Date : 13-04-2015

Question :

What is the Ruling of Sharia on those who Join the Islamic State, (IS)?


The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.



IS is a terrorist group, so it is unlawful for anyone to join it or any other terrorist organization that sheds people`s blood, labels Muslims as disbelievers, takes material and sexual liberties . This is due to the fact that their criminal activities contradict the teachings of Islam, which promote values of tolerance as well as forgiveness, reflecting high moral standards and noble character. Moreover, Islam calls for mercy, love, and rejection of terrorism and extremism, which represent envy, rancour, and hatred. Those who joined this terrorist group have disobeyed the injunctions of Allah and His Apostle, deviated from the righteous path, and fell in manifest error, for Allah says{what means}: “if any one disobeys God and His Apostle, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.”{Al-Ahzaab/36}.



Those fighting under their banner are considered terrorists, who are thirsty for blood, pillage, and violation of people`s honor. Allah says{what means}: “If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (For ever): And the wrath and the curse of God are upon him, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him.”{An-Nissa`}.



Prophet Mohammad(PBUH) said: “Verily your blood, your property and your honour are as sacred and inviolable as the sanctity of this day of yours, in this month of yours and in this town of yours.”{Muslim}. Also, murdering a Muslim is one of the major sins, for the Prophet(PBUH) said in this regard: “(Of the) major sins are: to ascribe partners to Allah, disobey parents, murder someone, and to take a false oath (intentionally).”{Bukhari}.



In order for this group to justify its terrorist acts and deceive its followers, it has committed crimes and legalized murdering people in the name of Islam, although Islam is innocent of that. Actually, these brutal acts distort the true nature of the Islamic religion and its bright image.



Its members kill Muslims regardless of age or sex, and make corruption on the earth, which contradicts the Prophet`s advice to his armies, for it was narrated that he (PBUH) said to the Muslim army: “Go out in the name of Allaah and by the help of Allaah, following the way of the Messenger of Allaah. Do not kill any old man, infant, child or woman… spread goodness and do good, for Allaah loves those who do good.” {Abu Dawood}.



This is supported by the advice which Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq (may Allaah be pleased with him) gave to the commander of his army: “I advise you of ten things: do not kill a woman, or a child, or any old person, or cut down any fruit trees…” (Al-Muwatta’,Malik).



What hurts most is that this group rejoices when slaughtering, torturing and chastising Muslims with fire; therefore, the Prophet`s saying applies to them{what means}: “ Whoever murders a believer and rejoices at that, Allah will accept from him neither repentance nor a ransom .”{Abu Dawood}.



He also added{what means}: “Whoever rebels against my Ummah, killing good and evil people alike, and does not try to avoid killing the believers, and does not pay attention to those who are under a covenant, then he is not of me. Whoever fights for a cause that is not clear, advocating tribalism, getting angry for the sake of tribalism, and he is killed, then he has died a death of Jahiliyyah.”{Muslim}.



Moreover, It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “One who defected from obedience (to the Amir) and separated from the main body of the Muslims - if he died in that state-would die the death of one belonging to the days of Jahiliyya (i.e. would not die as a Muslim). One who fights under the banner of a people who are blind (to the cause for which they are fighting, i.e. do not know whether their cause is just or otherwise), who gets flared up with family pride, calls (people) to fight for their family honour, and supports his kith and kin (i.e. fights not for the cause of Allah but for the sake of this family or tribe) - if he is killed (in this fight), he dies as one belonging to the days of Jahiliyya. “{Muslim}.



We advise the youth not to be deceived by the false slogans and calls of these groups, and to be aware of their tricks since the Prophet(PBUH) said: “Ad-Deen is sincerity". We said: "For whom?'' He replied, "For Allah, His Book, His Messenger and for the leaders of the Muslims and their masses”{Muslim}. And all perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds.