Ms.

Janna
Humanities
1/19/16

Points: ___/36 points

Research Question Photo Journal

Section 1:
Question: What is a Caliphate, and why did ISIS declare itself one?

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Section 2: Research (6 points per article)

What is a Caliphate? ISIS declaration raises questions by Yasmin Hafiz
Link to article (1 point): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/what-is-a-caliphatemeaning_n_5543538.html
Summary of Article (4 points):
What was the article about?
In the article, What is a Caliphate? ISIS declaration raises questions, Yasmin Hafiz
discusses the origin of the term, caliphate. Caliphate means successor, and was first
used to describe the leader of the Islamic community who succeeded Muhammad, the
prophet.
How did it answer your groups question?
Hafiz argues that ISIS declared a caliphate for a few different reasons. First, the Islamic
community is not a state, so it doesnt have borders. ISIS may have declared a caliphate
to expand its territory beyond Iraq and Syria, which were its initial territorial goals. A
second reason ISIS may have declared a caliphate is to convince people that it is a
politically and theologically legitimate organization, capable of governing over people,
not just committing acts of terror and taking over large pieces of land.
Does this seem like a reliable answer to you?
This answer explains why ISIS declared a caliphate. At first sight, declaring a caliphate
seems like a risky move because all Muslims who dont believe in ISISs cause would see
this declaration as blasphemous. Declaring a caliphate risked receiving a lot of backlash
from these people. However, ISIS seems to have made the right call, for they received
more followers and publicity after this event, and those who disagreed and were fighting
continued without receiving much more support.

Question: What is a
caliphate, and why did ISIS
declare itself one?
Summary: A caliphate means the leader of the Islamic community.
ISIS may have wanted to declare a caliphate in order to expand its
territory beyond Iraq and Syria and to gain more political and
theological legitimacy in the eyes of its followers.

This photo, posted on January 14, 2014, shows ISIS members marching
through the streets of Raqqa, Syria. From this photo, it is clear that ISIS is a
militant group, but by declaring a caliphate, they are hoping to gain
legitimacy as a governing entity over landmasses in Syria and Iraq.
Source: Withnall, Adam. "Isis Fortifies Raqqa as It Braces for an International Assault on
Its Syrian Stronghold." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 23 Nov.
2015. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.

On July 4th, 2014, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi spoke to a crowd at the Great
Mosque in Mosul. Here, he changed ISISs name to IS (Islamic State) and
declared that he was the only legitimate leader of the Islamic community.
Source:
Dearden, Lizzie. "Iraq Crisis: Isis Leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi Pictured for First Time after
Declaring Himself Head of Islamic Caliphate." The Independent. Independent Digital
News and Media, 5 July 2014. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.

This piece of artwork shows the prophet Muhammad and the four rightly
guided caliphs who led the Islamic community after Muhammad died. These
are, from left to right, Ab Bakr al-iddq (d. 634), Umar ibn al-Khab (d.
644), Al ibn Ab lib (d. 661) and Uthmn ibn Affn (d. 656). The leader
of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is using the term, Caliphate, in order to
remind people of these four rightly guided Caliphs and of a time where
Muslims were united in order to gain more followers of their cause.
Source: "Ottoman Miniature Representation of Prophet (face Covered) and RightlyGuided Caliphs." Ballandalus. N.p., 03 Aug. 2012. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.

The pink territory highlights the Islamic empire in the 8th century, shortly
after the last rightly guided Caliph died. ISIS may have declared a Caliphate
to restore this empire and the land under which it controlled.
Source: "What's the Appeal of a Caliphate? - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 20
Jan. 2016.

According to NPR, this is a photo taken by an Iraqi Turkmen fighter. He is

pointing the camera at an icon of the seventh century Imam Ali bin Abi
Talib, Islam's fourth caliph and cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad,
in Taza Khormato, Iraq. The fact that this icon exists show how much
people in Iraq respect the caliphs who succeeded Muhammad. It makes
sense that ISIS would want to reference the caliphs if they are trying to
make people believe they are more than just a militant group.
Source: Myre, Greg. "What's A Caliphate?" NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.

Although declaring a caliphate may have inspired people to follow ISIS,

many Muslims around the world denounced the group after the Paris attacks
in 2015. The above picture was posted by a man on Twitter who wrote,
Those who still think Islam promotes violence. Here's Islamic narrative.
#ParisAttacks #ParisShooting #Muslims. Many others posted, Terrorism
has no religion. This post in particular shows people using the Quran and
the principles of Islam to condemn ISISs brutality, just as ISIS is using the
Quran and the principles of Islam to support its legitimacy.
Source: Jenkins, Nash. "Muslims Speak Out Against Terrorist Attacks in Paris." Time.

Time, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.

Works Cited
Dearden, Lizzie. "Iraq Crisis: Isis Leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi Pictured for First Time after
Declaring Himself Head of Islamic Caliphate." The Independent. Independent Digital
News and Media, 5 July 2014. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
Hafiz, Yasmine. "What Is A Caliphate? ISIS Declaration Raises Questions."The Huffington
Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
Jenkins, Nash. "Muslims Speak Out Against Terrorist Attacks in Paris." Time. Time, n.d.
Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
Myre, Greg. "What's A Caliphate?" NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
"Ottoman Miniature Representation of Prophet (face Covered) and Rightly-Guided
Caliphs." Ballandalus. N.p., 03 Aug. 2012. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
"What's the Appeal of a Caliphate? - BBC News." BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.
Withnall, Adam. "Isis Fortifies Raqqa as It Braces for an International Assault on Its Syrian
Stronghold." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 23 Nov. 2015. Web.
20 Jan. 2016.