The Arab Spring, as a historical turning point in the Middle East, sparked an unparalleled explosion of violent jihadist groups, armed rebel groups, and transnational religious movements. These violent religious groups claim to advance the correct interpretation of Salafism according to their ideological principles and their interpretation of Islamic rule. To examine the nature, causes, and parties involved in a violent religious group’s turbulent infrastructure, one needs to have a deep understanding of Salafism’s thought and political perspective. This research, conducted using the historical-analytical method, identifies the triangular relationship between the state, its institutions, and Salafism. Our case study is the Saudi state’s role in institutionalizing Salafist doctrine and construing its political behavior. This relationship has deep historical roots, but the participating entities have changed over time from friends to foes. We highlight the analogy and mechanisms used historically by the Saudi state’s apparatus to design and organize Salafist thought and its political platform.
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