A Purist Jihadi-Salafi: The Ideology of Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 21 September 2024 Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi Occupies A Unique Position Within The Jihadi-Salafi Movement, Bridging The Gap Between The Purist And Militant Wings Of Salafism. His Ideology, Based On The Concepts Of Al-Wala Wa-L-Bara, Kufr, And Jihad, Reflects A Deep Commitment To Theological Purity While Simultaneously Justifying The Use Of Violence Against Un-Islamic Rulers Main Points: 1. Al-Maqdisi Is Best Known For Mentoring The Infamous Jordanian Militant Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, Who Would Go On To Lead The Brutal Jihadist Insurgency In Iraq. 2. Salafism Is Not A Monolithic Ideology But Is Divided Into Three Major Currents: Purists, Politicos, And Jihadis. 3. Central To Al-Maqdisi’s Ideology Is The Concept Of Al-Wala Wa-L-Bara, Which Refers To The Loyalty Every Muslim Must Show To God, Islam, And Fellow Muslims (Wala) And The Disavowal Or Rejection Of Anything Un-Islamic (Bara). This Doctrine Frames The World In Binary Terms—Those Who Adhere To Pure Islam And Those Who Do Not. ----- Introduction The emergence of radical Islamic ideologies has seen significant scholarly attention, particularly in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Salafism, a puritanical branch of Islam, has been at the centre of these discussions, especially with the rise of violent offshoots such as Al-Qaeda. A critical but often misunderstood figure in this movement is Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, considered one of the most influential ideologues within Jihadi-Salafism. This article explores three central tenets of al-Maqdisi's ideology—al-wala wa-l-bara, kufr, and jihad—demonstrating how his teachings straddle the line between purist Salafism and Jihadi-Salafism. Who is Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi? Born in the West Bank village of Barqa in 1959, al-Maqdisi's real name is Abu Muhammad Asim b. Muhammad al-Barqawi. His family moved to Kuwait during his early years, where he grew up largely isolated. His intellectual journey later took him to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, where he would become a central figure in Jihadi-Salafism, writing extensively about Islamic purity, the concept of takfir (excommunication), and jihad. Al-Maqdisi is best known for mentoring the infamous Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who would go on to lead the brutal jihadist insurgency in Iraq. Although al-Maqdisi initially supported Zarqawi’s efforts, he later distanced himself from his protégé’s extreme tactics, particularly his attacks on Shiites, which al-Maqdisi felt tarnished the image of Islam. Salafism: A Divided Ideology Salafism is not a monolithic ideology but is divided into three major currents: purists, politicos, and Jihadis. Purist Salafis focus on theological purity and often adopt an apolitical stance, relying on religious scholarship and peaceful Da’wa (proselytization). Politicos, on the other hand, actively engage in politics to promote Islamic governance. Jihadis advocate for armed struggle against regimes they view as un-Islamic. Al-Maqdisi’s unique position within this spectrum, however, blurs these distinctions. While he is firmly in the Jihadi-Salafi camp due to his endorsement of violent jihad, his strict adherence to theological purity makes him closer to purist Salafism than figures like Osama bin Laden or Ayman al-Zawahiri. This combination of purism and militancy has made al-Maqdisi's works highly influential, even beyond Jihadi circles. Al-Wala wa-l-Bara: Loyalty and Disavowal Central to al-Maqdisi’s ideology is the concept of Al-Wala Wa-L-Bara, which refers to the loyalty every Muslim must show to God, Islam, and fellow Muslims (wala) and the disavowal or rejection of anything un-Islamic (bara). This doctrine frames the world in binary terms—those who adhere to pure Islam and those who do not. Al-Maqdisi emphasizes that this concept applies to both social and political life, and he criticizes Saudi purists for applying bara only to social issues while ignoring political ties to non-Muslims. Al-Maqdisi builds upon the example of the Prophet Abraham (Quran 60:4) as a model of disavowal. He argues that just as Abraham distanced himself from the idol worshippers of his time, so too must Muslims today disavow the contemporary equivalents of idolatry—modern Muslim rulers and their alliances with non-Islamic governments. This view leads al-Maqdisi to denounce regimes like Saudi Arabia, which he accuses of hypocrisy for maintaining political relationships with the West, especially the United States, while claiming to uphold Islamic purity. His writings suggest that true loyalty to Islam necessitates not only rejection of un-Islamic practices but active opposition to regimes that cooperate with non-Muslims. The Concept of Kufr: Declaring Rulers as Infidels Al-Maqdisi's most controversial ideological stance revolves around his understanding of Kufr (unbelief) and the practice of Takfir (excommunication). Al-Maqdisi believes that Muslim rulers who do not govern by Islamic law (sharia) are guilty of major Kufr and should be considered infidels. He draws on Quran 5:44, which states that those who do not rule by God's laws are unbelievers. While many purist Salafis agree on the importance of ruling by sharia, they often distinguish between major and minor Kufr. Minor Kufr refers to actions that do not automatically make someone an infidel unless performed with full conviction, while major Kufr is reserved for clear acts of idolatry. Al-Maqdisi, however, applies major kufr to Muslim rulers who govern according to non-Islamic laws, arguing that their actions amount to a rejection of God's sovereignty. This position has made al-Maqdisi a leading advocate for Takfir of modern regimes. However, unlike some radical groups, such as Egypt’s al-Takfir wa-l-Hijra, al-Maqdisi does not advocate for the Takfir of entire societies. He confines his declarations of disbelief to rulers and their direct supporters, such as government officials, military personnel, and legislators. Jihad: The Highest Form of Disavowal For al-Maqdisi, jihad is not merely a physical struggle but the ultimate expression of disavowal. He considers it the most effective way to demonstrate a Muslim’s rejection of un-Islamic rulers and their regimes. Al-Maqdisi’s views on jihad extend beyond the classical Islamic conception of a war between Muslim and non-Muslim lands. Instead, he advocates for jihad against Muslim rulers whom he regards as apostates. The debate within the Jihadi-Salafi movement often centres on whether the primary enemy should be the “near enemy”—the Muslim regimes—or the “far enemy,” such as Western governments. Al-Maqdisi prioritizes the near enemy, believing that the overthrow of un-Islamic rulers within the Muslim world is a necessary first step toward the ultimate goal of establishing an Islamic state. Al-Maqdisi’s position on jihad contrasts sharply with the global strategy adopted by Al-Qaeda, which focused on attacking Western targets. He was particularly critical of the 9/11 attacks, viewing them as detrimental to the Muslim world by provoking Western military retaliation in Muslim countries. Instead, al-Maqdisi advocates a more focused jihad, targeting local regimes that he believes are the real obstacles to the establishment of an Islamic state. Conclusion Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi occupies a unique position within the Jihadi-Salafi movement, bridging the gap between the purist and militant wings of Salafism. His ideology, based on the concepts of Al-Wala Wa-L-Bara, Kufr, and Jihad, reflects a deep commitment to theological purity while simultaneously justifying the use of violence against un-Islamic rulers. Al-Maqdisi’s emphasis on doctrinal purity makes him a respected figure even among purist Salafis, while his endorsement of jihad gives him credibility within the militant wing of the movement. Though al-Maqdisi has distanced himself from the extreme tactics of figures like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, his writings continue to inspire jihadist groups across the world. His blend of purist theology and militant activism has earned him a significant following, making him one of the most influential ideologues in the contemporary Islamic world. ---- Grace Mubashir is researcher focusing on Islam in contemporary South Asia URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-terrorism-jihad/purist-jihadi-salafi-ideology-abu-muhammad-maqdisi/d/133251 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