Many Arab countries have warned of Takfiri books that went viral among young men. Governments banned such books and arrested anyone who possesses them as they are considered as references for IS terrorist organization and a supply for extremists.
The Islamic State relies on some books that fall under the category of takfirism, jihad and building the caliphate. Those books are considered by IS as references and constitutions for its followers. IS aims at imitating Al Qaeda in building an independent intellectual entity. The Islamic State has greatly benefited by Al Qaeda’s jihadist and the Muslim Brotherhood’s organizational experiences.
References and Takfiri Literature
Several sources confirm that ISIS has a number of references, and that it has its own literature that calls for killing and blood shedding. The organization uses such books to incite its fighters including the women battalion of Al-Khansa and their children. Among the references, IS relies on is “Millat Ibrahim”, which is considered one of the most dangerous books that has formulated the jihadist movement. It is a takfiri book based on the idea of believing in the religion of the Prophet Ibrahim and disbelief in Taghut (Taghut in Islam is worshipping other than God.) Al-Maqdisi determines the forms of this disbelief, as a Muslim shall not get involved with the Taghut, especially in military.
Al-Maqdisi has issued a fatwa, saying that Arab security forces are Taghut, as its followers assert.
IS also relied on “Management of Savagery” by Abu Bakr al-Naji.
Al-Naji explains in his book that the Islamic nation passes through three stages, the first is “the jihad of spite,” the second phase is “the general chaos”, in which savagery plague the nation and the third is “Empowerment and the establishment of the Islamic state.”
It also relies on the book “Milestones in the Path”, in which there is an order to “empower” the nation.
As for the other book approved by IS, “Chapters in Imamate and Pledge” by Abu al-Mundhir al-Shanqeeti, in which the writer believes that “assigning an Imam is a legal duty for Muslims everywhere and at all times.”
Another reference for IS is “Issues from Jihad law” by Abu Abdullah Al-Muhajir “Abdulrahman Al-Ali,” an Egyptian who had a close relationship with Zarqawi. He graduated from the Islamic University in Islamabad, stayed in Afghanistan, where he established a preaching centre in Khalden camp. Al-Muhajir was detained in Iranian prisons, was later released and returned to Egypt months after the Egyptian revolution. He published a number of books, including: “Issues from Jihad law” which is known as the “Law of Blood”.
Jihad and Resistance Beliefs
In “Call for Islamic Resistance”, its author, Abu Musab Al-Souri, focuses on the idea of jihad and resistance without any organization. It also focuses on jihadi action without paying much attention to “establishing the Sharia government.” Among the other approved books by IS is “Landmarks of the Victorious Sect in Mesopotamia,” by Maysarat al-Gharib or Abdullah al-Muhajir.
In this book the author explains the organization’s policy in killing and calling to shed the blood of Shiites, seculars and liberals, in addition to any human believes in democracy or practice it.
Another book approved by IS is “Lifting Confusion on Nation of that Whom God Has Made Leader of all People” by Juhayman bin Muhammad Al-Otaibi, known for storming of the “Haram” in Saudi Arabia, 1980. In his book he urges separation from the government under the pretext that it is not governed by God’s law.
“People who Stop Between Doubt and Certainty” is one of the most famous works of Helmy Hashem, known as Abd al-Rahman Shakir Naam Allah,” a former Egyptian police officer, who reached the rank of lieutenant colonel before he was fired. When he was released from prison he studied Sharia, and specialized in the Takfiri laws.
The last book adopted by IS and which is considered as IS constitution is “Umda fi I’dad al-‘Udda , or The Essentials of Being Ready for Jihad“ by Sayyid Imam, the most prominent theoretician of global jihad, his books were spread among the Afghan tribes during the period of the Afghan “jihad” against the Soviet Union. It is considered one of the most prominent references on which the Salafi jihadism relies on.
It was translated into many languages, as an organizational constitution for jihad and the al-Qaeda organization.
The Egyptian Fatwa House has identified 13 books and references on which the takfiri groups and organizations are based on.
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