Methodological Difference between ISIS AND AL-QAEDA
This book is an excellent book on the history of ideology and belief, such as the conflicts between ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
The different ideologies between Al-Qaeda and its former Iraqi branch, ISIS, are discussed.
The book includes topics like
Labelling the Shi’a Raafidha as disbelievers
Who broke the Bay’ah?
The results of Mubahala Fighting alongside FSA and apostates
Issue of Takfeer on armies, groups and individuals
Do they believe in peaceful means and democracy?
and many more…
1: First Point : The issue of declaring the Shia as disbelievers and fighting them
Adnani claimed that from amongst the deviations of Al Qaida of Ayman from Al Qaida of Usama is their change in their statements regarding the judgment on the Rafidha! So he said in his statement entitled “This was not our methodology nor will it ever be” while speaking on the matters in which Al Qaida has deviated, is that they say, “And that there are different statements regarding the verdict on the impure Rafidha Mushrikeen,2 and that it is a matter of preaching, and not fighting!”
This is despite this being the stance of Dr. Ayman before Al Qaida united with Jama’athul Jihad. He had said regarding the Shia, “As for the ignorant layman, then he is excused by his ignorance”.3 And he did not change it until this day of ours or come with a matter that contradicts what he had mentioned! Rather, even Sheikh Usama did not make it a condition for him to abandon this statement, if it was a clear deviation, for the two groups to unite.4 And when the merger took place, he made him his deputy despite him adopting this statement!
And what is strange is that Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri repeated the same statement during the time of Usama’s Al Qaida and he said in his first open interview : “My stance towards the common people of the Shia is the stance of the scholars of Ahlu Sunnah, and that they are excused for their ignorance…..and their laymen who have not participated in the aggression towards the Muslims, our path towards them is that of preaching and making the truth known”.5
2 The Shia have committed some matters that fall under Shirk which invalidates the foundation of Islam. But the scholars of Ahlu Sunnah have differed in regards to declaring the general population of the Shia as Kaafirs and classifying them to be out of Islam. And from amongst them are those who have made Takfeer on them (labelled them as Kaafirs), and from amongst them are those who have said that they are not to be made Takfeer upon (not to be labelled as disbelievers) because they are ignorant of the reality of these practices that are classified under Shirk, and so they are not be declared as Kaafirs until it is made clear to them and they realise that what they are doing is Shirk and Kufr. Adnani here is opposing Zawahiri due to him not making Takfeer on the general population of the Shia and that there should only be a single statement and a single judgement which is of Kufr, and that the way to deal with them should be one single way which is to fight them and not preaching to them! And he says that this is a matter that Al Qaida has deviated from those of its days during which Sheikh Usama was its leader.
And Athiyyathullah while he is from the AlQaida of Usama, he has also said “And what is correct is that amongst them (ie. the Rafidha), they are to be divided into different categories, and so not everyone who is affiliated to the Rafidha sect of the Shia is definitely a Kaafir. Rather, we will divide them according what each one of them has in term of beliefs and actions, according to his condition”.9
Turki Bin’ali (their senior judge) said in an audio recording which was spread on the internet:
“The scholars have differed with regards to the matter of the Shia…. And there also arose differences amongst them over the issue of the individual Shia being upon Kufr or not, or whether they consider the Kufr to be that of a group of disbelievers… We will summarize these statements by saying that the Salaf when they made Takfeer on the Imami Shia, they differed as to whether they are all Kaafirs individually or as a group upon Kufr? And we see the matter in a nutshell to be that whoever from amongst them turns away using force like the Rafidhi governments and like the Rafidhi militias, then they are all made Takfeer upon individually. As for those other than them, then there should be a look at the one who has committed a clear nullifier of Islam, and then he will be judged accordingly, otherwise no. And Allah knows best”.
Sheikh Abu Muhammad Al Maqdisi adopts this statement and says “I as a fact, I have an opinion on this matter. I mean, I follow the path of Sheikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah in not making Takfeer on the common people of the Shia…
Despite Maqdisi adopting this statement, ISIS tried to make him join them and they did not say that he has deviated. Turki Bin’ali says while addressing his former teacher Abu Muhammad Al Maqdisi, “In fact Ameerul Mumineen Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi may Allah preserve him, had informed you that he can get you transported to him, but you were not able to for that even though you had several times made attempts to go to Ghaza or Khurasan at that time.”13
And if it is a deviation to not target all of the Rafidha, then Abu Mus’ab Az-Zarqawi would be one
official statement was released from Tanzeem Al Qaida Fee Bilad Ar-Raafidayn (Al Qaida in the Land of the Two Rivers, ie in Iraq) with the title (Clarification from Al Qaida in the Land of the Two Rivers regarding the stance of the organization after the statement of the Sheikh Abu Mus’ab) dated Monday 15th of Sha’ban 1426 H., corresponding to 19/09/2005 CE. It mentioned that “It has become clear to the organization through its specific means, that there were other parties that did not participate in this massacre and other parties which did not give assistance to the occupying force, and that they have denounced its crimes, like those of the Sadri and Khalisi and Hassani and other such movements. So the organization has decided to not inflict the leaders and the common people of these groups with any type of harm, as long as they do not take the initiative in attacking”.
Tanzeem ul Qaida Fee Bilad Ar-Rafidayn will not target the common people of the Shi’a but they will target the militia hirelings like the forces of Badr organization. And that is the statement that the media has ignored”.15
On the other hand, if the issue of the Shi’a is absolutely that of fighting and not preaching, then it would mean that Abu Umar Al Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State of Iraq, has also deviated. In fact he said to the Rafidha, “However the door of repentance is still open for you, and do not think that we will exterminate you or kill all of you if we gain control over you, because indiscriminate killing without following the rules of the Shareeah is forbidden in the religion of Allah. And our dealings with you will be based on the Shareeah in situations like those of yours which is, invitation towards the truth, and guiding towards the correct path and removing the doubts and being gentle in all of that. And whoever refuses then the judgement will be for Allah first and last”.16
Turki Bin’ali had issued a speech in a peaceful sit-in in front of the American embassy! And it is widespread in the internet under the title “Abu Sufyan As-Sulami in a sit-in in front of the American embassy”. And he had more than once attended peaceful sit-ins for the sake of releasing the prisoners!
Rather this matter was even present during Al Qaida of Usama. For example, Abu Yahya Al Libbi mentioned the issues into which Hamas had fallen which is exactly the same into which Dr. Mohammed Mursi had fallen, and then he said at the end of his message “Oh Allah guide Hamas and bring them to the path of righteousness and reform”.45
As for not making Takfeer on them and fighting them, then the most prominent leaders of Usama’s Al Qaida did not make Takfeer on the Hamas government. And from amongst them are the two Libyan Sheikhs and Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri! Rather Sheikh Athiyyathullah Al Libbi openly declared it when he said “As for the mistake which Hamas has committed, we hope that they are excused and had some (wrong) interpretations and that they took the Fatwas of some of the scholars whom they trust. And we do not judge them to have fallen into Kufr, rather we see them as Muslims who erred. And we strive to advise them and guide them as we do with every Muslim”.46
And Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri had said during the time of Al Qaida of Usama: “I do not agree on making Takfeer on the leaders of Hamas, since making Takfeer on a specific individual is a grave issue, and it is necessary that the conditions for it are fulfilled and that there are no possible preventives. And I advise my brothers to leave this issue, and to focus on supporting Hamas if they do right and criticise them if they commit mistakes in an educational and propagative and just manner”.47
Sheikh Abu Waleed Al Maqdisi, the Ameer of Jama’ath Tawheed Wal Jihad Fee Ghaza said regarding Hamas in the Fatwa no. 1128 in Minbar u Tawheed Wal Jihad, the following:
“But every region has its circumstances, and every group has its power and capabilities. Therefore we do not see it right for our brothers in Ghaza to fight against this government, because fighting against it will lead to their strength getting exhausted and their elimination and putting an end to them, especially since they are weak, and hastening to confront will cause a lot of the innocent Muslims’ blood to be wasted, which will cause the people to turn away from the call of Tawheed”.
Adnani claimed that ISIS is not bound by a pledge of allegiance (Bay’ah) to Al Qaida, and that it is only a relationship of respect, and that Al Qaida intervened in the dispute between Baghdadi and Joulani and supported the one who defected from his leader! And Adnani talked about it separately in the statement entitled “Apology, oh Ameer of Al Qaida” in his response to the statement of Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri entitled “A testimony to preserve the blood of the Mujahideen in Shaam” in which he (Adnani) denied the subordination of Islamic State to Al Qaida, and that the relationship is only one of respect for the sake of unity of the ranks of Jihad around the world. So was the relationship like that?!
Sheikh Ayman Al Zawahiri has mentioned in his speech “A testimony to preserve the blood of the Mujahideen in Shaam” the text of the messages of the Islamic State of Iraq to Al Qaida which said the following:
“The Sheikh, may Allah protect him, would like to ensure you that the situation here is improving and developing with cohesion, all praise be to Allah. And he is asking what is more appropriate in your view regarding announcing the new leader for the organization – Should the state renew the Bay’ah in public or in secret like how it is known and done before?
” So ponder on the words “the state renew the Bay’ah”, that is, there is a Bay’ah that binds ISIS to Al Qaida, and it is not just a relationship of respect as stated by Adnani.
Then Adnani said in his statement “Apology, oh Ameer of Al Qaida” the following: “Indeed everything that you have mentioned in your testimony is true”. So that is an acknowledgment of the truth of the testimony of Dr. Ayman in which he mentioned the letter of ISIS to Al Qaida and their request to renew the Bay’ah!!
Then Sheikh Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri mentioned in his letter “Reply to the noble scholars” the wording of Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi’s Bay’ah to Al Qaida, and that is:
“Our blessed Sheikh, we would like to make it clear to you and declare to your Excellency that we are a part of you, and we are from you and belong to you. And we declare to Allah that you are the leader of our affairs, and you have the right to be listened to and obeyed as long as we live, and for is the right to have your advice and your reminders to us. And your orders are binding upon us, but sometimes the matters may require some clarification due to us living amidst the realities around us in our region. So we hope your heart becomes open for listening to our viewpoint, and then you may give your command after that, and we are only arrows in your quiver”.
Then Sheikh Abu Abdul Aziz Al Qatari 50 said in a video recording which has been spread in the internet: “Sheikh Al Baghdadi and Sheikh Al Joulani both of them said “we are waiting for the order from Sheikh Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri, may Allah protect him”. If the order comes saying “oh Sheikh Baghdadi to return to where you were in Islamic State of Iraq”, he (Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi) said “I will listen and obey, and I and my army will go to Iraq”.
Similarly the general Shareeah official of ISIS in Aleppo, Umar Al Qahtani, confessed to that, and he said in an audio recording which is spread in the internet, “If the decision of Sheikh Ayman Al Zawahiri comes, with the text, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi said, “I swear by Allah that everyone who has a Bay’ah to ISIS is bound by the order of Sheikh Ayman Al Zawahiri, and his Bay’ah to ISIS will be invalid”.
56 Sheikh Sulaiman bin Naasir al Ulwaan is from the scholars who are held in high esteem and much loved by the Jihadists. He was arrested in 2004 and the Saudi government accused him of supporting Abu Mus’ab al Zarqawi. They released him in 2012 and then arrested him again in 2013
“Sheikh Abdullah Al Janaabi is a Sufi with whom we differ, and we do not agree with him. And despite this, Sheikh Abu Anas Ash Shami, may Allah have mercy upon him, would kiss his head. And we used to hope good for him and we used to wish that we bring him to the path of the Salaf. And Sheikh Abu Anas had given him one of the books of Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah. So what would we need from this man if he was raising the banner of Jihad and calling to fight the enemies of the Muslims? By Allah, we consider him to be better than those who discourage and sit back from Jihad…. So oh my brother, bring to me a Sufi who has innovations who fights in the path of Allah, I will kiss his feet, and he is better for me than the one who sits back even if he claims to have the correct Aqeedah. So as long as a man remains as a Muslim and a Mujahid, then he is upon goodness, and he is better that the one who sits back whatever it may be. However his Jihad does not prevent me from repudiating his innovation, and this does not make me abandon supporting him…. As for the innovator, we show patience over him and we preach to him and we fight alongside him and we do not leave him in his mistakes or flatter him, and we continue giving him Da’wah until he returns to the Sunnah.64
63 For example the previous leader of the Islamic State of Iraq, Abu Umar al Baghdadi said while speaking about the branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in Iraq known as “Al Hizb ul Islami” (The Islamic Party) – “And we do not believe those who are entering it to have fallen into Kufr, if the evidences of the Shareeah has not been established for them”. (Refer to the Speech “Say: I am upon a clear evidence from my Lord”, 13 March 2007, Al Furqan Foundation) – That is, they are considered as Muslims.
Sheikh Abu Yahya Al Libbi said that in some situations it is not allowed to make Takfeer on the individuals of abstaining groups which support the apostate rulers!
Also Abu Musa’b as-Suri does not consider every individual from the group as a Kaafir,
However a very important point to be noted is that we do not judge every single individual amongst them as being a Kaafir”. 73
Sheikh Ali Al-Khudayr 74 was asked “If an abstaining group is found and there is amongst them Kufr such as judging by the Taghout and seeking judgment from the Taghout, then is everyone to be made Takfeer upon based on the apparent, or they should be differentiated based on preventives and causes?” And he answered “It is not allowed to make Takfeer on all of them “.75
Adnani said while addressing Dr. Ayman Al Zawahiri “You did not ask us on any day nor did your leaders before you”. However Sheikh Usama bin Laadin in an address to the leaders of the Islamic State of Iraq said “It would be excellent if you give us adequate information regarding our brother Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi”. 79
Adnani said “We support our brothers in the Caucasus who have brought us joy by their unity under the Ameer Abu Muhammad may Allah protect him and cause to benefit from his knowledge”. That is, their unity under their leader pleased Adnani but suddenly……!! The media wing of Wilayat Dagestan issued a collective statement in which they spoke regarding the status of the Caucasus and in its introduction they said “We have received the latest news in the Caucasus regarding the arrival of the Fitna (turmoil) of ISIS and splitting their ranks”.
