Specifically, ISIL has sought to establish itself as a caliphate, an Islamic state led by a group of religious authorities under a supreme leader – the caliph – who is believed to be the successor to Prophet Muhammad.
Konkret har IS forsøgt at etablere et kalifat, en islamisk stat ledet af religiøse myndigheder under ledelse af en øverste kalif, som menes at være efterfølger til profeten Mohammad.