Why Do We Say ISIS Are “True Muslims”?

 English Translation

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

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Why Do We Say ISIS Are “True Muslims”?

Our Muslim brothers insist strongly that Muhammad is their ultimate standard of piety.
Therefore, every Muslim desires to reach the level of their prophet Muhammad by:

• saying what he said,

• doing what he did,

• thinking what he thought,

because, according to them, these are “the righteous deeds.”

In the city of Medina, there was a Jewish tribe known as Banu Qurayza. They were attacked by Muhammad and his group in a battle that lasted about 25 days. Eventually, they were overpowered and surrendered.

Muhammad chose one of his companions, Sa’d ibn Mu’adh, to determine what should happen after Banu Qurayza surrendered.
Sa’d ibn Mu’adh ruled that:

• all the men of Banu Qurayza should be executed,

• their property confiscated,

• their women and children taken as captives.

Muhammad accepted this ruling.

So what happened to those who were sentenced to death?

We read in Al-Tabari 8:35 and Ibn Ishaq 464:

“The Jews were made to come down, and Allah's Messenger imprisoned them. Then the Prophet went out into the marketplace of Medina, and he had trenches dug in it. He sent for the Jewish men and had them beheaded in those trenches. They were brought out to him in batches. They numbered 800 to 900 boys and men.”

Meaning:

The Jews were brought, and the Messenger of Allah imprisoned them. Then the Prophet went to the marketplace of Medina and ordered trenches to be dug. He commanded that the Jewish men be brought to him, and he ordered their beheading in those trenches. They were brought to him in groups. Their total number reached 800 to 900 men and boys.

This is the Muhammad whom Muslims claim is the beloved of Allah and the perfect example to follow.

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Our Questions Are These:

1. Who are you to say Boko Haram are not “true Muslims” because they kidnapped 200 schoolgirls, when Muhammad himself captured an entire tribe?

2. Who are you to say ISIS are not “true Muslims” when they also dig trenches and kill people in them—just as Muhammad did?
   Or is the difference simply that they use guns instead of swords?

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Our Muslim brothers will argue that Banu Qurayza “broke a treaty,” and therefore they deserved such treatment.

But this argument collapses for one simple reason:

If you meet a professor who refuses to teach and says,
“Why should I teach when the students themselves are not teaching me?”
—would you not think something is seriously wrong with him?

You Muslims claim that you have the word of God.
You claim that non-Muslims are astray because they do not know God’s ways.

So if someone outside your faith does wrong, aren’t you the professor who is supposed to teach him?

If you behave exactly like the one you call a “disbeliever,” what do you have that is different?
Do you expect the non-believer to act righteously first so that you may act righteously afterward?
How absurd!

Therefore, we maintain this:

If Muhammad is truly the model of Islam, then ISIS and Boko Haram are indeed excellent Muslims.

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But Jesus Is the Only Way to Life

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows Me shall not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
(John 8:12)

Reflect.

Take action.