Isis, or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria,
was regarded by the west as a terrorist organization even before it began
its murderous rampage across the Middle East. Initially called Al-Qaeda in
Iraq, it became ISIS or ISIL in 2013, and then Islamic State after it claimed
to have established a caliphate at the end of last summer.[1]
It has played a prominent role in Syria's civil war with
the chaos enabling it to develop a reputation as one of the most extreme groups
operating in the region[2]
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,
head of Islamic State, is now deemed one of the most powerful Jihadi leaders in
the world. He took over as leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq in 2010 after its former
leaders were killed in an attack by US and Iraqi troops.[3]
Taking advantage of the Syrian civil
war, al-Baghdadi sent experienced fighters and funds to Syria to set up Jabhat
al-Nusra as al-Qa’ida’s affiliate in Syria. He split from it last year, but
remains in control of a great swath of territory in northern Syria and Iraq.
Against fragmented and dysfunctional opposition, he is moving fast towards
establishing himself as Emir of new Islamic state.[4]
Now we all have this same question in
mind, what does ISIS want?
The stated
mission goal of ISIS, as they voiced publicly back in June, is to establish a new Islamic caliphate
across the Middle East.[5]
A caliphate is an Islamic state. It is led by a caliph, who
is a political and religious leader who is a successor (caliph)
to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. His power and authority is absolute.[6]
ISIS also gave a list of rules or laws that will govern their new Islamic
caliphate, here are some of the highlights:
- All Muslims will be
treated well, unless they are allied with oppressors or help criminals.
- Money taken from the
government is now public. Whoever steals or loots faces amputations.
Anyone who threatens or blackmails will face severe punishment (This
section also quotes a verse from the Quran (Al-Ma'idah: 33) that says that
criminals may be killed or crucified).
- All Muslims are
encouraged to perform their prayers with the group.
- Drugs, alcohol, and
cigarettes are banned.
- Rival political or
armed groups are not tolerated.
- Police and military
officers can repent, but anyone who insists upon apostasy faces
death.
- Sharia law is
implemented.
- Graves and shrines
are not allowed, and will be destroyed.
- Women are told that
stability is at home and they should not go outside unless necessary. They
should be covered, in full Islamic dress.
- Be happy to live in
an Islamic land.[7]
I myself cannot
also understand the intentions of the ISIS in their advocacy. They’ve killed a
lot of people hindering their way to live happily in an Islamic land as what
they want. Many Muslims believe that what ISIS is doing is not Islam, they say
that Islam is a religion of peace and the acts of ISIS are completely the
opposite of what their doctrine is teaching.
On the other
side, as a Christian I believe that this time will come where wars in the
Middle East will arise as the Bible says in Matthew 24:6-8
”You will hear of wars and rumors
of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but
the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various
places. All these are the beginning of birth-pains.”
Conflicts in the Middle East has started a long time ago, ISIS is just another
conflict that will bring harm to every nation. Can ISIS be stopped? That’s
another question that all of us wants to know, but my answer for that is no. I
think that despite of all the efforts of many nations to pulverize ISIS will
just result to a temporary silence for the ISIS but this war will never end because the end is still to come.
[1] http://www.theweek.co.uk/world-news/isis/59001/isis-who-are-they-and-can-they-be-stopped
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/world/middleeast/militants-in-mosul.html?_r=1
[3] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mosul-emergency-who-is-abu-bakr-albaghdadi-9523070.ht
[4]
Id.
[5] http://www.bustle.com/
[6]
www.thewire.com
[7]
www.washingtonpost.com
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