The Rise of the Salafi Islam in Egypt.....

With its message, "yes to jihad, just not now"....

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - The Muslim call to prayer fills the halls of a Cairo computer shopping center, followed immediately by the click of locking doors as the young, bearded tech salesmen close up shop and line up in rows to pray together.

Business grinding to a halt for daily prayers is not unusual in conservative Saudi Arabia, but until recently it was rare in the Egyptian capital, especially in affluent commercial districts like Mohandiseen, where the mall is located.

But nearly the entire three-story mall is made up of computer stores run by Salafis, an ultraconservative Islamic movement that has grown dramatically across the Middle East in recent years.

"We all pray together," said Yasser Mandi, a salesman at the Nour el-Hoda computer store. "When we know someone who is good and prays, we invite them to open a shop here in this mall." Even the name of Mandi's store is religious, meaning "Light of Guidance."

The rise of Salafists has critics worried that their beliefs will crowd out the more liberal and tolerant version of Islam long practiced in some Middle East countries, particularly Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. They also warn that its doctrine is only a few shades away from that of violent groups like al-Qaida  that it effectively preaches, "Yes to jihad, just not now."

Salafist groups are gaining in numbers and influence across the Middle East. In Jordan, a Salafist was chosen as head of the old-line opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood.In Kuwait, Salafists were elected to parliament and are leading the resistance to any change that would threaten traditional Islamic values.

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Comments

[Appalled By The World]

If Salafism is a pure form of Islamania that demands things remain as they were in the time of Mo then wouldn't it be heretical for this madness to be allowed anywhere outside of what's now Saudi Arabia? After all, in Mo's time nobody had a clue of the wider world outside of that place.

[pulsar182]

Being a Muslim will sooner or later bring out the Islam in you..and Islam is violent.

[Muhammad was a Cockweasel]

Salafism is undoubtedly on the rise here in Cairo, if the number of large, rhododendron like beards and tent burqas and niqabs on display are anything to go by.

The good news is that, even in Ramadhan, all but the most popular mosques are more than half empty...

As far as this particular computer mall is concerned, I can confirm that most of the proprietors sport massive beards and close en masse at Allahu Akbar time. Interestingly, their purported religious fundamentalism doesn't prevent them from trying to rip you off or cheat you; something they have in common with 99% of their fellow denizens.