A new fatwa from the chief ideologue of Salafi jihadism, Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, is titled: “How can someone who refuses to follow Islamic law and chooses laws created by humans not be an infidel? Does his history of jihad prevent him from being declared an infidel?”

So, an important but expected event has taken place in the world of jihadism today. In the aforementioned fatwa, the chief ideologue of jihadism, Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, declared Ahmad al-Sharaa an “infidel” and expelled him from Islam, independent expert Kirill Semenov writes on his Telegram channel.

This effectively labels the transitional president of Syria as a traitor. Many foreign fighters in Syria and various groups still follow al-Maqdisi's fatwas.

Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi was at the forefront of the ideology of Al-Qaeda, Jabhat al-Nusra, and other terrorist organizations espousing Salafi jihadism. At the same time, however, he was an opponent of ISIS. In other words, he represents the spectrum of jihadists who had ties to Al-Qaeda.

Al-Maqdisi also promoted the concept of “jihad of the elite” or “militant vanguard,” which was based on the ideas of Sayyid Qutb, which became the basis for the methodology of Al-Qaeda and related structures.

“So don't be surprised that we have declared al-Jolani and all those who support him in his laws that contradict Sharia to be infidels,” al-Mukhdisi said.

It is significant that in his fatwa, Makdisi says that those who refuse to consider Ash-Sharaa infidels become infidels themselves. And that Joulani himself had previously declared such people, as he has now become, to be infidels.

He is accused of refusing to introduce Sharia law and of establishing secular laws in Syria.

“What about those who place their own decrees, laws, and legislation above the law of Allah, giving them power over him and preferring them to the rule of the Prophet?

Will his jihad, battle, or struggle benefit him after he destroys his monotheism?” Makdisi says.

The fatwa issued recently by jihadist ideologue Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi is largely a call for disobedience to Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has been declared an “infidel,” and for the most radical groups to enter into direct conflict with him.

 

The attack by terrorists not controlled by the new Syrian government on the Russian base in Hmeimim may be a direct consequence of Al-Maqdisi's fatwa, which directly calls on his radical supporters not to obey Ahmed al-Sharaa, otherwise they too will “become infidels.”