What is the difference between Wahabism and Salafism?

The word ‘salaf' is the short form of ‘salaf us-sawleh’, that is the pious predecessors. The term salaf, therefore is used among a sect that claim to follow ummah’s first three generations of the Prophet Muhammad, the companion, students or scholars called tabaeen, and their followers and students called the taba-tabaeen.

The salaf believe that the words of Allah in Quran should be taken and learnt literally the way they are written, and the explanations of the words are not needed. The term wahabahism is derived naturally from the founder and leader of the group Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab. They have a rigid belief and they believe that the words of Allah in the Quran should be directly interpreted. The term wahabi is pejorative, and no one who follows this sect refers to him or herself as a Wahhabi. They believe that Allah is above the throne and He does not leave the throne, they also believe that He is present in the sky of this world. The founders of Salafism are ibn Taymiyya a d some of his students and followers.

Wahabism and Salafism are terms related to the religion of Islam. Salafism is a traditional movement. It started in Egypt under the leadership of King Faisal. Wahabism is a religion from Saudi Arabia. It combines some parts of Salafism. One main difference between the two is their method to change society.

Changing the society they live in is their common goal. Salahism wants to do it through peaceful ways of teaching and preaching. Wahabism wants to do it through violence. Though they started as two different movements, today they are combined to help spread teachings and continue their mission of changing society.