An Analysis of ISIS and its Relation to Traditional Islam

In todays world it is easy to go in that ISIS and handed-down Islam argon the same thing. The news often reports phrases like ascendant Islamist terrorists and radical Islam. Has society made a correct assumption? be entirely(prenominal) multitude who follow Islam potential terrorists? Does Islam essay to promote much(prenominal) terrorist behaviors? This paper follow throughks to address these questions and unc over the differences surrounded by the two, if any. Traditional IslamTraditional Islam began over 1,500 years ago and currently has around 1.6 billion followers. The word Islam genuinely means submission to God. Therefore, a Muslim is some virtuosoness who strives to submit to God.Islam has distri furthere completely around the world. You raft find Muslims in North and southmost America, Western Europe, Africa, the heart East, and Asia. Their principal homelands lie in the area commonly referred to as the 10/40 Window (between 10 degrees latitudinal conglu tination and 40 degrees latitudinal north ranging from the eastern side of North Africa to the occidental side of Asia). Majority of Muslims are Asian (60%) and the rest are Arab (22%) sub-Sahara Afri post (12%) and Eastern European (5%) . Islam was demonstrateed in 610 A.D. by a man named Mohammed. During Mohammeds time, polytheism reigned, and people were worshipping numerous gods at the same time. Mohammed had a vision from a universe he thought to be an angel who told him, There is only one God, and His name is Allah. Worship Him.Islam, at its core, is a religion based on faith, brio, piety, freedom, religion, peace, and morality. Researcher Sohaib Sultan states Islam believes in a God of mercy, a book of account of mercy, and a Prophet who was sent as a mercy to all the world.ISISISIS began in 2003 as a blow corroborate of the U.S. invasion and dysfunction of Iraq. In the earliest stage there were several Sunni extremist groups who were fighting back with the U.S. in hope s to provoke a civil struggle. The group, at that time, was called al al-Qaeda which was in Iraq with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in command pledging allegiance to Osama bin Laden. Zarqawi was killed during a 2006 U.S. airstrike, nevertheless the group continued . ISIS is a post-al Qaeda terrorist group.With over 30,000 fighters, ISIS holds territorial lands in both Syria and Iraq. It maintains an extensive military operation, gibes communications, controls infrastructure, and funds itself. It can be say that ISIS is a pseudo-state which is led by their military. The goal of ISIS is to control certain territories thereby creating a pure Sunni Islamist state that is governed by a strict interpretation ofSharia honor. It also seeks to remove the political b decrees that the Western governments created in the Middle Eastern regions. ISIS seeks to become the sole political, military, and religious authority over all the Muslims in the world. ISIS core message is more than about power a nd retaliate than anything else.Differences Between ISIS and Traditional IslamIn the first section of this paper we saw that conventional Islam is a relatively peaceful religion that stresses mercy and peace. This is importantly in conflict with the agenda of ISIS. Where do these two paths cross? What is the relationship between terrorist groups such as ISIS, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Al Shabab in Somalia, the Taliban with traditional Islam?Many people believe that ISIS is a group that is based on the religious depressions of Islam including following the examples of the Prophet Mohammed . This is where most of the confusion comes into play. ISIS uses Islam as a vehicle to carry out their political agenda by reinterpreting the profound meaning and purpose of Islam. In other words, they are twisting the volume to say what they want it to by weaving lies in with the truth and preying on the ignorance of the people.The message of ISIS is vastly spread non only by complaisant media , only through certain mosques as well. Researcher Ian Pelletier suggests the motivations of ISIS are merchandise and Reinforce Emphasizes consistency of Moslem States strategic objectives with mainstream Moslem Law.Obfuscation Ignores/blurs contradictions between Muslim States strategic objectives and mainstream Islamic Law.Leveraging Connects areas in which Islamic State strategic objectives are consistent with mainstream Islamic Law to social movement catalysts in order to gain momentum.Reinterpretation Justifies a radical reinterpretation of Islamic Law as indwelling to address past issues or current shortfalls at heart society and make the strategic objectives of the Islamic State. ISIS interprets Islam from a very radical point of hear that is rooted in the extremist fraction of Salafi/Wahhabi Islam within the Hanbali Sunni tradition .The strategic goals of ISIS are as followsPermanently break down political boundaries and mould conditions for government failure and re gional sectarian civil war in Iraq and Syria.Establish the Islamic Caliphate by controlling terrain across Iraq and Syria, governing the population within, and argue against external threats.Bring like-minded people to fight alongside and settle within the Islamic Caliphate.Expand the territory of the Caliphate to connect with the wider Muslim community. Traditional Islamic Law (Sharia) is based on the playscript which follows the hadith or the teachings of Mohammad. It is traditionally viewed as a statement of relatively easy limits and not a source of rigid and inflexible rules to be imposed in any circumstance . It is supposed to be based on the premise of legal expert and equality for everyone . Historically it has been determined that Islamic Law had the most human-centered and liberal fundamental principles as it fostered peace with self and society. Groups such as ISIS use Islamic Law instead for harsh discipline and to control the people.Sharia, as it was originally inte nded, was used as a guideline for social norms and values. It served as a model in which one could pattern their life after. Some of the many positive attributes of Sharia are a belief in God, daily prayers, asking/receiving forgiveness, freedoms of choice, strong superstar of community, love your neighbors, operation self-control, do not ill-treat religion to exploit or abuse others, and must respect the rights of others.Conflicts Between ISIS and Mainstream Moderate MuslimsThere come been many practicing Muslims who do not agree with nor adhere to the beliefs of extremists fringe groups such as ISIS. In an open letter from 120 Islamic scholars and clerics to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, they challenged ISISs ways as beingness un-Islamic. They further claimed that ISIS routinely twists and perverts Islamic Law selfishly to fulfil their own agenda.The letter went on to illustrate the contradictions between ISISs theology and that of traditional Islamic Law. The scholars accused them of citing only portions of the Quran without taking the whole spirit of the Quran and Hadith into account. It was also noted that ISIS had a practice of putting to death innocent people and that jihad was only meant for defensive measures during a war. offence measures of Jihad, without proper cause, was equal to criminal conduct and was not acceptable in traditional Islam . The letter also went on to say that Islam forbids the mistreatment of Christians and no one can be forced to convert to Islam against their leave alone.Author Wael Hallaq states that, Sharia is not a rigid unchanging Law of God and when applied correctly, it is flexible. The way it is taken and implemented by ISIS makes it a little more than a count of fixed punishments, ritual requirements and oppressive rules that are enforced with coercion upon a marginalized group of people. In addition, it is increasingly clear that ISIS selectively interprets Sharia.One whitethorn ask how ISIS is able to get away wit h using Islamic Law to achieve its objectives. They accomplish this by convincing people that their views are in fact inline with mainstream Islamic traditions. They have a knack for rationalizing any sensed contradictions that are found within their belief and the traditional teachings.Al-Baghdadi, while addressing his fighters said, Beware, O lions, the state that they reach a Muslim woman or kid or sheikh without you, for if this happens, then, by God, you have no excuse for yourselves in advance me. Look to yourselves and do not be a place of blame. empower their bodies before yours. Their blood before yours and their fortune before yours, and beware of being happy to live in a day when the honor of a Muslim woman is transgressed, or the blood of a child is spilled, or an elderly sheikh is insulted, for what deliciousness can there be in life if this is in it or even a part of it? art object his speech is complimentary with Islamic Law in principle, he is act to energize hi s fighters to fight in a war that is not reassert fit in to Islamic Law. He stresses that not only is the war just, but it is according to Islamic Law which it a bold lie. They may in truth believe that their war is justified overdue to their extremist views, but according to traditional Islamic Law, they are not qualified to wage war with anyone unless it is a defensive measure. ISIS does not engage in defensive measures as a rulethey are very offensive in their tactics. oddmentExtremists groups, such as ISIS, claim to be Islamic in their beliefs, but they do not adhere to the basic tenants of the faith. They twist and turn the Quran and Hadith to make it say whatever they need it to say that bequeath further their agenda.ISIS is a violent terrorist group that has been attracting many young people. They seek out those who are vulnerable, who are seeking religious righteousness, adventure, power, and a sense of belonging. They are also known for producing sexual opportunities for the young men by keeping women as slaves. This is extremely contradictory to traditional teachings and philosophy of traditional Islam.It is certainly a disservice to the majority of Muslims to assume that all Muslims are somehow connected to terrorist activities. In America, ever since September 11th, 2001, there has been a remarkable increase of violence and hatred against Muslims from such assumptions.Extremists groups are not representative of what it means to be a Muslim in todays world. We need to see them for who they are and not for the vehicle they misuse which is Islam. Furthermore, it is very uncooperative when the media keeps reporting phrases like radical Islam and Muslim extremists as this further perpetuates the contrariety and hatred against innocent and peace-loving Muslims.There is no link between ISIS terrorism and traditional Islam. ISIS fundamentally changes the core beliefs of Islam and inserts their own interpretations to make it into something that is s elf-serving.Extremists can be found in most religions. The only way to trash this is to be very knowledgeable of your own religion and beliefs so that you will recognize a falsehood when you hear it. Sadly, many people only if believe what they are told and that is it. Such people can be good caught up in extremist groups as they lack knowledge.The same can be said for Christianity. We are not exempt from those who have perverse Gods Word to make it say something that it never was intended to say. This is how cults are formed, and again, is due to a lack of knowledge. The bible says that the people perish due to a lack of knowledge (Hosea 46).ISIS operates via intimidation, fear, legalistic authority, assassinations, and bombings . This is nothing like what traditional Islam teaches. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It is not fair to classify all Muslims by such rouge fringe groups.For two years I worked and lived in an Islamic country. I never met anyone who was associated wi th ISIS nor any other extremist group. I found the Muslims there to be very friendly, eager to help, and welcoming. That experience really helped me to see them for who they really are and without the media bias that was projected to me.Many Muslims do not even consider groups such as ISIS to be true Muslims. They breast at them in disdain as the perverters of Islam. Usually these are the more educated people who know what Islam is supposed to be. Sadly, a lot of Muslims have a lower educational level which would be very contributing(prenominal) to being led astray. Many modern Muslims are Muslim in name only and not in practice which makes them an easy fanny for extremists.