Latest Articles and Blog Posts

Readings from Anglo-Saxon Prose: Ælfric's Preface to the Latin Grammar

February 18, 2015 at 9:30 am

Following on from my post on Anglo-Saxon medicinal recipes, here is another small excerpt from the corpus of Old English/Anglo-Saxon literature. Ælfric was an abbot of the late 10^th century who produced numerous works in Old English, including a translation of a Latin grammar by the Late Antique writer Priscian. Below is my translation from the original Old English of Ælfric's preface to that work, including commentary notes.

Translation

Continue to the full blog post  |  More blog posts

Naqshbandi Army Statement: Condemnation of the Burning of Muadh al-Kasasbeh: Translation & Analysis

February 14, 2015 at 7:49 am

Intro and Analysis

This latest statement from the Ba'athist-Sufi Naqshbandi Army [Jaysh Rijal al-Tariqat al-Naqshbandia: JRTN] condemning the burning alive of the Jordanian pilot Muadh al-Kasasbeh follows the usual pattern of condemning Islamic State [IS] excesses without mentioning IS by name: compare with the destruction of religious sites in Mosul and attacks on minorities in Ninawa province like the Yezidis and Christians, also condemned by the Naqshbandi Army without explicit mention of IS. Implicitly, JRTN is portraying the IS phenomenon as an agent of Iran.

Continue to the full blog post  |  More blog posts

ISIS and Syria's Southern Front

February 6, 2015  •  Middle East Institute

Analysis of Syrian civil war dynamics tends to draw a sharp contrast between the southern front, referring to the southernmost provinces of Deraa, Quneitra, and Suwayda, and the north. Most observers point to the south, in contrast to the north, as lacking a significant Islamic State (ISIS) presence. How true does this general assessment hold? Are radical or extremist groups much less influential in the south?

Continue to the full article  |  More articles

New Nasheed from Islamic State's Ajnad Media: "Soon, soon"

February 4, 2015 at 4:16 pm

Click here for original. Translation by me below. Both the threatening lyrics and sound effects of this nasheed produce a terrifying effect, perfectly in keeping with the terror tactic employed in the latest video of the burning alive of the Jordanian pilot (for analysis, see this great piece by my colleague and friend Shiraz Maher):

Continue to the full blog post  |  More blog posts

Islamic State Justification for Burning Alive the Jordanian Pilot: Translation and Analysis

February 4, 2015 at 10:29 am

Below I have translated the document circulated by the Islamic State's al-Eftaa wa al-Buhuth committee on the subject of the burning alive of the Jordanian pilot. This committee is responsible for providing Islamic textual justifications for various decrees on the acceptability of certain acts. This latest example is perhaps the most notorious. It is important that these documents be brought to light because as the corpus of Islamic texts- whether verses of Qur'an, the ahadith and acts from early Islamic history- is so vast, the Islamic State will likely find some reference that can justify its actions and make its supporters and members feel more sure of themselves. My friend Hassan Hassan has already noted this problem, and it presents a significant challenge to those who wish to counter the Islamic State on interpretation and counter-interpretation grounds.

Continue to the full blog post  |  More blog posts