Islam

Salafist-jihadist ideology and recruitment network of the so-called 'Islamic State'. Documented patterns of extreme indoctrination, sexual slavery, mass execution, and total information control. Listed as a terrorist organisation by virtually all governments.

Broader Salafi-jihadist ideological movement encompassing al-Qaeda, ISIS, Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, and successor cells. Designated terrorist by virtually every government; rejected by mainstream Sunni and Shia scholarship.

Small Mahdi-claimant Islamic-derived new religious movement founded ~2015 by Egyptian-American Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (b. 1983). Hashem teaches he is the awaited Mahdi (Islamic eschatological end-times figure), Christ returned, and 'Riser of the House of Muhammad'. Distinct from — and rejected by — the mainstream Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Multi-jurisdiction asylum-claim trail (Egypt → Turkey → UK → Switzerland → US Texas) and documented coercive-control patterns including group-marriage rituals, communal child-rearing, surrendered passports, and shunning of departing members.

UK-based Islamist network founded 1996 in London by Omar Bakri Muhammad (1958-2024) as an Hizb ut-Tahrir splinter, subsequently led by Anjem Choudary (born 1967). Proscribed in UK under multiple names since 2010 (al-Muhajiroun, Islam4UK, Muslims Against Crusades, Need4Khilafah, etc.). Documented ISIS-recruitment pipeline; perhaps 20% of UK-origin ISIS recruits trace to al-Muhajiroun network. Choudary convicted 2016 (5.5 years) and re-convicted 2024 for supporting proscribed terrorist organisations.

Refers specifically to high-control Salafi sub-currents in which strict gender segregation, takfir (excommunication) of dissenters, and prohibitions on outside information are enforced. Mainstream Sunni Islam and many Salafi communities do not exhibit these patterns.

Turkish-origin Sunni Islamic civic-religious movement founded by Fethullah Gülen (1941-2024) from the 1970s onward. Operates approximately 1,000 schools, hospitals, and media outlets across 100+ countries. Designated terrorist organisation (FETÖ) by Turkey in 2016 following the failed coup attempt; subject to mass purge in Turkey 2016-2025. Documented coercive-control patterns include the 'Himmet' donation system, blackmail-file network, and total-organisation-loyalty above national or family obligation.

Transnational political-Islamist organisation founded by Taqiuddin al-Nabhani (1953) seeking the establishment of a global Islamic caliphate. Banned in numerous countries including UK (2024), Germany, Russia, and many Muslim-majority states.

Black nationalist religious movement founded by Wallace Fard Muhammad (1930) and grown under Elijah Muhammad. Distinct from mainstream Islam in theology (Fard as God incarnate). Current leader Louis Farrakhan since 1981.

Pakistani Barelvi political-religious party founded in August 2015 by Khadim Hussain Rizvi (1966–2020) following the February 2016 execution of Mumtaz Qadri, assassin of Punjab governor Salman Taseer. Built around mass street mobilisation against any perceived softening of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, with multiple violent confrontations killing dozens of police and civilians. Banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act in April 2021; ban lifted in November 2021 after backroom negotiations with the Imran Khan government. Now led by Rizvi's son Saad Hussain Rizvi.

Quran-only reformist movement founded by Egyptian-American biochemist Dr Rashad Khalifa (1935–1990). Khalifa, a USDA scientist and imam of the Tucson Islamic Center, claimed in 1974 to have discovered a 'Code 19' mathematical miracle in the Quran and by 1989 was claiming to be 'God's Messenger of the Covenant' — a claim mainstream Sunni opinion classified as kufr (unbelief). Khalifa was assassinated in his Tucson mosque on 31 January 1990; the assassins were members of Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, an Egyptian jihadist group connected to Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman (the 'Blind Sheikh' later convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing case). The successor 'United Submitters International' (USI) continues at small scale.

Tablighi Jamaat ('Society of Preachers') is one of the largest Sunni revivalist mass-movements globally — estimated 150 million sympathisers, hundreds of thousands of active *jamaat* members. Founded 1926 in British India by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Kandhlawi (1885–1944). After the 2015 succession crisis following Maulana Saad Kandhlawi's claims and the rival shura-council Pakistani Raiwind faction's counter-claim, the movement split. This entry covers the Saadi / Nizamuddin (New Delhi HQ) faction, the higher-control side, distinguished from the Pakistani Raiwind faction. Mainstream Tablighi practice — voluntary 3-day, 40-day (chilla), and 4-month (chilla-e-arba'een) khuruj missions — is moderate; the post-2015 Saadi faction's documented severance patterns push specific chapters higher.

Western convert lineage of the Shadhili-Darqawi Sufi sub-order, organised as the Murabitun World Movement under the late Sheikh Abdalqadir as-Sufi (born Ian Dallas, 1930–2021). Distinctive 'gold dinar' anti-fiat-currency political programme and concentrated property holdings in Granada (Spain), Cape Town and Norwich (UK). Mainstream Darqawi practice is low-moderate; the Murabitun sub-current specifically warrants the +1 modifier.

Globally-active Naqshbandi Sufi sub-order founded by the late Sheikh Nazim al-Haqqani (1922–2014, based in Lefke, Northern Cyprus) and continued under his son Sheikh Mehmet Adil. Substantial Western convert following. Documented apocalyptic timeline-shifting, financial-extraction and ex-follower severance patterns distinguish the Haqqani branch from mainstream Naqshbandi practice.

Deobandi Islam, originating from the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary (1866), is a vast Sunni revivalist tradition. Mainstream Deobandi practice is conservative but non-coercive; specific high-control sub-currents (some Pakistani madrasas, certain UK seminaries) earn this rating.

Transnational Sunni missionary movement founded in India (1926) by Muhammad Ilyas. Members spend extended periods (40 days to 4 months) on khuruj — door-to-door preaching journeys — significantly disrupting normal family and work life.

Umbrella entry for documented high-control Indonesian Islamic groups beyond mainstream Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah.

Umbrella for high-control Moro political-religious groups beyond mainstream Philippine Muslim community. Various specific armed groups.

Sufi tariqa with global presence under the late Sheikh Nazim al-Haqqani lineage. Mainstream is non-coercive; specific sub-currents around current sheikhs exhibit moderate control patterns documented by ex-members.

Umbrella for documented Bangladeshi pir / fakir high-control guru figures beyond mainstream Sufi tradition.

Mustaali Ismaili Shia community led by the Dai al-Mutlaq from Mumbai. Substantial commercial network. Documented controversy around female genital cutting ('khafz').

Senegalese-rooted West African branch of the Tijaniyya Sufi tariqa, descended from Sheikh Ibrahim Niass (Baye Niasse, 1900–1975) of Kaolack, Senegal. ~50 million muqaddam-affiliated adherents across West Africa and the global African diaspora.

Reformist Muslim movement founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1889) believing him to be the promised Messiah and Mahdi. Officially declared non-Muslim in Pakistan (1974) and severely persecuted there; centred internationally in the UK Caliphate.

Esoteric Shia tradition concentrated in Syria. Religious knowledge restricted to initiated males. Substantial political power under the former Assad regime (1971–2024).

South Asian Sunni movement founded by Ahmed Raza Khan (1880s) emphasising Sufi devotion to the Prophet. Doctrinal opponent of Deobandi tradition.

Esoteric monotheistic religion derived from Ismaili Shia Islam (11th c.). Closed-membership tradition: no conversion permitted, no inter-faith marriage. Concentrated in Lebanon, Syria, Israel.

Heterodox Bektashi-Alevi Sufi order. Suppressed in Ottoman Turkey in 1826; relocated its world headquarters to Tirana, Albania, in 1925, where it remains.

Mainstream Twelver Shia Islam (Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain) is a low-CLCI reference point with rich scholarly and devotional tradition. The marja' al-taqlid system creates structured religious authority but adherence is voluntary.

Nizari Ismaili Shia, led by the Aga Khan (currently Prince Rahim, IV until 2025), is one of the most reformist and modernist global Muslim communities. Strong educational emphasis, women's equality, and substantial development work via the Aga Khan Development Network.

Diverse reformist movement of Muslims who reject Hadith authority and follow only the Quran. Mostly individualistic; no central organisation.

Mainstream Sunni Islam — the largest religious tradition on earth — is a low-CLCI reference point. Daily practice (five prayers, fasting in Ramadan, etc.) is voluntary in most jurisdictions and theological diversity is wide.

Mainstream Sufism — the mystical traditions within Islam (Naqshbandi, Mevlevi, Qadiri, Chishti and others) — emphasises personal spiritual development and is generally low-control. Specific guru-led tariqas can rise much higher.

Oldest major Sufi tariqa, founded by Abdul Qadir Gilani (Baghdad, 12th c.). Tens of millions of adherents globally. Mainstream low-control reference point.

Turkish Sufi order founded by followers of Rumi (13th c.). Famous for sema 'whirling' meditation. Mainstream low-control reference point.

Major South Asian Sufi tariqa founded by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (12th c. Ajmer). Tens of millions of adherents primarily in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh.

Major Central Asian Sufi tariqa founded by Baha-ud-Din Naqshband (14th c. Bukhara). Distinctive silent dhikr practice. Mainstream low-control.

Major West African Sufi tariqa founded by Ahmad al-Tijani (Algeria, 1782). Tens of millions of adherents primarily in Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania. Mainstream low-control reference point for Sufi traditions.

Heterodox Anatolian Shia / Sufi-influenced tradition. Estimated 15–25% of Turkey's population. Mainstream low-control reference point.