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New video message from Anwar al ‘Awlaqī: “To make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it”
Posted by Aaron Y. Zelin on November 8, 2010
UPDATE 2: Here is an Urdu translation:
Anwar al ‘Awlaqī — “To make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it” (Urdu)
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UPDATE: Here is an English translation via Flashpoint Partners:
Anwar al ‘Awlaqī- “To make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it”
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NOTE: The below video was first previewed a few weeks ago on the forums and was covered by IntelWire’s J.M. Berger. The above title is in reference to the Qur’ānic verse 3:187 (HT Online Jihad):
“And remember Allah took a covenant from the People of the Book, to make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it; but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And vile was the bargain they made!”
Unfortunately, the asbāb al-nuzūl (occasions of revelation) for this verse is not explained by al-Wāḥidī. That said, I thought it would be worthwhile to provide some tafāsīr (Qur’ānic exegesis) from some leading Muslim mufassirūn (those who conduct Qur’ānic exegesis) in Islamic history with regard to the above verse, which might provide added layer to our understanding of why al ‘Awlaqī decided to use it as his title:
al-Tustarī:
That is, they [The Jews and Christians] did not act by the Book, and purchased with it some miserable gain, that is, they bought in exchange for the everlasting Hereafter, the goods of this transitory world.
Jalālayn:
And, mention, when God made covenant with those who had been given the Scripture, that is, the pledge [taken] from them in the Torah, ‘You shall expound it (read tubayyinunnahu, or yubayyinunnahu, ‘they shall expound it’) the Book, to people, and not conceal it’ (read taktumūnahu, ‘you shall not conceal it’, or yaktumūnahu, ‘they shall not conceal it’). But they rejected it, they discarded the covenant, behind their backs, and so they did not act in accordance with it, and bought with it, they took in its place, a small price, of this world from the debased among them, enjoying supremacy over them in knowledge, and they concealed it, lest it [the supremacy] escape them; how evil is what they have bought, [how evil is] this purchase of theirs!
Ibn ‘Abbās:
Then Allah mentioned His covenant with the people of the Book in the Scripture, which required them to exposit the traits and description of His Prophet, saying: (And (remember) when Allah laid a charge on those who had received the Scripture) i.e. the Torah and the Gospel ((He said): Ye are to expound it) the trait and description of Muhammad (to mankind and not to hide it) not to hide these traits and description of Muhammad in their Scripture. (But they flung it behind their backs) and did not act upon it (and bought thereby a little gain) a paltry acquisition in their means of living by hiding the traits and description of Muhammad in their Scripture. (Verily evil is that which they have gained thereby) evil is that which they have chosen for themselves: Judaism and the concealment of the traits and description of Muhammad.
Ibn Kathīr:
(And remember) when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) to make it (the truth) known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it, but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And indeed worst is that which they bought.)
On the less esoteric front, one would be remiss not to mention that al ‘Awlaqī’s new video is not produced by al-Qā’idah in the Arabian Peninsula’s (AQAP) media outlet al-Malāḥim. Does this prove my point that he is not all that important to AQAP? I am always up for eating humble pie and though I still believe my argument is valid my colleague who goes under the pseudonym Mr. Orange’s War Tracker makes what I think is a valid counter-argument: “I’d say it’s the other way round. al ‘Awlaqī doesn’t need AQAP. And it’s still possible that he doesn’t even belong to their lot.” If his argument ends up being correct, as I responded to him, it could suggest that al ‘Awlaqī is trying to set himself up as a figure similar to Abū Muḥmmad al-Maqdisī. Interestingly, his speech is in Arabic and not English. Much of al ‘Awlaqī’s material in the past has been in English, as such, it could be argued that al ‘Awlaqī is trying to become more available to an Arab audience as well as gain more legitimacy. At the same time, al ‘Awlaqī calls for his video to be translated into English, therefore, he is trying to satiate his cult-like followers in the English-speaking world as well.
Here are some excerpts from the video via the BBC, AFP, CP, and CNN:
“Kings, emirs, and presidents are not now qualified to lead the nation, or even a flock of sheep. If the leaders are corrupt, the scholars have the responsibility to lead the nation.”
“Do not consult anyone in killing Americans. Killing the devil does not need any fatwā (legal ruling).”
“We reached that moment when it is either us or them. We are two opposites that will never meet. They want something that cannot happen unless they wipe us out. This is a decisive battle. This is the battle of Moses and pharaoh. This is the battle of righteousness and falsehood.”
“If we support the mujahedeen, we will win it all and if we let them down, we will lose it all.”
“There is an American political agenda that the Yemeni government is carrying out with a western funding in order to estrange the people of this country from their faith by all means.”
“These so called guardians of the Muslim nation are not fit to lead the people. They are not even qualified to lead a herd of sheep, so imagine the leadership of one billion Muslims. When the rulers become corrupt, the scholars have a duty to guide the masses.”
“The Sunni Muslims of the Gulf region will be the first victims of a nuclear strong Iran. I ask the Sunni scholars how will they do in fighting the rafidi [derogatory term for Shi'a] Shiite wave that is storming our region. By god, we are not calling for the killing of Muslims. We are only asking to defend our rights, the rights and the resources of our Muslim nation.”
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Tweets that mention Jihadology: New video from Awlaki: "To make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it” #Intelwire -- Topsy.com said
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Leah Farrall, Brian Fishman and Harun al-Amriki, J.M. Berger. J.M. Berger said: RT @azelin Jihadology: New video from Awlaki: "To make it known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it” http://bit.ly/aQpEFy #Intelwire [...]
Ibn Siqilli said
Good post!
I essentially agree that al-’Awlaqi’s importance is grossly inflated in the press. However, I think it’s worth noting that his first interview with Al-Malahem was also originally released in Arabic and only later translated with English subtitles a month later by the Global Islamic Media Front.
azelin said
Thanks, Christopher.
Indeed. Although I did not post that added point, which I am glad you highlighted, I do not believe it takes away from the argument that he is trying to build-up his bonafides in the Arabic-speaking world. Rather, it further illustrates his attempts at trying to garner more legitimacy.
Ibn Siqilli said
No, I agree that it does not, nor was it meant to counter your point. In fact, as you write, I think it bolsters it. This is partly why I pointed it out, though that’s not clear from the way I phrased it (did it on the run).
azelin said
Going forward, it will be interesting to see whether he continues to release video, audio, or text statements in Arabic or revert back to English or a mix between both.
I’m also curious to see if he releases anything else in the future without al-Malahim media productions.
Chicago Boyz » Blog Archive » al-Awlaki has a Phineas moment said
[...] Zelin’s post on the Qur’anic text invoked by al-Awlaki’s title and the commentaries on that verse by ibn Kathir and others, is well worth your time, if you have [...]
IbnMiqdad said
Great post, it’d be interesting if we could see what the “Ulama” at The University of Emaan think of this new speech…
azelin said
Good question. I agree, that would be very interesting.
blahblah said
is there a video with english subtitles anywhere?
azelin said
Not that I know of, but there is an English translation/transcription of the video above posted in this post.