A History of Radical Islamic Intra-Muslim Violence
Overview
This article outlines the timeline of violence by radical Islamic groups against Muslims and other communities, based on documented events, highlighting the duration, internal origins, and broader targets of these conflicts.
Early Instances: Kharijites (7th Century CE)
The Kharijites were a sect that emerged around 657 CE during the First Fitna, a civil war within the early Islamic community following the death of Prophet Muhammad. The conflict arose over leadership succession, pitting supporters of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph, against those of Muawiya, governor of Syria. During the Battle of Siffin (657 CE), Ali agreed to arbitration to resolve the dispute, a decision some of his followers rejected as compromising divine authority. These dissenters, known as the Kharijites (meaning "those who seceded"), broke away, advocating a strict interpretation of Islam.
The Kharijites believed that leadership should be based solely on piety, not lineage or consensus, and declared Muslims who disagreed with their views as apostates through takfir. They viewed Ali’s acceptance of arbitration as a betrayal of God’s will, accusing him of abandoning true Islamic governance. This led to their targeting of Ali and his supporters. In 661 CE, a Kharijite named Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam assassinated Ali in Kufa (modern-day Iraq) by striking him with a poisoned sword during prayer. This act marked the first recorded instance of intra-Muslim violence by a radical Islamic group, as the Kharijites turned their ideological zeal against fellow Muslims, including a prominent caliph.
The Kharijites continued their rebellions against both Sunni and Shia authorities, engaging in sporadic violence across regions like Iraq and Persia. Their rigid ideology and willingness to kill Muslims they deemed unfaithful set a precedent for later radical groups. The emergence of the Kharijites in 657 CE, culminating in Ali’s assassination in 661 CE, occurred approximately 1,368 years ago from 2025, establishing the starting point of this form of violence.
Duration of Intra-Muslim Conflict
Violence by radical Islamic groups against other Muslims spans over 1,300 years, beginning with the Kharijites in the 7th century CE. This extensive period includes various groups and movements targeting fellow Muslims over ideological differences, often using takfir to justify their actions. The longevity of these conflicts reflects internal dynamics within Muslim communities, driven by differing interpretations of faith and governance. This violence is not attributable to external parties such as America, Jews, or Christians, but rather stems from historical, ideological, and political factors within Islamic contexts.
Other Targets of Radical Islamic Violence
While radical Islamic groups have primarily targeted Muslims, they have also attacked various non-Muslim communities and individuals, often justifying violence through ideological or religious differences. These targets include:
Christians: Radical Islamic groups have attacked Christian communities, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. The 2010 attack on Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad by ISIS killed 58 people, mostly Christians. In Nigeria, Boko Haram has targeted churches, killing hundreds of Christians since 2009, including 50 in a 2011 Christmas Day bombing. Coptic Christians in Egypt faced attacks by ISIS affiliates, such as the 2017 Palm Sunday bombings, which killed 45.
Jews: Jewish communities have been targeted, often linked to broader anti-Semitic ideologies. Al-Qaeda’s 2008 attack on a synagogue in Yemen and ISIS’s 2015 attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, killing four Jewish hostages, are examples. Historical instances include the 11th-century Almoravid persecution of Jews in Muslim-controlled Spain, though these were less ideologically driven than modern attacks.
Yazidis: The Yazidi community in Iraq faced severe violence from ISIS, particularly during the 2014 Sinjar massacre, where thousands were killed or enslaved, with estimates of 2,100–4,400 deaths. ISIS labeled Yazidis as "devil-worshippers" due to their distinct religious beliefs.
Hindus and Buddhists: In South Asia, radical Islamic groups have attacked Hindu and Buddhist communities. The Taliban’s 2001 destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan and attacks on Hindu temples in Pakistan by Lashkar-e-Taiba, such as the 2006 Karachi bombing, illustrate this. In Bangladesh, Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh targeted Hindu festivals, killing 24 in a 2016 attack.
Secular and Non-Religious Individuals: Radical groups have targeted secular Muslims, atheists, and intellectuals perceived as opposing their ideology. The 1977 killing of Egyptian scholar Muhammad al-Dhahabi by Takfir wal-Hijra and the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack in France, killing 12, targeted secular or critical voices. In Bangladesh, bloggers like Avijit Roy were killed by Ansarullah Bangla Team in 2015 for promoting secularism.
These attacks reflect a pattern of targeting communities or individuals deemed incompatible with the groups’ strict interpretations of Islam, often extending beyond religious differences to political or cultural opposition.
Medieval and Early Modern Periods
In the 18th century, followers of Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, associated with Wahhabism, targeted Shia and Sufi Muslims, citing religious differences. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Sunni Ottoman and Shia Safavid conflicts involved intra-Muslim violence, often driven by political motives.
Modern Period (20th Century–Present)
Since the 1970s, violence by radical Islamic groups against Muslims increased. Notable examples include:
Takfir wal-Hijra (1977): In Egypt, this group killed scholar Muhammad al-Dhahabi, citing apostasy.
Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya (1990s): In Egypt, this group caused over 1,100 deaths in 1993, primarily Muslims.
Al-Qaeda (1990s–Present): Attacks, such as the 1992 Yemen hotel bombing, killed Muslim civilians.
ISIS (2014–Present): In Iraq and Syria, ISIS targeted Shia and Sunni Muslims, including 58 deaths in a 2010 Baghdad church attack.
A 2017 CSIS report states that 90% of terrorism deaths from 2015 to 2016 occurred in Muslim-majority countries, with Muslims as the primary victims. Estimates indicate 200,000–210,000 deaths from Islamist violence since 1979, mostly Muslims.
Factors
The use of takfir to justify violence is a recurring factor. Political instability, governance issues, and foreign interventions, such as the Soviet-Afghan War, have contributed to the rise of such groups since the 20th century.
Conclusion
Violence by radical Islamic groups began in the 7th century with the Kharijites, extending over 1,300 years. While primarily targeting Muslims, these groups have also attacked Christians, Jews, Yazidis, Hindus, Buddhists, and secular individuals. The phenomenon has continued, with a notable increase since the 1970s. This overview is based on historical and contemporary records.