Salafi-Jihadism

'A groundbreaking study ... a masterclass in how to do intellectualhistory, and one that nobody with an interest in radical Islam shouldmiss' Tom Holland, New Statesman

'Readers looking for arigorous but lucid account of Islamic State's ideas will be well-servedby Maher's book ... the first of its kind' Kyle W. Orton, Wall Street Journal

No topic has gripped the public imagination so dramatically as thespectre of global jihadism. While much has been said about the wayjihadists behave, their ideology remains poorly understood. Shiraz Mahercharts the intellectual underpinnings of salafi-jihadism from itsorigins in the mountains of the Hindu Kush to the jihadist insurgenciesof the 1990s and the 9/11 wars.His ground-breaking introduction tosalafi-jihadism recalibrates our understanding of the ideas underpinningone of the most destructive political philosophies of our time.

'Magisterial ... Essential reading' Robin Yassin-Kassab, The National

'ShirazMaher, a leading authority on contemporary Islamic extremism, tracesthe evolution of the key ideas behind one of the most significantreligious and political movements of our time. Comprehensive, importantand timely' Jason Burke, author of Al-Qaeda

'A work of genuine interest and originality ... indispensable' David Patrikarakos, Literary Review

Reviews

In the recent flood of accounts of radical Islam, this one stands out. Maher's compelling exploration of Salafi jihadism achieves a level of clarity that perhaps could be produced only by someone who, like Maher, once adhered to that strain of thought. The book is exceptional also in its focus on theology: although Maher is a specialist in jihadist radicalization, he dwells little on jihadists' motivations, paying much more attention to their beliefs.