The Takfiri ideology of groups like Al-Qaeda and Islamic state has its roots in the writings of the 20th century Egyptian militant Islamist ideologue Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966 C.E), which preached against the governments and societies of the Muslim World. Qutb regarded the Muslim world as being sunk in a state of Jahiliyya (pre-Islamic ignorance) and by employing Takfir (excommunication); he demanded violent overthrowal of contemporary regimes. Describing the contemporary conditions of society, Qutb claimed: “Our whole environment, people’s beliefs and ideas, habits and art, rules and laws - is Jahiliyyah, even to the extent that what we consider to be Islamic culture, Islamic sources, Islamic philosophy and Islamic thought are also constructs of Jahiliyyah!”Daesh's sectarianism and takfiri approach is historically rooted in Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), founded by Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi in 2004. Its ideological roots are found in the writings of Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab and Sayyid Qutb. The takfir (declaring self-proclaimed Muslims to be apostates, which usually also means calling for their death) of ISIL on large numbers of Muslims has been a point of difference between itself and other jihadis such as Al-Qaeda. ISIL is "committed to purifying the world by killing vast numbers of people", according to Graeme Wood. According to Jamileh Kadivar, ISIS has given a higher priority to fighting what it views as apostates than "original disbelievers" (Jews, Christians, Hindus, etc.).This is our aqidah and this is our methodology [Hazih Aqidatuna Wa Haza Manhajuna] . (2015). Al-Himmah Publications; cited in Consequently, the majority of the "27,947 terrorist deaths" it has been responsible for as of 2020 have been Muslims it regards "as kafir". On the other hand, Troy E. Spier notes that the demarcation of believers and non-believers is more complex than a simple assignation of religious faith. Takfiri ideology is "a significant part" of ISIS "identity and being" (according to Kadivar), and a message emphasizing the pure Islam of Daesh supporters and the "otherness", unbelief and apostasy of "other Muslims" permeates its media/propaganda.
