Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
Caliph of the Islamic State since 2023
Amir al-Mu'minin Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi | |
|---|---|
أبو حفص الهاشمي القريشي | |
 Textual representation of Abu Hafs Al-Hashimi Al-Qureshi by Islamic State media groups. | |
| 5th Caliph of the Islamic State | |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 3 August 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown date |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
|
| Battles/wars | War on Terror
|
Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (Arabic: أبو حفص الهاشمي القرشي) is a militant and the fifth and current caliph[a] of the Islamic State. He was named as caliph on 3 August 2023, in an audio message by the spokesperson of IS, Abu Hudhayfah Al-Ansari, whose announcement came four months after the death of his predecessor Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi.
Life
Very little is known about Abu Hafs' early life. IS only admitted that he was a long-serving veteran of the group.[5]
Following the death of Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi, the IS Majlis-ash-Shura (consultation council) discussed a potential successor as caliph. The shura mutually agreed to appoint Abu Hafs[5] who officially took over the IS leadership on 3 August 2023. He was announced as caliph by Islamic State's official spokesmen Abu Hudhayfah Al-Ansari, in an audio message broadcast by Al-Furqan Media Foundation (Islamic State's primary media outlet).[6][7] As the announcement also cited a number of medieval Islamic scholars like al-Mazari and al-Nawawi in support of Abu Hafs' caliphate, some researchers such as M. Nureddin argued that Abu Hafs' rise had been contentious within the IS high command. Nureddin argued that these issues necessitated that the validity of the allegiance to Abu Hafs was bolstered by citing renowned past scholars. However, researcher Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi disagreed, instead arguing that the references to al-Mazari and al-Nawawi were merely supposed to emphasize that Abu Hafs could be a valid IS leader despite remaining "behind a veil of obscurity for security reasons".[5] In general, Al-Tamimi described Abu Hafs as the third in a line of IS "caliphs of the shadows" or "faceless caliphs", as very little was known about him or his predecessors Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi and Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi compared to the first two IS caliphs.[8]
The global network of IS quickly pledged loyalty to Abu Hafs, ranging from large sections such as the West Africa Province to smaller groups like the Yemen Province. There was also a pledge of loyalty by a group in Sudan, though IS had not previously admitted a presence in this country. At the time of the appointment of Abu Hafs, IS was experiencing a resurgence in Syria, with its forces increasing their attacks on the Syrian government as well as civilians.[9] However, the group was still under extreme pressure in both Syria and Iraq, evidenced by the quick succession of killed leaders. Regardless, Abu Hafs and the remaining IS central command seemed convinced to remain in the region and not to relocate, as they still considered the Middle East their heartland.[10]
Hundreds of attacks have been conducted by IS across the globe during Abu Hafs' tenure as caliph, including many high-profile terror attacks (not including military engagements), such as:
- The 2023 Khar bombing in Pakistan[11]
- The 2023 Brussels shooting in Belgium[12]
- The 2023 Marawi Bombing in the Philippines[13]
- The 2024 Kerman bombings in Iran[14]
- The 2024 Istanbul church shooting in Turkey[15]
- The 2024 Balochistan bombings in Pakistan[16]
- The 2024 Kandahar New Kabul Bank bombing in Afghanistan[17]
- The 2024 Crocus City Hall attack in Russia[18][19]
Notes
References
- ^ Yusuf al-Qaradawi stated: "[The] declaration issued by the Islamic State is void under sharia and has dangerous consequences for the Sunnis in Iraq and for the revolt in Syria", adding that the title of caliph can "only be given by the entire Muslim nation", not by a single group. Strange, Hannah (5 July 2014). "Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi addresses Muslims in Mosul". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ Bunzel, Cole (27 November 2019). "Caliph Incognito: The Ridicule of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi". jihadica.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ Hamid, Shadi (1 November 2016). "What a caliphate really is—and how the Islamic State is not one". Brookings. Archived from the original on 1 April 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- ^ https://jihadology.net/2023/08/03/new-audio-message-from-the-islamic-states-abu-%e1%b8%a5udhayfah-al-an%e1%b9%a3ari-so-rejoice-in-your-transaction-which-you-have-contracted/
- ^ a b c Al-Tamimi 2023, p. 20.
- ^ "ISIL confirms death of leader Abu Hussein al-Qurashi, names successor". Al Jazeera. 3 August 2023. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Islamic State confirms death of its leader, names replacement". Reuters. 3 August 2023. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ Al-Tamimi 2023, pp. 16, 20.
- ^ Zenn 2023.
- ^ Al-Tamimi 2023, pp. 19–20.
- ^ "IS Claims Responsibility for Suicide Bombing on Political Rally in Bajaur, Pakistan". SITE. 31 July 2023.
- ^ "In Formal Claim for Brussels Attack, IS Threatens States in Global Coalition". SITE. 17 October 2023.
- ^ "IS Claims Bombing at Catholic Mass in Philippines". SITE. 3 December 2023.
- ^ "Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Iran attack, Tehran vows revenge". Reuters. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Masked gunmen kill one person in Istanbul Catholic church". Reuters. 28 January 2024.
- ^ "IS Claims VBIED Blasts at Election Rallies in Balochistan, Reports 80 Casualties Combined". SITE. 7 February 2024.
- ^ "ISKP Claims Suicide Bombing on Taliban Personnel at Bank in Kandahar". SITE. 21 March 2024.
- ^ "IS Takes Credit for Moscow Concert Hall Attack". SITE. 22 March 2024.
- ^ "Grotesque 'Amaq Video Shows Scenes from Attack Inside Crocus City Hall". SITE. 23 March 2024.
Works cited
- Zenn, Jacob (August 2023). "Brief: New Islamic State Caliph Inherits Renewed Syrian Insurgency". Terrorism Monitor. 21 (17). Jamestown Foundation.
- Al-Tamimi, Aymenn (2023). "Caliphs of the Shadows: The Islamic State's Leaders Post-Mawla" (PDF). CTC Sentinel. 16 (8). West Point, New York: Combating Terrorism Center: 16–22. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
External links
Media related to Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi at Wikimedia Commons
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