Unity, Segregation, and Obedience: Islamic State’s Use of Quranic Verses and How It Relates to State-Building

Too little attention has been given to Islamic States efforts to present itself as a more legitimate alternative to the nation-state. This is particularly surprising as IS’ claim to statehood has been a prominent element in IS’ self-branding. This article argues that IS understands itself as a form of political order superior to the state because it is a revival of the caliphate. This argument is made through an investigation of three key dimensions of how Islamic state uses Quranic quotes in Dabiq to undergird this notion of Islamic state as a more legitimate state, namely the need to avoid division (unity), the obligation to avoid disbelievers and fight them (segregation), and the necessity to obey God and by extension, the caliph (obedience).