Written by: Saleem Paktin
It is challenging to pinpoint the exact date when ISIS came into existence, but we can approximate that it emerged around the time of the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. During this period, many Islamic jihadist groups across the world condemned the American invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq on a large scale.
In both Afghanistan and Iraq, devout and armed Muslims declared jihad against the invaders, leading to the organization of jihadist groups in Afghanistan and Iraq. Religious scholars from the four major Islamic schools of thought (madhahib) issued fatwas legitimizing and mandating jihad against the U.S.
In essence, from the perspective of international law, the U.S. invasion was an illegal aggression. In response, jihad against the U.S. was unanimously declared by scholars from across the Islamic world, making it a united and legitimate cause for Muslims worldwide.
The jihadist groups that confronted the Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq had a clear religious orientation and ideology. Each group had its own distinct goals, principles, and direction, all rooted in the foundational beliefs of “Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah” (the Sunni mainstream).
The actions and progress of Afghan and Iraqi mujahideen against the U.S. invasions were commendable both regionally and globally. Muslims considered the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan as a religious transgression, compelling the people of these countries to engage in jihad against the Americans. The citizens of Afghanistan and Iraq, who were not collaborators with the U.S., initiated jihad with sincere conviction, sacrificing their lives. Gradually, the jihadist movements in both countries gained momentum.
The U.S., France, and Britain feared that if the jihadist groups in Iraq and Afghanistan continued to operate successfully, these groups could unite Muslims globally against the Western world. It could create a collective point of agreement for Muslims worldwide, uniting them ideologically and in decision-making.
Another concern was that the U.S. might face defeat in both countries, which would serve as a significant encouragement for jihadist movements, potentially spreading these efforts to other regions. Ultimately, jihad could gain international legitimacy and influence, attracting more Muslims to join the cause, making it increasingly difficult to stop these movements.
At this critical point of jihad’s progress, global powers introduced the ISIS project to tarnish the reputation of jihad and jihadist groups. Just as the early Khawarij (a rebellious extremist sect) emerged under similar conditions in early Islamic history and were utilized to sow discord among Muslim, today’s nefarious powers created modern Khawarij (ISIS) to create a new avenue of chaos and corruption in the world.
The architects behind the ISIS project have bestowed upon them a purported Islamic ideology that deviates from the beliefs, thoughts, and philosophies witnessed throughout Islamic history since the inception of Islam.
Just as the early corruptors used the Khawarij to undermine the Islamic caliphate and sow discord among Muslims, giving them arguments that had no basis in the Qur’an or Hadith, the modern Khawarij (ISIS) have been brought forth to oppose contemporary Islamic beliefs and jihadist groups. ISIS deems any followers of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah as deviants from their chosen path.
