An ancient prophecy romanticised by ISIS militants warns of a battle between an Islamic army and an 'infidel horde' in Syria which will herald the destruction of the world.
The 1,300-year-old hadith, which is a report of the deeds, teachings and sayings of the Prophet Mohammed, refers to the 'horde' flying 80 banners as they take on a Muslim army in the Syrian town of Dabiq.
It warns of a 'malahim' - the equivalent to Armageddon in Christian teachings – in which the Muslims ultimately prevail.
![Prophecy That Predicted War Between Islamic Army And ‘Infidel Horde’]()
![Prophecy That Predicted War Between Islamic Army And ‘Infidel Horde’]()
The prophecy is said to be a fundamental part of Islamic State's ideology and is being used to fuel recruitment of jihadists who believe they are on the 'cusp of history'.
ISIS supporters on social media have started comparing recent developments in Syria to the prophecy amid warnings the 'malahim' is coming.
Islamic State fighters are said to have drawn on the prophecy even more so since conquering Dabiq in August and the town's name has become a byword for the struggle against the West.
The terrorist group has even named its official magazine 'Dabiq', in which it pushes its extremist views and reports victories.
Supporters appear to be convinced of the prophecy's validity, with one writing on Twitter: 'Dabiq will happen for certain.
'The U.S. and its allies will descend on Syria once they see that the air campaign has failed. That is a promise by God and his Messenger.'
Another, from Tunisia, wrote. 'The lions of Islam have raised the banner of the Caliphate in Dabiq. Now they await the arrival of the Crusader army.'
Shadi Hamid, a fellow at the Brookings Institute, said the hadith is heavily relied upon by ISIS because it 'raises morale'.
He said: 'It is fair to assume that the vast majority of (ISIS) fighters believe in this type of talk.'
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Prophecy has played a role in the movement's ideology since its early days as Al-Qaeda in Iraq under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Before Zarqawi was killed in Iraq in a U.S. airstrike in 2006 and long before his movement evolved into ISIS he was already referring to the epic battle in Dabiq.
'The spark has been ignited in Iraq, and its flames will grow until they burn the Crusader armies in Dabiq,' he once said.
SOURCE
The 1,300-year-old hadith, which is a report of the deeds, teachings and sayings of the Prophet Mohammed, refers to the 'horde' flying 80 banners as they take on a Muslim army in the Syrian town of Dabiq.
It warns of a 'malahim' - the equivalent to Armageddon in Christian teachings – in which the Muslims ultimately prevail.
The ancient prophecy is said to be a fundamental part of Islamic State's ideology and is being used to fuel recruitment of jihadists. The 1,300-year-old tale predicted a war between an Islamic army and an 'infidel horde'
Islamic State fighters are said to have drawn on the ancient prophecy even more so since conquering Dabiq in August. Airstrikes continued in the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobane by the Kurds, yesterday
The prophecy is said to be a fundamental part of Islamic State's ideology and is being used to fuel recruitment of jihadists who believe they are on the 'cusp of history'.
ISIS supporters on social media have started comparing recent developments in Syria to the prophecy amid warnings the 'malahim' is coming.
Islamic State fighters are said to have drawn on the prophecy even more so since conquering Dabiq in August and the town's name has become a byword for the struggle against the West.
The terrorist group has even named its official magazine 'Dabiq', in which it pushes its extremist views and reports victories.
Supporters appear to be convinced of the prophecy's validity, with one writing on Twitter: 'Dabiq will happen for certain.
'The U.S. and its allies will descend on Syria once they see that the air campaign has failed. That is a promise by God and his Messenger.'
Another, from Tunisia, wrote. 'The lions of Islam have raised the banner of the Caliphate in Dabiq. Now they await the arrival of the Crusader army.'
Shadi Hamid, a fellow at the Brookings Institute, said the hadith is heavily relied upon by ISIS because it 'raises morale'.
He said: 'It is fair to assume that the vast majority of (ISIS) fighters believe in this type of talk.'
ISIS has even named its official magazine, which reinforces its extremist views, 'Dabiq' (two editions above)
Hit: A picture taken from inside Turkey shows smoke rising over the Syrian city of Kobane following yesterday's airstrikes against ISIS militants. The terrorists have been besieging the city for the last three weeks
Strike: Journalists on the Turkish side of the border heard the sound of planes before two large plumes of smoke billowed just west of Kobane in yesterday's attack
Blast: The U.S. led anti-ISIS coalition carried out yesterday's airstrikes in Kobane. The attacks targeted ISIS militants who have advanced into the city, which is located right on northern Syria's border with Turkey
It comes as U.S.-led airstrikes continue in Kobani, where ISIS militants have been fighting with Kurdish forces to take hold.
In the wake of the ongoing conflict, President Barack Obama met with military commanders to discuss fears that airstrikes alone may not be enough to stop the fanatics.
'As I've indicated from the start, this is not something that is going to be solved overnight,' he said.
Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby added: 'Airstrikes alone are not going to do this, not going to fix this, not going to save the town of Kobani.
'We know that. And we've been saying that over and over again.'
In the wake of the ongoing conflict, President Barack Obama met with military commanders to discuss fears that airstrikes alone may not be enough to stop the fanatics.
'As I've indicated from the start, this is not something that is going to be solved overnight,' he said.
Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby added: 'Airstrikes alone are not going to do this, not going to fix this, not going to save the town of Kobani.
'We know that. And we've been saying that over and over again.'
Fire: A building believed to have been occupied by ISIS forces in the Kobane suburbs is seen burning following airstrikes by a U.S. led coalition against the terror group
Threat: A black flag belonging to ISIS has been raised above a four-storey building in the Kobane suburbs
Street fighting raged between Kurdish forces and ISIS fanatics , after the terror group advanced into Kobane
![Prophecy That Predicted War Between Islamic Army And ‘Infidel Horde’]()
A U.S. Navy F-18E Super Hornet helped unleash a wave of airstrikes against Islamic State jihadists in Syria
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The ancient hadith has been passed down in different versions over the last 1,000 years but in all cases it has centred on a battle between a Muslim army and the forces of non-believers.
Prophecy has played a role in the movement's ideology since its early days as Al-Qaeda in Iraq under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Before Zarqawi was killed in Iraq in a U.S. airstrike in 2006 and long before his movement evolved into ISIS he was already referring to the epic battle in Dabiq.
'The spark has been ignited in Iraq, and its flames will grow until they burn the Crusader armies in Dabiq,' he once said.
SOURCE