A Most Un-Islamic Islamic State

By Paul D Kennedy

The self-styled Islamic State (IS), formerly known as ISIS, which claims to have established a new caliphate in the parts of Syria and Iraq it has conquered, is renowned for its barbarism, cruelty and medieval world-view.

Yet the Islamic State claims that it is acting in the name of Islam and that it obeys the Shariah (Laws of God as understood by Muslims) in everything it does.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The Islamic State is a fake, its leaders a bunch of apostates who propagate a twisted and self-serving form of Islam.

Virtually everything that the Islamic State does contravenes the Islamic laws it claims to promote. Its brutally ruthless methods of warfare clearly breach the rules of war laid down by the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) 1,400 years ago, its treatment of women is a return to the barbarism of pagan times, and its imposition of the Shariah by force denies mankind's God-given right to freedom of will.

In this short book, Paul Kennedy explains clearly the fundamental doctrines of Islam relating to personal, social, economic and political life, and how the Islamic State is breaking all the rules it pretends to hold dear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul D Kennedy
• Release date: Dec 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311192387

Paul D Kennedy

Paul D Kennedy was born in Ireland and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. As a business consultant and writer he has enjoyed a varied career in the UK and the Far East, and especially in the Arabian Peninsula where he was based in Kuwait for nearly 20 years. Indeed he was the liaison officer for the Irish community in that country during the Iraqi invasion and occupation in 1990. After the war he established a career in Kuwait as a radio presenter, business consultant, writer of books and articles, and a publisher of guide books and consumer magazines. He is currently living in County Dublin, Ireland, where he runs an international management consulting and editorial business.

Book preview

A Most Un-Islamic

ISLAMIC STATE

Paul D Kennedy

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to the ideal of evidence-based commentary.

Publisher’s note

While every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate, the author, editor and publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omission, however caused. No responsibility for any loss or damage occasioned by any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the author, editor or publisher.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the author or, in the case of reprographic reproduction, in accordance with the terms and licences issued by the CLA.

Enquiries concerning reproduction outside these terms should be sent to the author at:

[e-mail]

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Copyright 2014 Paul D Kennedy

The right of Paul D Kennedy to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Paul D Kennedy is an international business consultant, researcher, writer and publisher. He is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants. He spent nearly two decades living and working in Kuwait. A Most Un-Islamic Islamic State is based on his reading of Islamic literature and the illuminating discussions he enjoyed with Islamic scholars in the comfortable atmosphere of the Islamic Presentation Committee, Fahd Al-Salem Street, Kuwait. You can contact Paul Kennedy, at:

Email: [e-mail]

www.amostunislamicislamicstate.com

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Introduction

The self-styled Islamic State, the new caliphate formed out of the remnants of north-eastern Syria and north-western Iraq, is renowned for its barbarism in the conduct of its military campaigns and its overt policies of ethnic cleansing—all of which are gross violations of the Islamic Rules of War.

It also has a nasty reputation for its ultra-strict interpretation and enforcement of the Shariah, the revealed Laws of God as professed by Muslims. Its behaviour in these matters too is in utter contradiction to the behavioural rules professed by genuine Muslims.

The purpose of this short book is to examine the main areas in which the conduct of the so-called Islamic State violates the Shariah, ie the Laws of God which the Islamic State claims to obey and foster.

In order to do so, however, we must first look at what is meant by Islam, the Laws of God as postulated by Muslim scholars and how these laws should be applied. We also need to examine the concept of a caliphate and an Islamic state.

Doing so will provide the basic understanding needed to criticise the behaviour of the so-called Islamic State.

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Contents

0 Introduction

1 Core Beliefs of Muslims

- The Five Pillars

- Fundamental ethos of Islam

2 The Meaning of Islam

- Peace

- Wider meanings

3 The Shariah (Islamic Law)

- Fundamental concept

- Sources of God's Laws

- References for the Shariah

- Islamic jurisprudence

- Islamic courts

- Personal and social life

4 Business and Social Welfare Laws

- Business ethics

- Uncertainty and risk

- Prohibition of interest

- Prohibition of conventional insurance

- Islamic welfarism

- State expenditures

- Social insurance

- Social security

- Political welfarism

5 A Short History of Islam

- Creation of the Islamic Umma

- Purpose of the Umma

6