ISIS declared it was establishing a khalifah(caliphate, or Islamic state), changing its name from ISIS to “the Islamic State,” and proclaimed its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as “caliph” – the political successor to Islam’s 7th century founder, Mohammed. The title, also known as Emir al-Muminin (“commander of the faithful”), was used historically by Islamic leaders from the 7th century until Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk abolished the last caliphate in 1924. ISIS said Baghdadi was caliph “for the Muslims everywhere.” (The statement called him “Caliph Ibrahim” – Baghdadi’s real name is Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri.) “It is incumbent upon all Muslims to pledge allegiance [to him],” it said. Once the caliph and his fighters arrive in a particular area, “the legality of all emirates, groups, states, and organizations, becomes null by the expansion of the khalifah’s authority.” Baghdadi was described as a holy warrior, a “scholar who practices what he preaches,” and “a descendent from the family of the Prophet, the slave of Allah.”
Posted on: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 07:13:18 +0000
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