Part 4
Ehsan Sajadi
2. A Critique of ISIS’s Caliphate Claim and Its Contradiction with the Consensus of the Islamic Ummah
ISIS’s claim to the caliphate stands as one of the most egregious distortions of Islamic concepts in contemporary times. This Takfiri group, which styled itself the “Islamic State,” was in reality a continuation of the early Khawarij who legitimized the bloodshed of Muslims through deviant interpretations of Islamic texts and principles. A careful examination of jurisprudential and historical foundations reveals that ISIS’s caliphate claim had no legitimate basis in Islamic law, reason, or logic. It was merely a tool to justify the group’s atrocities.
According to Sunni jurisprudence, which ISIS falsely claimed to follow, the establishment of the caliphate is governed by clear and stringent conditions. One of the most essential among them is justice, a principle deeply rooted in the Islamic concept of governance. This condition alone is sufficient to invalidate ISIS’s claim.
How could a group that routinely engaged in the killing of civilians, enslavement, the destruction of mosques and sacred places, and the torture of opponents claim to uphold Islamic justice? Historically, prominent Sunni scholars in theology and creed such as al-Mawardi and al-Taftazani have unequivocally stated that a caliph must be just and refrain from oppression. In stark contrast, ISIS trampled upon every principle of Islamic justice through its unprecedented crimes and brutal practices.
Another fundamental flaw in ISIS’s claim was its lack of consensus from the Islamic Ummah. Throughout Islamic history, caliphs assumed leadership through the bay‘ah (pledge of allegiance) from the Ahl al-Hall wa al-‘Aqd, those qualified to make binding decisions for the Ummah. Whom did ISIS present as members of such a body? A self-appointed, marginal council that lacked recognition even among major Salafi scholars.
Remarkably, even prominent jihadist figures such as Abu Qatada al-Filistini rejected ISIS’s caliphate claim. In contrast, the true consensus of the Islamic Ummah included scholars from Al-Azhar, leading Muftis across the Muslim world, and numerous Islamic governments, all of whom denounced ISIS as a Takfiri and deviant group.
In practice, ISIS’s conduct further demonstrated that it bore no genuine resemblance to the true concept of an Islamic caliphate. Historically, the caliphate has symbolized the unity of the Muslim Ummah. ISIS, however, sowed division by declaring Takfir on all Muslims who disagreed with its ideology, thereby becoming a major source of discord in the Islamic world.
Furthermore, a legitimate caliphate requires stable territory and a functional governing system. Even at its peak, ISIS failed to establish lasting governance over the areas under its control.
In contrast, the true caliphs of Islamic history successfully built vast civilizations supported by advanced administrative and judicial institutions. A comparison between ISIS and the early Khawarij is also highly relevant. Just as the Khawarij declared the fourth Caliph, Hazrat Ali (RA), an unbeliever for accepting arbitration, ISIS similarly labeled anyone who opposed its views as apostates.
This attitude provoked a global backlash from the Muslim community, which came to see ISIS as a destructive and anti-Islamic faction.
In conclusion, it must be emphasized that ISIS, through its fraudulent claim to the caliphate, not only failed to serve Islam in any way but also inflicted severe damage upon its image. Today, even many of the group’s former sympathizers have acknowledged its deviations.
It is the duty of Islamic scholars to shed light on such distortions and protect the sincere sentiments of young Muslims from being exploited by emerging extremist movements. Islam is a religion of mercy and justice, not one of violence and Takfir, as falsely portrayed by ISIS.
