Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Proselytizing I slam — Problematizing “ S alafism”

2014; Wiley; Volume: 104; Issue: 1-2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/muwo.12046

1478-1913

Susanne Olsson,

Education and Islamic Studies

Abstract This article discusses the contemporary E uropean setting pertaining to Islamic interpretations, mainly so called S alafi I slam. The empirical material is based on publications by a S wedish group that conducts street da῾wa , aiming to proselytize among non‐ M uslims. The ideology, as presented in official publications to be used for da῾wa , is described and analyzed as part of a larger da῾wa ‐movement with S alafi‐inclinations in E urope. The group is not unique, but rather one example of many in E urope, at least concerning the activism advocated. The presentation of the group serves to reflect upon global influences and similarities among contemporary I slamic da῾wa activism, as well as effects that the national context has on the choice of predominant themes addressed by the group as well as interpretative strategies used. The overarching aim with the article is to problematize the common usage of the concept S alafi among scholars of religion to describe and characterize contemporary I slamic groups of various kinds. The conclusion calls for a more nuanced approach concerning conceptualizations and the use of typologies in studying contemporary I slamic groups in a minority setting.