Asad Afghan
Those who declare ideological allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) reveal a stark and undeniable contradiction between the group’s rhetoric and its actions. While ISIS claims to uphold Islamic values, its behavior directly opposes the fundamental teachings of Islam. The gulf between its proclamations and practices is so vast that no discerning observer can ignore it.
In its early days, ISIS employed eloquent and persuasive language that captivated many. Its carefully crafted discourse appeared noble and principled, attracting widespread attention and curiosity. Yet, the group’s true nature soon emerged. The polished facade quickly crumbled, exposing a grim reality defined by brutality, deceit, and treachery. The very words that once inspired thousands masked an ideology deeply entrenched in oppression and extremism.
The group’s skill in manipulating impressionable minds, especially among youth, was concealed behind a veneer of refined rhetoric. By selectively invoking religious terminology and appealing to emotion, ISIS created an illusion of legitimacy and moral authority. However, as time passed and its actions were measured against the core principles of Islam, this deception became impossible to overlook. Its conduct stood in open contradiction to the values it professed to defend.
The disparity between ISIS’s declarations and its behavior is so severe that anyone with sound judgment and moral clarity is left repulsed. Many who initially sympathized with or were drawn to the group eventually recognized its hypocrisy and withdrew their support. For them, association with ISIS became not only a moral failure but also a profound spiritual betrayal.
At the heart of ISIS’s ideology lies a deliberate distortion of Islamic teachings, values, and scholarly authority. The group excelled in rhetorical manipulation, often surpassing other movements in its ability to attract followers. Yet its appeal rested on illusion rather than genuine conviction. Lacking sincere spiritual grounding, its message failed to inspire lasting commitment. Those who joined under false pretenses distanced themselves once the organization’s true nature became clear.
History offers numerous examples of movements that rose on the strength of captivating slogans and superficial charm. When such movements are driven by worldly ambition and personal gain, their internal decay eventually surfaces and their façades collapse. ISIS is one such example. Its destructive motives and corrupt ideology were gradually exposed. Many who once stood with the group, deceived by its rhetoric and promises, ultimately turned away and found their way toward truth and balance.
An ideology founded on deception, manipulation, and wrongful declarations of Takfir can never secure lasting authority or establish legitimate governance. Such movements are destined to fail in this world, and in the Hereafter their adherents will be among the truly lost. Genuine Islamic leadership is based on sincerity, justice, and unwavering adherence to divine guidance. It cannot be built on coercion, falsehood, or the misuse of religious principles.
One of the most dangerous elements of ISIS’s ideology is its embrace of secular political doctrines, especially the notion that the ends justify the means. This concept is alien to Islamic ethics but has become central to the group’s governing philosophy. For ISIS, any method, no matter how illegitimate or immoral, is considered acceptable if it serves their objectives. This includes actions that directly violate Islamic teachings.
Authentic Islamic thought categorically rejects such a worldview. Islam insists that noble ends cannot be pursued through unlawful or unethical means. Every goal must be sought within the bounds of divine law, which strictly prohibits injustice, oppression, and the exploitation of sacred teachings.
Despite this, ISIS repeatedly justifies the use of prohibited tactics such as deceit, indiscriminate violence, and the distortion of religious texts to advance its quest for power and dominance. These practices stand in direct contradiction to the Shariah it claims to uphold. By turning Islam into a political tool, the group has not only betrayed the faith but has also inflicted immense harm on the very communities it purports to protect.
In conclusion, the contradiction between ISIS’s rhetoric and its behavior is not a minor flaw. It is the organization’s defining characteristic. While its words speak of reform, purity, and Islamic revival, its actions bring chaos, destruction, and betrayal. The Muslim Ummah must remain vigilant against such movements that cloak their ambitions in religious language while openly violating Islamic principles. Only through awareness and steadfast commitment to true Islamic values can these threats be confronted and overcome.