Exam 3.2

Question 1

What does Jihadi Salafism represent?

Answer 1

A minority and frequently internally condemned interpretation of Islam

• Includes apocalyptic interpretation that beliefs Salafis are called to usher in the final days of creation

Question 2

What are the roots of Jihadi Salafism?

Answer 2

• Deeply rooted in a theology of militancy
• A medieval interpretation of Islam that developed when Arabs were being threatened by Europeans and East Asians

Question 3

How do Jihadi Salafists see themselves?

Answer 3

• As the only “true” Muslims
• An authority that denounces fellow Muslims if they disagree with Jihadi Salafi theology
• A group that is called to usher in the final days of creation

Question 4

What are some groups that follow Jihadi Salafism?

Answer 4

Al Qaeda, ISIS, and a number of other militant groups

Question 5

What is outlined that Salafi members of ISIS are to do?

Answer 5

• Associate only with “true” Muslims
• Break ties with anyone who questions the Salafi interpretations of Islam
• Base the government on a Salafi interpretation of Islamic law
• Eliminate any resistance to narrow theology, because such resistance is apostasy
• Kill Shi’ites because they are apostates
• Eliminate “traitors” to Islam like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, because they compromise with non-Muslims
• Wage offensive jihad against idolatry wherever it is found

Question 6

What is narrow theology?

Answer 6

Theology that primarily focuses on who God is

Question 7

What is apostasy?

Answer 7

The abandonment or recantation of a religious or political belief

• Someone that commits apostasy is an apostate

Question 8

What is idolatry?

Answer 8

The worship of idols
- In Jihadi Salafism, it is all non-Salafi cultures

Question 9

What is the correlation between drones and Al Qaeda?

Answer 9

A significant number of Al Qaeda operatives have been killed by drones

Question 10

What has Al Qaeda become in modern day?

Answer 10

A franchise

Question 11

Describe ISIS

Answer 11

• It controlled some of what was considered the “best” and most sophisticated media outlets in the Jihadist Salafi movement
• It held and governed territory, which had taken about 1/3 of Iraq and Syria
• It managed oil production, its own banking system, schools, and healthcare facilities, as well as established its own government
• In June 2014, Mosul in Iraq fell to ISIS fighters
  • On June 29, 2014, ISIS announced Caliphate and Baghdadi the new states that would be under the leadership of the caliph

Question 12

What is a caliph?

Answer 12

A successor to Muhammad, who is the chief Muslim leader of civil and religious domains