New essay from Islam Policy's Yūnus 'Abdullah Muḥammad: "On Crafting Islamic Policy: the Methodology of Islamic Social Science"

NOTE: Below is a new essay from the former Emir of Revolution Muslim and now of Islam Policy.  Prior to the essay is a message Yūnus wrote to his followers about the essay and is unedited from the original.

Eid Mubarak to all!!! As stated in our address noting the change from revolutionmuslim.com to islampolicy.com, we are releasing today the follow up to our document By All Means Necessary. This document outlines the methodology behind our research, our papers, our lectures, our posts. We appreciate any and all feedback and hope you enjoy watching us try to develop theses ideas in the practical realm. Indeed we have a huge task ahead of us and need all the help we can get. Please contact us if you are interested in working on this noble project and at the very least remember us in your du’aa.
~Brother Younus
Younus Abdullah Muhammad — On Crafting Islamic Policy- the Methodology of Islamic Social Science
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Jihadism and the ‘Ulamā'

[Originally posted at al-Wasat. Unedited from the original.]

Two days ago, J.M. Berger of IntelWire wrote an article describing a recent trend in the statements and video releases published by Adam Gadahn and Anwar al ‘Awlaki that have tried to discredit the ‘ulama (religious scholars). These ideas, though, are not new, but provide further example of a trend, which has pervaded some of the key Jihadist intellectual thinkers in the post-Caliphate era (the Caliphate was abolished in 1924). Today, Hasan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brothers in 1928, would not be considered a global jihadist, but his ideas became a foundation for later thinkers to build off of and further radicalize his thought. al-Banna did not understand how the ‘ulama could do nothing in the face of what he percieved was happening to the Muslim world. He viewed the Muslim Brothers’ values as a refutation of the values of al-Azhar University (the most respected Sunni place of high education) and how the university dealt with contemporary issues. The late Richard P. Mitchell, a scholar at the University of Michigan and author of The Society of the Muslim Brothers, summed up al-Banna’s thought on the ‘ulama, stating:

Azhar had persisted in a time-worn, anachronistic approach to Islam and its teachings—dry, dead, ritualistic, and irrelevant to the needs of living Muslims.[1]

Sayyid Qutb, who is viewed as the godfather of the modern jihadist movement, was critical of the ‘ulama as well. He believed they were opportunists that were using religious texts to their own advantage, which is pretty rich coming from Qutb, a man that has a degree in literature and created his own innovative way of understanding Islam.[2] Even more zealous over the problems with the ‘ulama was Muhammad ‘Abd al-Salam Farrag, who coined the term the near enemy as well as led the group Tanzim al-Jihad (later Egyptian Islamic Jihad) in the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat. These are his thoughts from his book Jihad: The Neglected Duty:

There are some who say that what we should do now is busy ourselves with seeking knowledge, for how can we struggle in the cause of Allah while we are lacking the knowledge, which is fard (obligatory) to seek? But we have not heard anyone who says that it is permitted to abandon an Islamic order or an obligation of the obligations of Islam because of knowledge, especially if this obligation is Jihad. So how can we abandon a fard ‘ayn (individual obligation) because of fard kifayah (collective obligation)? … So he who says that knowledge is Jihad must realize that what is fard is fighting … If a person wants to increase his knowledge … he could do so, because there are no restrictions on knowledge, which is available for everybody. But to delay Jihad because of seeking knowledge is an evidence of the one who has no evidence … However, we do not underestimate knowledge and scholars, rather we call for that. But we do not use it as evidence to abandon the obligations that Allah ordained.[3]

More recently, Osama bin Laden argued:

Despite of this hard siege imposed on you O my Islamic Ummah, you still have a great opportunity to regain your freedom to go out of the submission to and the dependence of this Crusader/Zionist alliance. To reach that, you should free yourself from the fetters of humiliation and subservience shackling us by the agents of this alliance who are our countries’ governors and their helpers especially the fetters of the Ulamaa of the Sultan, as well the fetters of the Islamic groups which transform their method to recognize the governor who betrayed the religion and the Ummah, and they join the political process of the state of this governor, and no difference for them if they are in the rule or opposition.[4]

Further, last month, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri stated:

This orientation has the purer methodology and the more correct doctrine, because it relies on the explicit and definite proofs of the Qur’an and Sunnah [Prophetic Way], and cites the historical and political reality of the Muslim Ummah, and believes neither in the fatwas of the “Fuqahaa” of the Marines nor in the hired ‘Ulama in Riyadh, Cairo and Qatar.[5]

Finally, Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, the Jordanian cleric who mentored Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi and is considered the most influential living global jihadist theorist, has written about what he describes as the murji’ah (non-righteous scholars) on several occasions. Here are a couple examples:

I advise them not be deceived by the ambiguities of the phony scholars, who confuse the truth with falsehood and confuse the path to Paradise with the path to Hellfire.[6]
The Mujahideen do not need you, half men and with no resolve. They do not need any advice on Jihad from scholars who are paid for and defeated. They do not need to ask you if it is okay with you or if their Jihad is compatible with you thinking. No, they do not need that. They have all the wisdom and the vision that they need. Die in your anger, and continue your criticism of the Mujahideen. You cannot destroy their resolve; your poisoned pins would not affect their Jihad. Nothing will affect them.[7]

Added up, one can see that individuals involved with the jihadist movement have tried to discredit the ‘ulama for quite some time now. One of the goals is to weaken state institutions linked to corrupt governments, as well as weakening potential enemies. Another is due to the lack of true religious legitimacy by many in the movement. As such, they are compensating and trying to discredit individuals who are trained in the religion and understand that their understanding of Islam is not based on the classical tradition. — [1] Richard P. Mitchell, The Society of the Muslim Brothers (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1993), 212-213. [2] Roxanne Leslie Euben and Muhammad Qasim Zaman, Princeton Readings in Islamist Thought: Texts and Contexts from al-Banna to Bin Laden, (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2009), 133. [3] Muhammad ‘Abd al-Salam Farrag, Jihad: The Neglected Duty (Birmingham, UK: Maktabah Al Ansaar Publications, 2000), 46-48. [4] Osama bin Laden, The Way To Rescue Palestine (As-Sahab Media Productions, 2008). [5] Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, A Victorious Ummah, A Broken Crusade: Nine Years After the Start of the Crusader Campaign (As-Sahab Media Productions, 2010). [6] Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, A message in support of the Mujahideen in Somalia and exposing the doubts created the Ullamah of Dajjaal(Minbar Tawhid W’al Jihad, 2009). [7] Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, The Caravan is Moving and the Dogs are Barking (Minbar Tawhid W’al Jihad).

Halloween Special – Recent article from 'Umar Bakrī Muḥammad: "Halloween: Trick or Shirk"

NOTE: ‘Umar Bakrī Muḥammad was the founder and leader of al-Muhājirūn in Britain prior to it disbanding in 2004. Since then, there have been a variety of al-Muhājirūn successor groups in Britain as well as the United States (e.g. Islam4UK, Savior Sect, al-Ghurabā’, Islamic Thinkers Society, Revolution Muslim, Iẓhārudīn, Muslims against Crusades, and others). Following the 7/7 attack Bakrī Muḥammad moved to Lebanon after living in London for more than 20 years. He is still currently associated with the British jihadist scene through over the internet communication and live speeches online. al-Muhājirūn and its successor groups have been involved or linked to a variety of terrorist attacks or plots. Some of the larger ones include: Mohammed Bilal Suicide Bombing (India) in 2000, Mike’s Bar Bombing, Tel Aviv in 2003, Operation Crevice in 2004, 7/7 and 7/21 in 2005, Operation Praline in 2005, Toronto 18 in 2006, and 9/11 Anniversary Plot in 2009.


Every year thousands upon thousands of young children are encouraged to dress-up as devils, witches, ghosts and many other various demonic figures. This act is followed by knocking from door to door requesting a treat or being tricked as part of the Halloween festival. During the Halloween season, schools, movies, cartoons, shops etc work very hard in promoting and legitimizing Halloween as a celebration worth celebrating.
As Muslims who are firm believers in the Day of Judgement and responsible guardians of our children, it is important to take all necessary steps to safeguard ourselves and children from any practices that will lead to Hellfire, a punishment which is seventy times hotter than the fires of this world. Allah (SWT) said,
“O you who believe! save yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones..” [66:6]
Before we encourage our children or ourselves to participate in the Halloween celebrations we must know what does Halloween stand for, and what effect will it have on our deeds on the Day when we will stand before Allah, giving an account for every single deed we do in our lives.
Halloween is a mixture of Paganistic (idol worshippers) and Christian belief and practice. The Idol worshippers believed that during the night of the 31st of October the gods would play tricks/pranks on their worshipers that would bring danger and cause fear on them. To be safeguarded from the mischief of these gods, the worshippers would offer treats to their gods in the form sacrifices, food, gifts etc hence the notion “Trick or Treat”.  In current time children as well as adults dress up as creatures of the evil, scaring people (trick) unless they give a sacrifice (i.e. a treat). For the Christians Halloween is a celebration of all the Saints that have passed away or were martyred/killed in the path of serving and establishing Christianity. Christians would spend the night before (31st October) in holding all night Vigils.
To summarize Halloween is:
–           Belief in evil gods
–           Imitating evil gods
–           Offering sacrifice to evil gods to be free from their mischief
–          Praying and remembering dead Christian activist
Realising this reality of Halloween, the true believer in the One and Only true God (Allah ) we must ask what is the Islamic ruling on: Belief in false gods, pretending to be a false god, offering sacrifice to a false god and praying for the dead from the non-Muslims? What is the Islamic ruling on celebrating Halloween i.e. Dressing up in costumes, asking for treats, offering treats, decorating houses, displaying pumpkins?
To believe in or participate in Halloween is an act of Shirk (associating partners with Allah) the greatest crime any person can commit, so severe it is that Allah (SWT) will never forgive the one that commits Shirk and dies upon it. For Allah said,
“Verily! Allâh forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners in worship with Him, but He forgives whom he pleases sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allâh, has indeed strayed far away.” [4:116]
Any person that offers a treat on the night of Halloween will be upon him the curse of Allah, for verily the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,
“Allah curses him who sacrifices to other than Allah.” [muslim]
Those that practice any non-Islamic celebrations or imitates/copies the behaviour any people is the same as them, because the Messenger of Allah said,
“Whoever imamates a group of people he is one of them”. [abu dawood]
As Muslims we are responsible for purifying the lands from any corruption hence we are duty bound to eradicate all evil and the worst is Shirk (giving the right of Allah to another).
Dear Muslims we must realise and understand that any practices, celebrations that do not come from Islam are evil, because if it was good then Allah (SWT) would have included it in our Deen. Halloween is an evil celebration which promotes worship and sacrifice to false gods, an evil that pollutes one’s belief and worship to Allah. Halloween is a form of Shirk and disobedience introduced by Shaytaan in the form of a trick, enjoyment and celebration.
Therefore do not participate in this evil, do not purchase anything item to do with Halloween, do not let your children go knocking from door to door for treats, do not give any treats, warn your family members, warn your relatives, warn other Muslims and the non-Muslims about this great evil.

New video message from the Emir of the Caucasus Emirate Dokku Umarov: "Regarding the 'World Chechen Congress' and 'peace talks'"

UPDATE: Here is an unedited English translation of the below video via Kavkaz Center the media outlet for the Caucasus Emirate:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful!
May peace and blessings of Allah be upon you, Muslims brothers and sisters.
We had no particular wish to tell about events that are happening, but today we just have to do it, and we have to appear often in front of the camera in order to give necessary explanations for waking some people from their slumber.
Today, Iblis, or the Devil, is particularly active; he uses all his armies from amongst the infidels. Iblis also carries out his work through hypocrites. As we know, they (apostates) arranged concerts called “congresses” to deceive Muslims in Poland and here in Nokhchicho, or Chechnya, Province.
The concert in Poland was directed by Zakayev, so let us begin, perhaps, with this concert.
The Soros Foundation allocated $ 10 million to conduct the Zakayev’s concert in Poland under the name of a “congress”. Zakayev received that money.
What is the motivation for the allocation of this money? On the radio, they said money was allocated for “the congress” and for “achieving peace through political means”.
In other words, there is and there will be no use for the Jihad and Muslims from those 10 million, and no Barakat, or Blessings, from Allah will be there.
Muslims will never be allowed to establish the word of Allah on this earth by peaceful means. This was proved by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he (pbuh) moved to Medina.
When they gave a fight (to mushrikeen, or polytheists), people began to speak about them as a force. There were scarcely more than 300 Mujahideen with him in the first Battle of Badr.
And when the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) returned to Mecca, the Mujahideen had 10 000 people, and polytheists met them with heads bowed low, which proves to us that the infidel does not recognize anything, any peaceful means, except force.
“The search for peaceful means” is carried out by them (the hypocrites and apostates) at a time when Allah is testing us (Mujahideen) with hunger and other deprivations. Enemies have seen that some of the Mujahideen are tired and deceived through preaching about a possibility of holding peace talks.
They (the hypocrites) are trying to deceive Muslims, leaning for support precisely on those (commanders who violated the pledge of allegiance), who organized here the fitna, the discord, which was announced at their Polish “congress”.
Thus, the main purpose of this “congress” was a split among the Mujahideen, a deepening of this split, taking advantage of the situation in which they (the Mujahideen) are … And there is no doubt about that.
No doubt because slogans that are used today by some brothers who arranged this fitna, such as – “we have no ray of hope”, “we have no tomorrow”, “we will not survive the winter”, “all of us were proclaimed terrorists”, and what is now told by Zakayev come from the same source.
From the same source and from the same pen, and there is no doubt about that.
I say that even if Zakayev gives today these $ 10 million or $ 100 million to the Mujahideen, they would evaporate, scatter, and there will be no use for the Muslims from it because no Soros Foundation will ever give money so that there will be some use for Islam from it. This is clear and needs no proof.
They never gave and will never give a penny for the benefit of Islam. Even if some of the money allocated by them (by the Soros Foundation and others like that) is used , for example, for building of mosques, it will be allocated only after they are convinced that the “worship” in them brings no real benefit for Islam.
The second concert of the enemies of Allah, following the first one, was held in the city (now Jokhar, formerly known as Grozny). This concert, directed by their chief “embodiment of justice”, gathered “smart” professors who made “smart” speeches, so that it might seem from aside that these people really said smart things!
One of them says that our people needs to acquire knowledge, that we need to attract knowing men for that, and makes other proposals that do not seem to be bad.
All this is good, but look! These proposals are made at a time when our people is being annihilated and abased, our men are killed, our women are kidnapped. Here is just a recent example: two women were kidnapped, and it goes on on daily basis when at least two or three women disappear not only here (in Nokhchicho), but also elsewhere in the Caucasus.
And they (the apostates/participants of the “congress”) make their “smart” speeches, when here, and all over the world we have Islam trampled, Muslims everywhere are suffering from abuse and humiliation!
This can be compared with such a picture – a man is drowning, and we stand on the bank and discuss how to help him best: maybe, this way, maybe, another way? But what is the use of our intelligent reasoning for the drowning man, if he is already drowned?
I appeal again to brothers and sisters, and especially to the Mujahideen with a call and a warning to be vigilant. And I swear by Allah, they (apostates) went out only in order to weaken us …
I will give you a short example: in 1996, somewhere in August, the first negotiation process started. The mediator was Tim Guldeman, an OSCE representative. There were about 15 field commanders among us, as they called us at that time. The fate of these commanders was different…
Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev just came. There was Shamil (Basayev) there, who stood up and addressed to all of the “field commanders”, and said, referring to the OSCE:
“Do not be fooled! These people didn’t gather today here out of solidarity with us.
These people arranged these negotiations only in order to save the infidels, defeated by the Muslims. Our demands should be: their (Russian) complete disarmament and withdrawal of troops from the Caucasus. We take an obligation to let the unarmed go”.
Our reaction (the former field commanders’) was unequivocal: I remember that all 15 men were ready to rush on Shamil, and I swear by Allah, I was among them!
At that time, we all thought he was crazy, because the war had to be finished…
Today, time showed how right he (Shamil) was, and we could obtain that from the enemy when it was really crushed and helpless!
Subsequent events showed that it was really so, because even at that time, the victory from Allah
for the Mujahideen who fought in Nokhchicho, could be only the hope in the Almighty, the Tawakkul. However, their (OSCE) mission was only to conceal and lower the significance of victorious achievements of the Mujahideen through negotiations.
In order to create an impression that they allegedly achieved a cease fire, these people (the OSCE) tried, as mediators, to impose in every possible way “free elections” and everything else, which subsequently led to a division among brothers, a split and a feud. And those who yesterday fought side by side, shoulder to shoulder, became enemies to each other. It is for this purpose that those mediators were engaged.
So I say today to the Mujahideen, and I swear by Allah that the “congress” in Poland, and the proposals for “peaceful means”, etc. – it is not true, brothers, it is a lie! We know about Bosnia, Kosovo, about everything what is happening today in the Islamic world.
Look here, brothers, a good example for that is Sudan, which is being openly divided into different parts, and nothing is asked from the authorities of the country. Southern Sudan is separated from the country by so-called “peacekeepers”.
The Koran says that disbelievers will not leave us alone until we do not follow their religion, may Allah preserve us from this! There is no sense for us to wait for help from them till the moment when we abandon our religion and follow their passions.
Therefore, brothers, I urge you to be vigilant, and I swear by Allah, those who arrange today the fitna here are deceived by those who lie from abroad, and this is evident from their similar demands: “allow us create a cabinet of ministers, open a ministry of foreign affairs, give us the right to negotiate” and so on.
Brothers, all that is not real, there is no “cabinet of ministers”, and there are no “negotiations”. The infidel is weakening and this is confirmed when he starts talking about “cabinets of ministers” and “negotiations”.
We do not need such negotiations, as we need no mediators, and no Western institutions. And if there is the will of Allah, we will do ourselves, Insha’Allah, everything which is necessary to do in this case. And you, brothers, strengthen your iman, or faith, your patience, rely on Allah and do not let be deceived.
This is my appeal to you! Brothers, beware, because the spread of the fitna comes from the emirs who have been earlier great emirs, and this fitna has a direct relationship with the fitna that comes from abroad.
The fitna which they arranged abroad came here, and so I ask you: do not let yourself turn into a speechless tree.
At this point, I conclude my speech. May Allah direct us to the true path and establish justice between us.

NOTE: The below video addresses the World Chechen Congress, which was organized by Akhmed Zakayev, the leader of the nationalist-Islamist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria

As-Saḥāb Media presents a new video from Usāmah Bin Lāden: "A Letter for the People of France"

UPDATE 4: Here is a German translation:

Von Osama bin Laden an das französische Volk:
Frieden sei mit denen, die den Rechtleitung folgen.
Das Thema meiner Rede ist über die Gründe für die Bedrohung eurer Sicherheit und die Entführung eurer Söhne.
Die Entführung von euer Experten in Niger, während eure Offiziere sie bewacht haben, ist eine Reaktion auf das Unrecht, das ihr den islamischen Nation zufügt.
Ist es fair, dass sie in dem Besatzung unseren Landes teilgenommen haben und neben den Amerikanern stehen wenn sie Kinder und Frauen töten, und danach wollen sie in Frieden und Sicherheit leben?
Wie könnt ihr euch vorstellen, dass ihr euch in den Sachen der Muslimen einmischt, besonders in Nord- und Westafrika, ihre Offiziere gegen uns unterstützt, und viel aus unseren Reichtum nimmt in verdächtigen Geschäften, während unser Volk unter Armut und Elend leidet?
Wenn ihr zu Unrecht denkt, dass es euer Recht ist, freien muslimischen Frauen das Tragen des Gesichtsschleiers zu verbieten, ist es dann nicht auch unser Recht, eure eindringenden Männer rauszuwerfen und ihnen die Kehle durchzuschneiden? Natürlich tun wir das.
Die Gleichung ist einfach: Wenn ihr tötet, werdet auch ihr getötet werden; wenn ihr Geiseln nimmt, werdet ihr selbst als Geisel genommen, wenn ihr unsere Sicherheit bedroht, werden wir eure Sicherheit zerstören; die Schuld lastet auf den, der anfingt.
Das einzige Mittel, eure Sicherheit zu bewahren, ist all das Unrecht und seine Wirkungen auf unseren Volk zu stoppen und am wichtigsten, eure Kräfte aus den bösen Krieg von Bush in Afghanistan zurückzuziehen. Es ist Zeit, dass die sogenannte direkte und indirekte Kolonisation beendet wird.
Ihr solltet Konsekvenzen daraus ziehen, wie tief Amerika gefallen ist wegen diesen unrechten Krieg, es ist am Rande der Kollaps an allen wichtigen Fronten und wird bald an die andere Seite der Atlantik zurückfallen, wenn Allah es so will.
Glücklich ist, wer von den Fehler von anderen lernt, und Frieden sei mit denen, die den Rechtleitung folgen.


UPDATE 3: Check out Andrew Lebovich’s thoughts on why UBL was targeting France.

UPDATE 2: Here is the English translation:
English translation of audio message from Usāmah Bin Lāden- “A Letter for the People of France”

UPDATE: Check out Leah Farrall’s take on the UBL audio.

NOTE: The main highlights of this video include Usāmah Bin Lāden discussing France’s ḥijāb ban that he states should be cancelled. In addition, the hostage taking by al-Qā’idah in the Islamic Maghreb in Niger is a justifiable act due to France’s transgressions and support for the American-led Afghan war, which he says they should withdraw from. Most importantly, Bin Lāden affirms, France should stop interfering in Muslim-related issues or affairs.
Nothing of significance here, just typical rhetoric. Previously, Dr. Ayman aẓ-Ẓawāhirī also discussed the issue of the ḥijāb on July 27, 2010 in a video statement eulogizing the death of Shaykh Muṣṭafā Abū al-Yazīd who was killed in a U.S. drone strike on May 21, 2010. He stated:

What France is waging … must push us to tightly hold onto our truthful faith to counter their deviational doctrines. We must call our daughters and sisters and mothers to wear ḥijāb and to support them and defend them. As every ḥijāb-wearing and niqāb-wearing female Muslim, who defends her ḥijāb, is a mujahid who defends the rulings of Sharia against the Crusade, secular, Western invasion.

Other than that, the only thing one can take away from this video is that As-Saḥāb Media is in a fairly safe area and has not been disrupted by the droning campaign since As-Saḥāb has released many videos in the past month.

New video statement from the Amir of the Caucasus Emirate Dokku Umarov: "Clarification regarding the fitnah among the Mujāhidīn"

UPDATE: Here is an English transcript of the below video statement from Dokku Umarov:
I seek refuge in Allah from the cursed Satan!
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful!
Verily, all praise is due to Allah, we praise him, we seek him and we ask for his forgiveness and guidance, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our own selves and from the evil consequences of our actions, whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide and whomsoever Allah leaves to stray none can guide him.
I testify there is no God but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.
And then:

May the peace, the mercy, and the blessings of Allah be upon you!
Today, by the will of Allah, we are on the training base of the unit of Abdullah, the Emir of those Mujahideen who are doing a training here. The head of the training center is Sheikh Abu Supyan.
By the grace and the will of Allah, the Almighty brought us together today, because all of us are the Mujahideen who entered the path of Jihad to establish the laws of Allah on this earth.
Insha’Allah, we are confident and convinced that this is the path to Paradise. Therefore, Insha’Allah, all the brothers who are waging the Jihad all over the world, and we along with them, are the same brethren for the sake of Allah, and we are following today the same path, and this path leads to Paradise, Insha’Allah.
There are our brothers in the Paradise who have followed this path before us, and, Insha’Allah, we will be in the company of the Prophet (pbuh), if we are sincere on this path, and if we sincerely establish the laws of Allah on this earth.
Today, I want to describe in a few words the situation in the world because even if we are separated by thousands of miles from those Mujahideen who wage the Jihad in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir and many other places, they are our brothers and we are now fight (with them) for the laws of Allah on this earth.
Iblis, or the Devil, with its army is against us and against those Mujahideen today.
Let us start with Afghanistan. Praise be to Allah, Afghanistan is a suffering country, but there is a great Barakat, or Blessings, from those brothers who are waging today the Jihad out there. Today, our brothers in Afghanistan control 70% of the Afghan territory, and we hear daily on the radio, the TV, on the Internet news from our brothers that the Jihad in Afghanistan goes on well and successfully.
Our brothers in Afghanistan are countered by Christian-Zionist states, headed by America, which advocates exactly this religion.
A major Jihad is also going on in Pakistan in mountainous regions that border our brothers in Afghanistan, and our brothers there confront the same Americans.
The Jihad is also going on in Kashmir, where our brothers are confronted by Indian pagans.
Insha’Allah, we also know that the Jihad is being waged on the African continent, in Somalia, Mali, Algeria and in many other places, and our brothers are successfully fighting on this path.
Armies of Iblis wage a war against us. Americans, who preach Christian Zionism today, and European atheists, who do not profess any religion, are united under this flag.
We know why this war has been launched against Muslims. All that is done, so that there would not be a piece of land of Dar-us-Salam, or the territories of peace, on this earth, where Muslims could live under the laws of Allah, because the law of Allah is hated by Iblis. And all those hordes who head the armies of Iblis are their henchmen.
Today we know that the heart of Muslims, the heart of the Jihad, should be in Palestine, and I would be very happy to say that there is a Jihad going on in Palestine. But we can speak about the Jihad in Palestine with much reservation because slogans of 1967 are now being used in Palestine: independent Palestine, Jerusalem as its capital, etc.
Today, Palestine allows manipulations upon itself, giving the enemies of Islam a possibility to present themselves as “defenders of Muslims”.
The Jihad today is going on in the Caucasus, so let us turn to our place of the Jihad. Praise be to Allah by Whose will we wage the Jihad in the Caucasus against Russia, the most despised infidel among infidels.
Russia is the most despised country among infidels. The ideology of this country is a Communist/Atheist legacy.
When we proclaimed the Emirate in 2007, they (Russia) did not pay attention to our proclamation and our statements that we reject the Taghut and that we join our brothers who wage the Jihad today all over the world.
But when they made certain of the strength of our brotherhood, when they became convinced that we stand on the true path, Iblis in their (Russia’s) person started to test our ranks.
We felt the first test in the years 2009 to 2010, when we lost a number of our leading emirs, or commanders: Magas, Seyfullah of Kabarda, Musa Mukozhev, Seyfullah of Dagestan, Daud of Dagestan and a number of emirs of Nokhchicho (aka Ichkeria) Province.
First of all, I would like to mention Shatral, Sawab, Selim, Aslan, Khamzat Gorodskoy and many, many others. If we try to count them today we could not do that…
Well, we withstood that test, and when Iblis realized that, he sent a fitna, or a discord, on us, and with the help of infidels’ special services and hypocrites sitting out abroad, this fitna entered our ranks and split them.
I will try to outline in a few words three or four reasons for this fitna as I see it.
The first reason is certainly that when our Prophet (pbuh) made a dua and asked Allah to answer his three requests, two of which received positive answers, but the third request, when the Prophet (pbuh) asked that there would not split among his Ummah, was not answered.
We know that in any case that there were fitnas among the Muslims before us and they will remain after us, and we will not avoid that.
The second reason is my faults.
Yes, I say once again that I am not a saint and, probably, I have more faults in me than in any of the Mujahideen, but my faults are not a reason for a withdrawal of the Bayat by splitting the Mujahideen.
My faults are solved by the Sharia Court, the law of Allah, under which we are ordered to live.
And if I do not go to the court and do not obey the laws of Allah, this problem can be solved by a sword, as it was at the time of the righteous Caliph Omar ibn Khattab. And today the sword is replaced by a machine gun, which is the same thing.
If the today’s split were caused by my faults, our men who had caused this fitna, who caused this split, these brothers had to approach me at the first sign of this fitna and ask me to correct my mistakes, my faults, and to become my advisors.
But I saw a different approach in our brothers. When our brothers came to me, they summoned me to the Majlis, or the council, which was organized in the proportion three to one, although one of them never had the right to attend that Majlis because in that case, Khamzat had to be present, who has the same position among the Mujahideen as a deputy and an emir.
Supyan had to be present. Sheikh Supyan is my advisor and an old veteran of the Mujahideen, who attended all the Majlises. But they invited neither Khamzat nor Supyan.
And when we went to this Majlis, the first question they raised was that a final decision should be taken by the Majlis and not by the Emir. I disagreed saying that it is not so, and that it had never been this way.
Our brother Muhannad swore by Allah that it was so during Maskhadov (martyr, Insha’Allah) and so it was during Abdul-Khalim (martyr, Insha’Allah). When we sent for the testimony of Abu Supyan, our dispute was decided in my favor that it was not so neither during Maskhadov nor during Abdul-Khalim, that the decision rests with the Emir, because he is responsible before Allah for all the actions of every Mujahid.
After that, our brothers said (and all who were present are witnesses for it) that several emirates are to be created instead of a single Emirate, something like the United Arab Emirates.
These separate emirates mean that they are entitled to their own policies, to the right to have their own Emir, the right to have their own cabinet of ministers, the right to withdraw from the Emirate at any time, and the right to conduct domestic and foreign policy at their own will.
When they got a refusal to it, they started asking me to allow them to create, that is, that they could create, a cabinet of ministers in Nokhchicho Province, to appointed a Minister of Foreign Affairs and to conduct separate talks, I do not know with whom, but they were convincing me that there would be talks, that that these talks were imminent, that after that we would help other brothers to get free, as if Iblis dozes, and as if the infidel is asleep and permits that.
When all these requests were rejected by me, when I said that this would not happen, I agreed to their proposal – a rational proposal, which could be accepted – to appoint an Emir of Nokhchicho Province. It seemed to me that if they see some benefit in it, it could be more promising for our Jihad.
The appointment of a Deputy Emir of the Caucasus was also a reasonable proposal, and once they have gone with my appointments, they stirred up the Mujahideen and organized this fitna, for which there is a Sharia punishment, using all sorts of undignified attacks on the Emir. And today, we hear statements from them that they are not against the Emirate but they are only against the Emir Abu Usman.
I say that this is a hypocrisy, it is a real hypocrisy. If they are against Abu Usman, then we have the Sharia, and

Kavkaz Media Center presents: "Omra [Decree] of Amir of the Caucasus Emirate Dokku Umarov regarding the reorganization of Wilāyah Nokhchicho [Chechnya/Ichkeria]"

NOTE: The below video was recorded on October 9 and it was Dokku Umarov’s twenty-third decree as the Amir of the Caucasus Emirate. In it, he describes the reorganization of the armed forces structure in Nokhchicho [Chechnya/Ichkeria]. He also eliminated the South-Western Front and Eastern Front and ordered the commanders to renew their bay’at (pledge of allegiance) to him. In addition, he ordered the former Emir of Nokhchicho Province, Ḥusayn Gakayev, who rescinded his bay’at to Umarov, to hand over money and material resources, previously allocated for the Jihād. Lastly, Umarov ordered Muhannad to report within a month to the Sharī’ah court to resolve the issue of him creating fitnah (discord) within the Caucasus Emirate. For more on the recent leadership issues in the Caucasus Emirate see: herehereherehereherehereherehere, and here. Here is an English language translation of the below video:

OMRA № 23
“On the reorganization of the Armed Forces of Nokhchicho Province”
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful!
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and all those who followed his path till the Day of Judgment. To proceed:
I decree
1. to abolish the South-Western Front and Eastern Front of the Armed Forces of Nokhchicho Province.
2. to attach to the sectors of the abolished fronts a status of military sectors of the Armed Forces of Nokhchicho Province.
3. that former Emir of Nokhchicho Province Hussein Gakayev hands over the funds, previously allocated to him for the Jihad, to emirs of sectors of abolished fronts.
4. to instruct all emirs of the sectors of the abolished fronts update to renew their Bayat to the Emir of Caucasus Emirate.
5. to oblige the former Deputy Military Emir Muhannad to come within a month period to the base of the Caucasus Emirate Emir for a Sharia Court in connection with the fitna organized by him among the Mujahideen.
6. The Omra comes into force on the date of its signing.
Emir of the Caucasus Emirate,
Dokku Abu-Usman (Dokku Umarov)
Dhu al-Qadaa 1, 1431 (October 9, 2010)

Department of Current Information
Kavkaz Center

 


List of al-Amirā' [Amir's] who withdrew their Bay'at to the Amir of the Caucasus Emirate Dokku Umarov

NOTE: Earlier in the week, there was video released by the main leaders who rescinded their bay’at (pledge of allegiance) to the Amir of the Caucasus Emirate Dokku Umarov. The below video surfaced yesterday, but was originally recorded in August. It highlights the various leaders who withdrew bay’at from Umarov and pledged it to Ḥusayn. Here is a list of leaders and commanders within the Caucasus Emirate who have changed their allegiance (this information is a direct copy from Daymouk news service):
South-Western Front:
– Amir Tarhan
– Amir Abū-Muslim (aka Dzhabrail)
– Amir Zumso
– Amir ‘Abdullah
– Amir Āssadullah
– Amir Khamzat
– Amir Muhaddith
– Amir Mukhtar
– Amir Arbi and others (not specified).
South-Eastern Front:
– Amir Ḥusayn (the Amir of Wilayah Nokhchicho, as recognized by them)
– Amir Aslambek
– Amir Zaurbek (Kurchaloy sector)
– Amir Mahran (Tsentoroy sector)
– Amir Muslim (Shali sector)
– Amir Usāmah (Vedeno sector)
– Amir Maghribī (Nozhai-Yurt sector)
– Amir ‘Abd Raḥman (Gudermes sector)
– Amir ‘Alī (Dargo sector)
– Amir Āssad (Makhkety sector)
– Amir Elman (Tevzana sector)
– Amir Movsar (Khattuni sector)
– Amir Abū Supyan
– Amir Muhannad
– Amir Abū-Khalid al-Urdanī (Kurchaloy sector)
– Amir Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn and others (not specified).
Below is a video with many, but not all of the leaders listed above. For more on the recent leadership issues in the Caucasus Emirate see: hereherehereherehereherehere, and here.


A new statement from the commanders who withdrew bay'at to the Emir of the Caucasus Emirate Dokku Umarov

NOTE: Below is a video of three members (Emirs Aslambek, Tarkhan and Ḥusayn) of the Caucasus Emirate explaining why they rescinded their pledge of allegiance (bay’at) to the Emir of the Caucasus Emirate Dokku Umarov. Their main grievance was that Umarov suspended the Majlis al-Shūrā (Consultative Council). In the video they also announced their own Emir and they chose Ḥusayn as their Emir of Nokhchicho (Chechnya). They also assert that the Mujāhidīn in Chechnya support their decision. Interestingly, they say they are still part of the Caucasus Emirate, but do not recognize Umarov as the Emir.
This video continues the saga over the leadership in the Caucasus Emirate, which started at the end of July. For more on this see: herehereherehereherehere, and here. It does not look like this controversy will end just yet.