An analysis of Qur'ānic Fir'awn archetype in English based propaganda of Daesh: from Dabiq to Rumiyah

Abstract

This article is focused on the “despotic” meaning and value of the “Pharaoh” archetype in the Qurʿān, by focusing on its exploitation in the contemporary fundamentalist political and movements/parties with specific reference to the Islamic State (from now on Daesh) English-based propaganda. the concept of the Pharaoh seems to be crucial in the reconstruction (or better in the imitation, taqlīd) of a perfect past, which appears to be one of jihadism’s key narratives. How Qurʿānic verses in which the Pharaoh is quoted (e.g., Q 28:8 and Q 28:40) have been interpreted by terrorist groups? Which kind of categories have been employed in order to represent the Firʿawn negative archetype? Which types of relationship have been built between the classic Qurʾānic discourse and the contemporary Daesh propaganda? Which kind of methodology Daesh applied to support its propagandist discourse? My thesis is that Daesh is structuring its worldview not on Qurʾānic basis, but on the other way around. As long as the Qurʿān fits its scheme, it is accepted and quoted, while its other sections and chapters that are opposing the fundamentalist propaganda are simply ignored. The evolution in the usage of Pharaoh archetype seems to perfectly fit the scheme showing the same levels of selectiveness and opportunism that characterise the rest of Daesh propaganda.