Dabiq () was a Raqqa-based online magazine of the Islamic State, published via the deep web from July 2014 to July 2016 (Ramadan 1435 to Shawwal 1437). One of the many forms of Islamic State mass media, it took part in religious outreach to Muslims around the world, ultimately seeking to gain new recruits for the "caliphate" by encouraging Muslims to immigrate to Islamic State territory. In addition to Arabic, the magazine's content was written in a number of different languages, including English.
The magazine was named after the town of Dabiq, Syria, which is believed in Islamic eschatology to be the primary location where Muslims will fight and bring about Jesus Christ (‘Isa ibn Maryam) and the fall of the Anti-Christ (al-Masih ad-Dajjal) (see Al-Malhama Al-Kubra), preceding the Day of Judgement.
Details Dabiq was published by IS via the deep web, although it was widely available online through other sources. The first issue carried the date "Ramadan 1435" in the Islamic Hijri calendar. According to the magazine, its name was taken from the town of Dabiq in northern Syria, which is mentioned in a hadith about the End Times. IS believes Dabiq is where Muslim and infidel forces will eventually face each other, and that after the Crusaders' forces are defeated, the apocalypse will begin."What ISIS Really Wants". The Atlantic. Retrieved 22 November 2015 Every issue of Dabiq contained a quote attributed to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi: "The spark has been lit here in Iraq, and its heat will continue to by Allah's until it burns the Crusader armies in Dabiq".
Harleen K. Gambhir of the Institute for the Study of War considered that while al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's magazine Inspire focuses on encouraging its readers to carry out lone-wolf attacks on the West, Dabiq was more concerned with establishing the religious legitimacy of IS and its self-proclaimed caliphate, and encouraging Muslims to emigrate there. In its October 2014 issue, an article outlined religious justifications for slavery and praised its revival.Salma Abdelaziz. (12 October 2014). "ISIS states its justification for the enslavement of women", CNN."Islamic State Seeks to Justify Enslaving Yazidi Women and Girls in Iraq", Newsweek, 13 October 2014Athena Yenko, "Judgment Day Justifies Sex Slavery Of Women – ISIS Out With Its 4th Edition Of Dabiq Magazine" , International Business Times-AustraliaAllen McDuffee. (13 October 2014). "ISIS Is Now Bragging About Enslaving Women and Children", The AtlanticRichard Spencer. (13 October 2014) "Thousands of Yazidi women sold as sex slaves 'for theological reasons', says Isil", The Daily Telegraph.
IS used its Dabiq magazine to express its strong opposition to groups including Christians, Jews, Hindus, Shia Muslims and the Muslim Brotherhood.
In September 2016, IS replaced Dabiq with another online magazine, Rumiyah (Arabic for Rome), published in English and other languages. Analysts speculated this was due to IS being driven out of the town of Dabiq by the Turkish Military and Syrian Rebels in October 2016. The new title refers to an Islamic prophecy about the fall of Rome.
Issues Issue Cover titleEnglish-language cover titles Date (Hijri)Islamic Hijri calendar, used by Dabiq Date (Gregorian) Publication frequencyDays from previous edition "The Return of Khilafah"Ramadan 1435 5 July 2014 "The Flood"Ramadan 1435 27 July 2014 22 "A Call to Hijrah"Shawwal 1435 10 September 201445 "The Failed Crusade"Dhul-Hijjah 1435 11 October 2014 31 "Remaining and Expanding"Muharram 1436 21 November 201441 "Al Qa'idah of Waziristan: A Testimony from Within"Rabi' Al-Awwal 1436 29 December 201438 "From Hypocrisy to Apostasy: The Extinction of the Grayzone"Rabi'Al-Akhir 1436 12 February 201545 "Shari'ah Alone Will Rule Africa"Jumada al-Akhirah 1436 30 March 201546 "They Plot and Allah Plots" Sha'ban 1436 21 May 201552 "The Law of Allah or the Laws of Men" Ramadan 1436 13 July 201553"From the Battles of Al-Ahzāb to the War of Coalitions"Dhul Qa'Dah 1436 9 September 201527 "Just Terror"Safar 1437 18 November 2015101 "The Rafidah from Ibn Saba' to the Dajjal"Rabi'Al-Akhir 1437 19 January 201662"The Murtadd Brotherhood"Rajab 1437 13 April 201685 "Break the Cross"Shawwal 1437 31 July 2016109
See also Dar al-Islam (magazine) Konstantiniyye (magazine) Istok (magazine) Rumiyah (magazine)
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