophies of our time by assessing classical works from Islamic antiquity alongside those of contemporary ideologues. Packed with refreshing and provocative insights, Maher explains how war and insecurity engendered one of the most significant socio-religious movements of the modern era.

Genres: History, Islam, Politics, Nonfiction, Middle East, Religion, Terrorism

256 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 2016

Reviews

[Nazmi Yaakub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memangkas tradisi keilmuan dalam Islam dan seruan anti-taklid yang menjurus kepada pengagungan kemampuan akliah sendiri semata-mata yang sering menjadi slogan kepada kelompok yang pernah dianggap sebagai dua permukaan pada satu syiling yang sama, iaitu liberal dan salafiah (juga disebut salafi atau pseudo-salafi oleh sebahagian ahli akademik), sebenarnya sudah disahut secara paling buruk oleh aliran yang dikenali dalam buku ini sebagai salafi-jihadi.

Shiraz Maher memperincikan lima konsep penting yang diguna pakai secara sewenang-wenangnya oleh teoritis dan ideolog gerakan yang mengikut aliran salafi-jihadi ini, iaitu jihad, takfir, al-wala' wal bara', tauhid serta hakimiya yang akhirnya menjadi mekanisme untuk melancarkan serangan ganas bukan saja kepada negara Barat khususnya Amerika Syarikat (AS) dan Eropah, bahkan kepada pemerintah serta kerajaan di dunia Islam sendiri termasuk Arab Saudi.

Buku ini memperjelaskan bagaimana setiap satu konsep itu dibincangkan oleh ideolog dan perancang kepada kelompok salafi-jihadi yang turut menerima wacana kritikan daripada ilmuwan dari aliran yang sama tetapi dengan manhaj berbeza, khususnya yang dikenali sebagai quietism dan aktivisme (yang biasanya dipegang oleh kelompok yang terbabit dalam politik demokrasi atau dalam kes Arab Saudi, ulama di luar kerajaan) tetapi lebih penting, ia sudah jauh terkeluar daripada tradisi ilmu Islam yang dipegang oleh ulama Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah.

Buku ini wajar dibaca juga dalam konteks negara kita, Malaysia, kerana bukan saja anasir keganasan sudah pun sampai dan mewabak termasuk di tanah air ini, bahkan lebih penting kerana lima konsep itu juga sudah pun sedia ada dalam gerakan-gerakan yang wujud sama ada bersifat politik mahupun pertubuhan bukan kerajaan.

Apakah disebabkan konsep-konsep ini sudah pun dibincang, dipegang dan menjadi ideologi dalam gerakan sedia ada, maka anasir keganasan salafi-jihadi khususnya berkaitan dengan al-Qaeda dan IS (atau DAESH) mudah merebak? Ia tentu menjadi satu tesis yang perlu dibincang dengan teliti dan jauh daripada sentimen dan taksub kepada parti serta NGO sedia ada.

[Hugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read. Meticulously researched. Maher has such a firm grasp on the concept he explores and delivers it in such a way that is informative, intriguing, engaging and easy to understand, for an incredibly complex topic. I would recommend doing a little bit of prior reading on general Islamic and middle eastern history before reading.

[Miebara Jato · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an informative and scholarly work on the origin and schools thoughts on Salafism in Islam. The book is well-researched and covers all the essential areas of Salafi-Jihadism. As the book shows, there are different schools of Salafi ideology. Expectedly, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram, etc, have taken the militaristic interpretation of the ideology.

[Iva Mrvová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maher je macher. Odomyká kľúčové myšlienky za islamským extrémizmom. Pozná ich dôverne, sám medzi fundamentalistov kedysi patril. Výborná a odborne podkutá kniha pre všetkých, ktorí chcú nazrieť do myslenia ľudí okolo nás, tých, ktorí majú zľahka inú predstavu o živote. Svojom, i tom našom.

[Matthew Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, informative and a must read. While the Arabic translations were useful and a necessity, the written English itself is too complex for its own good and became frustrating at times. Fascinating read though and learned alot.

[Abu Kamdar · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent summary of the theology, history, and evolution of the Jihadist cult.

[Henry Bunkall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well researched breakdown of the underlying theology on which Salafi thought is founded. I appreciated the effort taken Maher to convey the diversity of opinion found within Salafism.

I've seen reviews that criticise the academic and 'dry' writing style used, but I think this is more a misunderstanding of what the work intends to be. If you are looking for an account into the rise of ISIS suitable for someone with no fundamental understanding of Islam, you will understandably be disappointed. This is not a hollow book written by a journalist. However, if read with a moderate understanding of key concepts and terminology relating to Islam more broadly, you will be more likely to enjoy this book.

Maher treats a nuanced topic in the appropriate manner, and I certainly cannot criticise his style of writing in doing so. He breaks down key elements of Salafism with essay style chapters. I found his concluding statements on each element extremely helpful when constructing a overview of each topic.

I think this book offers a lot to anyone who wants to form a mature understanding of Salafism in far more depth than most books on a similar topic.

[Fuad Karimli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great scholarly book on the history of Salafism, with a specific emphasis on the militant-jihadi interpretation of it.

Recommended for anyone who is interested in understanding how groups like Al Qaeda or IS interpret and skew Islamic doctrine.

Salafism "seeks to revive the practices of the first three generations of Islam". The fact that Saudi Arabia and terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda share Salafi underpinnings shows how religious doctrine can be altered and skewed to bring 'justification' for unjustifiable acts.

[Edz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant and meticulous breakdown of one of the most resilient religious ideologies of the 21st century, with an emphasis on the theological as well as political tenets underlying it.

The book introduces us to the typology of Salafi-Jihadism, which, while reserving a space for broader aspects of Salafi ideology, is marked by its violent and rejectionist nature as compared to the other internal groups (i.e. quietist and activist), thus placing emphasis on their outlook towards politics as a means of differentiation. The author focuses on those tenets which are truly unique to this violent strand, which despite their similarities with mainstream Sunnism, often manifest themselves in stark contrast to established tradition. The first chapter looks at jihad as a religious obligation, examining the way radicals view their struggle against the West as a defensive measure and a just war, using (or misusing?) the principles of qiṣāṣ (retaliation in kind) and that of tatarrus (human shields). Takfīr is then analyzed subsequently, tracing its history from the earliest days of Islam until the present wherein extremists wield excommunication as a political tool to delegitimize their opponents whether it be Muslim governments (ṭawāghīt, mujrimūn and zalīmūn) or heretics such as the Shi’a (Rawāfiḍ). Following the trail leads us to the concept of al-walā’ wa-l-barā’ (loyalty and disavowal for the sake of Allah), tracing its history as a means of conduct for spiritual purposes towards its increasing politicization mainly in the Saudi Kingdom, especially at the eve of the Ṣaḥwa (Islamic awakening) where local clerics gathered up and challenged the government to enact Islamic reforms until the likes of Osama bin Laden used it as a means of asserting his political project, taking on a more militant form. Afterwards, the concept of Tawhīd (oneness of God aka the essence of Islam itself) is treated, using Muhammad Ibn Abd al Wahhab’s famous tripartite categorization: Tawhīd al-rubūbiyya (oneness of lordship), Tawhīd al-ulūhiyya (oneness of divinity/worship) and Tawhīd al asmā’ wa-l-ṣifāt (oneness of names and attributes). Its application and linkage with jihad by Abdallah Azzam when he fought in Afghanistan served as a linchpin for future jihadi movements, combining with the concepts of tawakkul (reliance on Allah) as well as khawf (fear of Allah) to produce an Islamic übermensch seeking to restore Shar’ia in Muslim lands. This endeavor culminates in the fourth yet controversial category of Tawhīd, that of al-Ḥākimiyya (sovereignty of Allah), whereby divine law should take precedence over man made alternatives, a concept already undertaken by thinkers such as Sayid Qutb and Abul A’la Maududi.

An excellent addition to the scholarship on Salafism, one whose interest will only grow within the coming years as we observe the manifestations of this ideology in the likes of Islamic State, a tide which has yet to recede.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the primary intellectual currents of radical Salafi-jihadism. Yes, it’s odd to describe terrorists as having an intellectual foundation but these criminals do. It makes more sense if you think of Salafi jihadis not as representatives of a religion (as if religion can be distilled to any specific representative without massive distortions) but as violent political actors like the Baader-Meinhof or various Maoist groups which took their justification from radical interpretations of political ideas. In the case of jihadis, they take their justification from similarly radical, and in many cases, very contested religious law. There’s a lot stuffed into this book which warrants reading it twice to get a handle on all the characters and their thinking which drives the jihadist movement.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shiraz Maher traces the survival, evolution, branching, and contestation within a lineage of ideas known to be Salafi-Jihadism today. Written through a careful historical tracing of its five core components, jihad, takfir, al-Wala wal-bara, tawhid and hakimiyya, this book reads best in complement to Hegghammer’s study of jihad in Saudi Arabia, which leans towards an analysis of the socio-political. The former tracks the resilience of an idea(s), while the latter pursues the expansion of an enterprise. When combined, they provide the most compelling take of how the world has eventually came face-to-face with the most formidable counter-cultural movement. While Maher does not spend much time in deciphering how these ideas came to be so bullet-proof, he nevertheless does provide a clear and rich corpus as to how they went from pen to barrel.

[Mihai Pop · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surely there's a target audience for this, but I'm not one of it.

What I will remember though: 1. The middle-ages of Christendom are similar to the status of Islam in certain significant parts of it, 2. It is retrograde to such a level that the snippets we get in media are not evocative of the phenomena, 3. Even if it looks as put together by barbarians, it is in fact executed under a religious aim to somehow unify, impose, revolutionize parts of Islam, and it is always created as a counter-Crusade.

The level of mental contortion, makes salafi-jihadism thought systems to include or link thought from Quran, Magna Carta, Marx, early democracies, to various left wing nationalists in the XXth century. All in a mishmash of creations resembling dark ages, but applied with current weapons on current cultures exposed to globalisation.

A freak horror-show in the making.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but fascinating and deeply researched book about the ideology of Salafi-Jihadism. Maher is especially effective in showing the role of colonialism and war on the one hand, and that of the conflicting demands of theory and praxis on the other, in shaping this body of Islamic political thought. One is left with the impression that, although Salafi-Jihadism is a relatively small and recent departure within Islam (one which exists in tension with the religion's quietist and reformist traditions), it is more than a pure fabrication, a mere pretext for random acts of violence. Rather, it is a substantial body of thought derived from engagement with scripture, which poses both a material and ideological threat to democratic society.

[Philip Breitenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who is not an expert but has affinity with the subject this truly was a great book. Maher explains the subject insightfully, well-written and brings clarification where needed. The book definitely delivers and touches on many subjects that readers can use to further their studies of Salafi Islam.

The critic that I read for Joas Wagemakers (that Maher did not use the correct transliteration and that Maher does not grasp the depth of some of the concepts he discusses) did not bother me that much. He still succeeded in explaining the key concepts that Salafi-Jihadists use today and clarifying the different positions that Salafi's hold when it comes to the concept of action versus thought in Islam.

[Zaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Primer

This book is a good primer into the historical development of "salafi-jihadism" and provides a valuable overview of the current ideas centered around this movement. Although the author present a clear and presentable argument, I found several opportunities where he could have explored and explained ideas in more detail. This book also primarily addresses AlQaida and doesn't touch much on ISIS. Lastly, while the book is clear in explaining the 5 ideas that center salafi-jihadism, I didn't find them to be particularly mutually exclusive; there is overlap in ideas. All in all, it's a the only one of its kind and is a well written and informative book.

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

This falls in the difficult category of extremely important information necessary to understand both the religion of Islam and the millions of Muslims who practice it (and those who adapt principles and history to their own extreme ends) and dry, dull, academic reading. Language and symbolism are central to Islamic culture and practice, and key words are dissected in each chapter. For a non-Arabic speaker, however, it can be difficult to keep up.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A difficult but rewarding text. Maher deals with a lot of complex theological concepts in nuanced and detailed ways. Given the subject matter and goal – making Salafi-Jihadist thought comprehensible to those unfamiliar with it – this was inevitable, and it does contain a wealth of valuable information and analyses. Still, it's worth bearing in mind that this will take time to come to terms with, despite its relative brevity.

[Keith Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maher does a really good job at giving a breakdown of the genealogy of Jihadism. The only thing I find tricky about it is the sheer amount of Arabic used in the discussions which made it difficult to follow on places. I understand the necessity in principle but this made the topic significantly harder to track. Still, I'd recommend it to anyone curious about the topic and the different permutations of it that have existed and continue to exist throughout the world.

[Damon Ralph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book on Salafi-Jihadism. As pointed out in several reviews its not an easy read due to the heavily academic style its written in. Its worth the effort as this book delves into complex theological concepts in greater detail than books targetted more for the lay audience. I rare this book highly - I would also suggest that this book would be made easier to digest if you start with a few 'general' books on Islamic history or culture first.

[Nick McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Use google w/ this book

I enjoyed this book, but the callbacks and references to events, scholars, and other personalities can be challenging. I found myself google-ing something every other page, which is fine, but there’s just so much historical reference it might seem too much for others. Overall, a highly informative book.

[Kyrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to follow the different concepts if you don't speak Arabic. Essentially, there is a scriptural justification and a sect supporting it for every political necessity. Two things it showed me are
1) American Imperialism is as central in the hybrid narratives of global jihadi terrorists as traditional Islam
2) Prince Salman is playing a dangerous game in Saudi Arabia

[Anil Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books offers detailed (and well researched) insights into a controversial topic. A loosely thrown terminology is systematically broken down into 4-5 concepts and explained in details. The Arabic dictionary in the beginning is helpful. Some chapters have to be re-read, since the concepts are complex in nature.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Less pages, but intense.!

[Kumail Akbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read on the history of Salafi Jihadism - the ideology behind al qaeda, ISIS, etc. Far too many people make the connection between these terrorist organizations and Islam, when they actually are products of one set of ideas within one sect of Islam (Salafism). Reading works like this one, is one possibly remedy for such conclusions.

[Asif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Salafi-Jihadism is a broad and complex religious ideology. The book has shown how five key features define the ideology more than anything else: jihad, takfir, al-wala' wa-l-bara' , tawhid, and hakmiyya. The development of each has been uneven and irregularly, mutation and different times and different ways. However, all the major shifts in these ideologies have come in response to war.

[Hind · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book if you are looking for an in-depth historical sketch of how Salafi Jihadism evolved

A fantastic and comprehensive take on how politics in the region influenced the development of Salafi thought and Jihad. Neatly written and structured.

[Axel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Þung á köflum en engu að síður virkilega góð.

[Thomas B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very concise and very accessible. It is not judgemental, but balanced. A brilliant read to gain better understanding for a western, non-Muslim eye.

[Rowena Abdul Razak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good intellectual history of the concept of salafi-jihadism, drawing upon classical Islamic thought and modern interpretations. Good introduction. Clearly structured and easy to follow.

[Ruxandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

[Oliver Halyckyj · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know -read.