Is the 'War on Islam' a historical fact or a modern conspiracy?

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Some Muslims believe the West is engaged in a concerted effort to annihilate Islamic society. While this concept has roots in centuries-old scholarship, it exploded into a global conspiracy theory after 2001. Is it a reaction to genuine aggression, or a narrative born from cultural frustration?

The 'War on Islam' describes a perceived effort by non-Muslims and 'false Muslims' to weaken or destroy Islamic society through military, economic, and cultural means. While the idea has ancient roots, it became a prominent political neologism in Islamist discourse during the 1990s. It gained significant traction as a conspiracy theory following the September 11 attacks and the start of the global war on terrorism in 2001. Figures like Sayyid Qutb, Ruhollah Khomeini, and Osama bin Laden have been central to promoting this narrative.

Scholars offer varying interpretations of why this belief persists. Some, like Jonathan Schanzer, argue that Islamist rage stems less from actual non-Muslim aggression and more from frustration over the 'unrelenting encroachment' of Western culture, technology, and economies. In this view, the narrative is a yearning for a lost era of Islamic supremacy. Conversely, others point to the 'instrumentalization' of Islam by Western powers. For instance, during World War I, the German Empire used Islam as a tool against its enemies—a phenomenon some scholars call jihad 'made in Germany.'

The narrative often relies on historical 'proofs' like the Crusades, which many Islamists view as the first organized campaign against their faith. However, historian Bernard Lewis notes that contemporary Arabs showed little interest in the 'why' of the Crusades, viewing the invaders simply as 'Franks' or 'Infidels.' Today, the 'War on Islam' serves as a powerful unifying factor for globalist radical Muslims, connecting disparate groups by framing isolated incidents as part of a long, malicious chain of conspiracies.

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