In The Heart Of The Matter: The Reality And The Role Of The Jihadist Media
18 January 2011By Al-Ikhwah Al-Mujahidun
In the Name of Allah, the Most
Merciful, the Compassionate
Praise be to Allah, Lord of
Creation; Lord and Supporter of the oppressed
monotheists; Breaker and Vanquisher of unjust tyrants.
Peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets,
and their master; Imam and exemplar of the Mujahideen;
and upon his household and his companions and those
guided by his guidance; revive his Sunnah until the
Day of Judgment.
Thereafter:
Discussion of the media in general must undoubtedly
lead us to discussion of and attention to what has
come to be known as the Jihadist media or, as the
enemy calls it; extremist sites supporting terrorism.
This is an honor to us as monotheist Muslims striving
to terrorize the enemies of Allah and fight them with
proofs, statements and swords in order to realize
Allah's promise to us that they will be defeated and
the Religion of Allah will be elevated over all of
their false creeds and unjust laws.
We consider ourselves to be an inseparable part of the
armies and hosts of Truth that are marching towards
the enemy to revive offensive Jihad (Jihad al-Talab)
and not simply practice defensive Jihad. We have
passed the stage of defense and all the debate about
it has been excited by our enemies in order to
paralyze offensive Jihad which is considered the
sharpest weapon for the community of Muslims.
The Role of the Media Pulpits in the Jihadist March
These blessed Jihadist pulpits are a boon from Allah
Almighty to his Mujahideen servants and also their
supporters in order to enable them to communicate
among themselves to support the Religion of Allah
Almighty.
All of us know the difficulties the Mujahideen
encountered for the sake of communicating – both among
themselves and with their supporters – and thus Allah
granted to them these media pulpits to be a means of
disseminating their truthful program for which sake
they fight. Moreover, they publish news of their Jihad
and truthful images of this Jihad, as they likewise
are a means of preparing and recruiting new soldiers
for Jihadist work through organized, regulated and
secure media efforts.
For they have mobilized battalions of media magicians
in order to denigrate the reputation of the Mujahideen
and the intentions of their noble Jihad. This has had
a great impact on the blessed Jihad and has caused the
break down or delay of many Jihadist projects –
according to the wisdom Allah knows. Finally, however,
Allah has ordained that the dust of this hypocritical
and vile media be dispersed, and its hideous face has
been revealed to the Ummah through these blessed
pulpits. The enemy can no longer stand alone in the
field with its misleading media tools, because the
Mujahideen and their supporters have through these
blessed pulpits entered the battlefield from a number
of gates that they (the enemies) can not completely
shut. There always remain gaps through which the Word
of Truth is delivered; falsehood is revealed; a
complete picture of the battlefield is published and
weakness of the enemy is exposed, thereby increasing
his confusion and perplexity in confronting the
blessed Jihadist tide.
These Jihadist media establishments and pulpits are
regarded as a great gain for the Jihad and the
Mujahideen. They are tantamount to a seed in their
hands that they must always water and care for so that
it will grow, get bigger and give its expected fruit,
the Lord permitting. It also requires continuous
development and improvement through our devoted
experts – and they have increased, praise be to Allah.
They lack nothing except more coordination and finding
suitable means to establish organized media work under
rightly-guided and aware leadership, as is the case
with Jihadist work on the battlefield.
Its role of course is moral, spiritual and logistical
support for the fighting soldiers. It also makes great
contributions to operations of preaching and
preparing; and confusing the enemy and indeed planting
terror in their souls through a continuous
psychological media war, commensurate with that being
waged by the Mujahideen brothers on combat fronts.
We have seen – praise be to Allah – the extent of the
abilities of the Jihadist media pulpits. We can
measure the degree of its impact through the way the
enemy deals with it: they try with all their might to
stop these pulpits and block their communication with
the masses of the Ummah and with their own people
especially.
Concerning the role of Jihadist media pulpits and
forums, my advice to their Administrators is:
First: Continue their work with all dedication and
steadfastness. Let them understand well and certainly
that their media work is considered a strong prop and
the flip side of the coin of Jihad. It is equivalent
with fighting on the front-lines, which is regarded as
the front side of the coin.
Second: They should develop their work methods and how
they distribute Jihadist media materials; and make
their pulpits secure in order to both continue their
work but at the same time protect and secure the
secrets of their members and writers far from the eyes
of tawagheet. Their value and importance to the
Jihadist project is no less than the fighters on the
fronts.
Third: Redouble and consolidate the coordination among
Jihadist pulpits and websites, with the aim of
exchanging experiences; cooperation in the field, and
expertise that will serve the interests of the Jihad
and Mujahideen. Thus, if one pulpit is absent others
will continue to cover the activities of the
Mujahideen and communicate among their supporters.
Fourth: They should strengthen their connections with
the Mujahideen, increase the channels of
communication; communicate with them and make this
secure by seeking secret means of communication to
achieve precedence in publishing news or alerting the
Mujahideen of matters or developments concerning the
future of Jihad. Likewise, these blessed pulpits must
safeguard the information of their members and not
forget that their strength and endurance lays in the
security; and staying-power of those members giving
free rein to their creativity and beneficial
productivity for the sake of the Jihadist march.
I beseech Allah to protect our brothers administering
our Jihadist pulpits and websites; and to provide them
with more patience, wisdom and steadfastness and that
He ordain for them the complete and whole reward of
the Mujahideen, and that He grant us and them
martyrdom in His Cause. Before that I wish vexation to
the enemies of Allah, and that; through the Grace and
Power of Allah, their plots and agents be exposed and
massacred.
Strengthen the Positives and Avoid the Negatives
It is my belief that the Jihadist media has many
positives. It suffices to say that it has been able to
break the great and broad siege imposed on our Ummah,
and destroy the spells of the enemy with its
octopus-like media. It has been able to deliver the
truth to the sons of our Ummah and expose the tricks
of the enemy;and uncover his plots and weakness; his
dejection and defeats on the battlefields into which
he entered against the righteous Mujahideen.
This work is considered mandatory and a great and
valuable asset for Jihadist work and the Mujahideen at
the same time, leaving alone its role in agitating
among the ranks of the Ummah so that new soldiers join
the ranks of the Mujahideen, and in gathering material
aid to assist the Jihad and other great important
works.
I see no negatives for the Jihadist media in light of
this reality and the harsh conditions in which the
Ummah is living amid this vast ocean of the total
Crusader war. Indeed, I see that there are
difficulties, obstacles and impediments that must be
overcome or removed in order for this media to bring
forth more of its fruits and dazzling results.
Among them:
1 - Media cadre and
capabilities must be doubled in the ranks of the
Mujahideen, for the sake of shifting the scales in
favor of the Mujahideen in the media field and efforts
must be made to acquiring better technology and making
a stronger psychological impact – on both supporters
and opponents alike.
2 - Money must be spent
by the supporters and sons of the Ummah generally for
the sake of covering the needs and expenses of the
Jihadist media. We know that in order to keep up with
and match the enemy media, this Jihadist media needs
to possess advanced technology in addition to
continuous development for those running this media so
that we may surpass our enemy and deliver the whole
and complete picture of our agenda and the results of
our war with our enemies.
3 - Concerning continuous
development, I believe that supporters and specialists
should exploit those organizations owned by the enemy
as well as independent agencies in order to take
advantage of the technologies and programs studied
there. This is in anticipation that the Mujahideen
will possess their own private and independent
organizations.
4 - The media front is an
independent front whose value is no less than the
combat front. I therefore, believe that greater
importance must be accorded to it on the part of the
Jihad leadership, and that there should be organized
coordination and cooperation among the different
organizations in anticipation of creating a unified
leadership whose role will be coordinating and
dividing the duties and specializations among the
different media groups.
5 - The Mujahideen must
strive – through their supporters – to own a video
channel whose role will be to target the greatest
number of viewers. Among its most important programs
would be news reports and broadcasts of Mujahideen
operations that reveal the massacre of the enemies of
Allah on the different combat fronts. In addition, it
would broadcast interviews with the leaders and
prestigious people of Jihad regarding the correct
program which should be followed by the young men of
the Ummah, or even opponents and non-Muslims. (We have
seen and know of many of the brothers who had been in
the ranks of the enemy and embraced Islam, becoming
the sincerest soldiers and most destructive against
the enemy. The Guantanamo prisoners are a good
example). I think this goal will be achieved faster
than everyone thinks and that the Media brothers will
not stint in their efforts to bring this goal closer
to realization. They are an innovative and industrious
people who will amaze their foes more than their
friends.
I beseech Allah to grant success in what He loves and
what pleases Him, strengthens the power of Jihad and
the Mujahideen; and plants terror in the hearts of the
enemies of Religion.
Concerning the reasons for the success of most of the
Jihadist magazines and publications, I say with
Allah's tawfeeq:
We know that in past stages of this era of the blessed
Call, there was a strict siege on the brothers working
for it. Additionally, very few had the means and
material resources were in general very limited and
one could hardly be found to spend in the cause of
Allah for an ideology that had been absent from many
Muslims and had become strange to them. Indeed, it had
come to scare them because of the heavy consequences
for those who supported it.
Volunteers in the field of Da'wa and Jihad were few,
and in the field of the media were even fewer, whereas
the brothers working had various duties at the same
time that had to be covered. These were duties that
had special priority in their work agenda, thereby
creating a large vacuum in the media field. Added to
this were the scarcity of specialists in the media
field and the absence of those devoted to this field
in college.
The magazine or publication would start its steps with
zeal and ardor but it did not take long for the zeal
to decrease or diminish with the passage of time; or
with the scarcity of resources and magnitude of other
work. With the many pressures; especially security,
the brothers were forced to sacrifice out of fear
their secrets and important affairs would be
discovered (and this) might in the future undermine
the entirety of the Jihadist effort.
As for now, I believe that matters have changed for
the better, and many of the Jihadist movements have
known something of stability and have secure bases,
praise be to Allah; which have enabled them to control
programs for development and work of their members.
Indeed, the resources and technical means have become
available on a broader and easier basis. The young men
were able to innovate in the media field, and the
Jihadist movements were able to devote specialized
cadres in this field that were able to provide
continuity for the media work and a notable creativity
to a degree that surpassed and astounded the media of
the enemy.
Indeed, the Mujahideen have been able to establish
independent and autonomous Islamic Emirates, as is the
case in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq, Somalia and
smaller Emirates were established in the lands of the
Islamic Maghreb, Pakistan and Eastern Turkestan. In
these areas, the Mujahideen have come to possess
dependent and secure media organizations, through the
Grace and Blessings of Allah, and the brothers in the
Ministry of Information or the Media Committees were
able to excel in creativity and find a correct and
suitable program for that.
We mention for example, but exclusively; as-Sahab
Establishment, al-Furqan Establishment, al-Fajr, the
Global Islamic Media Front, the al-Ansar
Establishment, al-Mas‘ada, al-Malahim, al-Somood, the
(al-Ansar) Mailing Group, the al-Yaqeen Center, al-Somood
Battalion, al-Andalus Establishment and other Jihadist
media establishments and centers. We especially
mention these blessed Jihadist forums - led by the
blessed al-Shamukh Network, Atahadi, Ansar al-Mujahideen
and others – which are considered the primary pulpits
from which the voices of the above-mentioned
establishments are launched. All of them arose for the
sake of supporting the Jihadist-Salafist program, and
to publish news of the Mujahideen; and to serve as a
connecting link between the masses of the Ummah and
the Jihad groups that follow the orders of Allah.
Every day we witness the revival and rebirth of other
establishments and pulpits, I pray that Allah increase
them; and encompass them in His care to release their
potential towards unique and continuous Jihadist media
commensurate with Jihadist progress on all fronts.
Among the most important conditions for creativity are
security and the provision of the necessary material
resources. I believe these two conditions are present
in the regions I mentioned above. The line of
creativity is still being reeled in and in the future
days we will see surprises that will rejoice friends
and vex foes, all praise is for Allah, the Lord of all
that exists.
The Necessity of the Scholars and Students of
Knowledge to Participate in the Media Work
Knowledge and effort are two sides of the same coin.
Indeed, knowledge precedes labor as is well-known in
our Religion, dear brother. Based on that all of our
brothers, in every speciality should not overlook the
issue of Shari'ah studies. This is the light which
illuminates their path to knowledge, understanding and
creativity. He who acts without knowledge is like a
driver on a dark road with no lights, so how can such
one be guided?
Thus, I say to the brothers that are seeking knowledge
that they should not content themselves with academic
study, but rather, they must provide service and
assistance to their brothers in the fields which need
them; such as the media field which has become an
effective weapon to wound the enemy.
Just as the media field is regarded as a means of
preaching, delivering the Word of Truth and correcting
proper Shari'ah concepts for Muslims, you will not be
able to deliver this through any other means.
At the same time, I direct this advice to my brothers
occupied in the media field to spend their valuable
time to obtain Shari'ah knowledge in order to have
insight into their affairs and to be able to play
advanced roles in the obligation of media Jihad, Allah
willing.
The conditions of the war have become very complicated
and complex. It is not possible for a man with one
specialization to be a pioneer or exemplar in his
field. We are in need of leaders and creative
directors in every field. Shari'ah knowledge cannot be
dispensed with or (else) other ideologies shall
overcome us and we shall be influenced by them.
The Media Jihad Takes into Account Circumstances and
Reality
Media policy must undoubtedly take into consideration
realistic circumstances and interprets the positions
of the agency that is managing the media
establishment. Not all that is known can be said!
The al-Furqan Establishment, for example, is concerned
with distributing the public positions of the Islamic
State of Iraq. As we know, the State has plunged into
battle on a number of fronts. It is battling the
Crusader armies (America and its allies), the armies
of apostasy (the Rafidite government and its allies),
the armies of hypocrisy (the Awakening Councils), and
last but not least, those groups which take Jihad as a
slogan and allege that they are fighting the Crusader
occupier.
An establishment like this works on two fronts
simultaneously: the military front, which is
represented by repelling the assailant through force
of arms (the sword gives victory) as seen in the
various Jihadist operations of different groups, and
on the Da'wa front by force of truth (the written word
guides) represented by the media establishments that
deliver the Word of Truth to the people in general and
to the majority of the warring factions who perhaps
may repent, return to Truth and be among its
supporters. This was before the factions separated and
set themselves apart. But after the separation was
complete, and each one of these factions took a
position; a stance in the ongoing struggle, it became
clear to the Islamic State that none of those would
come to believe except those who already believed. The
State, therefore shifted to revealing the truth in
order to make clear the path of the criminals; in
order to teach the people the reality of each faction
so they could take the proper position in the ongoing
struggle. This was especially true of those groups
which claimed they were conducting Jihad and the State
had wished them well; and gave them the opportunity to
review their positions and take an honorable stance.
They, however, insisted on deepening the division and
seeking discord while they knew that the State owned
both the right and the might which enabled it to
announce the establishment of a comprehensive State
that established the Law of the Most Merciful and
waged war against the laws of the Shaitan. They were
vexedwhen they saw the vigor of this blessed State and
how the tribes and muhajireen gathered around it to
support it and swell its numbers.
As for the brothers in the Lands of the Islamic
Maghreb, for instance, their situation is clearly
different from that in Iraq. There the brothers'
opponent is represented basically by the apostate
regime under the leadership of a group of secularist
generals belonging to the Franco-Crusader regime
accompanied by hordes of journalists and intellectuals
conducting a media war to denigrate the image and
goals of the Mujahideen. There had to be a response to
the most serious of these sophisms and slanders to
expose the regime; and to make known its lies; and
attempt to reach the minds and hearts of the Muslims.
I pray that Allah Almighty dispose our hearts in
obedience to Him and to make us steadfast in His
Religion; and to use us to champion His Religion and
its proponents. I pray that He makes possible for us
the path to meet and for Him to be pleased with us, to
enable us to glorify the obedient people and humiliate
the disobedient people. Praise be to Allah, the Lord
of all that exists.
Written by: Abu Sa'd al-‘Amili, Supporter of the
Jihadist Media and Pulpits - Shawwal 1431 H
With the greetings of your brothers in the al-Mas‘ada
Media Establishment
Voice of Shamukh al-Islam Network
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EsinIslam.Com
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