Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® Masters Theses & Specialist Projects Graduate School Spring 2016 ISIS & Eschatology: Apocalyptic Motivations Behind the Formation and Development of the Islamic State Matthew eH nry Musselwhite Western Kentucky University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses Part of the International Relations Commons, Islamic Studies Commons, and the Other Religion Commons Recommended Citation Musselwhite, Matthew Henry, "ISIS & Eschatology: Apocalyptic Motivations Behind the Formation and Development of the Islamic State" (2016). Masters Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 1611. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1611 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses & Specialist Projects by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ISIS & ESCHATOLOGY: APOCALYPTIC MOTIVATIONS BEHIND THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ISLAMIC STATE A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Philosophy and Religion Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, Kentucky In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts By Matthew Musselwhite May 2016 4/21/16 I dedicate this thesis to my parents, Vicki Freihaut and Donald Musselwhite, who have been my biggest supporters in all that I do. Without their continuous love and support, none of this would have been possible. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I wish to express my utmost gratitude to Dr. Nahed Artoul Zehr and her continuous work with me over the last two years. Her relentless effort to push me beyond my comfort zone in reading and writing allowed this research to develop from an outline consisting of only a few pages into this finalized version. More importantly, her guidance provided throughout this research goes beyond just finishing a thesis. Rather, her example set both inside and outside the classroom allowed for me to become a better scholar and better person during my time spent as her teaching assistant. Without her enthusiasm, positivity, guidance, and encouragement none of this would have been imaginable. I also wish to thank my thesis committee, Dr. Sol Kiasatpour and Dr. Eric Bain-Selbo, for their help guiding the direction of this project over the last year. I also would like to recognize and thank Dr. Paul Fischer for his time spent editing my drafts over the last semester. Both his personal feedback and editorial changes helped this thesis mature dramatically. Lastly, I would like to thank my classmates during my time at Western Kentucky University, Emily Potter and John Abercrombie. Without the mental support and laughs provided over the last two years, this thesis would have never finished. iv CONTENTS Introduction……………………………………………………………………………..1 Chapter 1 ………………………………………………………………………………19 Classic Islamic Eschatology and the Development of Apocalyptic Literature Chapter 2……………………………………………………………………………….61 Modernity: Apocalyptic Literature and Messianic Revolutions Chapter 3………………………………………………………………………………103 Apocalyptic Origins: From Al-Qaeda in Iraq to the Islamic State Chapter 4………………………………………………………………………………139 Analysis of Dabiq as Apocalyptic Literature Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..190 Where do we go from here? Appendix A…………………………………………………………………………....207 Apocalyptic Hadiths in Dabiq Appendix B……………………………………………………………………………212 Dabiq on Jesus Appendix C……………………………………………………………………………214 Dabiq on al-Malhamah al-Kubra v ISIS & ESCHATOLOGY: APOCALYPTIC MOTIVATIONS BEHIND THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ISLAMIC STATE Matthew Musselwhite May 2016 218 Pages Directed By: Nahed Zehr, Eric Bain-Selbo, and Sol Kiasatpour Department of Philosophy and Religion Western Kentucky University The goal of this thesis was to analysis the Islamic State’s apocalyptic nature by studying both classic Islamic eschatology and the Islamic State’s online magazine Dabiq. In order to conduct this research, I separated my thesis into two separate angles of approach. The first angle (chapters one & two) exclusively looked at Islamic eschatology, classic apocalyptic texts, shifts in how literature was written over time, and on examples of modern messianic revolutions occurring. In this way, I attempted to emphasize how extra-Qur’anic texts have played a large part in providing details for what Islamic eschatology entails. I also looked at modern examples of messianic movements, including in Mecca and Sudan. I concluded by analyzing the shift modern apocalyptic literature underwent beginning in the late 20th century. This highlighted how apocalyptic literature stated focusing on the actions of Western forces—much like the Islamic State has done today. The second angle of approach derived from the final chapters. I looked at the foundation and development of the Islamic State beginning in the early 21st century with Al-Qaeda in Iraq. I proceeded to emphasize how messianic speculation influenced the actions and strategies of Islamic State in Iraq and later ISIS. The final chapter, the crux of my thesis, was an analysis of the Islamic State’s written primary source, Dabiq. I researched all thirteen issues of the magazine for evidence of apocalyptic nature existing. vi I highlighted how Dabiq is filled with apocalyptic references and classic apocalyptic hadiths. The objective of this thesis was to provide a multifaceted analysis of the Islamic State. It attempted to approach the Islamic State from two different angles to show why apocalyptic thought first arises, how it has led to revolution, and how the Islamic State mirrors those cases. With the Islamic State, a wide variety of interpretations have formed on what it wants and what it is fighting for. Whereas religious motivation has often been dismissed, I used this thesis to emphasize that both religious and apocalyptic motivation have been one of many influences behind the formation and development of the Islamic State. vii Introduction On August 19, 2014, the nation watched in horror as a man with a British accent, dressed in black, threatened President Obama and the American military for its recent bombings in Iraq and then, in “retaliation” beheaded the American hostage James Foley. That man, given the title of “Jihadi John,” was later identified as Mohammad Emwazi and has since been killed in a drone strike. In-between his threats and the execution of Foley, Emwazi emphasized that an established Islamic caliphate had been accepted by a “large amount of Muslims.” While the media latched onto the actions conducted in the video, it was Emwazi’s choice of words that caught the attention of jihadists and the scholars who study them—as he had meant to convey a specific message. An Islamic caliphate had been established and any aggression against this caliphate from the United States would result in warfare. For the first time, Western media and the American public were introduced to the profoundly violent, apocalyptically inspired, Islamic militancy calling themselves the Islamic State. This declaration of the caliphate, a political-theological idea traced back to early Islamic history, is an important first step to understanding ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria)1 as a distinct terrorist organization. The announcement of the caliphate in 2014 marks a pivotal moment in history for jihadists, scholars, and the American government alike. With the declaration of a caliphate, ISIS and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi began to demand bay’ah (oath of loyalty or allegiance) from every Muslim and all terrorist 1 Originally named ISI, Islamic State in Iraq, the group has recently been called by a variety of other names after gaining territory in Syria. They are often referred to as ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), IS (Islamic State), or more recently in an effort to disclaim their legitimacy they have been given the title of Daesh in Arabic. For the sake of clarity, I will stick to identifying them as either the Islamic State or ISIS. To create a separation in the timeline, any information after 2013 will refer to the group as ISIS or the Islamic State. 1 organizations, including from Al-Qaeda and its current leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.2 It will remain unknown how significant of an impact this declaration of a caliphate will have on jihadist militancy and American foreign policy in the years to come. Yet at the moment, it appears that global attention has shifted from Zawahiri’s Al-Qaeda to al- Baghdadi’s caliphate—a place claiming to be open “to all Muslims.” One of ISIS’s characterizing features—distinguishing it from Al-Qaeda, in particular—is its emphasis on apocalyptic theology. This theology appears to be rich in reinterpretations of the use of jihad, the purpose of fitna (civil strife or war amongst Sunni and Shi’a Muslims), the purification of Islamic lands, and the role Muslims are to play during events leading to the Final Hour—in which the Great War or al-Malhamah al-Kubra will take place prior to the Day of Judgment.3 While ISIS is not the first or only Islamic movement to advocate violence through reinterpretation of Islamic eschatology, its end time vision of the world remains a serious component in understanding its thought process, strategies, global appeal, and thus should not be so easily dismissed. To better understand ISIS, we ought to investigate and take seriously the apocalyptic narrative that it has constructed and appears to be influenced by. Therefore,