This paper addresses the modern Salafist warrior with an emphasis on identifying and understanding the wellspring of ideological inspiration informing subsequent actions. This project is concerned with lens construction enabling further analysis and charts the development of Islamic jurisprudence from its inception on the pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula through the establishment of Sunni Islam's four orthodox legal schools. From there it places shari'ah reasoning in context and extracts an Islamic just war theory. The lens is further refined and focused through a discussion of key battles in the Qur'an. The suitability of the lens is tested against three well-known and authoritative Salafist publications. The purpose is to provide an analytical tool enabling further study. Additional Salafist sources are offered for supplementary analytical iterations using, or adjusting, the constructed lens.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited -- Report documentation page. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student author and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.) -- Monograph approval page. 25 May 2017 -- Monograph approval page. School of Advanced Military Studies Monographs

Introduction --Background -- Salafism’s three schools of thought and matters of convergence and divergence -- Pre-Islamic customary law on the Arabian Peninsula and its influence on Islamic Law -- Life and times of the Prophet: the constitution of Medina and establishment of the Ummah -- Sunni Islam’s four orthodox legal schools -- Shari’ah reasoning: sources and implication s -- Islamic just war theory: foundations and implications -- War in the Qur’an: a guide for future action -- Battle of Badr -- Battle of Uhud -- Siege of Medina (ghazwa-e-khandaq) (Battle of the Trench) -- Treaty of Hudaibiya and Conquest of Mecca -- Battle of Hunain and the Tabuk Expedition -- Analysis of the modern Salafi warrior -- Conclusion.