Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses www.rsis.edu.sg ISSN 2382-6444 | Volume 9, Issue 4 | April 2017 A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM RESEARCH The Danger of Takfir (Excommunication): Exposing IS’ Takfiri Ideology Muhammad Haniff Hassan Threat of Daesh in Universities: Malaysia’s Experience Mohd Mizan bin Mohammad Aslam Salafism in India: Diversity and Challenges Mohammed Sinan Siyech The Terrorist Threat in Turkey: A Dangerous New Phase Nodirbek Soliev Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses Volume 9, Issue 4 | April 2017 1 Building a Global Network for Security Editorial Note Countering Jihadist Ideology: The Crucial Battlefront The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group faces ideology on some university students in setbacks on several fronts as it continues to Malaysia. He explores what causes students come under heavy pressure from the US-led to join or sympathise with an extremist group coalition forces, the Russians and Syrians. On such as IS, and how the government should the military front in Iraq, it is slowly losing respond to this phenomenon. Social media western Mosul while in Syria, its de facto platforms and chat applications as well as capital Raqqa is being surrounded for the religious discussion groups are among tools inevitable showdown. On the propaganda used by IS to cajole and lure students to IS front, it is experiencing a decline in the output activities. The author proposes the formation of and quality of its media products, such as a critical partnership between the government, videos and publications. It fares no better on security officials and parents to curb the the religious front where it remains radicalisation of students. Wmarginalised within the Islamic world and faces continuous denunciations from mainstream Mohamed Sinan Siyech in his article religious leaders for its exploitation and analyses the relatively syncretic nature of misrepresentation of Islam. It has failed to Salafism in India and stresses the need to gain legitimacy and has in fact been branded distinguish such Salafist groups from those as un-Islamic, deviant, even heretical. that preach extremism and violence. Established Salafist organisations and non- As IS loses its lustre and appeal with the loss Salafist groups are facing challenges from the of territories and impending collapse of its so- spread of intolerant strands imported from the called caliphate, counter-ideology efforts Middle East and coming through the Internet. should be intensified to further delegitimise IS‘ He calls for greater attention to be paid to self- theology of violence and debunk its radicalised social media-savvy youngsters who misinterpretations of religious texts. IS‘ hard- are divorced from their community, draw core ideology encompassing violent jihad, inspiration from IS ideologues online, and take suicide bombing, takfirism (excommunication) orders from IS operators in Syria and and hijrah (migration), among others, have to elsewhere. be exposed as unquestionably flawed, transgressing Islamic legal principles and From India the focus shifts to Turkey where in juristic process and methodology. This issue of the last one year, it has become the central CTTA features a critical examination of one of target of IS‘ overseas terrorist campaign; the principal tenets of IS‘ jihadist ideology – Turkey suffered the largest number of IS takfirism – by Dr Muhammad Haniff Hassan. attacks outside Iraq and Syria. Nodirbek His article contrasts IS takfiri doctrine with Soliev argues that Turkey‗s capability to fight mainstream Sunni position on the subject, terrorism is crucial to contain the growing exposing IS‘ deceptions and deviations from threat domestically and globally. Major and true Islamic teachings. regional stakeholders should closely work with Ankara to boost the effectiveness of its Despite the evident errors and distortions, IS counterterrorism efforts. In the long term, there ideology has gained some traction among the is a need for sustained measures by Turkey to disillusioned and alienated. This issue is disrupt cross-border movement of foreign examined by Mohd Mizan bin Mohammad fighters and to dismantle IS supply and support Aslam who focuses on the impact of IS networks in the country. ADVISORY BOARD Editor-in-Chief Sara Mahmood Dr. Rohan Gunaratna Dr. Fernando Reinares Professor of Security Studies Director, Program on Global Terrorism, Associate Editor Shahzeb Ali Rathore Elcano Royal Institute Professor of Security Head of International Centre for Political Studies, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Violence and Terrorism Research Madrid, Spain Design and Layout Okkie Tanupradja Dr. John Harrison Associate Editor Journal of Transportation Dr. Stephen Sloan The views expressed in the articles are those of the Security authors and not of ICPVTR, RSIS, NTU or the Professor Emeritus, organisations to which the authors are Dr.Counter Kumar RamakrishnaTerrorist Trends and Analyses The University of Oklahoma Volume 9, Issue 4 | April 2017 Associate Professor Lawrence J. Chastang, affiliated. Articles may not be reproduced without Head of Policy Studies & Coordinator of Distinguished Professor of Terrorism Studies, prior permission. Please contact the editors for National Security Studies Programme The University of Central Florida2 more information at [email protected]. The editorial team also welcomes any feedback or comments. The Danger of Takfir (Excommunication): Exposing IS’ Takfiri Ideology Image: Courtesy of Alexandre Duret-Lutz‘s Flickr Account and used under creative common license By Muhammad Haniff Hassan Introduction will become a basis for countering IS‘ warped understanding and application of the concept, The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has while the second part analyses IS‘ takfir doctrine, attracted wide condemnation from mainstream exposing its deviation from mainstream Sunni Muslim scholars for its misrepresentations and Islam and its own doctrine. misinterpretations of Islamic doctrines.1 These range from the concepts of jihad and hijrah Part One: Mainstream Position on Takfir 4 (emigration) to the resurrection of the ‗caliphate‘, treatment of non-Muslims and punishment of Takfir is a theological declaration that a Muslim opponents and offenders. In September 2014, has become an apostate or a person is an infidel over 120 prominent Muslim scholars issued an or an act or idea constitutes a disbelief in Islam. Open Letter to IS leader al-Baghdadi, his fighters Engaging in takfir is a serious matter in Islam and followers, denouncing IS for committing because it is considered a great sin with numerous religious transgressions and punishment in the afterlife.5 In this sense, takfir abominable crimes.2 The letter pointed out that has serious consequences for both the accuser IS has ―misinterpreted Islam into a religion of and the accused. For the latter, it has possible harshness, brutality, torture and murder‖ and adverse impact on relations with the person‘s committed ―a great wrong and an offence to Muslim spouse, rights to inheritance, and other Islam, to Muslims and to the entire world‖. aspects. For the accuser, takfir obligates the person to provide clear evidence, failing which IS also faces criticism from fellow jihadists, the person would have committed a sin as grave notably Al Qaeda Central and other rival groups as committing apostasy, as warned by the such as Jabhah Al-Nusrah (now part of Hayat Prophet in the following hadiths: Tahrir al-Sham) and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).3 One of the many criticisms ―When a person calls his brother (in directed against IS is its permissiveness in the Islam) a disbeliever, one of them will practice of takfir (declaring a Muslim as certainly deserve the title. If the apostate). This makes IS a takfiri group that can addressee is so as he has asserted, the be equated with the Kharijites, a rebellious group disbelief of the man is confirmed, but if it which has been denounced by Sunni Muslims is untrue, then it will revert to since its emergence in 7th century Arabia. him‖ (narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). This article will focus on the declaration of a Muslim as an apostate to highlight IS‘ ―Whoever calls a man ‗kafir‘ [disbeliever] exploitation of the concept to justify the killing of or said ‗O, enemy of Allah‘, when he is fellow Muslims, including Muslim rulers, political not one, (the accusation) will rebound to leaders, scholars and clerics. It is divided into him‖ (narrated by Al-Bukhari and two parts: the first part provides an overview of Muslim). mainstream Sunni Islam‘s position on takfir that Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses Volume 9, Issue 4 | April 2017 3 The Danger of Takfir: Exposing IS’ Takfiri Ideology — Muhammad Haniff Hassan ―A man does not call another as fasiq or kafir, except that he will be the apostate if “Despite takfir being a the other is actually not‖ (narrated by Al- Bukhari). grave issue, extremist Given the serious implications, mainstream Muslim scholars have always exercised caution groups have taken on the subject.6 Takfir is only permissible if it is based on clear and indisputable evidence.7 liberties and misused the Despite takfir being a grave issue, extremist concept..” groups have taken liberties and misused the concept by declaring various categories of Muslims as kafir as enumerated below: grateful for his own good; and he who is ungrate-ful [kufr] [should know that], Muslims who commit sins; verily, my Sustainer is self-sufficient, Rulers who do not rule according to the most generous in giving! (The Qur‘an, Shari`ah, and their followers; 27:40) Muslims who are not members of their group (e.g. IS); Muslim scholars understand the word kufr used Muslims who refuse to label others in the above verses to mean ingratitude. In extremist groups consider as kafir; Islam, being ungrateful to God by committing a Muslims who live in an ‗un-Islamic‘ society sinful act does not lead to excommunication. The and do not migrate; and same meaning can also be found in many Muslims residing in dar al-harb (lands hadiths.