ISIS condemns those who abandon jihad

In the article published in Al-Naba' newsletter number 409, ISIS (Islamic State) condemns those who have abandoned jihad in favor of non-Islamic democracies and governments. Arguing that only jihad can achieve its goals, the article criticizes those who have embraced democracy and the United Nations instead of the Islamic ummah and shari'a. The article claims that those who have chosen an alternative to jihad have not achieved what they were looking for and are still at the mercy of confusion..

On September 22, 2023, the Islamic State (ISIS) published issue 409 of its weekly newsletter Al-Naba‘. The issue contains a one-page Arabic-language article titled "What a Wicked Alternative for the Wrongdoers" [Quran 18:50], which condemns those who have abandoned jihad in favor of non-Islamic democracies and governments, arguing that only jihad can achieve its goals while alternatives fail in their intent.

The article states: "We see those who have willingly accepted the dictates of the infidels, those who have embraced democracy. Has their condition improved after they changed and replaced [their way], and threw themselves into the arms of the infidels? After they despised the path of pride, of jihad, have they achieved their goals and realized their desires? Absolutely not. They are still at the mercy of confusion, sometimes with Western and Eastern crusaders, other times with the Rafidites[a derogatory term for Shiites], seeking something of this world, aiming at benefit".

It goes on to say: "The exact opposite is true. They have not obtained what they were looking for. Those among them who are still alive do not perform jihad, and those among them who have died have not obtained the Shahadah [martyrdom]. They preferred the United Nations to the ummah [Islamic nation], democracy to shari'a, non-violence to jihad... They preferred the agreement of Satan's allies to the agreement of the Merciful, and Allah has replaced them as they have replaced Him".

Describing the futile motivations of the "evil traitors" the article states: "When they turned the sail in the direction of the winds of the majority and rode the wave, they became rulers and 'experts' overnight. Their voices gained strong echoes, and they were glorified in the media".

Asserting that the rise of those who have abandoned jihad for democracy is over when the powers that used them no longer needed them, the article notes: "After their role is finished and their utility is expired, their lights go out," before contrasting them with ISIS leaders, who remain in the public consciousness even though they never sought fame: "We see that killed emirs, commanders, and sheikhs of the [Islamic State] - may Allah accept them [as martyrs] - are alive in public discussion. People who support them listen to their words and wisdom and spread them... and people who hate them talk about them, conducting programs and discussions about them".

The article concludes: "The Islamic State does not accept partial solutions... It does not seek authority, as those who desire a position in a parliament, or in a government ministry, or some sort of 'autonomy in a besieged limited territory.' It will only be satisfied with complete authority and the governance of the Lord of all worlds, until it reconquers every country into which Muslims have entered, from the Philippines to Al-Andalus [Spain], to Paris, then London, conquering Rome and invading Washington.

Editorial