Is the Islamic State really Islamic?

Alberto Mudjadju"

The Islamic State (IS) is a terrorist group that emerged in 2006 in Iraq and calls itself a state, but is not recognized as such by the international community. Most countries and international organizations, including the United Nations (UN), do not recognize IS as a sovereign state because it does not meet the criteria established by the 1933 Montevideo Convention, which defines a state as an entity that possesses: a territory; a permanent population; a government; and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. IS does not have a defined territory, as its control is limited to specific areas in Iraq and Syria, and its population is composed of fighters and civilians under its control. Furthermore, IS is not recognized as a state by any UN member country, and its declaration of an Islamic caliphate is not recognized by most Muslims. IS is considered a terrorist group by many countries and international organizations, including the US, the European Union, the UN, and the Arab League. ISIS propaganda is an important part of its strategy to create fear and intimidation, and to recruit new members and sympathizers. In short, ISIS is not a state in the classical sense, but rather a terrorist group that presents itself as a state to promote its extremist ideology and create terror.

Islam is a religion that preaches peace, compassion, and justice, and condemns violence and oppression. ISIS uses a distorted interpretation that favors its extremist and violent objectives. ISIS has been responsible for terrorist attacks in several countries, including Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, France, Belgium, the USA, and Mozambique (attacks in Cabo Delgado). Most Muslim leaders worldwide condemn ISIS's actions and state that they do not represent true Islam. ISIS uses religion as a tool to legitimize its violent actions; recruit new members and sympathizers; create fear and intimidation; and justify oppression and violence against others. Therefore, it is important to note that Islam is not the cause of ISIS violence, but rather a misinterpretation and extremist view of the religion, as most Muslims reject ISIS ideology and work to promote peace, tolerance, and mutual understanding. Therefore, it can be stated that the Islamic State is not truly Islamic, because it does not align with the principles of Islam.

Religion becomes fertile ground for terrorist actions because all organized violence must follow an ideology, and because religion is widely believed in for its good deeds, it is easy for anyone to do evil in its name. Religion is a source of deep emotion and faith for many people, which can be exploited by extremist groups to justify violent actions. Religion can also provide a sense of divine legitimacy for terrorist actions, leading perpetrators to believe they are fulfilling a sacred duty. Religion can provide a sense of identity and belonging for individuals who feel marginalized or excluded, making them more likely to join extremist groups. On the other hand, religion can provide powerful symbolism and ritual that can be used to mobilize and motivate followers. Religion can also provide structure, authority, and obedience that can be exploited by extremist leaders to control and manipulate followers. Religion can provide a worldview that is disconnected from reality, making it easier for individuals to justify violent and extremist actions, as well as being used to exploit poverty and inequality, creating a sense of injustice and despair that can be channeled into terrorist actions. Therefore, it is important to note that religion is not in itself the cause of terrorism and that most religious people are peaceful and reject violence. For example, consider the violence in Nigeria, where approximately 7,000 Christians were killed in the first seven months of 2025, averaging 30 Christians killed per day. This resulted in the mass displacement of Christians, affecting over 16 million people, as well as psychological trauma and sexual violence against women and children, and the destruction of churches, schools, and Christian property.

In short, terrorist groups use religion as a tool to justify their actions, not the other way around. It is always important to address the root causes of terrorism, such as poverty, social inequalities, and lack of opportunities, and to promote tolerance, understanding, and peaceful coexistence (social cohesion as a foundation) between different religions and cultures.

2025/12/3