Roots of Diversity

Re-examining Proto-Salafi Movements and the Foundations of Modern Salafism

Abstract

This study re-examines the historical and ideological roots of modern Salafism by exploring its proto-Salafi antecedents, which emerged as localized Islamic reformist movements during the 18th and 19th centuries. Through a comparative historical analysis of key movements in South Asia, West Africa, and Arabia, the paper challenges the dominant narrative of Salafism as a unified, global, and inherently violent ideology. Instead, it highlights the diversity of proto-Salafi movements and their responses to distinct socio-political, colonial, and theological contexts. Emphasizing shared doctrinal principles such as the rejection of bid‘ah (innovation) and the prioritization of tawhid (monotheism), the study demonstrates how these movements contributed to shaping modern Salafism while contesting its portrayal as a monolithic phenomenon. This nuanced exploration provides a framework for understanding Salafism’s foundational diversity, its regional adaptations, and its evolution into a multifaceted contemporary movement.