Al-Qaeda's Criticism of the Source of Legitimacy of Caliphate of Abu Bakr ALBaghdadi

Legitimacy of caliph is one of the controversial issues between al-Qaeda and ISIS. Considering the importance and influence of these two groups over other radical and jihadist movements, this study seeks to examine the foundations of legitimacy of the caliph according to al-Qaeda and ISIS or ISIL. It is inferred from the arguments and reasons presented by both groups that they have four principles with the regards to legitimacy of the caliph. First, the caliph should be eligible for caliphate. Second, the caliph takes the caliphate through legal ways. Third, the caliph should command what has been revealed by God. Fourth, the caliph should be opposed to any form of Taghut (tyranny and sin).  These four principles are acceptable to both al-Qaeda and ISIS. However, the discrepancy between al-Qaeda and ISIS is in the application of the first and second principles to the ISIS's caliph. As for the third and fourth principle, these two groups' explanation contradicts the well-known explanation given by Sunnis and Salafists.  They make use of these two principles to reject and excommunicate the rulers of Muslim countries. The present article has reached this conclusion using a descriptive analytical method.