Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi

Amir al-Mu'minin
Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
أبو حفص الهاشمي القرشي
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 byAbu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi
Personal details
ReligionSunni Islam
Military career
Allegiance
RankCaliph
Battles / warsWar on Terror

Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (Arabic: أبو حفص الهاشمي القرشي) is 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.

Alleged identity

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In August 2023, it was speculated that Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi might be the new identity of either Abu Khadijah al-Iraqi or Abu Al-Muthanna Al-Janubi, two Iraqi Islamic State leaders.[4] In 2024, a United States airstrike in Somalia and coinciding claims by anonymous officials resulted in speculations about Islamic State's Somalia Province leader Abdul Qadir Mumin being Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi. However, many researchers and analysts dismissed these claims as highly unlikely.[5] Mumin would not be a Qurayshi which would run counter to the ideology of the Islamic State, and thus endanger the group's self-perceived legitimacy, and also not part of the group's traditional, Iraqi-dominated leadership.[6] Conversely, researchers Austin Doctor and Gina Ligon pointed out that Mumin's experiences with the increasingly important African theater, finances, religious scholarship, and Western culture also provided potential benefits if he had been appointed to a leading position.[7]

Life

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Audio of announcement of Abu Hafs Al-Hashimi as new IS Caliph by Abu Hudhayfah[8]

Very little is known about Abu Hafs' early life. IS only admitted that he was a long-serving veteran of the group.[9]

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[9] 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).[10][11] 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".[9] 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.[12]

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.[13] 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.[14]

In June 2024, according to a U.S. assessment reported by Voice of America, rumors suggested that Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi had relocated from Syria or Iraq, passing through Yemen, and ultimately linked up with the Islamic State's Somalia Province. This however was unconfirmed.[15]

Major attacks under Abu Hafs' leadership

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Many high-profile terror attacks (not including military engagements) have been conducted by IS across the globe during Abu Hafs' tenure as caliph, such as:

Notes

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  1. ^ The Islamic State describes itself as a caliphate and its leader as a caliph, but this is not accepted by the vast majority of Muslims, and is disputed by multiple Muslim scholars and authors.[1][2][3]

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ https://180post.com/archives/39454#:~:text=%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%8A%20%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%8A%20%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%A9%20%D9%87%D9%88,%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89%20%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%85%20%D8%B5%D8%AD%D8%A9%20%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%20%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84%D9%87
  5. ^ Doctor & Ligon 2024, pp. 26–27.
  6. ^ Doctor & Ligon 2024, pp. 27, 29.
  7. ^ Doctor & Ligon 2024, pp. 29–30.
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ a b c Al-Tamimi 2023, p. 20.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ Al-Tamimi 2023, pp. 16, 20.
  13. ^ Zenn 2023.
  14. ^ Al-Tamimi 2023, pp. 19–20.
  15. ^ "Islamic State in Somalia poses growing threat, US officials say". Voice of America. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  16. ^ "On Day of Ashura, IS Claims Nearly 50 Casualties in Two Attacks on Shi'ite Shrine Near Damascus". SITE. 28 July 2023.
  17. ^ "IS Claims Responsibility for Suicide Bombing on Political Rally in Bajaur, Pakistan". SITE. 31 July 2023.
  18. ^ "In Formal Claim for Brussels Attack, IS Threatens States in Global Coalition". SITE. 17 October 2023.
  19. ^ "IS Claims Bombing at Catholic Mass in Philippines". SITE. 3 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Iran attack, Tehran vows revenge". Reuters. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Masked gunmen kill one person in Istanbul Catholic church". Reuters. 28 January 2024.
  22. ^ "IS Claims VBIED Blasts at Election Rallies in Balochistan, Reports 80 Casualties Combined". SITE. 7 February 2024.
  23. ^ "ISKP Claims Suicide Bombing on Taliban Personnel at Bank in Kandahar". SITE. 21 March 2024.
  24. ^ "IS Takes Credit for Moscow Concert Hall Attack". SITE. 22 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Grotesque 'Amaq Video Shows Scenes from Attack Inside Crocus City Hall". SITE. 23 March 2024.
  26. ^ "ISIS claims attack in Afghanistan that killed three Spaniards". al-Arabiya. 19 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Gunman fires shots at US embassy in Lebanon, army says". Reuters. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Akcije širom Srbije: Uhapšen Kemal Begović iz Novog Pazara, priveden i državljanin BiH". Sandzacke.rs (in Bosnian). 30 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  29. ^ "IS Supporters Distribute Video of Pledge to "Caliph" by Executor of Crossbow Attack Outside Israeli Embassy in Belgrade". SITE. 3 July 2024.
  30. ^ "Islamic State claims responsibility for rare attack at Shi'ite Muslim mosque in Oman". Reuters. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  31. ^ "IS Takes Credit for Attack in Oman". SITE. 16 July 2024.
  32. ^ "In Report on Attack Inside Volgograd Prison, IS Focuses on Motive of Revenge and Notes Indoctrination of Executors by Fellow Inmates". SITE. 30 August 2024.
  33. ^ "IS Takes Credit for Knife Attack in Solingen, Germany". SITE. 24 August 2024.
  34. ^ "'Amaq Reveals Image of Masked Solingen Attacker, Announces Possession of Video". SITE. 25 August 2024.
  35. ^ "With Disturbing Photos of Corpse Pile, IS Reveals Massacre of Nearly 130 Nigerian Civilians in "Belligerent Village"". SITE. 12 September 2024.
  36. ^ "IS militants kill 14 in a Shiite area of Afghanistan in one of the deadliest attacks this year". Associated Press. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  37. ^ "IS-K Claims Responsibility For Deadly Attack Targeting Hazara Minority In Afghanistan". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  38. ^ "Backgrounder on The Islamic State and Jihadism in Azerbaijan".
  39. ^ "In First Recorded Fighting Activity in Azerbaijan, IS Reports Clash in Qusar District Inflicting 8 Casualties". SITE. 19 September 2024.

Works cited

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Sunni Islam titles
Preceded by 5th Caliph of the Islamic State
2023–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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