In India you have a small movement that is very Salafi. In India it is called Ahle-e-Hadees and it exists since the 19th century. It is not a violent movement. It's about strict observance, they tend to be intolerant of other Muslims, especially Sufis. They are not at all politicised or politically violent.

The Al Qaeda fringe is just a small group within the broader Salafi movement. Around the world, the Salafi movement is a big movement which is non-violent with different opinions but, then, there is a small percentage within that is a radical fringe and violent.

You will be happy to know in India Wahabbis and Salafis, both Sunnis, are not popular. Ahle-e-Hadees is by far, historically, the least popular Muslim group.

How much inroads has Al Qaeda's Wahabbism made within India?

The Wahabbi movement is a movement that traces its origin to the teachings of the Saudi scholar who lived in the 18th century. It argues for a strict interpretation of the Quran, also the traditions of the Prophet. There is very strict monotheism. Oneness of God is very strict.

Anyone who doesn't believe exactly the way they believe about God's oneness is not a good Muslim. He is a kafir or infidel and you can engage in violence against them.

Salafis are similar to the Wahabbis. They can be traced to the 18th century, but they go a step further. They don't recognise the authorities in Saudi Arabia as legitimate. For them Saudi scholars are not legitimate interpreters of Islam. They have taken up the interpretation of the Quran on themselves. They don't refer to scholars.

Most Salafis are not well educated in Islamic law. Most radical Salafis, like Al Qaeda, want to destroy the Saudi regime. They consider the Saudis (royal family) an apostate regime that must be removed. It is complicated. Salafis are very straight in their interpretations. They tend to focus their anger and energy on other Muslims with whom they disagree.

What is Al Qaeda's immediate future?

It will depend on what happens in Iraq and what happens in Afghanistan. If America is to come out of Iraq, if the Arab–Israel conflict is solved, if the problem of Kashmir is solved, then I think Al Qaeda will just disappear. They would have no basis to say that Muslims are being humiliated and so on.

As long as Muslims, rightly or wrongly, feel that they are under attack and feel that they are being targeted because they are Muslims, Al Qaeda will have a small group of supporters in the Muslim world and they will be able to recruit cadre.

Some can argue by this logic that you are in a way supporting Al Qaeda.

Well, I think Al Qaeda thrives, survives on certain perceived injustices.

Image: Pakistanis protest against the US military strikes on Al Qaeda and Taliban targets in their country. Photograph: Ali Imam/Reuters

Also see: The event that inspired Al Qaeda

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