The Salafi movement in Jordan

Abstract

Since the 1970s, the Salafi movement in Jordan has grown substantially. Today, Salafis are ubiquitous in every major city in the kingdom, and Salafi bookshops, lessons, and activities are common. The purpose of the movement is to institute religious behavior and practices that capture the purity of Islam, as understood by the salaf (early Companions of the Prophet). Salafis believe that because the salaf learned about Islam directly from the Prophet or those who knew him, they commanded a pure understanding of the religion. All decisions in life must therefore be based upon evidence from the Qur an and sunna, as recorded in authentic sayings (hadiths) by the salaf. In instances where particular actions or behaviors were not sanctioned by the original sources of Islam, they are rejected as 'not Muslim.' Those who strictly adhere to this religious understanding are considered Salafis. The structure of the Salafi movement in Jordan differs from that of many other social movements in the kingdom. Rather than operating through the more common formal, grass-roots organizations, Salafis mobilize through informal social networks based on a shared interpretation of Islam. Social relations and activities form the organizational grid and matrix of the movement, connecting like-minded Muslims through common religious experiences and personal relationships. This informal network serves as an institution and resource for fulfilling the movement's functions and goals.