UPDATE: Here is the English translation of the below fatwā in Arabic and Russian:
To our Sheikh Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, may Allah strengthen him:
I read news from the Islamic Emirate of the Caucasus that emirs Aslambek, Muhannad and Hussein said they had withdrawn the oath of allegiance to Abu Usman, may Allah preserve him.
What do you know about this situation and what is the Sharia decision on those who broke the oath of allegiance without Sharia reasons, except for one: that Abu Usman cancelled his resignation from the Emirate, as they said. May Allah reward you.
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
And then:
The Jihad of the Emirate is verily a great deed, it has a great value and what is related to it has an important benefit, the ranks will unite there, and the Jihad will strengthen there, and Mujahideen will gather around the Emirate, and the conflict will be solved, and the discord will be prevented, for the sake of these great benefits, etc.
Many famous hadiths, ordering and indicating the unity of the congregation and obedience to the Emir and warnings to those who withdrew from obedience, and divide the word (consensus) of Muslims, have been cited. And these hadiths are known, and there are practically no people who would not know them, because there is a large number of these hadiths.
Among them is a hadith from Osama bin Shurayk, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: Allah’s hand is over the Jamaat, or group”.
(Narrated by Ahmad and others.)
And from Umar ibn al Khattab, who said:
“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: only those who seek the pleasure of Paradise will follow the community, for the devil can pursue one person, but he stands far away from two”.
(Narrated by Imam Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi and others)
And from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him:
“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: he who separated himself from the Jamaat and died, he died in the state of ignorance”.
(Narrated by Muslim).
And Nu’man ibn Bashir said:
“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: the Jamaat is mercy, and the separation is punishment”.
(Narrated by Ahmad).
And Zayd ibn Thabit said:
“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Three qualities will not allow anger to get into the heart of a Muslim: sincerity in committing deeds before Allah, nasiha, or advice, to the ruler, and staying with the jamaat, and then their call will be even behind them”.
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, ibn Majah, an-Nasa’i and Abu Dawud).
Narrated by Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“Obey (your ruler) even if they put above you an Ethiopian slave whose head looks like a raisin”.
Narrated Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
“Whoever obeys me, obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys me, disobeys Allah. Whoever obeys the ruler, obeys me, and whoever disobeys the ruler, disobeys me”.
Narrated by Ibn Umar that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
“It is obligatory for a Muslim to listen (to the ruler) and obey whether he likes it or not, except for when he is ordered to do a sinful thing; in such case, there is no obligation to listen or to obey”.
Ubada bin al-Samit, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
“(At his time) the Prophet (pbuh) summoned us to him, and we gave him the oath of allegiance, and among other things he demanded from us to swear to him that we shall obey (him) when we are active and do not manifest negligence, when it is hard and when it is easy for us, as well as in such cases when we are deprived of what to which we are entitled by the right.
(And we swore that) we shall not try to deprive of authority a legitimate ruler, unless we see (that he fell into an) overt disbelief, for which we shall have evidences from Allah”.
And therefore it is obligatory that Mujahideen obey emirs, or rulers, and do not argue with them, they must help them and show patience to them and advise (direct) them secretly.
Ubaidullah bin Adi bin Al-Khiyar said:
“I came to Usama bin Zaid and said to him: don’t you advise Usman that he makes hadd (punishment) to al-Walid? Usama said: Do you think that I advise him only before you?
I swear by Allah that I advised him between ourselves, I do not open the door to evil, and I am not the first who opens it”.
(Bukhari, Muslim).
– Beware of a man who is a door of evil for the Mujahideen, through which fitna, wickedness, conflict and discord, disunity and dissociation penetrate to them, all that he will bear on him on Day of Resurrection, and they will follow a bad sunna (example) through the deeds of that person, and he will answer on Judgment Day for what he did – and for those who followed him, but man should be a key to goodness that forbids evil and protects the borders, entrusted to him, and to his oath, which pledged his hand and his heart.
And what we know about Emir Abu Usman Doku Umarov, it’s only good. And so far, all Sharia judges in the Emirate praise his return to scholars and his requests for their advice and opinion. The Caucasus Emirate was proclaimed, and all the manifestations of ignorance were abolished. And our brothers in the Caucasus chose him, and they were united by him, and the path of Jihad continued under his leadership.
And as reliably conveyed to us by our brothers who know the situation in the Caucasus, there were no violations by Emir Abu Usman, which allow a dispute about him and his overthrow.
Therefore, anyone who strongly wants that the path of the Jihad is clean and useful must listen to Emir and help him, so that the row is solid and continuous, to recognize his position and to forbid to oppose to him, or to demand his replacements without Sharia reasons that are confirmed by the people of advice.
A demand by a single or a few Mujahideen to replace the Emir and to dispute with him from time to time without Sharia reasons is a loss of honor for the Emirate. And this leads to a division amongst the ranks of the Mujahideen, and to disputes between them, and the spread of misfortunes and a weakening in their ranks.
And so, the brothers must not disseminate such news that splits the ranks, that make monotheists grieve and polytheists rejoice. And it should be appealed to emirs who have influence, to scientists and skilled people, as Allah said:
“And when a news comes to them about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if it were not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few”.
(The Holy Quran, Surah 4. “The Women”, verse 83)
Therefore, our brothers in the Caucasus do not need such quarrels, but they really need financial, moral and Sharia support.
They are surrounded from all sides. Money and Mujahideen from abroad do not reach to them, and their enemy has much experience in deceit in many aspects. As for the aspect of the money, there were Arab and non-Arab taghuts who helped each other to reduce this support to our brothers, and it was actually the case, so every rich, God-fearing Muslim has a responsibility to make a financial Jihad that Allah makes beneficial for them before death reaches them and they say:
“My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous”.
(The Holy Quran, Surah 63. “The Hypocrites”, verse 10)
– As for the aspect of knowledge and scholars, they retreated, abandoning our brothers in the Caucasus to their fate, and it is unlikely that they (the brothers in the Caucasus) may hear a word from an Alim, or scholar, except for those for whom Allah had mercy and urged him to support and help them, pledging to support them with money, (property) and men (Mujahideen).
The history of the apostate Kadyrov, whose post is designated by Russia, is as black as the history of his father in support of Russia, from the times of Dzhokhar Dudayev and those who came before them.
Earlier, this ugly Kadyrov distributed Sufi a madhhab, or religious jurisprudence, but after he found out that a jamia madhhab is more beneficial to him in order to retain his throne, to increase and fill his belly, he began to distribute this jamia madhhab more and more, approaching to this jamia madhhab closer and closer, as Sufism has not brought him benefits, as before, because nobody listened to and followed that Sufism, except for the elderly in remote villages.
But, the jamia madhhab present themselves as if they were scholars, and they found themselves in the Al-Jazeera (Arabian Peninsula) those who provide them with means and books.
Thus, the Caucasus Emirate is in need of knowledge, and in enrollment of worthy minds, and, therefore, the Mujahideen have repeatedly invited people with knowledge who seek for knowledge, (study), in order to help them by telling them: “Fear Allah! Don’t you see in what position we are? … ” And as we know, no one responded then when the request had been received, except for Sheikh Sayeed of Buryatia, may Allah
Category: Individuals
Letter from Noman Benotman to Usāmah Bin Lāden
NOTE: Noman Benotman was a former member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG). In 2008, Ayman al-Zawahiri stated that LIFG had merged with al-Qā’idah, but this was short-lived since LIFG split from al-Qā’idah in 2009. In 2009, LIFG also released “Corrective Studies,” which was a revision of their past jihadist ideas that came out of a dialogue between LIFG’s senior leadership and Libyan government officials including Sayf al-Islām, son of Mu‘ammar al-Qaḍḍāfī. Currently, Benotman is a senior analyst at the Quilliam Foundation, a counter-extremism think tank. For more on this, see what Leah Farrall has to say over at All Things Counter Terrorism.
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English:
Noman Benotman — Letter to bin Laden
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Arabic:
Noman Benotman — Letter to bin Laden (Arabic)
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New message from Abū Muḥmmad al-Maqdisī: "Congratulating the brothers on the occasion of ‘Īd"
NOTE: According to the Combatting Terrorism Center’s Militant Atlas, al-Maqdisī is considered “the most influential living Jihadi Theorist.”
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تقبل الله طاعاتكم
وأعاده الله علينا وعليكم وعلى أمة الإسلام
بالعز والنصر والتمكين
لا تنسوا إخوانكم المجاهدين والأسرى من دعواتكم
فرب أخ لكم فوق الجبال وفي الغابات عيده
ورب أخ تحت ذل السياط وفي القيود والزنازن عيده
اللهم انصر عبادك الموحدين ومكن لراية التوحيد
وفك قيد أسارى المسلمين
ليس العيد لمن لبس الجديد
ولكن العيد لمن نصر راية التوحيد واستعد ليوم الوعيد
ورزق خاتمة الشهيد
أبو محمد
New statement from the Emir of the Caucasus Emirate Dokku Umarov
UPDATE – 9/11, 9:45 AM: Thanks to the commenter below, Mr. Orange, who posted a link from RFE/RL explaining Dokku Umarov’s inconsistency with regard to the position of the Emir of the Caucasus Emirate. Here is the important part:
Umarov explains that at a meeting of Chechnya-based fighters and commanders, he was subjected by rank-and-file fighters and the two Chechnya-based emirs present to a barrage of criticism. He said they specifically reproached him for having claimed responsibility for the most recent “special operation” in Russia, meaning the Moscow subway bombings in March, even though those same emirs and fighters had upbraided him one year earlier for not taking responsibility for other such operations elsewhere in Russia. The fighters also accused him of not doing enough in terms of securing provisions and arms supplies. Umarov acknowledges that the latter criticisms were justified.
Umarov then says that in light of that criticism, he “sincerely” proposed to step down as commander, providing that the commanders of the other fighting units approved that decision. A video address announcing his decision to step down was then prepared for distribution, and entrusted to Umarov’s newly appointed deputy, Aslambek Vadalov.
Vadalov, however, violated the oral agreement between them and prepared additional video footage in which other emirs, including Khusein Gakayev and the Arab Mukhannad, presented Umarov’s resignation as a done deed and expressed approval of Umarov’s imputed request to swear loyalty to Vadalov as his chosen successor.
In light of that move, Umarov explained, he decided that he should not relinquish his duties as commander — hence the vide clip posted just days later in which he denounces the original video as a fabrication.
NOTE: This video was originally recorded on August 30. One of the online jihādīs thinks this video deals with the controversies of the past summer, but since it is in Russian neither him nor I can confirm this. But, if you want to know more about what occurred read what I wrote about it previously (see here, here, here, and here).
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The Forums released a document containing all of Abū Muḥmmad al-Maqdisī's Fatāwā
NOTE: According to the Combatting Terrorism Center’s Militant Atlas, al-Maqdisī is considered “the most influential living Jihadi Theorist.”
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Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi — Total Fatawa
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New additions to Abū Muḥmmad al-Maqdisī’s English language jihādī library

Today Abū Muḥmmad al-Maqdisī’s English language jihādī library (tawhed.net) added new articles to its archives. According to the Combatting Terrorism Center’s Militant Atlas, al-Maqdisī is considered “the most influential living Jihadi Theorist.” The following documents were added:
New essay from Abū Muḥmmad al-Maqdisī: "Why is Millat Ibrahim Frightened?!"
NOTE: According to the Combatting Terrorism Center’s Militant Atlas, al-Maqdisī is considered “the most influential living Jihadi Theorist.” al-Maqdisī runs the popular jihādī library website tawhed.ws.
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Why is Millat Ibrahim Frightened?!
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Dokku Umarov, Emir of the Caucasus Emirate, appoints Hasan (Israpil Velidzhanova) as the Commander in Dagestan and Province Governor of Dagestan
NOTE: This appointment is in response to the death of former Emir of the Dagestan Front of the Caucasus Emirate and Supreme Judge of the Caucasus Emirate Seyfullah of Gubdensk. For more on Gubdensk’s death see here.
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OMRA № 21
“On the appointment of Emir of the Dagestani Front of the Armed Forces of the Caucasus Emirate”
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 appoint the Emir of the Southern Sector of the DF, the Naib Emir of the DF, Hasan (Israpil Velidzhanova) the commander of the Dagestani Front of the Caucasus Emirate’s Armed Forces.
2. The Omra comes into effect from the date of its signing.
Emir of the Caucasus Emirate
Dokku Abu-Usman (Dokku Umarov)
Ramadan 20, 1431 (August 29, 2010)
***
OMRA № 22
“On appointment of the Wali of the Caucasus Emirate’s Dagestan 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 appoint the Commander of the Dagestani Front Emir Hasan (Israpil Velidzhanova) the Wali of the Caucasus Emirate’s Dagestan Province.
2. The Omra comes into effect from the date of its signing.
Emir of the Caucasus Emirate
Dokku Abu-Usman (Dokku Umarov)
Ramadan 20, 1431 (August 29, 2010)
Ribat Media Center presents an Arabic translation: "Open Interview with Shaykh ‘Abd al-Majīd ‘Abd al-Majīd"
NOTE: Here is the original interview in English. Scribed would not let me upload the Arabic file, but below is a safe pdf link to it.
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Ribat Media Center Presents the translation of ” Open Interview with Sheikh Abdul Abdul Majid Abdul Majed “
Jāma’at Tawḥīd wal-Jihād: "Statement to the Islamic Ummah regarding the criminal acts committed by the government (HAMAS) of Gaza"
NOTE: Jāma’at Tawḥīd wal-Jihād is a Palestinian jihādī-takfīrī group based in Gaza. The statement discusses the crimes committed by HAMAS against the true Mujāhidīn and the civilians of Gaza. This is has become an important theme within the jihādī literature over the past few years especially from Abū Muḥmmad al-Maqdisī (“the most influential living jihādī theorist”) and Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, Usāmah Bin Lāden’s deputy.
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Jam’aat Al-Tawheed wal-Jihad- Statement to the Islamic Ummah regarding the criminal acts committed by the government of Gaza
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