Through the Shari'a alone we have been freed,
From the disbelief [i.e. infidelity] that is made to rule over the wide expanse,
And verily to revelations do we adhere
And we disavow the constitutions of politicians,
And we publicly raise the banner of Tawhid [i.e. monotheism]
And without it we hold in low esteem the cutting of necks,
That the banner of Taghut [i.e. idolatry/error] may be lowered by force.
And it [the banner of Taghut] is burnt with matches after it is forced to lower.
Against wicked shirk [i.e. idolatry] we make war
Whether in castles or domes
And our means is fighting against every people
From the people of disbelief who are in eternal damnation.
And we are rightly not pleased with the apostate
And we refuse to accept that we should take part in an election
When the parrot has prepared a speech
With the apostate or the People of the Book.
So him and those people we have disavowed.
And we are not soft in address,
While the one left behind from Jihad has rejoiced.
He [i.e. the one left behind] will indeed mourn on the Day of Resurrection
And if the rich man has been sparing in the spending of wealth.
He and his wealth will merely be for the dirt,
And whoever takes pleasure in comfort as a brother of satisfaction [of carnal desires].
For we see sweetness in difficulties
And how sedentariness abides in the world
And the applying of Shari'a [is] in absence.
So hasten to the frontlines while you are undefiled,
That you may wear out the garment of youths amid the uproar.
And sell yourself to God: you will indeed perish,
And wealth, soon to ruin.
Thus if you behave with patience,
And taqwa, you are among the people of merit
But if you have refrained without excuse,
Verily you have exposed yourself to torment.
And [there is] the exchange of God for whosoever has come into power.
And it has come verbatim from the verses of the Book [i.e. the Qur'an]
And the victory of God is right and it is coming.
And it is a true promise without doubt.
The prayer of God- peace follows it
On the guiding warner from al-Uqab.
And so the relatives of Mohammed and thus also companions,
Are the best of companions for Muhammad.
About the author: The above poem was written by one Abu Khaythma, a Mauritanian jihadist who was studying in Morocco at the time of the invasion of Iraq, at which point he went to fight alongside al-Qa'ida against U.S. troops. He also participated in al-Qa'ida training camps in Morocco, Algeria and Mali, before being killed in clashes between Tunisian security forces and militants near Tunis.
Translated by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi