Part 15
Author: Ehsan Arab
Distorting the Concepts of Hijrah and Pledge of Allegiance (Bay’ah)
From the earliest days of Daesh’s emergence, it became evident to scholars and people of sound reasoning that this group was neither a servant of Allah’s religion nor a protector of the Muhammadan Shariah. Rather, Daesh represented a lethal instrument wielded by the enemies of Islam—a manufactured project designed to sabotage the faith from within.
Operating under the false banner of “Caliphate,” the Daeshi Khawarij committed atrocities that deeply wounded the Islamic Ummah and facilitated foreign invasions. Despite their claims of championing Islam and defending Muslim interests, their actions unmistakably aligned with the strategic objectives of Western powers.
The killing of Muslims, the devastation of Islamic lands, the proliferation of bloody conflicts, and the portrayal of Islam as a savage and inhumane religion were among the grievous services Daesh rendered to the forces of disbelief—as elaborated upon in the preceding parts of this series.
Exploiting and Distorting Sacred Shariah Concepts
Among the most destructive achievements of the Khawarij of this era, under the guidance of their masters, was the systematic misuse and distortion of sacred Shariah concepts. They perverted noble ideas such as jihad, the caliphate, and the implementation of hudud (Islamic penal laws), causing profound and often irreparable damage to these essential pillars of the faith. Their goal was clear: to alienate the new generation of Muslims from these noble concepts and thereby weaken the spiritual and political fabric of the Ummah.
Two of the most tragically distorted concepts were Hijrah (migration) and Bay’ah (pledge of allegiance)—both of which occupy foundational roles in the strengthening and continuity of the Islamic Ummah.
In Islamic tradition, Hijrah represents a sacred migration undertaken to support the religion of Allah and to seek refuge from fitnah (tribulation). As the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
«لا تنقطع الهجرة حتى تنقطع التوبة، ولا تنقطع التوبة حتى تطلع الشمس من مغربها.» رواه ابوداود.
“Migration will not end until repentance ends, and repentance will not end until the sun rises in the west.”
(Abu Dawud)
However, the Daeshi Khawarij corrupted this sacred notion, transforming Hijrah into a journey of death and bloodshed. They deceived countless impressionable youth, luring them into migration not for the establishment or defense of Islam, but into centers of fitnah, turmoil, and corruption.
Similarly, Bay’ah in Islam is a solemn covenant of loyalty and obedience to a just and righteous leader who governs by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated:
«من مات وليس في عنقه بيعة مات ميتة جاهلية.» رواه مسلم
“Whoever dies without having a pledge of allegiance on his neck dies the death of ignorance.” (Muslim)
Yet the Bay’ah demanded by Daesh was not to upright leaders, but to ignorant and deviant figures devoid of legitimate Islamic authority. Through this false allegiance, they severed the Ummah from its divine scholars, true leaders, and genuine mujahideen, entrapping the masses in obedience to corrupt and seditious rulers.
The distortion of these sacred concepts dealt a grievous blow to the Islamic Ummah. Instead of establishing the just Islamic governance they claimed to champion, Daesh plunged Muslim lands into chaos, turning them into battlefields of civil wars, mass killings, and widespread displacement.
Today, it stands irrefutably clear to the entire Ummah that Daesh was neither a true representative of jihad nor a legitimate embodiment of the Islamic caliphate. Rather, it was a carefully orchestrated project, crafted by the enemies of Islam, aimed at destroying the Ummah from within.
At this critical juncture, it is incumbent upon the Islamic Ummah to reclaim and purify the true meanings of Hijrah and Bay’ah from the corrupt interpretations imposed by the Daesh Khawarij. These concepts must be restored to their rightful place as vital pillars of Islam, clear in their meaning and purpose.
In this manner, the youth of the Ummah can be protected from falling prey to the sweet yet poisonous rhetoric of the Khawarij. It is a collective obligation to undertake a resolute and unwavering struggle against this dangerous fitnah, thereby safeguarding the integrity and future of the Islamic Ummah.
