Are Terrorist Groups ISIS and ISIL Islamic?

Are the terrorists groups ISIS and ISIL Islamic? Some say they cannot be. They say Islam is a 'peaceful religion.' As I seek, from conviction, to answer this question, please note that I am not comparing religions, nor am I attempting to share any other belief systems. My approach in this post is to simply look at the root of the Islamic belief system and compare that belief system to the behavior and practices of these particular terrorist groups.

It really is simple. They are FOLLOWING their scripture. Read the Qur'an and Haddith yourselves. You will find the reason why these terrorists (ISIS and ISIL) keep coming out of Islam..and they will not stop...because that is what Islam is. Please continue to read. 

Take for example, “Slavery is a part of Islam,” says Saudi Sheik Saleh Al-Fawzan, according to the independent Saudi Information Agency, “Slavery is part of jihad, and jihad will remain as long as there is Islam.”  As for the modernist interpretation that Islam totally abolished slavery, he dismissed its exponents saying, “They are ignorant, not scholars. ... Whoever says such things is an infidel.” (Jihad is defined as the war or struggle against unbelievers, according to Islam).

This Sheikh has authored textbooks used in madrassas (seminars that teach Islamic practices) and in our Democracies. He is not shy about expressing Islamic hegemony (Patriarchal Muslim Culture); it's only in our unconquered countries that Muslims lie about Islam. Lies? Why would anyone bring up lying?

Are Muslims, who are engaged in Islam, taught to 'lie'? Yes! It is critical that we understand this component in their religious belief. It is called taqiyya and kitman.  These circumstances are typically those that advance the cause of Islam - in some cases by gaining the trust of non-believers in order to draw out their vulnerability and defeat them. Here it is, straight from the Qur'an, which they believe is the 'direct word of Allah':

Qur'an (16:106) establishes that there are circumstances that can “compel” a Muslim to tell a lie. Qur'an (3:28), this verse tells Muslims not to take those outside the faith (of Islam) as friends, 'unless it is to “guard themselves.” Or, Qur'an (40:28), a man is introduced as a believer, but one who must “hide his faith” among those who are not believers. Here are other verses in support of those I just shared from the Qur'an (9:3), (2:225), (66:2), (3:54), (8:30), (10:21).

All of these support lying to any of you. Therefore, you have to ask yourselves, “are those who I have befriended, lied to me?” And, the answer is, if they are a true follower of Islam, they probably have to, either to protect themselves and/or to win you over. It is in their holy scriptures.

Taken collectively these verses are interpreted to mean that there are circumstances when a Muslim may be "compelled" to deceive others for a greater purpose. (Don't bother asking a Muslim if they have lied to you. If they feel threatened, they have the right to, simply, lie and say they hadn't lied. Make sense? That is difficult for me to comprehend).

How about the Hadith:

Bukhari (49:857)"He who makes peace between the people by inventing good information or saying good things, is not a liar."  Lying is permitted when the end justifies the means.

Bukhari (84:64-65) Speaking from a position of power at the time, Ali confirms that lying is permissible in order to deceive an "enemy."

Bukhari (32:6303) "...he did not hear that exemption was granted in anything what the people speak as lie but in three cases: in battle, for bringing reconciliation amongst persons and the narration of the words of the husband to his wife, and the narration of the words of a wife to her husband (in a twisted form in order to bring reconciliation between them)."

Reliance of the Traveler (p. 746 - 8.2) -  "Speaking is a means to achieve objectives. If a praiseworthy aim is attainable through both telling the truth and lying, it is unlawful to accomplish through lying because there is no need for it.  When it is possible to achieve such an aim by lying but not by telling the truth, it is permissible to lie if attaining the goal is permissible (i.e. when the purpose of lying is to circumvent someone who is preventing one from doing something permissible), and obligatory to lie if the goal is obligatory... it is religiously precautionary in all cases to employ words that give a misleading impression...

Now, I'll be the first to admit, that I do not want to assume a friend of mine, who is Muslim, is living a lie before me. However, if a Muslim is truly following their religion, and that religion is Islam, and they ever feel they need to protect themselves, or 'win me over', they are permitted to lie to me. Islam is a religion that lacks honesty, integrity and trust.

How does this address the issue of Terrorism, in which ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and of the Lavent) are engaged in, have been recruiting for and are threatening several countries around the world? This group that has been stealing women and children, torturing and killing those who are not Muslim? You say they are 'not' Islamic?

Let's take a look at more of the Qur'an. We should, right? The Qur'an is the foundation of their religion, the religion of Islam. Let's see if the behaviors of ISIS and ISIL measure up to the standard of Islam:

Qur'an (3:32) “Say: Obey Allah and the Apostle; but if they turn back then surely Allah does not love the unbelievers.” ISIS/ISIL does not show much love to any of the unbelievers.

Qur'an (48:29) “...and those who are with him are severe against unbelievers and merciful among themselves.” Why are these groups, ISIS/ISIL, reacting so severely towards non-muslims? Well, we just read two verses explaining why.

Qur'an (4:24) “Also (forbidden are) women already married, except those (captives and slaves) whom your right hands possess.” There's some historical context to consider here, yet, briefly stated, if a woman is married, you cannot rape her, but if you take a married woman as your slave, or captive, you possess her and can rape her all you want. Are you aware of these groups kidnapping and rapping women? (I think we know the answer to that question)

Qur'an (5:33) “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and his apostle and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hand and feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this should be as a disgrace for them...” Notice how vague the reason for such punishment, “strive to make mischief.” This gives Muslims, ISIS, ISIL broad justifiable means for such malicious behavior! Directly from the Qur'an!

Some argue that it is not only the Christian and Jew they are torturing or killing, but they have killed Muslims as well. Therefore, some conclude that ISIS and ISIL cannot be Islamic. Not true! The reason they kill Muslims as well is in the Qur'an (9:73) “O Prophet! Strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites and be unyielding to them and their abode is hell, and evil is the destination.” “Strive hard” comes from the Arabic form of the word, Jihad. This is where we hear, “the wage of Jihad.” Remember, if a Muslim turns away from the core of Islam it can be a form of apostasy. And the penalty for apostasy is death. Therefore, the killing of Muslims by Muslims. And, this does not discredit ISIS or ISIL from being Isalmic as they are only doing what Allah commands according to the Qur'an.

Qur'an (9:111) “...they fight in Allah's way, so they slay and are slain.” Some may regard the peacefulness of some of our neighbors, but that does not discredit the birth of such groups as ISIS and ISIL, which are birthed from Islam. They will fight and kill, until they themselves are killed. That is Islam, “so they slay and are slain.”

In conclusion, the most alarming verse of all comes from the Qur'an (2:106) “Whatever communications we abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or like it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things.”

As it has been said, “the people of the west have been trying to condemn the Islamic State by quoting the peaceful verses of the Qur'an, and saying, “How can you call yourselves Muslims when the Qur'an says there is no compulsion in religion.” It is very important to understand hat the peaceful verses were before Allah commanded his followers to slay idolators, to subjugate Jews and Christians and to fight, or kill, hypocrites. So the most important verse you need to know if you want to understand the Islamic State, is, (2:106), which lays out before you the doctrine of abrogation. This simply means that the earlier verses get abrogated, or cancelled, by later verses. Therefore, versions of Islam that oppose this violent kind of behavior committed by the Islamic State, are now obsolete. Did you hear that? That verse nullifies anything else in its own religion!

My conclusion, is, as much as many disagree.....ISIS and ISIL, and other such Terrorists groups of Its kind, are Islamic. They can lie and justify just about any of their actions according to the Qur'an. That is dangerous!