ISIS justifies violent jihad primarily with two verses from Surah Tawbah

Evidence

Fight them, and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of the believers. … Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of paradise): They fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the law, the Gospel, and the Qur’an: And who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: That is the achievement supreme. — Asena Karipek, Portrayals of Jihad, 28

Categorization

• XREF: This evocation of trading life for paradise as a divine purchase echoes themes in apocalyptic and millenarian movements generally. — connects to: The Qur’an references jihad in several places. It carries different meanings based on context. For example, some verses deal with jihad in warfare. Extremist and terrorist Muslims often use these verses to justify aggressive holy war against non-Muslims. They freely declare jihad and justify attacks and murders of all who do not join their campaign. For example, according to a 2016 study conducted by the Carter Center, a non-governmental organization devoted to advancing human rights and alleviating human suffering established by Jimmy Carter in 1982, two of the verses most utilized by ISIS to justify violent jihad are from Surah Tawbah.; ISIS, for example, seeks to establish a worldwide caliphate in which all Muslims are united under one authority. The group recruits from all over the world, convincing fighters that fighting for this cause will guarantee them a spot in heaven because they will be fighting in the way of God (al-jihad fi sabilillah), thereby making them martyrs. According to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, believers are those who ‘defend themselves when they are oppressed,’ and among the oppressors are ‘the camp of the [J]ews, the crusaders, their allies, and with them the rest of the nations and religions of kufr [unbelief], all being led by America and Russia, and being mobilized by the [J]ews.’ He believes that Muslims must defend themselves, take revenge, and restore their honor, dignity, and superiority. Al-Baghdadi uses this verse to justify attacks on non-Muslims, especially in the West. However, various Qur’anic commentators have interpreted this verse as a reference to a pre-Islamic king who ordered his subjects to kill believers who would not abandon their monotheistic faith. In general, disagreement among Muslims regarding the use of jihad has been deeply influenced by social and political contexts. In fact, in recent decades, many Muslims believe it is their right or obligation to wage jihad against religious, political or social oppression. For this reason, Muslims other than ISIS have also used the warfare justification of jihad to justify holy and unholy wars. For example, Ayatollah Khomeini called on Muslims worldwide, especially in the Gulf, to rebel against un-Islamic rulers. Also, Hamas in Palestine justifies its use of jihad as a resistance movement to Israeli occupation and oppression.; A Qur’anic verse was distorted into an incitement to fight non-Muslims — Asena Karipek, Portrayals of Jihad: A Cause of…, 46

Broader Connections

• ISIS, for example, seeks to establish a worldwide caliphate in which all Muslims are united under one authority. The group recruits from all over the world, convincing fighters that fighting for… #expands (0.70)
• A Qur’anic verse was distorted into an incitement to fight non-Muslims #expands (0.50) — Asena Karipek, Portrayals of Jihad, 46