Wahhabi/Salafi
ISIS is primarily a Wahhabi or Salafi group. They have an extremist interpretation of Islam which regards Muslims who disagree with their teachings as infidels and views religious violence as an acceptable act. The group condemns the Ottoman Empire and succeeding caliphates for deviating from the true Islam and aims to revert it back to the earlier days. It also aims to establish a caliphate government which follows a strict Salafist doctrine.
Apocalypticism and Eschatology
The group?s beliefs regarding apocalypticism and eschatology separate it from other jihadist and Islamist movements. ISIS believes that the arrival of Imam Mahdi and the final Day of Judgement by God are drawing near. They also claim that only four more legitimate caliphs will follow al-Baghdadi based on their interpretation of the Hadith of the Twelve Successors.
The Islamic eschatology and apocalypticism were discussed in the Quran and hadith. These scriptures also provide the major and minor signs that the Day of Judgement is already drawing near. The minor signs include, but are not limited to, the following:
? Reverence and fearfulness of God will disappear while tribulations will occur.
? People will respect a man due to their fear that he may inflict harm on them.
? Everyone will claim to be an apostle of Allah.
? The worst person will become the leader of the people.
? Living people will envy the dead and wish death upon themselves.
? Disrespectful acts will be observed inside the mosques.
? Dishonesty will become prevalent and unworthy people will be given authority.
? A man will choose to heed his wife and friend instead obeying of his parents.
? Knowledge will be taken away and religious ignorance will become commonplace.
? People will become miserly.
? Unexpected and sudden deaths will occur more frequently.
? The traditions of the hadith will be disregarded by Muslim leaders themselves.
? Killing will spread and time will accelerate.
? Nobody will obey the teachings of Islam and Quran even if they were passed on to the next generation.
? The teachings of the hadith will be rejected by the people.
? Nations will cooperate with one another and use any means necessary to destroy Islamic values, teachings, culture and people.
? Usury, adultery and drinking of alcohol will become more prevalent.
? The worst kinds of people are the only ones who are left in the world.
? Music will become widespread but condoned.
? People who are honest and honorable will perish while those who are not will remain.
? The decoration of mosques becomes a competition among men.
? It will become necessary for a woman to immerse herself in her husband?s business because trade will spread worldwide.
? There will be a decrease in the number of men whereas the number of women will increase.
? People of distinction will no longer be treated with the respect that they deserve.
? Earthquakes and thunderbolts will occur more often.
? Disgrace, defamation and distortion will become widespread.
? Humans will be able to communicate with wild animals.
? Death will become more preferable due to the severe suffering that people experience.
? Evil people will be removed from Al-Madinah.
? There will be a conflict between Muslims and Jews.
? Little vegetation will grow despite the abundance of rain.
? People will find it a burden to pay for charity.
? More people will earn money from illegal means.
? Extremely tall buildings will be constructed by nomads.
? Majority of the people will be composed of Romans.
? Women will seem to be naked even if they have clothes on.
? Arabian territory will return to being a land of fields and rivers.
? Astray and misguided scholars will be the primary sources of knowledge.
? People will become estranged from Islam.
? The honest are branded as liars and traitors whereas the dishonest are believed.
? A mountain of gold will appear in the Euphrates.
? Knowledgeable and righteous people will perish.
? Polytheism and idolatry will become prevalent in communities.
? Obscenity and enmity will become prevalent among relatives and neighbors.
On the other hand, the major signs marking the end of days are as follows:
? There will appear a false messiah named Masih ad-Dajjal or else known as the Anti-Christ who will cause many people to stray from the right path.
? Jesus or Isa will descend from the sky to defeat Dajjal.
? Two vicious tribes called Ma?jooj and Ya?jooj will escape from their imprisonment, destroy the Earth and kill the faithful believers of Allah. They will eventually perish due to worms and disease sent by Allah.
? The earth will be covered by a black smoke cloud.
? The Beast called Dabbat al-ard will emerge from the ground and communicate with people.
? Sunrise will occur in the west.
? Sinking of the earth will occur in the lands situated in the east, west and Arabia.
? The dead will be resurrected and a fire originating from Yemen will gather everyone for judgment.
Other events that will serve as signals for the Day of Judgment are:
? A nation whose people are wearing shoes made out of hair will wage a war against the Muslims. They would have red complexion, faces like hammered shields, and small eyes. (referring to the mongols)
? The Sufyani will rise within the Syrian region.
? Every creature in earth and heaven will perish except for what Allah wills. Silence will reign over the land for an undetermined amount of time.
? The Muslims and Christians will fight against a common enemy. After its conclusion, war technology will become obsolete and a conflict between Muslims and non- Muslims will occur.
? People will fornicate in the streets indiscriminately.
? The Black Standard will emerge from Khorasan and will not return until it is raised in Jerusalem.
? People will cease to understand and follow Islamic teachings.
? The Kaaba will be destroyed as a result of an attack on Mecca.
? A south breeze will cause all believers to perish peacefully.
? No one will remember the teachings and verses of Quran.
? There will be a succession crisis. The people of Makkah will persuade and support a man from Makkah to accept the Bai?aa.
ISIS has also used the emphasis on eschatology and apocalypticism as a recruiting pitch for foreign fighters. The prophecies appear credible due to the civil wars raging in Syria and Iraq. Thus, foreign fighters were enticed by the idea of being present in the lands where the final apocalyptic battles will occur.
Goals
The militant group?s primary goal is the establishment of a Sunni Islamic State. It aims to become a worldwide caliphate which will have authority over and require allegiance of all Muslims. They are also aiming to conquer and purify the world by killing all people who do not believe in their interpretation of the Sharia law, regardless of religion.
Having proclaimed it to be another Caliphate, and al-Baghdadi to be the new Caliph, ISIL has announced backing for itself compulsory for all Muslims. Al-Baghdadi has proclaimed, “We illuminate the Muslims that, with the declaration of the caliphate, it has gotten to be mandatory for all Muslims to give Bay’ah and bolster him”, and “O Muslims in all spots. Those who can immigrate to the Islamic State, let him emigrate. For resettlement to the Abode of Islam is obligatory ?This remain constant for all other jihadi gatherings including Al-Qaeda which (ISIL accepts) has lost its purpose behind existing autonomously.
ISIS also aims to defend the places that are currently under its control from enemy forces while at the same time, expand its territories. They highly encourage local militant groups to consolidate their power and reward them with training and additional resources in order to increase their effectiveness in combat.
In addition to this, they also aim to establish friendly relations with local militant groups. In this way, they will be able to establish global and regional networks that they can use in their military and recruitment operations. The local jihadist groups could also help them in expanding their territories and subduing the local populace.
The group utilizes cyber attacks and terrorism to destroy the existing political system. These activities serve as distractions as it prevents countries from focusing on attacking their main stronghold in Syria and Iraq.
Violence
ISIS has been noted for what some have called “shocking” or “stunning” brutality,its arrival of recordings and photos of executions, shootings, confined detainees being smoldered alive or submerged bit by bit until suffocated. Among different impacts, the gathering’s mass killings and publicizing of them prompted a split in the middle of it and Al Qaeda.
ISIL’s viciousness is “not some offbeat, crazed zeal, but rather an extremely ponder, considered technique”, as indicated by some analysts,who regularly cite a 2004 work distributed online entitled Management of Savagery, which is depicted by a few writers and experts as powerful to ISIL, and expected to give a system to make another Islamic caliphate
Administration of Savagery attests that “one who beforehand occupied with jihad realizes that it is nothing yet viciousness, roughness, terrorism, prevention and slaughtering.” While “savage mayhem” is obnoxious it must be recollected that even “the most odious of the levels of brutality” are better “than dependability under the request of unbelief,” i.e. any administration other than ISIL.
One onlooker has depicted ISIL’s publicizing of its mass executions and murdering of regular citizens as a feature of “a cognizant arrangement intended to ingrain among adherents a feeling of implying that is sacrosanct and great, while terrifying the damnation out of wall sitters and foes.” Another portrays it reason as to “break” mentally those under its control “to guarantee their supreme fidelity through trepidation and intimidation”, while producing “inside and out contempt and retribution” by its adversaries.
By al Khoei, the focal significance of the rebuilding of the caliphate of ahead of schedule Islam to ISIL’s theory is symbolized by the Black Standard ISIS has embraced, a variation of the fanciful fight banner of Muhammad (P.B.U.H) showing the Seal of Muhammad (P.B.U.H) inside of a white circle, with the expression above it, “There is no God however Allah”.
Without a caliphate, there can be no hostile jihad, as indicated by customary Islamic law. By evangelist Anjem Choudary, “Until now, we were simply guarding ourselves,” however now ISIL can battle to the persuasive venture into nations that are ruled by non-Muslims. Pursuing of war to extend the caliphate is a crucial obligation of the caliph, so as per its ideological supporters like Anjem Choudary, ISIL is permitted to battle obnoxiously as well as prohibited not to.
On Women
The group also published documents regarding the role of women. They believe that women are destined to live a sedentary life of motherhood at home. They encourage females to adopt a supportive role (i.e. cooking, sewing, and nursing) for the members of the group.
ISIS puts a huge importance on marriage and family life on women. They expect the latter to become good wives of their members and refrain from taking up arms except when called on by religious leaders due to lack of male fighters. Female doctors, nurses and teachers can also be exempted from staying at home.
For the group, females should finish formal schooling by the age of 15 and their education should be limited to religious matters such as Islamic law. ISIS condemns feminism as worthless and a burden for women. In addition, they believe that the blurring of the line between sexes prevents people from worshiping God properly and emasculates men.