Modern Extremist Groups and the Division of the World: A Critique from Islamic Perspective

Arab Law Quarterly 31 (2017) Forthcoming

33 Pages Posted: 23 May 2017

See all articles by Mohamed Badar

Mohamed Badar

Northumbria Law School

Masaki Nagata

Brunel University London

Date Written: May 21, 2017

Abstract

Modern extremist groups have revived the use of certain concepts of Islamic dogma and wilfully misinterpreted them as a means of achieving their own ends. Dae‘sh (also known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) is the most striking example of such a group. They have made declarations of takfir (excommunication) regarding Muslim rulers, maintaining that only Dae‘sh land is dar al-Islam (abode of Islam) and that other lands are dar al-kufr or harb (abodes of unbelief or war), just as the Khawarij sect believed in the 7th CE. They do not employ the concept of hijra (migration) in its traditional, defensive sense but rather as a means of strengthening their own power by recruiting from around the world and launching military jihads, all in order to ‘reclaim’ the dar al-kufr and establish an Islamic state. This paper examines the evolution of these terms throughout Islamic history, their misinterpretation by extremist groups and their modern legal status.

Keywords: Dae‘sh (ISIS/IS); dar al-Islam (abode of Islam); dar al-kufr or harb (abodes of unbelief or war); hijra (migration); military jihad

Suggested Citation

Badar, Mohamed and Nagata, Masaki, Modern Extremist Groups and the Division of the World: A Critique from Islamic Perspective (May 21, 2017). Arab Law Quarterly 31 (2017) Forthcoming , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2971767

Mohamed Badar (Contact Author)

Northumbria Law School ( email )

Pandon Building
208, City Campus East-1
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Newcastle NE1 8ST
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/our-staff/b/mohamed-elewa-badar/

Masaki Nagata

Brunel University London ( email )

Kingston Lane
Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH
United Kingdom

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