The document to be reviewed is an Al-Qaeda Manual, found in a computer file, while a raid was carried out by Manchester Metropolitan Police in an Al-Qaeda member’s apartment.This manual is about declaration of Jihad (holy war) against the so called perpetrators (the west), and about welcoming fresh recruits. It also listed out essential qualifications required of fresh recruits and defined briefly the mandatory tasks required to be carried out in the name of Jihad.The Manual calls for the establishment of an Islamic state through violent means such as guns, bullets, bombing, and destruction, and not through peaceful diplomacy. Inviting the females also to be a part of the Jihadi movement, the manual calls for sacrificing husbands on the alter of Jihad, be a party to slaughter and obliteration of perpetrators, thus destroying the godless regime.The Manual quoted Koranic verses praising Allah the great, sought Allah’s forgiveness for any misdeeds done, sought guidance and enlightenment, and obeisance of Allah and his messengers.
It invited recruits who can carry out confrontation with Allah’s enemy in the form of carrying out assigned tasks of forging documents, counterfeiting currencies, smuggling arms and ammunitions, and to assist in activities like gathering information about enemies, blasting of vital centers, spreading rumors to instigate, kidnapping, assassination of enemies, eliminating personalities who are considered a threat to the path of Islam and also to free captured fellow brothers.Qualities like sacrifice, obedience, commitment to ideology, maturity, patience, tranquility, intelligence and insight are considered great assets. The Manual gives briefing on financial security precautions and fund utilization process of Al-Qaeda as also precautions to be exercised regarding forged documents like identity cards, record books, and passports.The Manual mentioned long term goals of establishing Islamic state and short term goals such as attacking enemies and their vital installations.
The Al-Qaeda Manual shows how the Jihadis’ minds operate and how they think Allah to be their sole and supreme commander. They link all their deeds as services to Allah, their savior, and hold themselves accountable to no one but Allah. However, it can be seen all too clearly that they fail to interpret the holy book in its true essence. The verses of Koran quoted so often in the Manual in some context or the other, seem to be misinterpreted.
A good quote from the Koran in the document reads thus, “Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the heart of) the enemies of Allah and your enemies and others besides whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know.”Here, the enemies are interpreted as anything western, and anything western is interpreted as evil. Hence, the declaration of holy war against this so called apostate regime (western powers). It is ludicrous to associate with such kind of medieval outlook, which abhors any kind of reform or novelty and treat those as blasphemy.
Instigating young minds to carry out destruction and terrorist activities in the name of religion can at best be termed as fanatical fundamentalism. No religion or religious scriptures support deceitful activities like forgery, counterfeiting of currency, or any such immoral activities. However, Al-Qaeda justifies all their misdeeds as an act towards the noble cause of Jihad. The manual shows Muslim fundamentalism at its best.To conclude, after reading this Manual, it becomes apparent that the world and minds of Jihadis work in a way which is divorced from real life situation.They are utterly devoid of logical reasoning and can go to any length to realize their fanatical dreams of establishing an Islamic state.
Religion is the essential pull or drawing force of this organization and once a recruit is indoctrinated, their fanatical spirit accepts any instructions from high command to carry out their so called war against oppression.
