Salafi facts for kids

Salafi mosque in Payyanur, India.

A Salafi is a Muslim who believes Islam should be followed just like the first few generations of Muslims did. They focus on going back to the original ways of practicing the faith. The word "Salafi" also describes certain ideas within Sunni Islam that are based on very traditional or "conservative" views. This means they prefer older ways of doing things.

What Salafism Means

Salafism is a way of thinking in Islam that emphasizes following the practices of the earliest Muslims. These early Muslims are called the "Salaf" (meaning "ancestors" or "predecessors"). Salafis believe that the purest form of Islam was practiced by the companions of the Prophet Muhammad and the generations that followed them. They try to live their lives and understand their religion exactly as these early Muslims did.

Key Ideas of Salafism

Salafis believe it's important to stick to the original texts of Islam, like the Quran and the Sunnah (the teachings and actions of Prophet Muhammad). They often try to avoid new interpretations or practices that came much later. This focus on the early days of Islam is a main part of their beliefs.

Important Scholars in Salafism

Many scholars have influenced Salafi thought over time.

• Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905) was an Islamic scholar who believed that the core values of Islam could fit well with a modern lifestyle. He thought Islam's teachings were not against progress. Some people consider him to be a Salafi because he wanted to go back to the basic principles of Islam.
• Ibn Taymiyyah (1263-1328) was another very important scholar. He believed that some newer ways of understanding Islam, like Sufism, did not match the original teachings. He argued for a strict return to the early practices of Islam. His ideas have greatly influenced many Salafi thinkers today.

Salafism Today

Today, Salafi ideas are found in many parts of the world. People who identify as Salafi often focus on living according to what they believe are the purest forms of Islamic practice. They might emphasize certain ways of dressing, praying, and living daily life that they see as following the early Muslims.

Images for kids

• 

  Rashid Rida's monthly Al-Manar was an important religious magazine that helped spread Salafi ideas across the Arab World, South Asia and South East Asia

• 

  Islamic University of Madinah, an important religious school for modern Salafi ideas

• 

  A Salafi funeral site in Linxia, China