ISIS: Islam on Display

The journalist looks up to the sky as the blind fold is removed. He is awaiting his eminent
death. He is on his knees, hot, clay-colored sand surrounds him. The abyss of sand reflects the
harsh rays of the sun, emitting heat. His mouth is dry, he hasnt been fed in days, and has not had
water in hours. His mouth is cracked and dry. The orange jumpsuit like that of a prisoners
reflects his state of being, He longs for his family, his wife and his daughter. He will never see
them again. He sobs as he is trying to make peace with this factreality. As he thinks about it, the
reality of never seeing his family that hits him like a freight train. He imagines his daughter
going off to college. He sees her as she walks down the aisle at her wedding. And lastly he
pictures his grandchildren, cared for by their lovely mother, and his beloved daughter. He will
never see his grandchildren. Whack! His shoulder burns from the impact of the rifle. He is not
sure if it is broken. The hit brought him down, headface in the sand, hands covering his faceon
his head, crumbled and submissive. He is quickly yanked up by loud men in dark robes, covered
from head to toe. They yell in a language he cant understand pull him back up and make him sit
with his back straight, still on his knees. They start talking to a camera that he notices has been
placed a few feet in front of him. The speech is several minutes long, but feels like a few
moments to the journalist because he knows what is coming. He had written about it for
magazines, and now he would be the one to be written about. and Hhe knows that he is going to
die. As soon as the speech is over he feels a hand shove his head down, but only his head. His
neck is exposed. The sawing starts. He lets out a writhing scream, the last noise he will ever
make. Then it is over. His life has come to an end. Very quickly his head is decapitated and

removed from his limp, bleeding body. The ISIS militants hold it up to the camera for the world
to see.
I hope after reading that, that your stomach is churning and you are saddened, maybe you
even shed a few tears. But my point is not merely to make you cry, to make you sad, or ruin your
day. I want to make a point. ISIS is dangerous, ISIS is ruthless, and ISIS must be stopped. But
how do we stop them? How do you cure a respiratory infection when you have it? Do you get
Kleenex? Do you take cold medicine? Im sure you do. These things help with the symptoms.
The Kleenex helps with the runny nose. The medicine may help with the fever, and possibly
even the cough and congestion. However, these things are not the cure. If you want to get better,
you have to go to the source of the problem. The source of the infection must be taken care of.
Targeting the cause rather than then the effectsresults. You take antibiotics to deal with the
infection. You go to the source causing the problem. You wipe out the infection and the fever
goes away. There is no more runny nose, and no more cough. That is what must be done with
ISIS. We need to examine what makes them tick and what makes them do what they do. A lot of
people, perhaps the majority in the western hemisphere would say that they want political gains.
That they want to destroy the western world, and that Islam is a very small factor, if it is a factor
at all. I think that although they want to grow and expand, they are motivated to do this by their
faith and that this is the main motivation. ISIS claims that they do what they do because they are
doing what they do because they are called to by the Quran and are following the model of
Muhammed. Lets examine and see if Islam is just a cover for ISIS, or if it is possibly something
more for them. ISIS on the other hand is very adamant that they are doing what they are called to
do, as stated in the Koran and other Islamic texts that make up the religion. Lets examine this;

if Islam is just a label they use, or if it is something more. This question is of the utmost
importance to answer.
To get an idea of whether or not ISIS is representative of Islam, we must first look at the
Islamic faith. Examining the Quran seems like a pretty good place to start because. iIt is
essentially the guide for Islam. It is the basis for the faith. Without the Quran there is not a
Muslim. Just like if there were no blue-prints for a building, there would be no building. In order
to examine the scriptures, we need to understand how the Quran and other Islamic scriptures are
meant to be read. First off, the Quran is supposed to be the word of Allah, the Muslim god. Allah
according to the Muslim scriptures is known to be a perfect being which is incapable of
contradicting himself. Because the Quran is the word of Allah, the scripture must also be perfect
and therefore, unable to contradict itself. Verses in the Quran says that it is not up for
interpretation, but that it must simply be taken as what it is. Such examples include: Chapter 6,
verse 115 Shall I seek for judge other than Allah when he it is who has sent down the book to
you clearly explained. Chapter 11, verse 2 This is a book who verses have been made
unchangeable and have been expounded in detail. (Quran chapters 6,11) This strict rule of no
interpretation is what the individuals in ISIS baseis their beliefs around. This means that
whatever the Quran commands to do, must be done. There is no room for a Muslim to either
question the words of Allah, to disobey them, or to take them in a way that they would like. No
matter how they feel about them, they must take them as the words of a supreme god that must
be followed. This idea of strict readings of the Quran and other Muslim scriptures is what is
typically found in the sect of Sunni Muslims. They are the faction of Muslims that make up ISIS.
Sunnis are typically thought to be the more traditional sect of Islam. On the other hand, Shiites
believe in innovation of the Quran, forward thinking in order to make it fit into the context of the

circumstances of the present. This stance is seen by Sunnis as being dishonoring to Allah, and is
not to be tolerated. This leads to the perpetrator being considered an apostate. According to The
Atlantic, a newspaper who has been around for over a hundred years, an apostate is someone
who denies the holiness of the Quran or who renounces the holiness of the words and prophesies
of Muhammed. (What ISIS Really Wants) being considered an apostate is grounds for
punishment, and often times killing of someone who dishonors Allah in a brash act against him.
This can be seen closely relatable to sin, which is supposed to be forgiven by brothers of the
faith. (What ISIS Really Wants). The big difference is that one leads to death and the other
forgiveness. So now that we have the basis for how to interpret the scriptures and how they are
supposed to be perceived, lets see what is in the Quran.
Now that we have seen how the Quran says that it is supposed to be read and interpreted,
we can examine some verses in it. But before we start looking at verses in the Quran, I would
like to address thosethe side that would say ISIS is not representative of Islam. That ISIS is made
up ofthey are radical Muslims who are not representative of the faith and are not truly what Islam
is aboutdespicable. That terrorist groups such as theirshey are the reasons that Muslims have a
bad rep in the western media, and that they make all people who practice Islam seem violent and
like terrorists. First I would like to say that the statement that all Muslims are violent is
ridiculous. This is obviously false. I know people who are Muslims. Some are in my classes.
They are by no means violent people. They do not commit acts of terrorism, neither should they
be discriminated against. These are some of the same people who would say that Islam is a
peaceful religion, that ISIS is horrible and does not represent what they know to be true of their
religion. I know that the majority of Muslims who are not a part of a terrorist group are not
violent or committing acts of terror. They would point to ISIS and say that at best they could be

considered radical Muslims, and at the other end, they would not be considered Muslims at all
because the things that they do are violent and harm others. Things which they themselves do not
do, or other Muslims that they know do not do. They will cite scripture in the QuranKoran that
says to kill one innocent person is to kill every innocent person. If anyone slays a person, it
would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved
the life of the whole people. (Quran Chapter 5, verse 23) These points that are made by these
Muslims are valid. Most of the Muslim population is not violent, with only a small percentage
being parts of groups that commits acts of terror, or other acts of violence. This is supported by
the evidence that there are approximately 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, and ISIS as well as
other Islamic terrorist groups are small in number when comparing to that of 1.6 billion. (Pew
Research Center) However, I do not believe that this discredits ISIS as being unfounded in what
they do, when looking at the Islamic texts.
When you look at the texts of the Quran, you will see both violent verses where Muslims
are told to kill the non-believers, or brothers that turn from the faith. Chapter 8, verse 12 "I will
cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off
every fingertip of them" (Quran) You will also see verses that say to be peaceful with the nonbeliever and to show them mercy. As already stated, the QuranKoran cannot contradict itself, if
so, then theelse the Islamic faith crumbles upon itself. Therefore, these verses must coincide
somehow. I would provide the option that by looking at these verses in the context of Jihad, they
fit together in harmony. David Wood, a Christian Apologist who has degrees in philosophy and
biology, and is pursuing a Ph.D in Philosophy of Religion gives the stages of Jihad. First, As a
Muslim, be peaceful with both your brothers and the non-believers when you are outnumbered
by them. Secondly, have a defensive jihad when you have the ability to fight. Mercy can still be

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shown. Lastly, when you have the substantial numbers andgreater numbers and have the ability,
subjugate and kill the non-believers who will not convert. (Is ISIS Islamic?) One of the most
prominent figures in Islam is Muhammed the prophet. He is the one that Muslims are supposed
to follow the example of. When trying to see what a good Muslim looks like, you look at him.
When examining Muhammed, and the contexts of when he said and did certain things, you see
this pattern and template for jihad. In some parts of the Quran, Muhammed is peaceful with the
non-believers. This is when he is outnumbered and has a small following, is peaceful with the
non-believer. When he gains followers and has the ability to, he subjugates and kills the nonbelievers. Whatever stage a Muslim finds himself in determines what they are supposed to do,
guided by the Quran, and the example of Muhammed. This idea of looking at the scriptures
according to the context of the current stage of Jihad allows the verses that seem to conflict with
one another, fit together. In this way the book is holy and perfect, and the words of Allah are not
contradicting with one another, and remain in perfect unity. So what does this mean? For one it
means that Muslims in different parts of the world are called to do different things and to act in
different ways. A Muslim who stands alone, who is outnumbered is supposed to be peaceful.
They are to treat others with mercy, and to be kind to the non-believer. Muslims who find
themselves in the position of opportunity to take over by force are called to do that. This is ISIS.
They have seen an opportunity and have decided to fulfill the duties found in the KoranQuran.
They look to verses like Surely, Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their

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property in return for the Garden they shall have, they fight in the cause of Allah, and they slay

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and are slain" (Quran 9:111) or O ye who believe! Fight such of the disbelievers as are near

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to you and let them find hardness in you, and know that Allah is with the righteous. (Quran
9:123), or even yet So be not slack and sue not for peace, for you will certainly have the upper

hand. And Allah is with you, and he will not deprive you of the reward of your actions. (Quran
47:36). These verses are in the context of Muhammed waging an offensive Jihad. The prophet to
whom every Muslim looks to.
The Islamic state is waging this offensive Jihad, exemplified by Muhammed. Theyey are

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gaining more and more ground and more and more territory. They are ruthless. Killing the nonbelievers and apostates alike. They have also gotten a Kalif. This is supposed to be a chosen
leader of the Muslims and of the Kaliphate. That is the united group of Muslims who are trying
to bring about the end-game of Jihad. The Kaliphate is supposed to encompass Muslims, and the
Kaliph is supposed to be their leader and spokes-person. This person is Abu Bakr alBaghdadiand represent the Islamic faith. (What ISIS Really Wants) This process of obtaining a
Kaliph is not an easy one, but oneand is also on that is required by the Muslim scriptures when
waging a lasting Jihad. ISIS is not merely taking land and gaining territories in disregard for
what the Quran and other Islamic texts say, they are actually following them very carefully. This
is huge in arguing the case that they are Islamic. If they were merely trying to use Islam as a
cover for their true motives, or if they were not actually following what the Quran says to do,
then why are they actually doing it? Its simple. They are following what the Quran says.
In addition to them being true to doing what the scriptures tell them to do, I would also
like to point out some interesting numbers, and to make an interesting observation. The Pew
Research Center, a world-renowned and often cited source for statistics, did surveys regarding
Sharia Law and other things that relateas to it. They surveyed Muslims in multiple countries,
asking them multiple questions. When asked if they supported killing those who left the Islamic
faith, 79 percent of those who answered in Afghanistan said they did. 76 percent in Pakistan, 86
in Egypt, 82 percent in Jordan, and 66 percent in Palestine territory. Eleven out of the twenty

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countries in which the survey took place had at least a fourth of the Muslim population say that
they supported those who left the Islamic faith being killed for it. (Muslim Beliefs About Sharia)
As you see, not all Muslims are opposed to some of the same actions that ISIS is doing. What I
am about to say is going to be very abrasive. I want to preface it with explaining that I am not
saying that Muslims in the western hemisphere are liars, That they are hypocrites, that they
deserve to be punished in any way or even that they should fall victim to discrimination based on
their religion. I do not endorse any of these things. However, I would like to point out that if we
look at it through the context of the QuranKoran in reference to Jihad, then we would think that
the Muslims here who are greatly outnumbered, would be doing exactly what they are supposed
to be doing. According to the Huffington Post, only one percent of the United States population
is Muslim. (Americans Think The Countrys Muslim Population Is Bigger Than It Really IS)
These Muslims are being peaceful with the non-believers who surround them. Again I am not
trying to say that Muslims in the United States, or anywhere for that matter are liars and that they
are saying that ISIS is not representative of the Islamic faith because they are in a different stage
of Jihad from their brothers over-seas. I am not saying this at all. However, I feel that this is a
logical explanation and I would be remised in not pointing this out to the reader.
In conclusion, ISIS and what makes ISIS tick is important because of what they are
doing. PThat public opinion does not necessarily mean that something is true. To truly see
whether or not ISIS is Islamic, we have to look at the Islamic texts. not necessarily mean that
ISIS is unfounded in the texts for doing what they do, but would actually say the opposite. I hope
you see that looking at the Quran in perspective of Jihad does not change the meaning of the
verses but merely puts them into accordance with each otherone another so that they do not
conflict with one another. I hope you see tThat when you do this, you see that verses make sense,

and that ISIS seems to be doing just what it is supposed to be doing in reference with the Muslim
texts. I would like to again add that opinion polls in African and Middle-eastern countries shows
support for doing some of the same actions that ISIS is taking part of. Even Muslims who are not
directly involved with ISIS support things that ISIS is doing because they are called to do these
things when reading through the Quran and studying the life of Muhammed. . That
MuslimsLastly, Muslims in the western world would be justified in reference in the stage of
Jihad in not publicly supporting ISIS.

Works Cited
Ali, Maulawi. The Holy Quran. Tilford, UK: Islam International Publications Ltd.

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2004. Print
"Answering Muslims: Debate: Is ISIS Islamic? (David Wood vs. Osama Abdallah)."

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Answering Muslims: Debate: Is ISIS Islamic? (David Wood vs. Osama Abdallah). Answering
Muslims, 24 Dec. 2014. Web. 1 May 2015.

Graeme Wood. What ISIS Really Wants. The Atlantic. March 2015. Web news article.
February 26 2015. <http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/02/what-isis-really-

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wants/384980/>
Pew Research Center The Worlds Muslims: Religion, Politics, and Society. Pew
Research Center April 30 2013. Web article. March 2 2015
<http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-relgion-politics-society-beliefsabout-sharia/>

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"World's Muslim Population More Widespread than You Might Think." Pew Research

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Center RSS. 6 June 2013. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. < http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-

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tank/2013/06/07/worlds-muslim-population-more-widespread-than-you-might-think/>

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"Debate: Is ISIS Islamic? David Wood (Christian) vs. Osama Abdallah (Muslim)."

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YouTube. YouTube, 24 Dec. 2014. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. <

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKH-sInknQM>

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Pew Research Center The Worlds Muslims: Religion, Politics, and Society. Pew Research
Center April 30 2013. Web article. March 2 2015 <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-

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worlds-muslims-relgion-politics-society-beliefs-about-sharia/>
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"World's Muslim Population More Widespread than You Might Think." Pew Research Center
RSS. 6 June 2013. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. < http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/02/american-

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muslim-population_n_6076872.html>

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