Part 7
Osama Nahzat
Since the inception of their so-called caliphate, the ISIS Khawarij have consistently invoked religious slogans such as “enjoining good” (amr bil ma‘ruf) and “forbidding evil” (nahy ‘anil munkar), claiming to purify Islamic society from sin and moral decay, and restore it to the era of the righteous predecessors (salaf al-salih). However, a closer examination of their ideology, behavior, and impact on the Muslim world reveals a painful reality. While ISIS claims to forbid evil, it has itself committed some of the most egregious violations against religion, reason, and fundamental human dignity.
Much like their ideological forebears among the early Khawarij, the modern-day adherents exhibit a superficial and distorted understanding of Islamic teachings. Their worldview is shaped by radical isolationism and foreign ideological influence. They have manipulated the principle of forbidding evil to justify oppression, terrorism, the murder of innocent civilians, and widespread takfir, the practice of declaring fellow Muslims to be disbelievers. By doing so, they attempt to cloak their brutality in the appearance of religious piety.
The Noble Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasize that forbidding evil must be carried out with wisdom, compassion, and justice. ISIS, however, has completely disregarded these divine principles. Their actions are marked by un-Islamic violence, including bombing mosques, desecrating sacred sites, beheading dissenters, and even burning people alive. These atrocities represent some of the gravest sins in Islam.
This article outlines several of the major transgressions committed by the ISIS Khawarij:
1. Unjust Killing
The Qur’an clearly states:
“Whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul or for corruption in the land, it is as if he had slain all of mankind.” (Qur’an 5:32)
Despite this unequivocal prohibition, ISIS has ruthlessly killed countless innocent Muslims, including women and children. These are not isolated acts of violence but systematic atrocities that amount to crimes against the entire Muslim community.
2. Desecration of Sacred Sites
ISIS has targeted graves, demolished mosques, and destroyed historical relics associated with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), all under the pretense of eradicating innovation (bid‘ah). These actions reveal a profound ignorance of Islamic history and a blatant disregard for the sanctity of sites venerated by generations of Muslims.
3. Takfir: Declaring Muslims as Disbelievers
Fueled by an extremist ideology, ISIS regularly labels Muslims who disagree with its views as disbelievers. This reckless and unjust application of takfir contradicts the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who warned:
“If a Muslim accuses another Muslim of disbelief, and the accused is not guilty of it, the accusation returns upon the one who made it.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
This dangerous misuse of takfir has resulted in the wrongful excommunication and even execution of countless Muslims, deepening sectarian divides and spreading discord across the ummah.
4. Distortion of Sacred Islamic Concepts
ISIS has deliberately misrepresented essential Islamic principles such as jihad, the caliphate, hudud (prescribed legal punishments), and the implementation of Sharia. Rather than upholding these principles within their legitimate and balanced contexts, ISIS has exploited them as tools of conquest, oppression, and authoritarian control. Their abuse has not only violated the true meaning of these concepts but has also discredited them in the eyes of the world.
The actions of ISIS have inflicted serious harm on both the reputation of Islam and the unity of the Muslim community. Rather than promoting Islamic values, they have propagated a narrative of violence and fear, ignited civil wars, devastated entire regions, and fueled hatred and mistrust among Muslims.
Their claim of forbidding evil is merely a façade for institutionalizing evil under the banner of ignorance and extremism. In reality, their behavior represents a twofold betrayal: a betrayal of the Islamic faith and a betrayal of our shared human dignity.
