This volume explores the theological foundations of transnational jihadism. It engages with the evolution of the Islamic State movement and salafi jihadism, situating its dogmatic features within the wider landscape of Islamic debates and interpretations. Mona Kanwal Sheikh and Saer El-Jaichi attend to the doctrinal innovations that distinguish transnational jihadism from earlier generations of Islamist and jihadi movements, offering new insights into the rise and global reach of the Islamic State movement and al-Qaeda. The contributions address questions such as: What are the salient theological features of this current and what is the interpretational affinity with mainstream Sunni theology? How exactly do these movements differ in their approach to jihad, authority, and communal borders? How do the caliphal periods up to the medieval era shape their worldview? By clarifying the doctrinal nuances, Sheikh and El-Jaichi advance a deeper understanding of the theological architecture behind contemporary transnational jihadism. The insights from the book can explain the resonance of transnational jihadi movements and their capacity for mobilization.

‘This book provides an original perspective on the transnational jihadist movement by exploring its theological features beyond the usual ideological or cultural approaches.'

Olivier Roy - European University Institute

‘The core insight of this volume is its insistence that religious doctrine is not merely window dressing for transnational jihadism, but an active force shaping how these movements legitimate violence, construct authority, and appeal to followers across borders. Scholars of political Islam, security studies, and religious violence will find much here to engage with.'

Mohammed M. Hafez - Naval Postgraduate School