Why Are Muslims From All Over the World Still Joining ISIS?

Airstrikes against ISIS continue, and yet more than a thousand Muslims travel to the Middle East every month to join ISIS from other countries. According to the U.N. over 16,000 foreign fighters have joined ISIS so far. The airstrikes have not slowed the flow of foreign jihadis flooding into Iraq. Most non-Muslims would assume that the increased possibility to being vaporized would reduce the number of new recruits, but it hasn't.

Do the people in your life know why?

If not, you can share with them some quotes from Robert Spencer's excellent book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades). First tell them that Muhammad was the founder of Islam and that it says 91 times in the Koran that all Muslims should follow his example. Then share the following with them. Spencer wrote:

"...the Prophet of Islam repeatedly emphasized that there was nothing better his followers could do than engage in jihad warfare. When a Muslim asked him to name the "best deed" one could do, besides the act of becoming a Muslim, the Prophet responded, "To participate in Jihad (holy fighting) in Allah's Cause." He explained that "to guard Muslims from infidels in Allah's Cause for one day is better than the world and whatever is on its surface." For "a journey undertaken for jihad in the evening or morning merits a reward better than the world and all that is in it."

Muhammad also warned that Muslims who did not engage in jihad would be punished: "Muhammad was firm about the necessity of jihad not only for himself personally, but for every Muslim. He warned believers that he who does not join the warlike expedition (jihad), or equip, or looks well after a warrior's family when he is away, will be smitten by Allah with a sudden calamity.'"

Those who fought in jihads would enjoy a level of Paradise higher than that enjoyed by others:

It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said (to him]: Abu Sa'id, whoever cheerfully accepts Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion and Muhammad as his Apostle is necessarily entitled to enter Paradise. He (Abu Sa'id) wondered at it and said: Messenger of Allah, repeat it for me. He (the Messenger of Allah) did that and said: There is another act which elevates the position of a man in Paradise to a grade one hundred (higher), and the elevation between one grade and the other is equal to the height of the heaven from the earth. He (Abu Sa'id) said: What is that act? He replied: Jihad in the way of Allah! Jihad in the way of Allah!

On another occasion "a man came to Allah's Apostle and said, 'Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward).' He replied, 'I do not find such a deed.'"

Bring up some recent news about ISIS with people and ask, "I was wondering why Muslims are still traveling to the Middle East to join the fight now that the airstrikes have begun, when I read some passages from the traditions of Muhammad," and share some of the passages above. If you want to share this directly via email or social media, we've posted the above article on Inquiry Into Islam without the coaching. You can find it here.