DUSHANBE, July 12, 2008, Asia-Plus – Salafis’ activity requires thorough analysis, and individual approach is needed in order to avoid appearance of a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” chairman of Russia’s Islamic Committee Geidar Jamal said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
Commenting the current situation of Islam in Tajikistan, were a new unregistered Islamic group of the Salafi ignoring other branches of Islam and traditional clergy is activating, he noted that he thinks of all Muslims irrespective of the denominations and branches from one position: whether they serve Islam or its enemies.
“American special services are acting within branches of Islam, and revealing them, we know who is who,” Jamal said, terming as example the Taliban Movement and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), whom he links to the American special services.
Russian expert stressed that a dialogue is needed between any branches of Islam in order to void disagreements and discord.
In the meantime, Mr. Jamal refrained from commenting on views of Salfis, promising to revert to that issue later.
Salafism is a Sunni Islamic school of thought that takes the pious ancestors (Salaf) of the patristic period of early Islam as exemplary models.
Salafis view the first three generations of Muslims, who are Muhammad”s companions, and the two succeeding generations after them as examples of how Islam should be practiced. This principle is derived from the following Sunni hadith by Muhammad: The people of my generation are the best, then those who follow them, and then those who follow the latter (i.e. the first three generations of Muslims)
The principal tenet of Salafism is that Islam was perfect and complete during the days of Muhammad and his companions, but that undesirable innovations have been added over the later centuries due to materialist and cultural influences. Salafism seeks to revive a practice of Islam that more closely resembles the religion during the time of Muhammad. S
alafism has also been described as a simplified version of Islam, in which adherents follow a few commands and practices.
Salafism is often used interchangeably with “Wahhabism”. Adherents usually reject this term because it is considered derogatory and because they believe that Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab did not establish a new school of thought nor self-describe themselves as such.
The International Religious Freedom Report 2007 released by the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor noted that in 2006, a new unregistered Islamic group of the Salafi sect began worshipping in Friday mosques in Dushanbe, Sughd, and Khatlon. An estimated 5,000 Salafis practice in Dushanbe without interference from other Muslims or the Government.
