Introduction: Refuting ISIS and the Ideology of Terror in the Name of Islam: Part—1

By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 27 August 2025 The Doubts Raised by the ISIS and Its Supporters and Responses to Them ----- When ISIS (the so-called “Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham”) and other extremist groups declared their so-called caliphate, accompanied by a wave of propaganda from their media arms, we at NewAgeIslam.com were among the first platforms to publicly and ideologically refute their claims. Through numerous articles and publications on this website, we addressed and dismantled the core ideological foundations upon which such groups rest. Our central goal, shared by countless Muslim scholars, writers, intellectuals, and advocates of peace, has always been to make it clear to the public that Islam has absolutely no connection with terrorism, radicalism, or any violent movement that falsely claims the banner of jihad. Throughout our engagement with the topic, we encountered many well-meaning but misinformed Muslims who struggled to find clarity on these issues. Some held the belief that these terror organizations were manipulated by hidden geopolitical powers acting behind the scenes, pursuing their own agendas by undermining Muslim societies from within. Whether or not such theories have any merit, our focus remained on one key aspect: ideological and theological refutation. We responded purely from within the framework of Islamic teachings, drawing on the Qur'an, Sunnah, and the consensus of mainstream Islamic scholarship. Our position has always been honest, principled, and rooted in the Islamic tradition, without political pressure, compromise, or opportunism. However, we also encountered unfortunate accusations. Some voices, particularly on social media, cynically claimed that Muslims in minority contexts (such as in India) only promote peaceful interpretations of Islam due to their political status, suggesting that, if given the chance, they would align with groups like ISIS. This deeply flawed and dangerous assumption fails to recognize a critical fact: Muslim scholars and intellectuals in Muslim-majority countries, where Muslims are not minorities, have been just as vocal and unwavering in their condemnation of ISIS and similar extremist ideologies. This point is worth underscoring. Iraq and Syria, the very regions where ISIS originated, have produced a vast body of work refuting ISIS’s theological justifications and political project. Among the important contributions is a scholarly book entitled: "شبهات تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية وأنصاره والرد عليها" ("The Doubts Raised by the Islamic State Organization and Its Supporters—and Responses to Them") by Dr. Imad al-Din Khayti, published by the Research Office of the Islamic Sham (Syrian) Authority. This book offers a meticulous refutation of the ideological foundations of ISIS, addressing both their theological distortions and their political behaviours. While some of its core arguments have already been echoed in my previously published three-part article series (linked below), many crucial insights and points from the book remain untranslated or less widely known. With that in mind, I aim to present a series of translations from this important work, offering summaries at the beginning of each section. These translations are intended not only to expose the falsehoods of extremist ideologies but also to serve as a platform for reflection, discussion, and open intellectual engagement. I invite readers, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to read these materials thoughtfully. If certain points seem controversial or raise questions, you are encouraged to respond respectfully and constructively. The goal is to broaden our collective understanding, deepen our grasp of Islamic teachings, and reaffirm the message that Islam stands for justice, wisdom, and peace, not chaos and violence. Before proceeding further, it is important for us to read the Muqaddimah (the author’s introduction or preface), in order to understand the purpose and intent of the author behind this work, particularly his rationale for refuting ISIS and its extremist ideology. Preface to the Book By Dr. Imad al-Din Khayti All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the one who was sent as a mercy to the worlds, upon his pure and noble family, his righteous and honourable companions, and upon those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. To proceed: One of the gravest dangers facing Muslim societies today is the recurring waves of extremism (Ghuluw). The danger of this deviant ideology lies in several key areas: • It does not stop at opposing others but goes as far as declaring them disbelievers (Takfir), expelling them from the fold of Islam, and permitting their blood, wealth, and honour to be violated, resulting in widespread destruction, ruin, and killing. • It distorts religion, corrupts its rulings, pushes people towards innovation (Bid’ah), and spreads doubts and confusion. • It is exploited by the enemies of Islam, sometimes through infiltration, sometimes by manipulation to serve short- or long-term agendas, and at other times by using the foolish actions of extremists to defame Islam. • It diverts the Muslim Ummah from its true battles—that of resisting occupying enemies and those who lie in wait to attack their faith—replacing these priorities with internal division fuelled by extremists, compromisers, and deviants. This book, titled "The Doubts Raised by the 'Islamic State' Organization and Its Supporters – and the Responses to Them", was written to respond to the suspicions and ideological deviations propagated by extremists—particularly the group known as ISIS (ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyyah). It aims to expose the falsehood of their ideology and respond to their distortions by addressing their most important theological and doctrinal doubts. The Islamic Sham Authority (Hay’at al-Sham al-Islamiyyah) initially printed a special edition of this book for distribution among preachers and fighters in Syria and refugee communities as part of its broader religious and educational efforts. The goal was to equip these individuals with sound arguments to refute the fallacies and distortions propagated by such groups. By the grace of Allah, the book received widespread acceptance and distribution—far beyond what was initially expected. Subsequently, many suggestions and notes were received to enhance and expand the work. As a result, it was decided to prepare a new, expanded edition for broader publication, including in bookstores. This revised edition contains: 1. Expanded discussion on the doubts (Shubuhāt) raised by extremists in matters of creed (‘Aqīdah) and Islamic political theory (Siyāsah Shar‘Iyyah). This required adding many paragraphs and beneficial insights, as well as separating or combining certain doubts, while preserving the original structure of the book and the total number of doubts, which remains twenty. 2. Broader elaboration and refinement of several issues, with necessary edits in the form of additions, deletions, or rearranging content. 3. Maintaining the core focus of the book on discussing extremist doubts within the Syrian context, in continuity with the first edition. This is because the arguments and justifications used by contemporary extremists are similar across all times and places where they appear. Moreover, the initial public exposure of the ISIS organization began with the Syrian revolution, although this edition includes references to other regions where the group has emerged. 4. Noting key enriching contributions by reviewers in the footnotes by mentioning their names in parentheses like this: ( ). These were unintentionally overlooked in the first edition. 5. Adding an appendix at the end of the book that includes key statements and declarations by ISIS leaders, taken from their official communiqués, so readers can directly witness the extent of extremism and distortion in their speech, rather than these quotes being scattered throughout the book. 6. Including an appendix of key studies, articles, and publications about ISIS for further reference. 7. Adding a brief explanation of each doubt (Shubhah) in the table of contents, so readers can quickly identify what each section is addressing and easily navigate to the desired topic. 8. Choosing not to expand excessively on the citation of hadiths, limiting them to authentic narrations only. In cases where a hadith is weak or disputed, this is noted in the footnotes. This edition balanced two competing goals: the desire to keep the book concise for ease of reading and circulation, and the need to expand its scholarly content in order to respond effectively to the doubts raised by extremists. As a result, this version represents a middle path, as much as possible given the time and circumstances, and the content of the book has almost doubled in volume. It is necessary here to highlight several important points: 1. The “State” organization (ISIS) is neither the first group of extremists, nor will it be the last. The disappearance or decline of this group does not mean the disappearance of its ideas or doubts. Ideas do not vanish with the fall of organizations—they may change or evolve, which necessitates the continued effort to clarify the correct teachings of Islam, educate future generations upon them, and protect them from these deviations. 2. The doubts and distortions spread by extremists extend to most areas of religion and its rulings. In recent years, they have made significant efforts to formulate and disseminate these ideas through writings and fatwas. This calls for a unified and collaborative response to expose their extremism and the flaws in their methodology—in defence of the religion and to protect Muslim youth from falling into the traps of misguidance. Such a response must include a variety of outputs that target the foundations of their deviant ideology and its theoretical and practical manifestations. 3. This book is specifically focused on refuting the religious (shar‘i) doubts raised by such extremists, and does not delve into organizational or structural matters. These types of groups must be studied from two distinct angles: The Organizational Angle: This includes the history of these groups, how they developed, their leadership structures, methods of operation, military and media strategies, and their relations with other groups and states. These topics fall under the purview of strategic, historical, political, and psychological analyses. The Shar‘i (Religious) Angle: This focuses on the beliefs and ideologies promoted by the group, which they use as religious justifications for their actions. These beliefs are spread within the community, regardless of whether the group or its members actually adhere to them in practice. 4. Agreement of certain scholars with some views or beliefs—which may resemble those discussed in relation to the Khawārij or described as extremist—does not mean that these scholars should be labelled as innovators or extremists. This is due to differences in the foundational principles and intended outcomes of such statements. The statements of scholars are based on knowledge, ijtihad (independent reasoning), and sound methodology within the fold of Ahl al-Sunnah, even if they err in some matters. In contrast, the statements and beliefs of the Khawārij are built upon deviant principles that separate them from the mainstream Muslim community, and they ally and oppose others based on these principles, which are part of a broader framework of deviation and innovation. Ibn Taymiyyah said: "The sects affiliated with certain leaders in matters of fundamental beliefs and theology vary in levels: among them are those who have opposed the Sunnah in major foundational matters, and others who have only opposed it in subtler and minor issues… Such people, if they do not make what they have innovated into a belief that separates them from the mainstream Muslim community—whereby they show loyalty or enmity based on it—then this is considered a type of error. And Allah, the Exalted, forgives the believers for their mistakes in such matters." And not everyone who commits an innovation (Bid’ah) is to be labelled an innovator (Mubtadi‘), as is established in the principles of Ahl al-Sunnah. (Majmū‘al-Fatāwā (3/349). 5. One of the most important points to highlight when addressing the doubts and distortions of extremist groups and innovators in general is this: They often rely on partial quotations from the words of scholars to justify their deviations, whether by taking generalized, abridged principles or by applying verdicts issued about theoretical matters rather than about specific individuals, without considering the scholars' full explanations and the broader context of their rulings. This necessitates returning to the complete statements of scholars to understand their actual positions on the discussed issues. This will be emphasized in several instances throughout the book. Moreover, extremists often take isolated opinions or unique positions of certain scholars—opinions that may fall into the category of slips, irregular views, or interpretations that deviate from the methodology of the mainstream scholars—and use them to override the consensus of the majority of scholars. They treat these fringe views as foundational principles, using them to judge the primary Islamic texts, interpret them, and derive theological doctrines and legal rulings from them. Therefore, when encountering such views, it is obligatory to first refer to the established positions of the mainstream scholars, and then assess those individual opinions in light of the broader scholarly tradition. The scholars of Islam have warned against this dangerous method. They clarified that this path may lead to religious innovation (bid‘ah) and deviation from the straight path. Imām al-Awzā‘ī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Whoever takes the rare or odd opinions of scholars has exited Islam." (Reported by Al-Bayhaqī in Al-Sunan al-Kubrā (10/356, Hadith No. 20918). Imām al-Dhahabī said: "Whoever pursues the concessions of the schools of thought and the slips of the scholars, his religion becomes weak." (See Siyar A‘lām al-Nubalāʼ (8/90). In Conclusion: I extend my gratitude and prayers to everyone who offered advice, corrections, or suggestions—of whom there are many. I especially thank: • Shaykh Dr. ‘Ammar ibn Ibrāhīm al-‘Īsā, who carefully reviewed this edition and provided a large number of valuable corrections and suggestions for clarifying and refining numerous issues. • Shaykh Dr. Fahd ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Ajlān, who contributed thoughtful advice and suggestions on the precision of several matters. • Shaykh ‘Ammār ibn Aḥmad al-Ṣayāṣinah, who generously offered many suggestions related to editing and phrasing. • And finally, my respected father, Ustādh ‘Abd al-Wahhāb ibn ‘Abd al-Ghanī Khayṭī, who performed the final reading and provided important guidance, advice, and corrections. I have done my best to implement their observations and benefit from their insights. May Allah reward them abundantly on my behalf and on behalf of the Muslims, and may He place this effort in the scale of their good deeds. I also extend my thanks to Markaz al-Bayān for Research and Studies. I ask Allah the Almighty to make this work sincerely for His sake, to make it beneficial, and to make it a proof for us, not against us. Whatever is correct in it is solely by the grace and guidance of Allah. Whatever is mistaken or flawed is from myself and from Shayṭān. I seek Allah’s forgiveness for it. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. (Written by: ‘Imād al-Dīn ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhāb Khayṭī, 20 Muharram 1437 AH, November 2, 2015 CE, translated from Arabic into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi) (Continued) Related Articles: 1. Refuting ISIS Concept of Caliph and Caliphate [Khalifa and Khilafah] – Part 1 2. Debunking Jihad of ISIS and Its False Theory That ‘Non-Jihadists Can’t Issue Fatwas on Jihad and Mujahid’ - Part 2 3. Debunking ISIS Concept That Their Fatwas and Commands Are Issued By a Recognised Legal Body – Part 3 ------ A regular Columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is an Alim and Fazil (Classical Islamic scholar) with a Sufi background and English-Arabic-Urdu Translator. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-terrorism-jihad/refuting-isis-ideology-terror-part-1/d/136620 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism