Sufis and Salafis in the Contemporary Age explores the dynamics at play between what are usually understood as two very different forms of Islam, namely Sufism and Salafism. Sufism is commonly understood as the peaceful and mystical dimension of Islam whereas Salafism is perceived as strictly pietistic and moralist, and for some it conjures up images of violent manifestations of Islam. Of course these generalisations require more nuanced investigation, and this book provides a number of case studies from around the Islamic world to unpack the intricate relationship between the two. The diversity of the case studies that focus on Islamic groups in India, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey and South East Europe reflect the multiplicity of relationships that exist between the Salafis and Sufis. The specific case studies are framed by an introduction that provides essential historical background and definitions of the terms, and also by general studies of the Sufi-Salafi relationship which enable the reader to focus on the large picture.This will be the first book to investigate the relationship between Sufism and Salafism in such a wide fashion, and includes chapters on "traditional" Sufis, as well as from those who consider that Sufism and Salafism are not necessarily contradictory.

Investigates the extent of the relationship between Sufism and Salafism in the contemporary era, two interpretations of Islam usually thought to be diametrically opposed.

Part 1: The Background and Salafi critiques of Sufism 1. Introduction, Lloyd Ridgeon (University of Glasgow, UK) 2. Mapping the modern Turkish Sufism and Anti-Sufism: a case study of Salafism in opposition to Sufism, Alberto Ambrosio (French Institute for Anatolian Studies, Turkey) Part II: Case Studies: Sufi Responses to Salafism 3. Attempts to Delegitimate the Detractors of Sufism in Hyderabad, Mauro Valdinoci (University of Modena, Italy) 4. Defending the Faith: Mystical Traditions and Reformist Voices from Bengal, Kashshaf Ghani (University of Aliah, Calcutta, India) 5. Sufi-related Discourses and Controversies in Late- and Post-Communist South East Europe - Regional and Transregional Patterns, Yuri Stoyanov (SOAS, University of London, UK) 6. Contemporary Sufism in Iraq: A case study of developments at the Shrines of Shaikh Abd al-Qadiral-Jilani and his sons in Baghdad and in 'Aqra, Noorahal-Gailani (University of Glasgow, UK) 7. Political Participation of Sufi and Salafi Movements in modern Morocco, Aziz Idrissi (Fez University, Morocco) Part III: Salafi-Sufis 8. Deobandi Sufism: a blurring of the borders, Ron Geaves (Liverpool Hope University, UK) 9. How Ibn Hazm kidnapped al-Ghazali: "Taharat al-qulub" in modern Cairene Salafi settings, Richard Gauvain (American University of Dubai, UAE) Part IV: Conclusions Sufis as Alternatives to Salafis? Sufis as 'Good Muslims': Sufism in the Battle against Jihadi Salafism, Mark Sedgwick, (University of Aarhus, Denmark)