Ditto for the Islamic Society of North America, (ISNA), whose president Imam Mohamed Magid was quoted by the Global Research watchdog group as saying, “Their actions are to be denounced and are in no way representative of what Islam actually teaches.” In response to the beheading of journalist James Foley, ISNA said in a statement, “ISIS actions have never been representative nor in accordance to the mainstream teachings of Islam. This act of murder cannot be justified according to the faith practiced by over 1.6 billion people.”
Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority has also condemned both ISIS and Al Qaeda as apostates and labeled them the “number one enemy of Islam,” according to a reported posted by the Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite news outlet.
Even Israel’s “man in the street” Muslims have condemned this group, distancing themselves from any connection. Random interviews in southern Israel this week led to identical replies from Negev Bedouin.
“ISIS? They’re not Muslims. They pretend to be Muslim, but they don’t really observe the faith. They have not really learned anything about it.”