The Development of British Salafism

Abstract

The popularity of Salafism in the UK is attributable to the convergence of the globalization of Salafi discourse, the search for religious identity among second generation British Muslims seeking “pure” religion, and the competition for recruits between rival Islamic currents. British Salafism has become diversified to such an extent that it is no longer recognizable as a single movement, with the development taking unexpected turns that belie popular monolithic representations.