Sufi–Salafi relations

The relationship between Salafism and Sufis – two movement of Sunni Islam with different interpretations of Islam – is historically diverse and reflects some of the changes and conflicts in the Muslim world today.Salafism is associated with literalist, strict and puritanical approaches to Islam. In the Western world it is often associated with the Salafist jihadism which espouse violent jihad against civilians as a legitimate expression of Islam. Sufism is associated with the use of prayer, music, dance and the teachings of Sufi masters—who may serve as an intermediary between God and humans—to achieve a spiritual sense of the meaning of God. However Sufis were also involved in Millitancy and terrorisim in Kashmir and Chechanaya.While there are Muslims who believe that Salafism and Sufism ""overlap"", the ""standard"" Salafi response to Sufism has been called ""polemical"". According to various observers, Salafists have been ""usually ... unrelentingly hostile to devotional Sufi practices"", arguing that Sufism is ""irreconcilable with true Islam"", and one of the elements ""corrupting"" modern day Islam. Relations between the two movements have been described as one with ""battle lines drawn"", or a ""rift"" found in ""practically every Muslim country"", and in ""the Muslim diasporic communities of the West"" as well.