[Special Feature: The Dynamics of Islamic Knowledge and Practice: Across Texts, Rituals, and Societies] Destructuring the Discourse of “Islam noir” Persisting in Senegalese Islamic Education: One Islam, One Qur'an, and One Prophet

This paper aims to deconstruct the “Islam noir” discourse that has shaped perceptions of Islam in Senegal since the colonial period by framing Salafis and Sufis as a binary opposition. While Senegalese Islam is often portrayed as “moderate” and “tolerant,” mainly associated with Sufi orders, Salafi-oriented Muslims are frequently seen as outsiders or threats. While recent scholarship has increasingly challenged the binary opposition between Sufis and Salafis, there remains a lack of concrete empirical studies that illustrate how this complexity manifests in the Senegalese context. First, this paper examines Islamic school textbooks published by the government since the 2000s. These materials avoid divisive issues, focus on universal elements of Islamic belief and practice, and reflect Senegalese cultural realities, while remaining generally acceptable to both Sufi- and Salafi-oriented Muslims. Second, the paper analyzes interviews conducted with teachers, students, and officials during fieldwork, revealing that Sufi and Salafi identities are often fluid and overlapping. The study demonstrates that formal education contributes to the formation of a shared “Islamic sphere” where multiple orientations interact, offering an alternative to the conventional binary between Sufism and Salafism.