Salafizing Hanafiyya? Madrasa Teachers in Afghanistan, State Actors, and Salafis

Abstract

This article investigates the Saudi-financed Salafi intervention in Afghanistan, focusing on its impact on the dominant Hanafi legal tradition and the rejection of Salafized madrasa curriculum reforms by Hanafi scholars. It explores the involvement of foreign actors in supporting reform-oriented Salafis to prevent radical elements from gaining political power. The study delves into theological differences between Salafis and Sufis, their interpretation of tawhid, and their incorporation of Western political concepts. Additionally, it highlights the tensions between the Hanafi legal framework and the proposed Salafi curriculum, revealing the intricate dynamics of Islamic normativity.