[CIS 8.1-2 (2012) 139–164] Comparative Islamic Studies (print) ISSN 1740-7125 doi: 10.1558/cis.v8i1-2.139 Comparative Islamic Studies (online) ISSN 1743-1638 © Equinox Publishing Ltd. 2014, Office 415, The Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX In Pursuit of Authenticity: Becoming a Salai Emin Poljarevic University of Edinburgh e.poljarevic@ed.ac.uk AbstrAct Salais refer to their understanding of Islam as authentic. This claim has resonated well with a substantial number of young Muslims. The article sets out to identify this assertion’s main components and its appeal among Egyptian youth immediately before and after the 2011 popular revolt. In other words, what is speciic in the Salai ap- proach to the issue of authenticity? By answering this question, I aim to offer a better understanding of why this religiously inspired movement has become so attractive. By examining the narratives of Egyptian Salais, I suggest that the allure of strict religious life transcends a Muslim’s search for identity, for it is, in reality, driven by a deep-rooted desire for certainty, purpose, and a form of collec- tive individualism. Salaism, broadly deined, offers a very modern form of socialized spirituality that hinges largely on a discourse of authenticity and prophetic originality, a discourse that resonates with many of today’s young Muslims. Keywords Salaism, authenticity, everyday life, youth, Islamic morality In this article, I explore one of the central ideas of contemporary Salaism, that of authentic Islam. I regard Salaism as a process of developing a moral economy within which the authentication of Islamic beliefs and