''Refuting ISIS: A Rebuttal Of Its Religious And Ideological Foundations'' is a 2015 book by

Muhammad al-Yaqoubi Muhammad Abul Huda al-Yaqoubi ( ar, محمد أبو الهدى اليعقوبي; born 7 May 1963) is a Syrian Islamic scholar and religious leader. He has opposed both Bashar al-Assad and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Early life and background Al-Y ...

, a

Syrian Syrians ( ar, سُورِيُّون, ''Sūriyyīn'') are an Eastern Mediterranean ethnic group indigenous to the Levant. They share common Levantine Semitic roots. The cultural and linguistic heritage of the Syrian people is a blend of both indig ...

Islamic scholar In Islam, the ''ulama'' (; ar, علماء ', singular ', "scholar", literally "the learned ones", also spelled ''ulema''; feminine: ''alimah'' ingularand ''aalimath'' lural are the guardians, transmitters, and interpreters of religious ...

and regarded among the

500 most influential Muslims ''The 500 Most Influential Muslims'' (also known as ''The Muslim 500'') is an annual publication first published in 2009, which ranks the most influential Muslims in the world. The publication is compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies C ...

, presents a response to

ISIS Isis (; ''Ēse''; ; Meroitic language, Meroitic: ''Wos'' 'a''or ''Wusa''; Phoenician language, Phoenician: 𐤀𐤎, romanized: ʾs) was a major ancient Egyptian deities, goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughou ...

' ideology and crimes.

Content

Al-Yaqoubi argues that members of ISIS have left Sunni Islam and draws parallels with the ISIS movement and the

Khawarij The Kharijites (, singular ), also called al-Shurat (), were an Islamic sect which emerged during the First Fitna (656–661). The first Kharijites were supporters of Ali who rebelled against his acceptance of arbitration talks to settle the ...

. He also argued that Muslims are obligated to fight ISIS, since the group had both "unlawfully" spilled blood and had ignored advice pointing out their theological errors.

Slavery

Al-Yaquobi argues that the ISIS' enslavement of non-Muslims is impermissible. This is because slavery is banned under international agreements which resemble the Prophet's own

Hilf al-Fudul Hilf al-Fudul ( ar, حلف الفضول) was an alliance or confederacy created in Mecca in the year 590 AD, to establish justice for all through collective action, especially for those who where not under the protection of any clan. Because of M ...

or "League of the Virtuous." According to Al-Yaqoubi, Muslim rulers are entitled to enter reciprocal agreements of this kind that ban slavery, and Muslims are bound by their terms. Since groups such as the

Yazidis Yazidis or Yezidis (; ku, ئێزیدی, translit=Êzidî) are a Kurmanji-speaking endogamous minority group who are indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographical region in Western Asia Western Asia, West Asia, or Southwest Asia, is the wester ...

have not violated these agreements by enslaving Muslims, their enslavement is not supported by the principles of Sharia.

Destruction of sites

Al-Yaqoubi argues that ISIS's destruction of Mosques and tombs are in direct contravention of the Quranic proclamation in 2:114 "And who are more unjust than those who prevent the name of Allah from being mentioned in His Mosques and strive toward their destruction?". He refutes ISIS claims that these sites are idolatrous since erecting mausoleums for Prophets and saints is not the same as apportioning divinity to them. He also argues that the destruction of synagogues and churches falls foul of Quranic commandments.

Torture

Al-Yaqoubi condemns ISIS's treatment of prisoners as unlawful according to the Sharia. He claims that the mutilation of prisoners' bodies was ruled impermissible in a prophetic Hadith. Similarly, he argues that the torture and the killing of prisoners, the killing of innocents, and the killing of foreigners who had entered Muslim lands under the security of Muslims, are all expressly forbidden under Islamic Law.

References

External links

Refuting ISIS - Lecture by Syria's Sheikh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi
2015 non-fiction books Books about Islam Works about the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant {{islam-book-stub