Bloody Unity: An Analysis of ISIS’s Sectarian Deviations
Continuation of the previous section:
Jurisprudential differences have always existed within Islam and have long been regarded as a sign of the religion’s depth, richness, and flexibility. Islam recognizes the legitimacy of its various jurisprudential schools (madhahib) and calls upon Muslims to live together in mutual respect despite their differences. These distinctions were never meant to be a source of hostility or fragmentation, yet ISIS has turned them into a pretext for takfir, murder, and oppression. While Islamic tradition sets forth ijmā’, or consensus, and ijtihād, or scholarly reasoning, as established methods for resolving disputes, ISIS has rejected both principles and instead positioned itself as the exclusive arbiter of religious truth.
Such an attitude represents a profound departure from the true spirit of Islam, which has always emphasized that scholars of differing legal traditions remain brothers in faith. The group and its followers have taken certain Qur’anic verses that speak of unity and have used them in a manner completely contrary to their intended meaning. The verse, “Hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided,” was repeatedly used by ISIS as a justification to suppress any form of disagreement. In reality, the great exegetes of Islam, including Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, have consistently explained that unity does not require uniformity of thought, but rather peaceful coexistence in the presence of differing views. ISIS has deliberately distorted this understanding. In doing so, the group has not only presented a deeply distorted image of Islam to the Western world, but has also caused confusion and doubt among many ordinary Muslims.
It is striking that although ISIS constantly spoke in its propaganda about the enemies of the Islamic Caliphate and the Muslim Ummah, in practice the overwhelming majority of those it killed were Muslims themselves. Statistics published by international organizations indicate that more than 80% of ISIS’s victims were Muslims. Throughout Islamic history, even during internal conflicts, respect for the sanctity of Muslim life has remained a foundational principle. ISIS demonstrated no regard for this, and it took the lives of innocent Muslims with disturbing ease, based on shallow and misguided justifications.
On the social front, ISIS’s takfiri ideology planted deep divisions among communities by provoking tensions between various ethnicities and sects. The group prohibited inter-sect marriages, restricted basic social interaction, and in certain areas imposed physical separation among different religious communities. These measures stand in stark contrast to Islam’s long-standing embrace of cultural and ethnic diversity and its encouragement of coexistence.
The consequences of these policies were severe. An atmosphere of fear and suspicion spread throughout society. Many families began avoiding even normal conversation with their neighbors, worried that a careless word might lead to accusations of apostasy. Such conditions bear no resemblance to the ideal Islamic society, which is meant to be grounded in affection, compassion, and brotherhood.
A careful analysis of the situation reveals that ISIS and the groups aligned with it not only failed to serve the unity of the Muslim Ummah, but actively deepened internal divisions and created openings for outside forces to interfere in the affairs of Muslims. ISIS did not merely distort religious teachings. Through takfir, violence, intimidation, and fear, it weakened the Muslim community from within and eroded the social fabric that binds believers together.
The essential point, therefore, is that today, more than ever, Muslims must return to the authentic meaning of Islamic unity as taught in the Holy Qur’an and exemplified in the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). True unity does not require identical thinking. It calls for mutual respect, sincere engagement, and peaceful coexistence among Muslims despite their differences. Islam is a religion founded upon justice, mercy, and brotherhood, not the violence, takfir, and fragmentation that ISIS has imposed upon Muslim societies.
