Besides removing supposed temptations to idolatry, Islamic jihadists want to destroy the artifacts of non-Muslim civilizations because doing so testifies to the truth of Islam, as the Qur’an suggests that the destroyed remnants of ancient non-Muslim civilizations are a sign of Allah’s punishment of those who rejected his truth:
Many were the Ways of Life that have passed away before you: travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those who rejected Truth. (Qur’an 3:137)
This is one of the foundations of the Islamic idea that pre-Islamic civilizations, and non-Islamic civilizations, are all jahiliyya — the society of unbelievers, which is worthless. Obviously this cuts against the idea of tourism of ancient sites and non-Muslim religious installations. V. S. Naipaul encountered this attitude in his travels through Muslim countries. For many Muslims, he observed in Among the Believers, “The time before Islam is a time of blackness: that is part of Muslim theology. History has to serve theology.” Naipaul recounted that some Pakistani Muslims, far from valuing the nation’s renowned archaeological site at Mohenjo Daro, saw its ruins as a teaching opportunity for Islam, recommending that Qur’an 3:137 be posted there as a teaching tool.
“ISIS blows up temple in Syria’s Palmyra,” AFP, August 24, 2015:
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group jihadists on Sunday blew up the ancient temple of Baal Shamin in the UNESCO-listed Syrian city of Palmyra, the country’s antiquities chief told AFP.
“Daesh placed a large quantity of explosives in the temple of Baal Shamin today and then blew it up causing much damage to the temple,” said Maamoun Abdulkarim, using another name for ISIS.

Zimriel says
Usually when ISIS does that it’s because they have been defeated in battle, or at least failed to win, so want to get something “positive” in the news-cycles to cover that up.
Champ says
IS = ISLAMIC SLAVERY >>> BONDAGE 2 EVIL
Where islam goes murder & mayhem follow!
islam brings nothing but hell on earth …
NO islam ~ Know peace
joe says
Here a video from SUHL GERMANY where the Muslim Asylumseekers demolishing their own place under Alahu akbar shoutings.
Cecilia Ellis says
“Muslim Asylumseekers demolishing their own place”
That was paid for by German citizens . . .
Angemon says
Destruction of historical sites and artifacts should be considered a crime against Humanity.
TexianWife says
ISLAM is a crime against humanity!!!
nicu says
Muslims only can destroy : humans , animals , culture etc .
In the end they will destroy themselves – I hope very soon – cos our weak governments won’t stop them – the opposite happens 🙁
somehistory says
They blew up something dedicated to baal? But, that is their *god*!
Just felt like destroying something, evidently. They just *snapped*…much like each *lone wolf* who goes on an attack after being a quiet, peaceful sort of friendly, shy sort of helpful neighbor before he quit attending the barracks and hearing the daily calls to steal, kill and destroy. Destroying others property. How will their *god*…satan, feel about this blowup?
Michael Copeland says
“…all these “lone wolves” running in the same religious pack.”
Investors.com, August 12, 2015
mivenho says
“..Islamic jihadists want to destroy the artifacts … because doing so testifies to the truth of Islam…”
Yes, it exemplifies the truth of Islam perfectly.
Annabelleebeidersee says
The Ka’aba was a “pre -Islamic” idol worshiping site( then Mohammed took away all the idols, but one-“al ilah” ) – Allah. If the jihadis hate idol – worshiping so much why don’t they blow that up? Oh well, ” Baal ” worshipers will be “Baal ” worshipers!
Aton says
The wrong temple is illustrated here, that is the Temple of Athena.
If this was the Temple of Bel, it was once the most expensive temple in the entire Roman Empire (not the biggest, but the most expensive). The column capitals and soffits were all made of bronze.
This is the real Temple of Bel.
http://thelondoner.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/temple-bel-palmyra-01-4.jpg
.
See the disucssion on this Facebook site, about this destruction.
https://www.facebook.com/KingJesus/posts/498965843602743:0
DiMu says
Our weak, politically correct, post-modern pseudo-civilization destroyed the Greco-Roman heritage decades ago! If Western culture were still robust, these low-life, bottom feeding vermin would have been exterminated already! Next they’ll be blowing up the Louvre!
Baucent says
All this destruction of ancient buildings and churches is nothing new to the followers of Mohammed. In fact it was the destruction of the Tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem in the 11th century by a particularly loopy Caliph who ground the stones of the tomb to dust, that lead to the calling for the First Crusade (along with habitual abuse of Christian pilgrims).
Uncle Vladdi says
BLOWING UP ANCIENT BUILDINGS SHOWS THE TRUTH ABOUT ISLAM, ALRIGHT – IT SHOWS THEM TO BE JEALOUS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SMARTER THAN THEY ARE, AND WHO COULD BUILD NICE THINGS FOR THEIR PEOPLE, IN STEAD OF BEING SO USELESS (LIKE MUSLIMS AND THEIR LIBERAL BRETHREN) THAT THEY HAD TO WHINE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE ALL THE TIME, ALWAYS PRETENDING TO BE PERPETUAL VICTIMS AS AN EXCUSE TO REMAIN IRRESPONSIBLY WRONG.