In an article appearing in the seventh issue of the Islamic State's (ISIS) English-language magazine Dabiq, titled "Islam is the Religion of the Sword Not Pacifism," ISIS comes out against Muslims, namely those in contact with the West, who claim that Islam is a religion of peace. ISIS says that such "apologetic" Muslims do so in order to gain the West's support and sympathy, and, according to some, to propagate their false claim that Islam calls for permanent peace with the unbelievers. ISIS refutes those claims by questioning the linguistic roots of the word Islam, which it says is not derived from the word Salam (peace), but instead, from Istislam (submission, i.e. to Allah).The article also presents numerous verses from the Koran as well as prophetic hadiths that highlight Islam's reliance on the sword in fighting its enemies. In that regard, ISIS notes that the sword will continue to be drawn against Islam's enemies until 'Isa (Jesus) kills the Dajjal (the Antichrist),[1] after which, it adds, "Islam and its justice" will prevail on the entire earth. However, the article notes that until that day arrives, the "parties of [the] kafirin [unbelievers] will continue to be struck down by the unsheathed sword of Islam..."
Following are excerpts from the article in the original English:
"There is a slogan repeated continuously by apologetic 'du'at' [callers for Islam] when flirting with the West and that is their statement: 'Islam is the religion of peace,' and they mean pacifism by the word peace. They have repeated this slogan so much to the extent that some of them alleged that Islam calls [for] permanent peace with kufr and the kafirin [unbelievers]. How far is their claim from the truth, for Allah has revealed Islam to be the religion of the sword, and the evidence for this is so profuse that only a zindiq (heretic) would argue otherwise.
"'Ali Ibn Abi Talib [the fourth caliph] said, 'Allah's Messenger... was sent with four swords: a sword for the mushrikin [polytheists]... a sword for Ahlul-Kitab [people of the book, i.e. Jews and Christians]... and a sword for the bughat [aggressors]... He also revealed the sword against the apostates... [Allah] also described what should be struck with the sword, {Remember when your Lord revealed to the angels, 'I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip'} [Koran 8:12]. [He] also said, {So when you meet those who disbelieve, strike their necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens} [Koran 47:4]. His Messenger... also described the sword as the salvation from evil and fitnah [strife]. [He] also described the sword as being the key to Jannah [paradise]... He also declared that his worldly provision was placed for him in the shade of his spear and that the best livelihood for the Muslim in the future is what he takes with his sword from the kafir [unbelieving] enemy.
"So how can the zanadiqah (heretics) or even those who blindly follow them – [George W.] Bush, [Barack] Obama, and [John] Kerry – obstinately claim that 'Islam is a religion of peace,' meaning pacifism? One of the biggest shubuhat [misconceptions] propagated by the heretics is the linguistic root for the word Islam. They claim it comes from the word salam (peace), when in actuality it comes from words meaning submission [Istislam] and sincerity [Salamah] sharing the same consonant root...
"It is clear then that salam (peace) is not the basis of the word Islam, although it shares the same consonant root (s-l-m) and is one of the outcomes of the religion's sword, as the sword will continue to be drawn, raised, and swung until 'Isa (Jesus – peace be upon him) kills the Dajjal (the Antichrist) and abolishes the jizyah [poll tax]. Thereafter, kufr and its tyranny will be destroyed; Islam and its justice will prevail on the entire Earth... But until then, parties of kafirin will continue to be struck down by the unsheathed sword of Islam – except for those who enter into iman (Islamic faith) or aman (a guarantee of safety) – for there will always be a party of Muslims fighting parties of kafirin until there is no more fitnah and the religion is completely for Allah alone."
Endnote:
[1] This is based on one hadith according to which The Day of Judgment will be preceded by the descent of Jesus, who will fight and kill the Antichrist.
