“Peaceful Salafism” in Malaysia: Legitimising Comfort for Radicals (original) (raw)

The paper discusses the emergence of "Peaceful Salafism" in Malaysia, suggesting that it is a response to fears about Salafism and a means to legitimize radical attitudes. It explores the dynamics between political and religious spheres as Salafists navigate their identity in a multi-religious society, arguing that while peaceful Salafism aims to distance itself from extremism, it may inadvertently provide comfort to radicals. The study concludes that Salafi scholars must renounce hate in their rhetoric to prevent the normalization of violent ideologies among followers.