Introduction to understand Salafiyah

Proposé par updater le jeudi 16 février 2012

*Introduction to understand “Salafiyah »:

The roots of « Salafiyah » go back to the followers of The upholders of prophetic tradition school, who emerged in the third century of the Hejra, in the Abbassids age, led by Ahmed Ibn Hannbal, one of the four Imam’s of Sunnah. While the Muatazila used to rely on mind to read the religious texts, grasp and, and then interpret them, the “Scholars of Hadith” saw that following the mind jeopardizes the purity of Islam.

The discord between the two groups came to an end only when “Al Moutawakil”, a fervent supporter of “Ibn Hannbal” and his approach, became caliph.

“Mohammad Ahmad Mostapha Ahmad”, known as “Abu Zahra”, in his book “The History of Islamic Schools of Jurisprudence”, holds that the Hannbali School of Jurisprudence was adopted as an official doctrine to the Abbassids State at the time of Caliph “Al kader Belleh”. This school requires adopting without relying on the mind or logic.

With the division of Muslim jurists and theologian Traditionalists into “Hannbalism” and “Asharism” and the embracing of some Emirs of the “hannbali School”, the Traditionalist Thought dwindled remarkably The 7^th  Century of The Hejra, which synchronized with demise of the Abbassids State, witnessed the appearance of “ Ibn Taymia”  who endeavored to restore the Traditionalist Thought, and fought those he dubbed The Heretics calling for the necessity to reinstate the worthy ancestors’ creed and method.

Several scholars and seekers of knowledge responded to his call, like “Al Dhahabi”, “Ibn Kayim Al Jawziya” and “ Al Mizi”.

It was not but long until the Traditionalist Thought waned again, to appear anew at the beginning of   the 18^th century in The Arabian Peninsula, manifested in the call and guidance of “ Mohammad Ibn Abdel Wahab”, which had a tremendous impact on the Islamic World Region.

*the meaning of “Salafiyah”: Linguistically and technically:

The term “Salaf” in Arabic means what is bygone and what precedes.

Technically, it is an expression intended to refer to the first Muslims namely the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH), the Followers, and the Successors of The Successors who lived during the first three centuries of Islam, with the exception of many groups like “The Kharijites”, “Shiites”, “The Muatazila”, “the Anti-Fatalists (Al Qadiriyah” and “Al Jahmiya”.

“Ahmad Farid” defines the Traditionalists as “those who believe in the good forefathers’ creed and follow it in understanding The Holy Koran and Sunnah (prophet Mohammad’ statements and deeds), and putting them into practices.”

Invited as a special guest on “Kalima” radio’s program concerning the file,doctor « Ali Al Ishi » made a general view about « Salafiyah » as concept and history. He quoted “Al Ghazali” who in his book “Restraining laymen from the Science of Dialectic Theology” said “ The creed I owe to The Lord of All Creation is that of worthy ancestors, who are the Companions of the Prophet and the Followers.

“Al Ishi” mentioned that linguistically “I am Traditionalist” is “just nonsense.” (How can an individual be an “ancestor” to him/her self?) but he clarified that nowadays to be conservative means to “Follow Salafiyah and Traditionalists.”

In a statement to “kalmia radio”, the “Sheikh Abu Ayyoub Al Tunisi”, one of the Salafiyah’s Sheikhs in Tunisian, defined the conservative school as “a way to understand the creed of the Prophet Mohammad(PBUH).” He added that “as every group has its own way in grasping the Holy Koran and Sunnah, the Traditionalists ,on their part, have their own peculiar way.”

In an interview with “kalmia” radio’s reporter in Sidi Bouzid, “Al Sheikh Al Idrissi” (a famous sheikh of Traditionalism) said :” I strongly object the appellation of Salafiyah.” And responding to another question about the intellectual source of traditionalists, he replied There is no authoritative source except the Holy Koran and Sunnah.”

Notwithstanding, the Traditionalist creed rests undoubtedly on a wide range of thoughts and believe, to mention first the sources of Islamic Jurisprudence, which , as stated in “ Imam Shafii” ’s book “The message” -are the Koran, the Tradition, the consensus of opinions, and analogical deduction.

The Traditionalists believe there is no discrepancy between Transmitted Authority (Nakl) and Logic (Akl).

Indeed, it is prohibited to contradict legal proofs from the Holy Book, Sunnah and Consensus of opinions with rational or verbal arguments.

Furthermore, Traditionalists believe in the oneness and singleness of God, worshiping no one but Him. They, also, believe in destiny in its good and evil, and in the Belief by statements and deeds.

Also, they follow the Companions of the Prophet and his Family without believing in the fallibility (“Esma”:Inability to commit a sin)   of one of them. This point constitutes the linchpin of the Traditionalist creed, contrary to the Shiite one.

The Salafiyah abhors heresy and heretics, and sees that the ordinances of Islam, stated in the Holy Koran and Sunnah, are obligatory practices in every time and place known as Islamic law Rules, which later, took the appellation  of “Political Islam.”

In this context, “Abu Ayyoub Al Tunissi” states “He who rules  without  the Islamic Law is an Unbeliever.”

And according to “ Abu Ayyoub”, a government that does not act in accordance with the ordinances of Islamic law( Sharia)  “needs to be ousted even with sword , that is with weapons.”

As for “striving in the cause of Allah”(Jihad) , it is a collective duty in a precise place or time. To mention few example, “Jamel Eddin Al Afghani’s” call for striving against Soviets in Afghanistan, “Ahmad Irfan” in India, “Ossama Ben laden” and his group entitled Al Qaeda in its war against the United States  in Afghanistan, Iraq and other Arab countries.

For “Abu Ayoub Al Tunissi », striving against the Unbelievers Enemies is “a means not an end.” He says “ We raise weapons in Afghanistan because it is an Islamic country invaded by Infidels( Unbelievers), so we have to combat them with weapons, but in our Arab countries and Muslim societies, we see that reform comes through enjoining good deeds and prohibiting bad ones.”

Eventually, the Conservatives believe that the science of dialectic theology is alien to Islam, and that Islamic texts from Koran and Sunnah contain sufficient rational arguments and logic proofs to argue with dissents and invite them to Islam.

The Traditionalist School, like other schools and groups, can be subdivided into many sects, despite the inflexibility of its intellectual pillars and its apparent inertia.

*the Traditionalist sects:striving against the ruler or with him?

The striving Salafiyah ( Al Jihadia) ,adopted by many groups, rests most and foremost on the principle of violence as a way for change.

It gets with the rest of groups in adopting the worthy ancestors’ method and adhering to “Jihad” as essential constituent and method.

He who strives in the cause of Allah believes in the necessity of fighting governments that do not act in accordance with the Divine Law. The most prominent theorists of striving Salafiyah are “Abu Mohammad Al Makdasy” and “Abu Katata Al Filastini”.

The emergency of Striving Salafiyah or other groups is a reaction against bottled-up emotions of injustice and totalitarianism and massive arrest campaigns that included Political Islam activists in the Arab World.

Doctor “Ali Al Ishi” spoke in detail about these groups in the last part of the final episode of Salafiayh’s file.”