Misreading the Tradition: A Critical Analysis of Four Islamic Legal Concepts in Extremist Jihadi Discourse
Misreading the Tradition: A Critical Analysis of Four Islamic Legal Concepts in Extremist Jihadi Discourse

Summary/Abstract: This study critically examines and deconstructs four key legal foundations frequently appropriated by extremist jihadi groups to justify violence: the Qur’anic slogan of la hukma illa lillah (sovereignty belongs to God alone), the doctrine of takfir (excommunication) of rulers, the Sword Verse (Qur’an 9:5), and the question of tatarrus (human shields). Through textual analysis of both classical Islamic jurisprudential sources and contemporary extremist literature, this study demonstrates how extremist discourse departs from the traditional methodological approaches, ethical commitments, and contextual understandings that defined these concepts in classical Islamic scholarship. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to understanding how the misreading of these key legal foundations led to the emergence of jihadist ideology. The study further explores counter-extremism discourse by demonstrating that jihadi extremist positions do not represent authentic expressions of Islamic law, but rather modern politicized reconstructions that violate the very legal tradition they claim to uphold. The findings offer insights for religious scholars, policymakers, and security professionals engaged in countering violent extremism through evidence-based theological and legal critique.

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