Divergent Interpretations of Jihād in West Africa: a Historical Analysis of the Al-Muridiyyah and Boko Haram Movements

Abstract

This paper explores the divergent interpretations of jihād in contemporary West Africa through a comparative study of two Islamic movements: Boko Haram in Nigeria and the Al-Muridiyyah order in Senegal. While jihād is often misrepresented in global discourse as synonymous with “holy war,” this concept encompasses a broader range of meanings in Islamic tradition, including ethical self-discipline and spiritual struggle. Nigeria has become one of the most affected countries by Islamist terrorism, with Boko Haram’s violent jihadist ideology causing tens of thousands of deaths, targeting both Muslims and Christians. In contrast, Senegal has remained free from jihadist attacks, despite being a majority-Muslim country. This exceptional stability is attributed largely to the influence of Sufi brotherhoods, particularly the Al-Muridiyyah, which promotes a peaceful, work-centered, and spiritual understanding of jihād, rooted in the teachings of Amadou Bamba (1853-1927), Woerner‑Powell (2025). Through this comparative analysis, the article highlights how religious interpretation, historical context, and sociopolitical factors shape divergent trajectories within Islamic societies, and how localized spiritual traditions can serve as effective cultural buffers against religious extremism.

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