Hazimism

Hazimism, also referred to as the Hazimi movement[1] or Hazimi current,[2] is a branch of Wahhabism based on the teachings of the Saudi-born Muslim scholar Ahmad ibn Umar al-Hazimi. Hazimis believe that those who do not unconditionally excommunicate (takfir) unbelievers are themselves unbelievers, which opponents argue leads to an unending chain of takfir.[3] The ideology has been described as "ultra-extreme"[3] and "even more extreme than ISIS".[1] Its spread within ISIS triggered prolonged ideological conflict within the group, pitting its followers against a more "moderate" faction led by Turki al-Binali.[2] The movement was eventually considered extremist by ISIS, who initiated a crackdown on its followers.

Beliefs

Central to Hazimism is the doctrine of takfir al-‘adhir ("excommunication of the excuser"). For the third "nullifier" in his treatise Nullifiers of Islam, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab - the founder of Wahhabism - writes that those who do not takfir unbelievers are themselves, unbelievers, whether that is because they doubt their disbelief or otherwise. However, those who are deemed "ignorant" are shielded from takfir by a principle known as al-‘udhr bi’l-jahl ("excusing on the basis of ignorance"). Al-Hazimi rejects al-‘udhr bi’l-jahl for matters he considers to be of "greater polytheism" (al-shirk al-akbar) and "greater disbelief" (al-kufr al-akbar), such as voting in elections. In these scenarios, al-Hazimi states that those who refuse to pronounce takfir by citing al-‘udhr bi’l-jahl are unbelievers as per the third nullifier.[4]

History

Al-Hazimi in Tunisia

Between December 2011 and May 2012, al-Hazimi delivered four lectures in Tunisia. He was supported by the Islamic Good Society and Hay al-Khadra’ Mosques Committee; members of the former were arrested for financing terrorism, while the latter maintained links to Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia (AST). With the aid of the committee, al-Hazimi founded the Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani Institute for Sharia Sciences, which promoted his teachings. His views were also amplified through AST's Facebook page.[3]

Hazimism in ISIS

In the following years, several Tunisians who adopted al-Hazimi's views joined ISIS. During the group's infighting with the Al-Nusra Front, the Tunisians remained loyal and were rewarded with senior administrative and religious posts. With increasing influence, however, their belief in takfir al-‘adhir became a source of concern for ISIS leadership.[3] Bahraini scholar Turki al-Binali, who led the group's Office of Research and Studies, prepared a series of lectures and pamphlets against the doctrine. He argued that while al-‘udhr bi’l-jahl was invalid in instances of greater polytheism and disbelief, this does not necessarily mean that those who make excuses are disbelievers. In a tweet, he also described the belief as bidʻah. The Binalis, as they were later termed, also claimed the Hazimi view led to an "infinite regress of takfir" (al-takfir bi’l-tasalsul).[2]

In March 2014, audio leaked of several high-level Hazimi officials, including the wāli of Hasakah, pronouncing takfir on the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. A separate leak showed takfir being made on Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.[3] In late 2014, 50 Hazimis fled to Turkey while 70 were imprisoned and executed by ISIS after they made takfir on elements of its leadership which did not consider Ayman al-Zawahiri to be a disbeliever.[4] Following their arrest, a pro-Hazimi statement surfaced describing ISIS as a "kafir jahmiyyah state".[5] Several Hazimi cells were formed afterwards; the breakup of one in Raqqa being featured in Dabiq where they were branded as kharijites.[4] Despite the crackdown, several groups of Hazimis remained, including one led by a certain Abu Ayyub al-Tunisi and supported by the wāli of Aleppo.[3][6] In 2016, Hazimis clashed with ISIS in the vicinity of Al-Bab and Jarabulus. In an account of the incident, senior Hazimi Abu Muath al-Jazairi called ISIS the "Idols' State" and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi the "taghut" of Syria.[5]

In a statement published in Al-Naba in April 2017, ISIS' Central Office for Overseeing the Sharia Departments banned the discussion of al-‘udhr bi’l-jahl and takfir al-‘adhir, but warned that hesitation in takfir was inexcusable.[2] On 17 May 2017, ISIS' Delegated Committee issued a memorandum which condemned al-takfir bi’l-tasalsul but stated that takfir was from the "foundations of the religion", rebuking those who hesitate in making it and branding them as murji'ah.[7] Shortly afterwards, al-Binali published a response to the memorandum and claimed its intent was to placate the Hazimis. On May 31, al-Binali was killed in a coalition airstrike, followed by two other scholars who supported him. The timing was seen as suspicious by the Binalis, who accused the Delegated Committee of leaking their locations.[7] In September 2017, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi reportedly dismissed and detained several Hazimis, reshuffling the Delegated Committee.[2][8]

In 2019, Hazimi foreign fighters, including a large contingent of Tunisians, failed a two-day coup attempt against al-Baghdadi. ISIS alleged they were led by Abu Muath al-Jazairi and placed a bounty on him.[8][9]

Post-ISIS

In June 2020, it was estimated there were over 100 Hazimis in the Netherlands.[1]

References

1. "ISIS split-off a threat in Netherlands: report". NL Times. 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
2. "Caliphate in Disarray: Theological Turmoil in the Islamic State". www.jihadica.com. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
3. "Ultra Extremism Among Tunisian Jihadis Within The Islamic State". www.jihadica.com. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
4. Cole 2009, p. 14.
5. "The increasing extremism within the Islamic State". www.jihadica.com. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
6. Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad. "An Internal Report on Extremism in the Islamic State". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
7. Cole 2009, p. 17.
8. "Alleged Coup Attempt Exposes Hazimite Faction Within Islamic State". Jamestown. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
9. Chulov, Martin; Zavallis, Achilleas (2019-02-10). "'The fighting was intense': witness tells of two-day attempt to kill Isis leader". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-08-15.

Sources

• Bunzel, Cole (2019). "Ideological Infighting in the Islamic State". Perspectives on Terrorism. 13 (1): 12–21. ISSN 2334-3745.