the history, strategy, and doomsday vision of the Islamic State
The Islamic State has become one of the most popular and successful jihadist groups on the planet, surpassing even al-Qaeda. By being more ruthless, more messianic, and more devoted to empire-building than its competitors, ISIS has conquered a vast amount of land and amassed thousands of followers. ISIS combines two of the most powerful, yet contradictory, ideas in Islam--the return of the Islamic Empire and the end of the world--into a mission and a message that shapes its strategy and inspires its army of zealous fighters. Even if the Islamic State is defeated, jihadist terrorism will never be the same. Based almost entirely on primary sources in Arabic--including ancient religious texts and secret al-Qaeda and Islamic State letters that few outsiders have seen--this book explores how religious fervor, strategic calculation, and doomsday prophesy shaped the Islamic State's past and foreshadows its dark future.
