121extremism, because extremism itself inspired
al- Qaeda, and then inspired the Islamic State. It is
this extremism that must be named—as Islamism—
and opposed.
It is true that one cannot argue that the Islamic
State represents all of Islam, just like one cannot
argue that it has nothing to do with Islam. But it
should be obvious that “a desire to impose Islam”
cannot reasonably be said to have “nothing to do
with Islam.” Clearly, it has something to do with
it. One may disagree with the Islamic State’s inter-
pretation of the faith, but imagine that we were
debating its supporters: Would we be debating
Das Kapital or Islamic scripture?
We must name the ideology behind the Islamic
State so that we can refute it. It is crucial to name
Islamism so that Muslims like me are confronted
with a stark choice. Either we reclaim our religion
and its narrative or allow thugs and demagogues to
speak in its name and impose it on others. Merely
calling it “extremism” is too relative and vague, and
sidesteps the responsibility to counter its scriptural
justifi cation.
It is no surprise, therefore, that any intervention
by the international community, no matter how
carefully planned, is successfully stigmatized by
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