Comparison of ISIS and Al Qaeda: Ideologies and Strategies

This research paper provides a detailed comparison of ISIS and Al Qaeda, focusing on their ideologies, strategies, and impact on global terrorism. It explores the significance of Jihad and Caliphate in their operations and highlights the differences between the two terrorist organizations.

Compare and Contrast ISIS to Al
Qaeda
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Al Qaeda.................................................................................................................................3
ISIS.........................................................................................................................................4
Compare Islamic state and Al-Qaeda’s ideology on Jihad and Caliphate..............................6
Contrast in between ISIS and Al Qaeda.................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
Muslims holds one of the major proportions across the all religions worldwide. Leaders of
this religions have formulated different groups and association for expanding their command
across the world and lead all communities. Al Qaeda and ISIS are two of the major terrorists
based organizations who are not executing their non humanity based activities in the name of
religious work (Holbrook, 2015). Both the organisations follows different ideologies according
to which work of both the nations are executed in the lucrative form. It has also been analysed
that both the organisations indulges into major terrorist based activities across the world in order
to revenge from their enemies and enhancing their power across the world with the motive of
ruling them all. In this project, detailed explanation on both the religious group has been
explained. Along with this, the different ideologies followed by them are also explained in
detailed manner. Furthermore, appropriate information on the same ideologies in the form of
comparison and contrast has been explained further detailed manner.
MAIN BODY
Al Qaeda
Al Qaeda is seen as the Islamic militant based organisation which was propounded by
Osama bin laden in late 1980s that is the in the year 1988. Al Qaeda basically operates its
operational activities as the network of Islamic extremist and salafist jihadists. Many nations like
United Nations Security Council, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European
Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, and other nations has considered it
as the terrorist group which is planning lots of criminal and terrorist activities against them that
not only affects the human life but also pale major negative impact over the growth of the nation
(Raineri and Martini, 2017). Al Qaeda has attacked many nations with the usage of its military
including the September 11 attacks, embassy bombing in United States in the year 1998 and
Bali bombings in the year 2002. This organisation faces many kind of obstacles from the nations
too on whom they have attacked in the past year. The respective government of United States has
taken revenge of September 11 attacks by introducing war on terror which has affected Al Qaeda
as well as its allies a lot. The main among them was the death of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin
Laden who was handling all the activities of this organisation from the planning to execution
their terrorist activities. After the death of this leader that is Osama bin Laden the overall
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activities was further managed by the other leaders and groups. Here, it has also been seen that
Al Qaeda mainly includes planning terrorist activities that includes suicide attacks and bombing
of several spotted places where crowd ratio is very higher so that maximum people could get
affected by their attack and their terror across the world could raise.
Apart from this, it has been later analysed that members and leaders of Al Qaeda believes
that Christian- Jewish wants to destroy Islam. In this regard, Al Qaeda leader indulge into lots of
planning activity according to which they can easily place harm of Christians and other
community by attacking on them and killing their people. All of these activities are performed by
Al Qaeda in name of protecting their religion and securing their people (Ingrasm, 2017). Leader
of Al Qaeda basically makes use of Jihad word for influencing their existing members and
attracting new members towards the organisation who will further provide them support in
executing their planned activities. The term Jihad basically means the struggle or efforts whih are
placed by the individual belonging to the Muslim religion. In other words it is also seen as the
holy war that is placed by the Muslims (Al Qaeda) leaders with the motive of securing their
religious group in appropriate manner. Furthermore, it has also been seen that Al Qaeda leaders
believes to make use of the term Jihad for influencing interest of their members towards the
criminal based activities (Valasik and Phillips, 2017). Osama bin Laden emphasizes on making
of use of strong communication plan including the term spiritual so that he can easily in control
psychological mindset of its people in such a manner who further places their contribution in the
terrorist attacks without caring about their health or life with motive of placing their contribution
in protecting and securing their religion that is Muslim community in appropriate manner. Here,
it has also been seen that preliminary motive of Jihad is not to convert non Muslims into Islam
by making use of forceful activities or war rather than this they aims to expand Islamic state with
the usage of defence based activities.
ISIS
ISIS basically stands for Islamic state of Iraq and Syria which is a terrorist militant group
that mainly follows Salafi Jihadist doctrine of Sunni Islam and fundamentalist. This group has
been declared as the terrorist association by United Nations and other individual countries and
international organisations (Skillicorn, 2015). It has also been seen that United Nations believes
that ISIS is mainly responsible for genocide, war associated crimes, and human right abuses
criminal based activities that are completely away from humanity. ISIS mainly aims to formulate
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an effective Islamic state in Iraq and Syria. Its motive is to enhance spread roots of Islam across
the world. It also aims to establish the society which reflects the mirror of region’s ancient past.
As per the views expressed by Englund and Stohl, (2016), it has been seen that ISIS is basically
known for killing or encountering numerous of people at single time at public place in the form
of an event. This association is currently making use of advance technology like social media
and other tools for executing their politics based religious as well as fundamentalism activities.
Leaders of Islamic state are directly or indirectly affecting holy sites of other religions. Also, the
author has revealed that ISIS has controlled approximately 34000 sq miles in Iraq and Syria. Till
next two years it has been analysed that around 40% of the overall territory has been lost by this
association. The reports has also revealed that ISIS has almost 35000 people as its slaves among
whom majority of the proportion is hold by women and children who belongs to Yazidi
community. The leftover slaves belong to the minority of communities belonging to the different
religions and other ethnic groups. In addition to this, furthermore it has been seen that ISIS
requires huge level of monetary support for executing all of its activities in the manner which
they are wishing (Houck, Repke and Conway III, 2017). The main revenue that has been
generated by ISIS is from smuggling, kidnapping, extortion, oil production, taxes and controlling
crops. All the amount that is obtained by the leader is further used for executing the activities
related to their specific zone.
Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi was the main leader of ISIS who has holded command over this
association from April 2010 till October 2019 when the Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi died. After the
death of Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi was announced, ISIS has later declared Abu Ibrahim al-Hashmi
al-Qurashi as its new leader who will further lead ISIS and execute their pre aimed motives.
Apart from this, it has also been analysed that Baghdadi has only appeared in front of public in
year 2014. The main reason behind his public appearance was to announce how he had deliver a
sermon in Mosul’s Grand Mosque. This leader was highly enthusiastic but has killed him in the
year 2019 when he found himself cornered by US forces on his compound in northern Syria.
It has been later on analysed that Caliphate is determined as the ideology that is being
followed by the ISIS for executing the activities planned by them towards their work in rapid
manner (Turner, 2015). It has also been seen that the term Caliphate simply means that
leadership activities of ISIS are performed by the politico religious successor so that all activity
which is executed by them must be incorporated under the name of their religious values. In
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addition to this, it has been later seen that seen that Rashidun Caliphate was the first Caliphate
who has became successor after the death of the Muhammad in 632. Overall, it can be said that
individual who follows ISIS believes in following Caliphate as according to them what so ever
activities that is being performed by them no matter belongs to criminal based activity or
terrorist attack all of them are executed under the guidance of their religious leader thus all of
them are fine (Al-Bayati, 2017). This ideology influences followers of Muslim community
people to execute their work in such a manner that gets the name of Islam and their associated
holy leaders but in actuality it is related to the terrorism which killing lots of people in the name
of protecting and securing their religion that is Islam.
From the information explained about both the terms that is Al Qaeda and ISIS it can be
said that their preliminary motive is to secure their ISLAM and Muslim people but of them
follows different ideologies named as Jihad and Caliphate whose way of executing the work are
quite different (Beevor, 2017). In order to develop detailed knowledge on this comparison and
contrast of both the groups that is ISIS and Al Qaeda have been explained below in detailed
manner along with the inclusion of their different Ideologies.
Compare Islamic state and Al-Qaeda’s ideology on Jihad and Caliphate
Jihad is defined as spiritual struggle against enemies of Islam, if it is talked about Islamic
state it is known as a religious group which is having certain believes and ideologies, among
them Jihad play key elements. Further it has been evaluated that Islamic state is also define ISIL
(Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), jihadis are mainly evaluated as modern secular
individuals and are having modern political concerns while wearing mediaeval religious
costume. Further this has been identified that, in Islamic state the religion of Islam is very
Islamic as it attract adventure seekers that mainly belongs from the affected population of Europe
and Middle East.
It has been identified in most of the Muslim countries Islamic state presence is not that much
strong and Islamic state only marked its success in Iraq in Syria. Further it has been evaluated
that the rise of Islamic state risks Al-Qaeda demise. As main leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
rejected authority of Al-Qaeda and later declared a caliphate (Mueller and Stewart, 2016). This
lead towards practices to fractious jihadist movement, both the Islamic state and Al-Qaeda are
now competing more than leadership of jihadist movement to ensure overall stability in Middle
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East. Along with this it has been evaluated that United State lenience can split Al Qaeda and
Islamic state that can dwindle and weekend jihadist movement.
This has been identified that number of individuals and sum of the official members of Al-
Qaeda publicly support Islamic state and Baghdadi while they did not abandon Al Qaeda
completely. Further both of these organizations fundamentally have different strategies, enemies
and tactics to use attacking enemy. Both of these organizations have different social concerns
and other issues related to Jihad (Peladeau, 2016). Although Al Qaeda main ideology behind
Jihad is overthrow the correct traitor regime in Middle East and further replace them with factual
Islamic government. Individuals who offer their support to Al-Qaeda will die as they did not
really understand particular care about different doctrine differences between Shea and Sunni.
On the other hand the Islamic state does not follow Al-Qaeda strategy and ideology on Jihad.
As it has been evaluated that, they really prefer “near enemy” strategy on regional level. This has
been evaluated that Islamic state primary target has not been United State they rather apostate
regimes in Arab world. Their ideology on Jihad favors purifying Islamic community by attacking
religious minorities and Shi’a. In addition to this main enemies of the Islamic state include, the
Lebanese Hizballah, rival resistance groups in Syria that involves the official Al Qaeda affiliate
in Syria and Jabhat al-Nusra, Iraqi Shi’a, and the Yazidis. Thus, it has been evaluated that there
is wide difference among Al Qaeda and the Islamic state ideology on Jihad as Al-Qaeda mainly
the believes in playing nice with others while on the other hand Islamic state does not.
It has been identified that, the Islamic state ideology is on the doctrines of caliphate is very
strong as after rejecting authority of Al Qaeda, the Islamic state represent the beliefs to restore
caliphate of early Islam. In this members and individuals are required to pledge an alliance. The
Islamic state strictly adhere the following perceptions that are being established by Prophet
Mohammed along with its earliest followers (Baker and Vessey, 2018). Thus, this has been
evaluated that caliphate hold significant importance for the Islamic state. Further it has been
identified that the Islamic state is mainly group of Sunni militants and they strongly believes in
strict enforcement of Sharia law. According to the discussion it has been identified that this
organization strictly adhere Islamic law and further imposed restrictions to all the innovation. In
relation with this they strongly believes that it corrupts the original Islamic believes. Being a
militant organization the Islamic state declares the creation of caliphate and further imposed
strict Islamic rule. While on the other hand Al-Qaeda is not having strong set of believes on
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caliphate as they did not fight for the goal of conservation of caliphate that strictly in force law
for Islamic law and original beliefs of Prophet Mohammed. Thus, it has been identified that
ideology of caliphate hold strict competition between Al Qaeda and the Islamic state.
Contrast in between ISIS and Al Qaeda
The overall information depicted in the above section, it has been analysed that both the
groups named as Al Qaeda and ISIS are executing their activities in the name of the protecting
their religion only. Here, it has been analysed that even though their ideologues are different but
directly or indirectly both of them are indulging into the activities of them are indulging into
terrorist activities which is placing harm on the people. In addition to this, it has also been seen
that both of them are blood thirsty terrorist organizations who has sworn to spoil or destroy their
enemies United states and other nations with the medium of terrorist based events (Mendelsohn,
2018). Apart from this, it has been seen that even though both groups are rival to one another but
still they have lots of common things. One of the main common things among ISIS and Al Qaeda
is that they both of them follows common central leadership which pledges to remain loyal with
one another. Also, both the organisations are required to respect their individual interest,
capabilities and modus operandi. Also, it has been seen that these association has different
agendas, ideologies and working pattern but still their loyalty would be more towards the
organisation that holds dominancy worldwide (Kfir, 2015). Another similarity among these
organisations is that they appeal them as the self radicalized individual who is aiming to build up
own organisation with the inclusion of terrorist based activities for ruling other religions as well
as nations like United States.
Apart from this, it has also been analysed that both the organisations follows Islam and
wants to make it as the most powerful religion across the world. Along with this, it has also been
analysed that ISIS and Al Qaeda includes religious terms for influencing their proposed members
of the respective organisation in order to influence them into terrorist activities. These groups
influence their members that their religion says that they should struggle for securing their life as
well religion (El Damanhoury, 2019). This struggle can also been seen in the form of terrorist
attacks. Both Al Qaeda and ISIS see themselves as global movements with global ambitions.
Both reject the tenets of the current international order and see the conflict between Muslims and
“crusaders” as one that began centuries ago and that will continue to Judgment Day.
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CONCLUSION
On the basis of overall information mentioned in the above project, it has been concluded
that Al Qaeda and ISIS are two of the major terrorists based organizations who are not executing
their non humanity based activities in the name of religious work. Both the organisations follows
different ideologies according to which work of both the nations are executed in the lucrative
form. In addition to this, it has been later analysed that main different among both the terrorist
organisation is that they ISIS follows Caliphate which states that work is performed under the
guidance of religious leaders whereas Al Qaeda believes in influencing people that is members to
execute terrorist activities in the name of Jihad which means the adoption of defensive based
practices for protecting their relation. On the other hand, if it is talked about the common thing. It
can be said that activities performed by them are affecting human life and creating terror across
the world.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Holbrook, D., 2015. Al-Qaeda and the Rise of ISIS. Survival, 57(2), pp.93-104.
Raineri, L. and Martini, A., 2017. ISIS and Al-Qaeda as Strategies and Political Imaginaries in
Africa: A Comparison between Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb. Civil Wars, 19(4), pp.425-447.
Ingram, H.J., 2017. Learning from ISIS’s virtual propaganda war for Western Muslims: A
comparison of Inspire and Dabiq. Terrorists’ use of the Internet: Assessment and
response, 136, p.170.
Valasik, M. and Phillips, M., 2017. Understanding modern terror and insurgency through the
lens of street gangs: ISIS as a case study. Journal of Criminological Research, Policy
and Practice.
Skillicorn, D.B., 2015, May. Empirical assessment of al qaeda, ISIS, and taliban propaganda.
In 2015 IEEE International Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics
(ISI) (pp. 61-66). IEEE.
Englund, S. and Stohl, M., 2016. Violent political movements: comparing the Shining Path to the
Islamic State. Perspectives on terrorism, 10(4), pp.19-29.
Houck, S.C., Repke, M.A. and Conway III, L.G., 2017. Understanding what makes terrorist
groups’ propaganda effective: an integrative complexity analysis of ISIL and Al
Qaeda. Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, 12(2), pp.105-118.
Turner, J., 2015. Strategic Differences: Al Qaeda's Split with the Islamic State of Iraq and al-
Sham. Small Wars & Insurgencies, 26(2), pp.208-225.
Beevor, E., 2017. Coercive Radicalization: Charismatic Authority and the Internal Strategies of
ISIS and the Lord's Resistance Army. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 40(6), pp.496-
521.
Al-Bayati, T.H., 2017. A New counterterrorism strategy: Why the world failed to stop Al Qaeda
and ISIS/ISIL, and how to defeat terrorists. ABC-CLIO.
Mueller, J. and Stewart, M.G., 2016. Misoverestimating ISIS: Comparisons with Al-
Qaeda. Perspectives on Terrorism, 10(4), pp.30-39.
Peladeau, H., 2016. " Support for sisters please": Comparing the Online Roles of al-Qaeda
Women and their Islamic State Counterparts.
Baker, P. and Vessey, R., 2018. A corpus-driven comparison of English and French Islamist
extremist texts. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics, 23(3), pp.255-278.
Mendelsohn, B., 2018. The Future of al-Qaeda: Lessons from the Muslim
Brotherhood. Survival, 60(2), pp.151-178.
El Damanhoury, K., 2019. Constructing place identity: ISIS and Al-Qaeda’s branding
competition over the Caliphate. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, pp.1-14.
Kfir, I., 2015. Social identity group and human (in) security: The case of Islamic State in Iraq
and the Levant (ISIL). Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 38(4), pp.233-252.
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