Islamic State: The Problems

Abstract

Islamic State poses far greater challenges to itself than to the world. These challenges range from societal to religious, and political to economic. There is ever-increasing diversity in the world for the fact of formation of solidarity among various groups/communities that may run counter to regional, national, or religious identities. Diversity is a beauty, and should be endured. The Islamic State faces this question profusely, as fact of the world. There is an increasing realization of the pervasive 'differences' in the world, and as such the slogans of 'end of history' have proved too immature even in the wake of collapse of former USSR. Being blind to history, all accounts of 'end of history' coming from anywhere featuring burdened exclusion-ism tend to behave in similar ostrich ways. Islamic State religiously closes eyes to lessons of history including Islamic history. The ISIS, in some ways, proves 'clash of civilizations' right, but it is not the only way Muslims organize themselves in religion, and in society. South and South-East Asia shows a reasonable trend; though not popular as Arabization is. The ISIS grossly neglects the vast intellectual engagement Muslim scholars had with the issues of the modern world. The issues of caliphate and democracy are central to the understanding of global collective life. The Islamic State, is argued here, faces serious intellectual, religious, and pragmatic challenges that are too magnanimous for reasonable thought.