The Transformation Course of Salafism From Purity in Thought to Violence in Practice

The purpose of the present study is to explore transformations in the course of Salafism. The method of study is descriptive analysis and it deals with how this ideology grew within the contemporary era gradually turning into an operational force making use of violence as its distinctive feature in the Islamic world. Furthermore, relying on the approach of historical process mining and making a distinction between two concepts of Salafia and Salafism, it was attempted to explain the theological framework of Salafia in the early history of Islam from the view of Sunnis versus intellectual background differences. In the light of the above distinction, old Salafism was distinguished from new Salafism and by surveying the intellectual impacts of old Salafism on new Salafism, the practical reflections of this movement were studied within the past 3 decades. The results showed that the transformation of this process is essential by spreading the genuine instructions of Islam having a conspicuous effect in forcing out the violent ideology and practices of Salafis in today’s chaotic world. As we move from the early history of Islam towards the contemporary era, the behavior of those who claim Salafism has distanced from the instructions of the pious predecessors.