Challenging Islamic Extremism - Promoting Dialogue
The Islamic State’s latest video is directly challenging America to the battle of the apocalypse, which is to take place in Dabiq, Syria.
Linkster note: According to the Holy Bible, the ‘Battle of Armageddon’ will take place between ALL NATIONS, as prophesied by the Apostle John in ‘The Apocalypse’ (The Revelation - ‘The Unveiling’), in northern Israel by the Kishon River on the southern edge of the plain of Esdraelon, south of Haifa. The original word from the Bible is ‘Har Magedon’ which literally means "mount of Megiddo" -- a city from which only ancient ruins remain. The Battle of Armageddon will be fought in Israel by ALL nations of the world over Jerusalem. It culminates with the appearing of Jesus Christ at His second coming with His saints.
Ryan Mauro, National Security Analyst for The Clarion Project —The gruesome video released by the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) emphasizes that the beheading of Peter Kassig took place in the town of Dabiq, Syria. The town was chosen because of its significance in Islamic end-of-time prophecies about the time when the Mahdi and (the Islamic version of) Jesus will bring victory over those who oppose sharia.
The Islamic State named its English-language magazine “Dabiq” for the same reason. The group is telling Muslims that it is fulfilling prophecy, enticing them to participate in one of the most important moments in world history.
A secondary message is that Islamic State supporters should not worry about the military superiority of their enemy or the terrorist group’s setbacks because they will soon be made victorious with help from the Mahdi, Islam’s messianic figure, and Jesus (when he joins Islam, which he will according to Islamic prophecy).
“Here we are, burying the first American Crusader in Dabiq, eagerly waiting for the remainder of your armies to arrive,” says one Islamic State speaker.
The video features an excerpt from a sermon by Abu Musab al-Zaraqawi, the leader of the Islamic State’s predecessor, Al-Qaeda in Iraq, until he was killed by a U.S. airstrike on June 7, 2006.
“The spark has been lit here in Iraq, and its heat will continue to intensify…until it burns the Crusader armies in Dabiq,” Zaraqawi preached.
Then, for a third time, another Islamic State member says to the West, “We are waiting for you in Dabiq.”
The statements are a reference to prophecies in the hadith, the collection of sayings and actions attributed to Mohammed, the Holy Prophet of Islam.
One collector of the hadith, Sahih Muslim, states, “The Last Hour would not come until the Romans would land at al-A’maq or in Dabiq.”
When the Islamic State refers to President Obama as the “dog of Rome” in the video, they are making the case that the U.S. is the modern equivalent of the Roman Empire and American military action in the Middle East is the actualization of this prophecy.
The Islamic State draws a parallel between its own actions and the details of the prophecy. The hadith states that Dabiq will be controlled by the “best” Islamic soldiers from Mecca, Saudi Arabia. They will capture “Romans” (i.e., Americans), which will lead to a foreign attack.
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The fundamental problem of Islamists seeking to trigger these end-of-times events will remain. The Islamic State could be crushed, but others with similar believes will arise. This entire mindset of fulfilling prophecy through war needs to be challenged by peace-seeking Muslims.
One method, advocated by Muslim reformists such as Ahmed Vanya attacks the authenticity of the cited hadiths, since they are not automatically considered the word of Allah as the Koran is.
The Islamic State’s referencing of prophecy is part of a bigger theological problem. Muslims need to address the traditional understanding of Islamic end-of-times prophecies and the role of Muslims in triggering their actualization.
For more information on the Islamic State and the ideology of conquest that drives it, see Clarion Project's Factsheet: The Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL)
About the AuthorRYAN MAURO is the National Security Analyst for the Clarion Project, a nonprofit organization that educates the public about the threat of Islamic extremism and provides a platform for voices of moderation and tolerance within the Muslim community. » Full Bio
About The Clarion Project
There are times that require people to step out of their comfort zone, to step up for justice, tolerance and moderation. We know going in that the repercussions of taking action will draw a rain of accusations and attacks from the forces we are confronting.We do it anyway. We do it because it must be done.
Founded in 2006, the Clarion Project (formerly Clarion Fund Inc) is an independently funded, non-profit organization dedicated to exposing the dangers of Islamic extremism while providing a platform for the voices of moderation and promoting grassroots activism.