Books From University Presses

The terms Wahhabi or Salafi are seen as interchangeable and frequently misunderstood by outsiders. However, as Madawi al-Rasheed explains in a fascinating exploration of Saudi Arabia in the twenty-first century, even Saudis do not agree on their meaning. Under the influence of mass education, printing, new communication technology, and global media, they are forming their own conclusions and debating religion and politics in traditional and novel venues, often violating official taboos and the conservative values of the Saudi society. Drawing on classical religious sources, contemporary readings and interviews, Al-Rasheed presents an ethnography of consent and contest, exploring the fluidity of the boundaries between the religious and political. Bridging the gap between text and context, the author also examines how states and citizens manipulate religious discourse for purely political ends, and how this manipulation generates unpredictable reactions whose control escapes those who initiated them.

This book is an insightful and in-depth analysis of the dynamics of non-violent Lebanese Salafi groups, shedding light on the lesser-known peaceful proselytization aspects of Salafism. It also explores the importance of transnational links, leading to the fragmentation of the Lebanese Salafi community. The book highlights how Salafism creates and mobilizes material and symbolic resources, reshaping the structures of authority within Lebanon's Sunni Muslim community. Highly recommended for those interested in understanding the complexity of Salafism in Lebanon beyond its association with violence.