492 Annabelle Böttcher
many years of systematic and intensive studies. Just as certain exclusive
brands in the world of consumerism remain beyond reach of those,
who do not have the financial capacity. Instead of freezing in respectful
admiration of the exclusivity of these eminent scholars, Salafis show a
refreshing creativity by creating their proper versions of the inacces-
sible originals and integrating them into the self-representation of their
daily routines. Each one, Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn al-Qayyim, represents
a reference of its own depending on the needs of Salafis. In the first set-
ting of the German city of Leipzig, Salafis live in a politically stable and
relatively secure environment. They have the time and the means to
develop their autodidactic approach to Islamic learning. In this sense,
Leipzig is a veritable laboratory of Salafi grassroot scholarship in its
infancy. In their endeavour to insert themselves into the broader Salafi
networks, these German Salafis have invested much to develop their
internet presence, where they proudly display the first results of their
modest contributions to the broader Salafi reference space. Transla-
tions of well-known (Ḥanbalī and Saudi) scholars are mixed with the
writings of local laymen (and more seldomnly women). Ibn Taymiyya
and Ibn al-Qayyim are mentioned, but remain part of a broader col-
lection of references.
In the second setting, Salafis are persecuted, arrested, detained, tor-
tured and kept without proper legal proceedings. Global Salafi net-
works are exposed to these two poles of external influences and inte-
grate this experience into their daily lives. It is the feeling of intense
political pressure and being exposed to the centre of political turmoil
in this waging “War against Terrorism” that explains the preference of
Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya. Ibn Taymiyya is clearly
one of the heroes of those engaged in armed struggle because of cer-
tain elements of his biography. His student Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya
offers a more spiritual dimension in times of inner recollection and
faith renewal.
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