Written by: Yahya Irfan
Throughout Islamic history, whenever the Khawarij have emerged, whether in ancient or recent times, their approach and actions have always conflicted with the broader Muslim community.
The modern-day Khawarij, known as ISIS, have consistently deviated from many fundamental and secondary principles of Islam since their emergence. They continually attempt to misrepresent Islam’s universally accepted principles, creating concerns for the Muslim Ummah and sowing doubts and misconceptions among Muslims worldwide.
In pursuit of this destructive agenda, they have committed numerous heinous acts, one of which involves labeling sacred sites as symbols of disbelief and idolatry. For example, in Iraq, they have demolished the graves of numerous Prophets (peace be upon them) and many Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Globally, they have destroyed graves of pious Muslims, disrupting communities and targeting Islamic heritage.
When ISIS appeared in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region, one of their first actions was to blow up the graves of prominent Pashto Sufi poet Abdul Rahman Baba and other righteous individuals. This led to widespread mistrust within the Muslim community, tainting the reputation of many Islamic organizations.
ISIS’s intention behind such actions is to portray Islam as a religion of doubt and misinterpretation, despite claiming to represent Muslims. This has led to widespread resentment among other Muslims, as ISIS’s actions aim to make Islam seem questionable and misguided.
In various regions, ISIS has destroyed ancient mosques, labeling them (Allah forbid) as places of idolatry. They have demolished numerous mosques under this pretense.
According to the book titled “Islamic State: The Digital Caliphate,” it is noted: “ISIS loots valuable items from shrines and graves, then destroys them, considering these items as war booty.” (p. 42)
Some ISIS members have reportedly expressed that if they gain control over Saudi Arabia, they will even destroy the sacred sites in Makkah and Madinah.
This disturbing forecast suggests that ISIS may even consider the Kaaba itself worthy of destruction, viewing it as a symbol of idolatry or disbelief. Their ultimate objective may be the annihilation of the Kaaba, which serves as the Qibla for Muslims across the globe.
Their actions aim to eliminate all sources and symbols that unite Muslims, for Islamic symbols bring Muslims together internationally and serve as focal points for discussions on core Islamic matters and the defense of Islam. Sacred sites play an essential role in this unity.
However, ISIS fundamentally exists as a project designed to sow discord among Muslims. Their mission of destroying sacred sites is intended to create division and discord within the Muslim Ummah, under the guise of Islam.
