Written by: Zia Bari
All Islamic scholars and researchers concur that the leaders and members of ISIS exhibit deceitfulness in their actions and beliefs. They manipulate the principles and values of Islam to further their political agendas and deceive individuals with distorted interpretations.
According to religious scholars, the actions of ISIS are in direct opposition to Islamic principles, as Islam is a religion of peace, compassion, and fairness, while ISIS advocates for violence and radicalism.
The following are the primary reasons why Islamic scholars identify ISIS leaders as deceitful:
1. Misrepresentation of Religion
ISIS leaders and members distort Islamic texts and Prophetic sayings to suit their own objectives, presenting them inaccurately to mislead individuals into supporting their agendas.
2. Killing of Muslims
Islamic teachings strictly forbid the killing of Muslims and innocent individuals, yet ISIS frequently engages in such acts, falsely categorizing them as enemies of infidels or non-believers, which lacks any basis in Islamic doctrines.
3. Extremism and Rigidity
Islam advocates for a moderate approach, whereas ISIS embraces extremism and rigidity, inaccurately depicting these traits as essential to Islam. This constitutes a flagrant violation of Islamic precepts.
4. Claiming the Caliphate
ISIS claims to have established an Islamic caliphate and demands obedience, but in Islam, the caliphate requires specific conditions and consensus among scholars and the Muslim community. ISIS fails to meet these criteria and deceives individuals with fraudulent assertions of a caliphate for personal gain.
5. Distortion of Jihad
ISIS misuses the concept of jihad, which has specific rules and conditions in Islam. Inflicting harm upon innocent individuals, women, children, and non-combatants is not aligned with jihad. Nevertheless, ISIS portrays jihad as violent and extreme, directly opposing the genuine essence of Islam.
6. Killing Innocent People
ISIS kills innocent people, including Muslims, and oppresses them. Islam forbids the killing of innocent people, and the Quran states that killing one innocent person is like killing all of humanity. But ISIS disregards these principles, falsely justifying these acts in the name of Islam.
7. Distorting the Concept of Martyrdom
ISIS claims that anyone who carries out a suicide attack in their fight is a martyr and will go to paradise. However, in Islam, a martyr is someone who dies for the sake of Allah. ISIS falsely considers those who die in unjust acts as martyrs.
8. Attributing Divine Support to Their Extremism
ISIS falsely claims that their fight and actions are supported by Allah and that those who oppose them are enemies of Allah. This claim is a way to deceive people because Islam calls on every Muslim to follow its true principles, not extremism.
All of these points underscore the falsehoods perpetuated by ISIS, who improperly leverage the name of Islam to rationalize extremism and violence.
