What are the main principles of Wahhabism (Salafism) and what makes it different?

Discussion in 'Religion Archives' started by chuuush, Sep 12, 2007.

  1. chuuush Registered Senior Member

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    As a muslim I keep hearing good and bad things about wahhabism/salafism. Some of my relatives who live in Saudi Arabia are also partly Salafi, but when it comes to discussion, which is quite rare, we never fully agree? So why are they different than other muslim sects? Are they followers of a half-knowledged scholar who was backed by the colonialists to creat a discord in the Islamic world which possibly led to the demolition of the only existing Islamic empire of the time or preachers of a puritarian Islam?
    Contributions please...
     
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  3. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    From what I have read on the subject, the Salafis are the ones who claim to emulate the Sahaba. The problem with this is they ignore the fact that it has been 1400 years since the Sahaba lived and Islam is not about getting frozen in time. Most are generally just quietly conservative and fiercely opposed to any change in their society, which they term as bid'a or innovation. In practise though, it is tedious and difficult to avoid change of any sort, so it mostly ends up making them anachronistic and misfits in any society but their own.

    Abdul Wahab was the guy who (mistakenly IMO) thought any change would damage Islam and he was instrumental in not only codifying Salafism as a social movement (destruction of several historical structures to avoid deification, etc) but also making it highly evangelical in nature.

    IMO, this form of Islam is bid'a and takes away from the inherent message of Islam, which is to "Read! " and gain knowledge and not keep your eyes, hearts and minds closed to what the world is about.

    Besides, as the Quran says, even the Prophet was not sent to change anyone's mind, only to remind everyone of the message. That to me implies that everyone should read the message and make up their own minds.
     
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  5. chuuush Registered Senior Member

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    What does IMO mean?
     
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  7. Sock puppet path GRRRRRRRRRRRR Valued Senior Member

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    It means SAM is not humble
     
  8. chuuush Registered Senior Member

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    The differences, though being considered little by some are from time to time so grave that many islamic scholars in non-arabic countries renounce wahabism as Bid'a itself,That is true with the İslamic Sunni scholars in Iran, Turkey and the like. While Wahabists in return accuse those who reject their way with disbelief. But I dare tell the popularity of salafism in some countries has grown compared to 10 years ago. Example are Afganistan, Pakistan and most Arabic countries. I suppose the idea that killing innocent muslims as acceptable collateral damages in a war against the unbelievers is permittable is a salafi view (or maybe of a very hardliner group of the sect) . This is what shocked many muslims when they first saw suicide bombers in Iraq killing muslim civilians and enemies indiscriminately, a trend which has since spread to countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Indonesia, etc. and seems to still have way to go. Replies on this, if any, will be appreciated of course...

    But I want to make this discussion over the fundamental differences between the Salafism and the traditional islam (may I call it so?), because I maybe a bit biased against wahabism, but again want to know what it exactly is before jumping into conclusions...
     
  9. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    It is not the Salafi view that killing Muslims is fine; what they do is redefine who Muslims are, ie they are takfiris. So for a Wahabbi, collateral damages that lead to casualties of other Muslims is justified by the pronouncement that they are not Muslims anyway as they are practising bid'a.
     
  10. chuuush Registered Senior Member

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    You mean they reject the people of Iraq as non-muslims? I don't think so...
    Anyway, I expect to get information from somebody who is a member of or well-knowledged on Salafism...It maybe that I'm wrong..
     
  11. GeoffP Caput gerat lupinum Valued Senior Member

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    "War against the unbelievers".

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    Nice.

    Send in the moderates.
     
  12. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    You have to realise the difference between Salafism which is a conservative movement of "pure Islam" based on Sahabas and Wahabism which is an extreme version of it.

    e.g.
    And this:

    In this they resemble the Khawarij movement:

    But:
    Details:
    http://www.sunnah.org/articles/Wahhabiarticleedit.htm


    Of course, that is not how you'll see it explained in popular media:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahhabi

    Unfortunately Abdul Wahab is still popular in some circles:

     
  13. chuuush Registered Senior Member

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    441
    That was quite enlightening, thanks a lot! I also understand that real Salafism should be considered something different. Are there any real Salafi groups in our world of today by the way?

    More... I want to go down into the differences between wahhabism and traditional islam, so maybe if somebody can give a list, I can study and further it more... thanks
     
  14. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    You have to do some research on your own as well. :bugeye:

    Here is one difference I can give you:

    http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=2252&CATE=24

    One more resource:
    http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=7&ID=124&CATE=24
     
  15. chuuush Registered Senior Member

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    One of the arguments the followers of wahabism (I will call it wahabism to prevent misunerstanding with real Salafism) make is that this is not a new sect, but only a puritarian approach to an understanding of Islam decayed by superstitions and greedy scholars. As a proof for this they argue that Mohammad İbn Abdul Wahhab didn't write any books on Figh.
     
  16. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    Depends on who you ask; I am not very familiar with Wahab's writings; I'll try to correct that in the next year.

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  17. S.A.M. uniquely dreadful Valued Senior Member

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    Hmm while looking out references for you, I realised that there are many contradictory opinions on the beliefs of Salafis and Wahabis; I suggest you consider my posts as opinions or suggestions rather than facts.

    I will see if I can get a better source of information.
     
  18. Ghost_007 Registered Senior Member

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    Wahabis are Salafis. The thing is Wahabis never refer to themselves as Wahabis, they hate that name, they call themselves 'Salafis'.

    Wahabis hate that name because of the negative connotations it has picked up however it is still widely used across the Muslim World.

    Check this link out:

    http://aboutwahhabi.tripod.com/academic.htm
     

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