ISIS

ISIS

The ideology of ISIS is a controversial and debatable topic because it is usually interpreted in different ways. While some people associate the Islamic State with the collection of aggressive psychopath, many individuals view ISIS as a group of people who believe that religious beliefs of the Islamic State will initiate the beginning of the apocalypse. The current paper aims to summarize the main ideas presented in the article by How Islamic Is the Islamic State? Not at All by M. Hasan (2015). Moreover, much attention will be paid to several main ideologies presented by the researcher as well as logic and evidence concerning the facts that justify the truthfulness and validity of these ideologies. Finally, such issues as personal viewpoints and attitudes concerning what ideology best explain intentions of this organization and why understanding its motives is crucial for combating this global enemy of the entire society will be reviewed as well.

Mehdi Hasan (2015), the author of the article about ISIS and its intentions, claims that the primary motive of ISIS that is known for its unprecedented attempts to terrify the entire world, has nothing in common with religious convictions (Hasan). On the contrary, the researches believes that ISIS as the most fearsome and outrageous terrorist organization commits inhuman crimes that have nothing to do with the Quran (Hasan). According to the estimations of Bernard Haykel who explores the nature of Islam and its influence on society claims that significant percentage of members of ISIS follow cotton-views of Islam. In addition, the researcher Sageman claims that the motives of ISIS are directly linked to a sense of emotional as well as moral outrage. Religion, as Sageman assures, should not be viewed as a driver of identity (Hasan). On the contrary, religion is a powerful force for the majority of members of ISIS that is the main marker of identity that not only defines, but also shapes identities of people. The majority of the researchers who investigate outrageous and brutal behavior of ISIS members agree that ISIS followers have nothing to do with so-called “religious folks”. Because many members of ISIS are in search of their identity, they not only behave brutally and aggressively, but also use Islam as a convincing justification that should refute their guilt (Hasan). Proponents of Sageman’s viewpoint agree that Sageman’s book The Black Banners proves his theory that religion is only a marker of identity for members of ISIS. According to the information published in this book, despite most of Al Qaeda members could quote statements and sayings of Bin Laden by heart, only some adherents knew classical Arabic that is considered to be the language of the Quran (Hasan). Although many people believe in their pious intentions to follow the religious calls of Islam, religion is not the main factor that explains the ideology of ISIS. Taking into account one of the briefing notes about extremism and radicalization published in the Guardian, members of ISIS should not be included to the list of so-called “religious zealots” because significant percentage of those involved in coordinative terrorist attacks very rarely practice their faith (Hasan). Therefore, most of ISIS terrorists lack basic religious literacy and, because of this reason, may be viewed as religious novices. In addition, many analysts who explore activities, behavior, and motives prove that most of ISIS terrorists rely on such negative practices as drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and, finally, visiting prostitutions and sex clubs (Hasan). Thus, according to the main argument promoted by the article by Mehdi Hasan (2015) about ideology of ISIS, the only justification for their brutal behavior is directly linked to the search of their identities (Hasan). Regardless of the fact that many researchers who investigate ideology of ISIS mistakenly believe that religion is the key driver of ISIS terrorism, the search of identity is the main motivator that encourages thousands of young males and females to involve in terrorism. In addition, the evidence presented in many scientific studies that many ISIS terrorist rarely practice their faith or even lack basic religious literacy is the main proof that religion if definitely not the vehicle that inspires ISIS terrorist to follow religious calls of Islam (Hasan).

Taking into consideration several alternative ISIS ideologies assessed in the research study by Hasan (2015), it is important to stress that many researchers protect the viewpoint that inaccurate and falseful interpretations of Islam is the main factor that explains brutal beheadings, amputations, annihilations, and murders of innocent hostages that were captured and killed by ISIS adherents (Hasan). Researchers assume that there are many ignorant, illiterate, and ill-informed individuals who assure that many ISIS members have limited and cotton-candy views of Islam (Hasan). However, it would be a great mistake to think that Islam and Islam promote only oppression and murder because there are approximately 1,6 billion of peaceful adherents of Islam in different corners of the globe who do not murder and annihilate peaceful citizens of other countries (Hasan).

Moreover, one more alternative ideology presented in this article is closely associated with politics as a key factor that motivates ISIS members to commit outrageous crimes and kill innocent people (Hasan). In other words, the assumption that politics contributes to radicalization processes of ISIS makes little sense because it proves that politics often encourages people to revenge. For instance, during one of the interviews, the adherents of the Islamic State confessed that a sense of patriotism for their religion and their country motivated them to join ISIS and fight for certain principles and values (Hasan). Moreover, many members of ISIS are sure that participation in this organization will ensure a unique chance to them to take revenge for people who were killed by their enemies (Hasan). Thus, there is a common belief the ISIS declared a global war not only to shape existing and human-made borders among countries, but to punish other nations for their behavior, actions, and decisions that did not favored ISIS. In other words, expansion of a so-called new world war will not only assist ISIS member in fighting against non-believers in different parts of the globe, including the USA and Europe, but will help them demonstrate their power on political arena (Hasan).

After having shed light on the main ideologies presented in the article How Islamic Is the Islamic State? Not at All by Mehdi Hasan (2015), I would like to stress that I support the idea that the search of the self or, in other words, the self of identity is the main factor that explains the original ideology of ISIS. I don’t believe that ISIS should be classified as a religious group that pursuits the calls and missions promoted by Quran. I am a proponent of the idea that the common view that religion plays a critical role in shaping ISIS ideology is illogical because teachings of Islam motivate people to pray, but not to murder innocent people even in case they do not adhere to this religion. Although I have heard numerous times that Islam promotes terrorist attacks and chaos, I do not believe these viewpoints make sense because Islam has the right to exist as any other religion in the world. In case this statement was truthful, then there would be more than a billion of ISIS terrorists. In addition, I believe that ISIS is definitely not a religious group because religious organizations contribute to the growth and development of healthy and prosperous societies. Furthermore, instead of annihilation, murders, and killings, religious organizations are primarily purposed to eradicate evil and everything that is associated with it. On the contrary, statistics obtained through interviews with ISIS members and scientific studies prove that most of ISIS participants not only rarely practice their faith, but also suffer from alcohol and drug addiction, visit sex clubs and have sexual relationships with prostitutes (Hasan). According to the data presented by Graeme Wood (2015) who explores the intentions of ISIS, this organization is primarily a group of devoted religious people who pursuit their will and the calls of Quran (Wood). However, I do not share these views because I defend the idea that Islam is not the only religion that faces the problem of distinct and ambiguous interpretation of its sacred texts. In general, I am a proponent of the idea that ISIS mostly consists of the disadvantages youth that has failed to find their place in the world. Because of unsuccessful childhood, falseful interpretation of Quran, participation of extremist organizations and radical movements, detrimental effects of unhealthy social media, purpose to revenge, unfair political situation, and deterioration of morality are the most influential and important reasons that motivate the adherents of Islam to join ISIS.

Thus, after having identified and evaluated abundant theories that explain logic, philosophy, and ideology of ISIS, defined the most important argument, and described personal viewpoints concerning which ideology best explains behavior and actions of ISIS, it is possible to come to conclusions that religion, politics, search of identify, and revenge are classified as the most accurate reasons that justify severe crimes caused by ISIS. However, the researchers refuted the assumption that religion is the major factor that inspires males and females to participate in the blood-drenched ranks of this inhuman organization because there are millions of people who adhere to Islam as well as its sacred texts and, at the same time, do not murder other people. Adequate assessment of ISIS ideology is crucially important for the entire humanity because this knowledge gives the chance to people to strengthen the global security and minimize the influence of this illegal organization on society.