The majority of the Jihadi groups in Syria have unified under the banner of Hay'atut Tahreerish Shaam (Organization / Army for the liberation of Shaam

Answer

Regardless of the unification, it is clear that the U.S.A. is in control of the 'jihad' in Syria. The U.S. has an extremely heavy presence in the Syrian arena. It has currently surrounded Raqqa, the Isis headquarters, not to attack and neutralize its own puppet 'khilaafat', but to protect and sustain Isis. The U.S. presence outside Raqqa is to defend Isis from its enemies – Russia, Kurds, Shiahs etc.

While the U.S. has created Isis, protecting and arming it, it (i.e. U.S.) is also arming the other Jihadi groups. The U.S. conspiracy is to keep the anarchy going to ensure its presence in the Middle Eastern cauldron. From whence do the other Jihadi outfits acquire their fighting equipment? There is a glut of weapons available to all the groups to enable them to sustain themselves and to remain in business. Thus the anarchy is perpetuated by the U.S.

Just as the U.S. had been arming and directing the Afghan war, so too is history repeating itself with the U.S. being the primary role player in this global conspiracy it is unfolding. Anyhow, Allah Ta'ala is the best Planner, and not a leaf drops from a tree, but with the command and direct intervention of Allah Azza Wa Jal. The Qur'aan Majeed is explicit and emphatic on this fact. However, since we are not aware of Allah's Wisdom and Scheme, we make decisions and conclusions on the basis of the information and facts as we observe and understand.

While it is accepted that most, if not all, of the foot soldiers and most or many of those in the upper strata of the Jihadi groups are sincere, sincerity is not adequate for success and for Allah's aid. It goes without saying that all the Mujahideen in these groups are crass materialists. They are barren in the sphere of morality and spirituality. They lack in Roohaaniyat (spiritual stamina), hence they suffer defeat upon defeat, and they are perennially dependent on the kuffaar for assistance which the U.S. provides them for its own pernicious objectives.

The current conflagration has more the form of banditry than of Jihad. The objective is really not I'laa Kalimatullaah, hence they strike up alliances with just any evil forces such as the so-called Syrian Free Army which is another creation of the U.S.A. The focus is not on Allah Azza Wa Jal, and how can their gaze be solely on Allah Ta'ala, when they are spiritually barren?

As far as shahaadat for the foot soldiers is concerned, that is a matter which Allah Ta'ala will decide. We are not in any position to judge this issue. It is quite possible that the ignorant foot soldier will attain shahaadat on the basis of his ikhlaas. There are many who join these outfits genuinely believing it to be Jihad and fighting for the Pleasure of Allah Ta'ala. So that is Allah's domain. We cannot comment thereon.

But from the information at our disposal, the conflagration in the Middle East is not a valid Jihad. It is anarchy furthering the aims and objectives of the U.S. While the groups claim that they are not being armed by the U.S., it is a lot of flapdoodle. Where do they get their arms from? The clear answer is: from the U.S. who funnels the aid through Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan and other avenues.

As a consequence of falling into the American conspiratorial trap, the Mujahideen are the primary cause for the suffering of millions of Syrians who have been brutally displaced from their land and homes.

The unification of the groups will not change the equation of defeat and disgrace for Muslims. The Afghans who had been fighting under U.S. direction, had seemingly gained 'victory' by the defeat of the Soviet Union. But what was the outcome of that 'victory'? It was further anarchy, more defeats and ultimate surrender to the U.S. who is still in control of the Afghan scenario. In reality there was no victory for the Afghan Mujahideen. It was the beginning of a new chapter of anarchy in which they killed among themselves probably more than the number killed by the Russians. They (the Mujahideen) also achieved the distinction of totally destroying the country with their internecine wars. The objective was not genuinely I'laa Kalimatullaah. They too lacked in morality and were spiritually barren, hence no enduring Nusrat from Allah Azza Wa Jal. To this day the form of the struggle in Afghanistan is like banditry. For decades it is only hit and run, and extremely short-lived battle successes.

The Ummah is spiritually absolutely barren and morally rotten to the core. How can we ever expect Divine Aid and victory? It appears that the next real Jihad will be when Imaam Mahdi (Alayhis salaam) unfurls the Standard of Islam. And, Allah knows best.