Draft:Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi

Name	Amir Muhammad Sa'id al-Mawla
Alias	Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, Haji Abdullah, and others
Year of birth	1976 CE
Year of death	2022 CE
Place of birth	Tal Afar or the al-Mahlabiya district of Mosul, in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq

Amir Muhammad Sa'id al-Mawla (Arabic: أمیر محمد عبد الرحمن المولی الصلبی), known as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (Arabic: أبو إبراهیم الهاشمی القرشی) (October 1976 – 3 February 2022), was the Caliph of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). His appointment by a council was announced by ISIS media on 31 October 2019, less than a week after the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Subsequently, the United States offered a $10 million reward for information leading to al-Qurashi's capture and prosecution. Al-Qurashi was killed on 3 February 2022 during Operation Kayla Mueller, a raid by U.S. forces in northwestern Syria.

According to ISIS, al-Qurashi was a veteran in the fight against Western nations and a devout and experienced commander. He has been described as a "scholar, worshipper, and ascetic," a "prominent figure of jihad," and a "war emir".

Early life

Amir Muhammad Sa'id al-Mawla was born in October 1976 in a small town in Tal Afar or the al-Mahlabiya district of Mosul, in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. His father was a muezzin at one of the local mosques and had two wives. He was one of 17 children in a family regarded by the local population as large, educated, and respectable.

Abu Ibrahim studied Islamic Sharia with a focus on Quranic sciences at the University of Mosul. After graduation, Abu Ibrahim joined the Iraqi Army as a soldier or officer. It is likely that during his service he became acquainted with jihadist groups within the military.

Name and identity

The leader of ISIS was introduced under various names, including Abu Hamza al-Qurashi and Amir Muhammad Abd al-Rahman al-Mawla al-Salbi. Precise information regarding his name and identity remains unavailable; indeed, it was kept hidden even from members of ISIS. The Guardian, citing intelligence sources, reported that the new leader of ISIS was in fact one of the founders of this terrorist organization and one of its prominent ideologues, and that his probable real name was "Amir Muhammad Abd al-Rahman al-Mawla al-Salbi".

Little information is available about al-Hashimi. However, his genealogy indicates that, like al-Baghdadi, he claims descent from Muhammad ibn Abd Allah (Seal of the Prophets), a claim intended to establish legitimacy for himself. It is believed that "al-Hashimi" is a pseudonym and that his real name remains unknown. Some speculation suggests that al-Hashimi is "Haji Abdullah". Rita Katz, director of the SITE Intelligence Group, believes it is unlikely that ISIS will release "any video speeches by this new leader, or at least any showing his face." Nevertheless, on 1 November 2019, United States President Donald Trump claimed on social media that the U.S. government had identified al-Hashimi's true identity.

He appears to have ethnic ties to Iraqi Turkmens, as the inhabitants of Tal Afar are predominantly from the Turkmen Muslim minority. Being a Turkmen would mean he did not meet the group's so-called Islamic State criteria for the Caliphate, as he was not from a noble tribe. However, ISIS denies this assertion.

Entry into ISIS

At the time of the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003, Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi had begun cooperating with small jihadist groups within al-Qaeda. As violence escalated in Iraq, conditions became favorable for individuals with religious educational backgrounds and connections to extremist groups.

Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi was arrested in 2008 and subjected to months of interrogation. U.S. forces claimed that during his interrogation he provided valuable information regarding dozens of insurgent fighters. Following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq in early 2010, Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi regained his position and drew closer to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Activities

At the height of ISIS's activities, Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi rose to head the Ministry of Justice, overseeing severe punishments, including executions. Following the capture of the city of Sinjar (Shingal) in 2014, thousands of Yazidi minority members were killed under al-Qurashi's supervision, and 7,000 Yazidi women were enslaved. Some ISIS members state that certain Iraqi fighters within ISIS opposed the enslavement of women, but Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi provided religious justifications for female slavery and defended the practice.

As international military campaigns against ISIS continued, resulting in the deaths of numerous group leaders and the organization's retreat, Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi grew increasingly close to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. International forces made several attempts to kill him, but only one attack was successful. A drone strike wounded al-Qurashi; he spent four months in a hospital, during which his right leg was amputated.

Leadership of the Caliphate

Less than a week after the assassination of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, al-Qurashi was selected as the new caliph of ISIS by a council, indicating that despite having lost all its territory in Iraq and Syria, the group still considers itself the holder of the caliphate. It has been reported that al-Qurashi's appointment was made upon Baghdadis "recommendation," meaning that the new emir was designated as successor by Baghdadi himself . Further evidence, such as the swiftness of his succession, suggests that al-Qurashi may have been appointed as successor by Baghdadi. Nevertheless, al-Qurashi's rise to power occurred only after several days of speculation and denial regarding Baghdadis death among ISIS supporters .

Although uncertainties remain regarding the future of ISIS under al-Qurashi's leadership, observers believe that al-Qurashi will lead a depleted organization, reduced to scattered small cells, ruling over a caliphate lying in ashes. Some analysts believe that Baghdadis death will most likely lead to the collapse of ISIS, and whoever ISIS introduces as its new leader will bear the responsibility of reuniting the group as a fighting force. However, other analysts argue that Baghdadis death will not affect ISIS "in terms of operational capacity" and will probably not lead to the group's downfall, or that the group may not even be in decline .

Following the announcement of al-Qurashi's caliphate, Donald Trump wrote on Twitter: "We know exactly who he is."

Al-Qurashi's leadership never gained acceptance. He lacked charisma, was not a well-known figure, and the council responsible for selecting the leader did not reach substantial consensus regarding his qualifications and capabilities .

Death

Al-Qurashi was killed on February 3, 2022, during a helicopter-borne operation by U.S. forces in northwestern Syria .