Misplaced Zeal: When Bullying in Schools Mirrors the Rise of Extremist Cults

Introduction

There is a worrying trend surfacing among some students in schools, a form of bullying disguised as discipline, piety, or loyalty to a group. While it may seem like ordinary schoolyard hierarchy or youthful misbehavior, the reality is deeper and more dangerous. The roots of such behavior often lie in a fundamental lack of understanding of the true foundation of faith (asās al-īmān) in Islam. Left unchecked, this kind of behavior can evolve into a mindset similar to those found in extremist cults outside of schools, including the very psychological and spiritual conditions that gave birth to groups like Daesh (ISIS).

The Foundation of Faith Is Missing

Islam begins with tazkiyah al-nafs (purification of the soul), rahmah (mercy), and adab (discipline rooted in humility). It does not begin with power, control, or imposing views on others. When young students are raised without these core teachings, replaced instead with superficial rituals, groupthink, and loyalty to personalities, they become vulnerable to ideological corruption.

When bullying is justified in the name of religion or group purity, it becomes more than just a school problem. It is a spiritual crisis.

When Peer Groups Become Mini Cults

In some schools, we witness the formation of tight-knit student cliques, often tied by ideology or school prestige, where seniority and loyalty trump compassion and respect. The group defines what is “right,” punishes dissent, and demands conformity. Sound familiar?

This is the very structure of cults. This is the precursor to extremism.

Daesh, for instance, did not grow merely from a vacuum of governance. It flourished because many young people were taught to obey without questioning, to label others as enemies of the faith, and to enforce loyalty through fear, not love or reason.

The classroom becomes the training ground. Today, a child is ostracised for asking honest questions. Tomorrow, he or she is accused of being liberal, deviant, or not Muslim enough. That mindset does not disappear with age, it metastasises.

The Role of Teachers and Parents

The burden of correction does not fall on students alone. Many teachers and parents unknowingly nurture this toxic culture by emphasising external religious identity (clothing, memorisation, jargon) while neglecting the inner pillars of Islamic faith:

• Ikhlas (sincerity),
• Sabr (patience),
• Tawadhu’ (humility),
• Husn al-dhann (good opinion of others).

When children do not learn that these values are the essence of Islam, they fill the void with whatever gives them power, status, or a sense of belonging, even if it means hurting others in the name of Islam.

From Bullying to Extremism: A Dangerous Trajectory

There is a psychological bridge between school bullying and later extremism:

• Group identity > Individual conscience.
• Blind loyalty > Intellectual honesty.
• Punishment > Compassion.
• Exclusion > Inclusion.
• Control through fear > Guidance through wisdom.

This is the road to radicalisation. Whether in the schoolyard or in terrorist cells, the behavior patterns are eerily similar.

Re-Education of the Heart

We must go back to basics. Our schools and families must teach Islam not as a badge to wear or a flag to wave, but as a divine path to tame the ego, serve others, and seek the pleasure of Allah through justice and mercy.

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was sent not to control people, but to complete noble character (li-utammima makarim al-akhlaq). When he had power, he forgave. When he was wronged, he prayed. When he taught, he smiled.

If our students knew this Muhammad ﷺ , they would not bully in his name. They would embody his love.

A Warning and a Hope

The line between a school bully and a radical extremist is shorter than we think, when there is no spiritual foundation to faith. We cannot afford to treat bullying lightly, especially when it is wrapped in religious language. It is not just a discipline problem. It is a faith problem.

Let us raise a generation who fears God, not out of terror, but out of deep love and who respects others, not because they look or act the same, but because every soul is sacred.

In teaching our children Islam, let us not create another Daesh.

Let us build hearts, not cults.