THE ‘ISLAMIC STATE OF IS’ IS NOT AN ISLAMIC STATE
Against True Islam
ON June 29, 2014, an extremist leader from Iraq, Abu Bakr alBaghdadi, announced the establishment of a government and declared himself its caliph. He named it the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). This event led to the creation of sensational news all over the world. On September 11, 2014, a report appeared in the media according to which ten Arab countries have agreed to help the United States in its fight against the extremist group, Islamic State (IS). After talks with US Secretary of State, John Kerry in Jeddah, the Arab nations pledged to provide military support and humanitarian aid, and to halt the flow of funds and foreign fighters to IS. (BBC)
The above news has great significance in this regard. It means that the majority of the present Muslim world has disowned the ‘Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’. In fact, this so-called State is neither a state nor is it Islamic: it is not a state because the United Nations has not recognized it as such, and it is un-Islamic because the majority of Muslims have disowned its claims. In Islam there is no concept of an “Islamic State”. The term ‘Islamic State’ itself has been invented, as this phenomenon was not found in the early period of Islam, which is considered to be the authentic period of Islam.
The political leader in Islam is decided not through appointment, but by election.
How did the ISIS come into existence? It is a known fact that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a self-proclaimed caliph. It is said that the Prophet of Islam established a state in Madinah after the Hijrath, or emigration to Madinah. However, the Prophet never proclaimed that he was the khalifa of Madinah, or the ruler of Madinah. According to books of the Prophet’s biography, people of Madinah themselves gave this position to the Prophet at the time of Hijrath.
History tells us that when the Prophet, accompanied by his Companion Abu Bakr, reached Madinah after migrating from Makkah, the people of Madinah welcomed him with these words: ‘You are our leader. We are ready to obey you.’ (Musnad Ahmad)
This is the way in which a state came into existence in Madinah at the time of the Prophet.
The political leader in Islam is decided not through appointment, but by election. There is a well-known verse in the Quran in this regard:
Their affairs are decided by mutual consultation.
THE QURAN 42: 38
It means that political leaders in Islam are elected through the democratic process.
It is said that Madinah was the first Islamic state under the leadership of the Prophet Muhammad himself. But, the Prophet or his Companions never called it “Islamic State of Madinah.” There was no such term used at the time. Practically speaking, it was Madinah Administration, rather than the Islamic State of Madinah.If we read the Quran, we will not find any commandment such as, ‘Establish an Islamic State’. Why is a commandment of this kind lacking in the Quran? The reason for this is given in the Hadith in these words: ‘As you are, so shall be your rulers.’ (Mishkat al-Masabih) According to the Islamic concept, government emerges from the society; it is not imposed on the society from outside.
The ISIS not a state because the United Nations has not recognized it as such, and it is un-Islamic because the majority of Muslims have disowned its claims.
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (d. AD 634) was the first political head in Islam. But, he was referred to as ‘amir al-mominin’, or leader of Muslims, rather than ‘khalifah al-muslimin’. What was the method through which Abu Bakr reached this position? According to the history of early Islam, after the death of the Prophet, the Companions of the Prophet assembled in an open place called Saqifa Bani Saidah in Madinah. At this place all the people came together and open consultation took place between the Companions. Through the consensus of the Companions, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq became the head of the state of Madinah.
According to available information, ISIS is a Sunni extremist group in the Middle East. In its self-proclaimed status as a caliphate, it claims religious authority over all Muslims across the world and aspires to bring most of the Muslim-inhabited regions of the world under its political control beginning with Iraq, Syria and other territories in the Levant region which include Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus and part of southern Turkey. In June 2014, it had at least 4,000 fighters in its ranks in Iraq. The number of fighters in the group had increased to 50,000 in Syria and 30,000 in Iraq. It has claimed responsibility for attacks on government and military targets and for attacks that killed thousands of civilians.
According to the Islamic concepts, a government emerges from society; it is not imposed on the society from outside.
This kind of a state has no place in Islam, because it has no sanction in the Quran and Sunnah. Such a state is totally against the Islamic spirit. According to the Quran and Sunnah, no person or group has the right to proclaim their sovereignty. To declare someone as sovereign is the domain of the people, and not that of any particular individual. The case of ISIS is certainly a case of illegal coup, rather than a lawful act of Islam.
Those who want to find a place in Paradise
have to prove in this world that they
were peace-loving individuals
and who followed tolerance
even in the face of
provocation.