The return of the caliphate

Submitted by Tyler Bede (United States), Jul 28, 2006 at 15:03

The world's response to Hezbollah points out how complex the Middle East can be. There are messages from Al Qaeda's No. 2 man, Ayman al-Zawahri, about a new relationship with Hezbollah that should not be overlooked in the Washington Times news article below. http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20060727-103427-6548r.htm

The goals of jihad remain the same: spread Islam throughout the world. "It is a jihad for the sake of God and will last until [our] religion prevails ... from Spain to Iraq" is Al Qaeda's No. 2 man Ayman al-Zawahri's reference to the 8th century caliphate. (Ayman al-Zawahri is the Egyptian doctor.)

After the 9/11 airplane bombings of New York and the Pentagon few in the U.S. State Department understood what Osama bin Laden was talking about when he spoke of "80 years of humiliation." 80 years ago the Ottoman empire, the last caliphate, ended because of World War I. The "humiliation" is that the ummah, the Muslims, were no longer living under the social-political-religious leadership of a caliph and Sharia. Instead, the ummah is now living under non-Islamic systems such as democracy or under dictators described as "idle kings" or Pharaoh, a polytheist pagan.

After the return of the caliphate social model the newly revived caliphate will then expand WORLD-WIDE. This process is expected to take the rest of this, the 15th Islamic century. The 15th century holds special meaning for Islamists. Many centuries ago an Islamic scholar predicted that al Mahdi would return in the 15th Islamic century, that is, NOW.

See this interesting article: Abizaid Discusses Defeating Extremist Ideology in CENTCOM Region http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2006/20060613_5403.html

It took the Spaniards centuries to expel the Islamic Moors. It was finally completed in 1492 and, upon the (Catholic) success the Spaniards expelled (or killed) any infidels remaining on Spanish soil. "Infidels" in this case means non-Catholics i.e. Muslims and Jews. There are families living today in Tunisia that still have 500-year-old keys to their former homes in Spain. Al-Andalus is not forgotten. Any land where Muslims have ever lived is forever Dar al-Islam, the abode of Islam.

Spain now faces a flood of illegal immigrants from North Africa. Once in Spain they can freely travel anywhere in the European Union. The Fifth Column marches on. In the Washington Times news article the latest message from al Qeada is described as "state-of-the-art broadcast studio, with professional lighting, a crisp sound system and a backdrop that included an image of the World Trade Center in flames. " Adam Gadahn a.k.a. Azzam al Ameriki, a (formerly) nice boy from Southern Khalifornia is believed to be al Qeada's Chief of Communications. http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=239727

He spent time as an intern at a television production company. With new technology it doesn't take much to produce very polished videos. See video about Adam Gadahn a.k.a. Azzam al Ameriki at the Internet Archive: http://www.archive.org/details/azzam-alameriki

A Message from President Bush Discussing the War on Terror at the National Endowment for Democracy. http://www.fulcrumofdestiny.com/Presidential Speech.html

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".