Latest Articles and Blog Posts

Jihadi nasheed: We are lions in war, unafraid

June 17, 2013 at 5:32 am

Featured in Jihadivision 2013, this nasheed is popular not only among al-Qa'ida-aligned groups like the Majlis Shura al-Mujahideen (Gaza/Sinai) but also those who identify with the banner of the Free Syrian Army. Below is my translation.

Translation

We are lions in war unafraid, and falcons exalted in the sky.

The backs of horses were our cradle, and on them we had inherited pride.

We are knights; for us the horses were cradles, and if the cause called, we heeded the call.

If the cause called, we heeded the call.

In the path of God we live and die. In life [is] glory or in death [is] self-sacrifice.

And when the cause calls for the victory of Islam, we heed the call.

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Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham: Aleppo Area

June 13, 2013  •  Jihadology

The past week or so has seen a significant controversy erupt in jihadist circles over the relationship between an entity called the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)- a merger of Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) and Jabhat al-Nusra (JAN) first proclaimed by ISI emir Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in April- and JAN as headed by Abu Mohammed al-Jowlani.

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Sheikh Aymenn al-Zawahiri annuls Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham

June 9, 2013 at 3:40 pm

Below I give my translation of an alleged statement from Sheikh Aymenn al-Zawahiri on the abrogation of Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham, via Basma Atassi of Al-Jazeera. In light of this statement, I reverse my earlier position of doubt on the authenticity of Jowlani's letter provided by Zaid Benjamin. Both reporters deserve credit.

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Sheikh Jowlani of Jabhat al-Nusra Announces Abrogation of Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham?

June 6, 2013 at 10:08 pm

Hat-tip goes to Zaid Benjamin for the Arabic text. Below I give my translation of Sheikh Abu Mohammed al-Jowlani's (the leader of Jabhat al-Nusra) alleged entire statement on the cancellation of the 'Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham' merger announced by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of al-Qa'ida's Iraqi branch last month. In light of Zawahiri's recent statement for unity in Jihad, this alleged message from Jowlani- with the revelation of Zawahiri's role in devising a compromise- does not contain anything all that surprising as regards content. All that said, I have nothing as of yet to verify the statement definitively.

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Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham: Raqqah Governorate

June 4, 2013  •  Jihadology

A couple of weeks ago I wrote on emerging signs of an apparent split in some respects between Jabhat al-Nusra (JAN) and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS). What other evidence has emerged since then? Here I will just focus on the rebel-held city of Raqqah and the wider Raqqah Governorate.

For one thing, the nature of the channel 'ash-Sham', which has put out a number of videos purportedly showing members of ISIS, has now become clear. While its now-terminated Youtube profile gave the impression that ash-Sham is run by someone in the United States, the channel is actually based in the city of Raqqah.

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