“Among the Believers Are Men”

How the Islamic State Uses Early-Islamic Traditions to Shape Its Martyr Biographies

In: Numen
Author: Pieter Nanninga 1
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  • 1 Department of Middle Eastern Studies, University of Groningen, Oude Kijk in ’t Jatstraat 26, 9712 ek Groningen, The Netherlands
Online Publication Date:
15 Mar 2018
In:
Volume 65: Issue 2-3
Article Type:
Research Article
Pages:
165–184
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/15685276-12341493
Keywords:
Dabiq – Islam – Islamic State; jihadism; martyrologies; Rumiyah

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Abstract

This article examines how the Islamic State has framed its extraordinary losses of manpower by analyzing the role of early-Islamic traditions in the martyr biographies included in its magazines Dabiq and Rumiyah. After exploring how is has composed these biographies, by focusing on their narrative structure and central themes, the article demonstrates that early-Islamic traditions about jihad and martyrdom form an important subtext of these articles. They contain many implicit references to stories about Muḥammad and his companions, by means of which is attempts to define and authorize the status of its killed operatives as martyrs and therefore as potentially powerful witnesses of its cause. Yet, the article subsequently argues, the martyrs as portrayed in the magazines are also thoroughly modern characters reflecting contemporary processes such as globalization, individualization, and deculturation. is thus invests classical Islamic traditions with new meanings by employing them in new contexts. Hence, the article concludes that understanding the dynamic role of Islamic scriptures in is’s discourse is crucial if we are to grasp the composition and appeal of is’s biographies and therefore also how is frames its losses and motivates actions of self-sacrifice among its operatives and supporters.

In:
Numen
E-ISSN:
1568-5276
Print ISSN:
0029-5973
Publisher:
Brill
Cover Numen

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