Why Islamic Terrorists Commit Attacks
- In Their Own Words
"I am one of the
servants of Allah. We do our duty of fighting for the sake of
the religion of Allah. It is also our duty to send a call to
all the people of the world to enjoy this great light and to embrace
Islam and experience the happiness in Islam...
"Our primary
mission is nothing but the furthering of this religion."
Osama bin Laden, May 1998
Aside from pursuing mass murder
plots against innocent populations in every corner of the planet,
Islamic terrorists have one other thing in common:
They credit their motivation and success to religion.
Islam isn't hijacked by extremists
- it is what inspires them. This distinguishes Islamic
terrorism from criminal activity, and it is part of what makes Islam so
very, very different from other religions.
Many people prefer to bury
their heads in the sand or look for ways to re-cast Islamic terror to
fit their own political agenda. However, Muslims behind the violence
are quite explicit about the religious certainty that compels their actions.
The teachings and early history of Islam
that explain the violence are discussed elsewhere on this site. Here is shown that, as far as Islamic terrorists are concerned, their acts
are done explicitly in the name of Allah and for the cause of Islam
and Islamic law... across the globe.
Afghanistan
"This Jihad will continue until the Word of Allah and Shari'a is implemented in our land."
Taliban video released shortly after 2020 'peace deal' to explain on-going terror campaign
[The Taliban are] "a
simply band of dedicated youths determined to establish the laws of
Allah on earth... The Taliban will fight until there is no blood in
Afghanistan left to shed, and Islam becomes a way of life for our
people."
Mullah Omar, Taliban leader
"Our animosity
is based on religion. We hate Americans for their secular
ideology."
Tehrik-e-Taliban spokesman
Ihsanullah
Ihsan explaining why his group of terrorists are opposed to the
American presence in Afghanistan.
"In the name of
Allah the Avenger, I swear on the holy book to perform my sacred
duty as a soldier of Islam in this Jihad to restore to this world
the light of divine justice... Allah demands no less. For to
die in the cause is to be sent immediately to paradise."
Taliban official.
Algeria
“But the coming
Islamic caliphate country will not rise except at the hands of the
fighting sect who raises the flag of Allah and Jihad.”
Statement from the
Salafi terrorist group, one of several fundamentalist cells
responsible for the slaughter of 150,000 men women and children in
the 1990’s.
"Our Jihad consists of killing and
dispersing all those who fight against Allah and his Prophet."
"Throat-slitting and murder until
the power is Allah's!"
Both quotes
from leaders of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA). The first
spoken by Sid Ahmed Mourad, the second from Abdelkader Hattab.
Australia
"It was done was done for Islamic reasons and it is an honourable and praiseworthy act that I hope to be rewarded for by Allah... I will always support Jihad as it is part of Islam."
Bourhan Hraichie, jailed terrorist
"I began to re-evaluate my belief in God and I began to believe in God again, and then thereafter I became religious and started to seek knowledge, familiarise myself with the faith.
I listened to scholars that would talk about the life of the prophet. Id read books, attend lectures, go to the mosque, have discussions with people about the Islamic religion... I believed it was obligatory upon me to eventually commit an act of terror."
Ibrahim Abbas, who plotted to massacre "as many people as possible" at churches and public transit stations over Christmas 2016
"This nation [Muslims] should know that it was […] created to spread Allah’s religion and lead the nations, and this could only be achieved by Jihad for the sake of Allah!”"
Ahl As-Sunnah wasl-Jama'ah (ASJW) at a Sydney Mosque
“My motivation is paradise itself. It is the sacrifice of my life to fight the enemy
of Allah... To establish Jihad in Australia and to put fear into
those who are enemies to Allah."
Words of Sevdet Besim who pleaded guilty to plotting an attack on Anzac Day
Bangladesh
“They came to our room one last time and told us not to tarnish the name of Islam, be a good
Muslim and uphold the pride of Islam.
They said they had no intention of hurting us as we were Muslims. ”
Survivor of the massacre at a restaurant in 2016. The seven terrorists made sure that
Muslim hostages got their Ramadan iftar meal while those who could not recite from the Quran were
tortured and hacked to death. An ISIS spokesperson later explained, "Those who proved their Islam were
treated with respect and mercy and those who manifested their kufr (disbelief) were treated
with harshness and severity"
"The mujahedin will target expats, tourists, diplomats, garment buyers, missionaries, sports
teams and anyone else from the Crusader citizens to be found in Bengal until the land is purified
from the Crusaders and all other kuffar (non-believers) and the law of Allah is established”
Tasmin Chowdhury, explaining the 2016 restaurant massacre
Belgium
“And Quran has decided waging Jihad against the disbelievers until they give
the jizyah willingly while
they are humbled and the Islamic State has asked them to give it but they refused.”
From the video released claiming credit for the Brussels suicide attacks of March, 2016.
Bulgaria
“The month of
Ramadan is a month of holy war and death for Allah. It is a
month for fighting the enemies of Allah.”
'Base of Jihad' , taking credit for
the brutal suicide bombing of a bus full of innocent tourists.
Canada
“Islam came for the
good of humanity. So if someone doesn't like good we fight
them.”
Faruq Khalil Muhammad, explaining
why he supports terrorism against infidels.
Chechnya
“Allah created me in order to lift up high the banner of Allah…with the help of blood.”
Mukhamad-Amin Akhmatkhanov, a child suicide bomber, detailing his motives in a video
“True resistance is
helped by Allah the Supreme and the battles are for His just cause”
Abu Hafs, Mujahideen
and one of the region’s most prolific killer
“I ask you to step
up Jihad against enemies of Allah... Destroy Allah's enemies
wherever you have them, wherever your hands reach you may open a
front... When there is a total war, there are no more civilian
objects or civilian population"
Doku Umarov,
a leader who has taken personal responsibility for dozens of terror
attacks in which many civilians were left dead.
"I am an Islamist. The goal is to establish the religion of Allah, and
to live according to the precepts of Allah everywhere (not only in Chechnya)"
Abdul Hakim, a Chechan Jihadist on his way to Syria
China
“We are working
until we make Allah's religion supreme and we live a precious life
in the shadow of Islamic Shariah law, or else be rewarded with
martyrdom in the cause of Allah. We are plotting for the Chinese to
suffer the torture of Allah, or else by our hands”
Abdul Haq, leader of
the Turkistan Islamic Party, which took credit for the hacking to
death of 33 commuters at a Chinese train station.
Dagestan
"I ask Allah that
the next season he’ll give us the opportunity to kill as many kafirs
[non-believers] as we can, just to shred them to pieces. Allah
is almighty."
William Plotnikov,
an Islamic militant fighting in Dagestan
Terrorism is killing non-believers... for the
sake of Allah
Dagestani 'rebel' speaking on camera.
Egypt
"There is nothing
more right in God's religion (Islam) than those who speak of the
infidelity, reneging on Islam and abandonment of religion, and call
for the necessity to fight"
Abu Mohammed al-Adnani,
an al-Qaeda spokesperson
"Allah is our
objective, the Quran is our Constitution, the Prophet is our leader,
Jihad is our way, and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of
our aspirations."
Credo of the Muslim
Brotherhood, which has spawned attacks and numerous subsidiary
terrorist organizations
"As part of our defense of Islam, we persist in preventing all activity that tries to
compare some kind of partner to Allah. All religious activity needs to be exclusive to
Allah and not in the name of holy people...
The Islamic State will continue with its attacks to bring about the victory of Allah’s sharia ."
An Islamist, explaining a brutal 2017 attack on a Sufi mosque that left over 300 dead
"It was not my personal decision to kill Farag Foda. We are governed by Islam and by what Allah
and His Messenger said... I hope that Allah will reward me for what I did. I did what I
did to be closer to Allah."
Abu Al-Ela Abd Rabbo, explaining why he murdered a secular scholar following an al-Azhar University fatwa
France
"This group of
believers from the soldiers of the Caliphate
(may Allah give them strength and
victory) targeted the capital of prostitution and vice, the
one that carries the banner of the cross in Europe, Paris.
This group of believers advanced toward their enemy hoping to be
killed for Allah's sake, doing so in support of His religion and His
Prophet...
"They were truthful
with Allah and Allah granted victory upon their hands and cast
terror into the hearts of the crusaders...
All praise, grace and favor belong to Allah."
Statement released
by the caliphate, taking credit for the November13, 2015 Paris
massacre
"Kill them! Kill them! Kill them! In the name of Allah, they are insulting the
prophet, they are insulting our religion...
It is obligatory for every Muslim to relieve Islam"
Videotaped statement by Larossi Abballa just after he stabbed a police
officer and his wife to death in their home.
"Allah guided me and chose me among his servants to open his path. It is for that reason that I had to fight the enemies of Allah with all my strength"
Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving member of the terror cell that attacked Paris in 2015
Gaza
"Our conflict is not
an Israeli-Arab conflict. Our struggle is not for a Palestinian
state. We are seeking the world. We are seeking the whole world. We
are seeking a confrontation against all Crusaders, against all
Christians, against all infidels until they adopt the Islamic
religion, until they follow the Sharia of Allah. We are not
interested in Palestine. We are not interested in Tel Aviv or in
Ashkelon. What is important for us is to see Islam ruling the world.
This is the religion of God and we are fighting to see Islam rule
the world."
Abu al-Ayna
al-Ansari, a leader of a Salafi group in the Gaza Strip that is
allied with Islamic State ideology
“As Muslims, we don’t believe in states, borders, and embassies, and most certainly
not in Israel’s right to exist. We have to focus on imposing the rule of Islam wherever
we are, to signal to the infidels that their support of the enemy is useless."
Abu al-Ayna al-Ansari
Germany
"By the name of Allah, we have come to slaughter you... Oh brothers, immigrate and wage jihad for the sake of
Allah, support this religion. Everyone should do what he can. Every person should support the religion
with whatever he can. Those who are able to immigrate should immigrate; those who can carry out local attacks
should do so, and those who are in Europe should fight those pigs crusaders."
Anis Amri, the migrant who massacred a dozen people at a Berlin Christmas market
"The whole idea that this is merely a political war, is wrong. We kill them, because Allah told us to, and not because they attack us. The only way out for them is to convert or to pay a head tax"
'Abu K., the creator of a terror recruitment video shown in Germany
India "I fight for Allah, I am a terrorist."
Text message to his parents from a 'youth' who joined ISIS
“It's a religious
war with those who are unbelievers in the mission of Muhammad...
especially for the purpose of advancing Islam and repelling evil
from Muslims."
Abu Jindal Hamza explaining why he
helped slaughter 166 people in Mumbai
"It's a war between Islam and the infidel... We will establish Sharia, not just in India but across the world."
Zakir Musa, one of the most prolific terrorists in India
"Demolish the faith" of the "infidels of India"... "Accept Islam and save yourselves"... or prepare to be "slaughtered by our hands"
A letter from the group behind the Jaipur blasts, which killed 83.
“Democracy is among
the menaces we inherited from an alien government. It is part of
the system we are fighting against… It is not possible to work
within a democracy and establish an Islamic system… If Allah gives
us a chance, we will try to bring in the pure concept of an Islamic
Caliphate.''
"The notion of the
sovereignty of the people is anti-Islamic. Only Allah is
sovereign.''
Hafiz Mohammad
Saeed, the leader of the Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist organization.
Yes! We -
the terrorists of India – THE INDIAN MUJAHIDEEN, - the militia of
Islam whose each and every Mujahid belongs to this very soil of
India - have returned, to execute the compulsion of Allah:
"Fight them (the disbelievers), Allah will punish them by your hands
and bring them to disgrace, and give you victory over them and He
will heal the hearts of those who believe." (Qur'an 9:14).
Here we begin ... raising the illustrious banner of Jihad against
the Hindus and all those who fight and resist us...
All Praise and Glory be to Allah, Who Alone Helps His slaves, Who
Alone Fulfils His Promise, and Who Alone Defeats the enemy....
While hoping for the Help and Victory from Allah we declare that
such and more severe attacks shall continue irrespective of what the
blamers blame us for.
The hosts (of the Kafir) will all be routed and will turn and
flee. [Qur’an 54: 45]. "We ask Allah to forgive us and Have Mercy on us and Aid us to
conquer the unbelievers and Guide us to raise His Word and
degrade His enemies with His Will Alone.
"And peace be upon His Messenger, and all those who follow the Guidance."
The Indian
Mujahideen, claiming credit for a brutal series of bombings that
left dozens of civilians dead and hundreds more in agony.
"It is strictly prohibited to worship anyone except Allah. These Kafirs worship cow, sun, and moon. There is strict prohibition to maintain ties with those who are against Allah. Either accept Islam, pay Jiziya or prepared to be slaughtered."
A statement by the Islamic State informing Hindus of their choices
"We love and hate for the sake of Allah"
Hizbul Mujahideen militant commander Riyaz Naikoo
"For me, the decisions of the Quran are supreme"
Safdar Nagor, key conspirator of the Agmedabad blasts, which killed 56
Iran
“Those who know nothing
of Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those
who say this are witless. Islam says: 'Kill all the unbelievers just
as they would kill you all! Kill them, put them to the sword and
scatter their armies'....
"Islam says: Whatever good there is exists
thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be
made obedient except with the sword! The sword is the key to
paradise, which can be opened only for holy warriors!
"There are hundreds of other [Koranic] psalms and hadiths urging
Muslims to value war and to fight. Does all that mean that Islam is
a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those
foolish souls who make such a claim.'”
The Ayatollah Khomeini
Indonesia
“We planned to kill
for the sake of upholding Islamic Sharia and the establishment of a
caliphate."
Captured terrorist, Bayu Setiono,
who was busted along with five other members of an Islamic school
for plotting deadly attacks.
“Keep on fighting
for the application of Islamic law. If this state and nation wants
to become great, safe, and at peace then it has to return to Islam
one hundred percent without bargaining. If not, then it will be
destroyed.”
Abu Bakar Bashir,
spiritual leader of the Indonesian Mujahideen
"We will come to you wherever you are, we will stake out your posts, your houses, in crowded or quiet
place, day or night ... Earth belongs only to Allah, it is improper for you uphold other than Allah's law,
you uphold the devil's law.."
Jamaah Anshar Daulah group, in a statement found with a cache of nail bombs and machetes
Iraq
“There is no doubt
that Allah commanded us to strike the Kuffar (unbelievers), kill
them, and fight them by all means necessary to achieve the goal. The
servants of Allah who perform Jihad to elevate the word (laws) of
Allah, are permitted to use any and all means necessary to strike
the active unbeliever combatants for the purpose of killing them,
snatch their souls from their body, cleanse the earth from their
abomination, and lift their trial and persecution of the servants of
Allah. The goal must be pursued even if the means to accomplish it
affect both the intended active fighters and unintended passive ones
such as women, children and any other passive category specified by
our jurisprudence.”
Statement by the
head of Jama'at al-Tawid wal-Jihad ("Group for Monotheism and
Jihad"), a Sunni terrorist known for bloody massacres, including 86
Shiites at a mosque.
Iraq (Shia)
“My motivation is a
sense of duty toward my religious faith to fight against any hostile
enemy of Islam.”
Abu Deraa, Shiite
terrorist known for drilling into captive’s heads
Iraq (Sunni)
"We are defending
Islam and its sanctity”
A woman training to be
a suicide bomber
"The
Prophet, the master of the merciful has ordered to cut off the heads
of some of the prisoners of Badr in patience. He is our
example and a good role model."
Abu
Muasa'b al-Zarqawi speaking moments before beheading an abducted
American businessman.
ISIS
"We are
fighting for no other reason than to extract people from the
kufr and to usher them into the fold of Islam."
ISIS Commander
"The Islamic
State is only putting into practice what we have been taught by al
Azhar."
Sufyan al-Omar, the
pseudonym of a student who joined ISIS, explaining that it was a
natural result of what is taught at the world's most prestigious
Islamic university.
"What I did were terror acts. It was my duty. There are infidels and there is instruction in Koran to stop this and fight all infidels."
Jasim Mohammed Atti'ya, ISIS bomb maker
We hate you, first and foremost, because you are disbelievers; you reject the oneness of Allah – whether you realize it or not – by making partners for Him in worship, you blaspheme against Him, claiming that He has a son, you fabricate lies against His prophets and messengers, and you indulge in all manner of devilish practices...
"We hate you because your secular, liberal societies permit the very
things that Allah has prohibited while banning many of the things He has
permitted, a matter that doesn’t concern you because you Christian disbelief
and paganism 32 separate between religion and state, thereby granting supreme
authority to your whims and desires via the legislators you vote into power...
"The fact is, even if you were to stop bombing us... we would continue to hate you because our
primary reason for hating you will not cease to exist until you embrace Islam"
An article in ISIS's Dabiq Magazine entitled, "Why We Hate You and Want to Fight You"
Israel
“We bless every drop of blood that has been spilled for Jerusalem, which is clean and
pure blood, blood spilled for Allah, Allah willing. Every martyr (Shahid) will reach
Paradise, and everyone wounded will be rewarded by Allah.“
Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, on PA-TV in 2015
“The Islamic
Resistance Movement: Islam is its way. It is from Islam that it
derives its ideas, concepts, and perceptions concerning the
universe, life, and man, and it refers to Islam's judgment in all
its actions. It is from Islam that it seeks direction so as to
guide its
steps. “
The covenant of Hamas,
a terrorist organization that enjoys widespread popularity in the Islamic
world despite brutal massacres of Israeli men, women and children.
"It was a calculated act, performed with conviction and faith in
Allah... I dedicated myself to Jihad for the sake of Allah and Allah
granted me success. Do you know how many casualties there
were? That was made possible by Allah."
Ahlam Tamimi, one of
the bombers who slaughtered fifteen innocents, including six
children at a Sbarro's pizza parlor.
"When your Lord
revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who
believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve.
Therefore strike off their heads and strike off the fingertip of
them"
Literature from the
Jama'at al-Tawhid
wa'l-Jihad Salafi group in Gaza quoting from the Quran to justify
sending rockets haphazardly into Israeli population centers.
"I am proud and honored to be a terrorist for the sake of Allah...
This is Islamic religious law. I don't invent anything. I follow
Islamic religious law in this."
Umm Nidal, a woman who sent her six
sons on suicide missions against Jewish civilians
We are in need of strong and powerful heroes in order to implement the words of Allah: [The companions] 'are tough against the infidels and merciful among themselves.' We … motivate the students, to wage jihad, for the sake of Allah, and we instill love for Allah and His Prophet in the souls of our sons
Hamas spokesman at a 'summer camp' for kids. The Quran verse referenced is 48:29
"Our campaign against the Jews is a purely ideological Islamic campaign."
Islamic State magazine A-Naba' shortly after a March, 2022 murder spree
"The battle with the Jews is a religious one and not a national or populist one! It is not a battle for land, soil, or borders! In fact, it is a war that is legitimized by the Koran and the Sunnah... A Muslim fights the Jews because they have committed kufr [disbelief] against Allah Almighty, they have fought His prophets, and have held animosity toward Muslims."
Islamic State audio statement realeased in 2024
"My labeling is Islam only. Do not include me in any faction, organization or party
because I am Muslim and that is enough for me."
Suicide note from Kamal Mahmoud Abu Bakr, a Palestinian terrorist
Italy
"This month the jihad market is being organized, and the Prophet prepares
soldiers this month against idolaters and fights against the enemies of God.
So profit from this month, rush to be the first. God ordered you to
kill his enemies and wage jihad in his name, preach religion and the
sharia and punish the sinner"
steps. “
An imam who plotted to blow up Rome's central train station while
encouraging others to join the effort to make Allah's religion supreme
Jordan
“Terrorism is a
badge of honor on our chests until Judgment Day. In the name
of Allah, we’re pursuing the path of jihad until we uproot you,
exterminate your state until the rule of the king vanishes. We
follow the steps of the Prophet (Muhammad)... Allah is our Lord; you
have none."
Hassan al-Smeik,
leader of the cell that plotted a chemical weapons attack intended
to kill 80,000 Jordanians
"Our people... are
fighting disbelievers amongst their own just like the Prophet,
Allah’s peace and prayer be upon him, fought his people. The
Prophet, Allah’s peace and prayer be upon him, didn’t start with
fighting the Romans or the Persians, but he started by fighting his
people and made the criterion in that to be this religion."
Hassan al-Smeik,
leader of the cell that plotted a chemical weapons attack intended
to kill 80,000 Jordanians
Kenya
"Only Kuffar were
singled out for this attack... Oh Allah, plant firmly our feet and
give us victory over the disbelieving people."
Terrorists on
Twitter explaining why they were shooting non-Muslim shoppers at the
Westgate Mall after allowing those who could recite from the Quran
to escape.
“The Mujahideen
punished with their hands those believing and worshipping other than
Allah. The [holy warriors] will continued until such practice
is eliminated."
al-Shabaab loyalist
Sheikh Hassan Takar on why two churches were targeted with grenades
and gunfire.
Lebanon
“We are… linked to
the Muslims of the whole world by the solid doctrinal and religious
connection of Islam, whose message God wanted to be fulfilled by the
Seal of the Prophets, i.e., Muhammad”
From the charter of
the Hezbollah terrorist group, which has kidnapped, tortured and
killed numerous non-Muslims.
"All praise is due
to Allah, the strong and mighty, and may blessings and peace be upon
the one sent by the sword as a mercy for all the world...chopping
off the heads that have been carrying the cross delusion for a long
time...They supplicate what they worship and die upon their
paganism...We will conquer Rome, by Allah’s permission, the promise
of our prophet."
A statement by
Islamists as they are beheading 21 Christian laborers on a beach in
Libya
Libya
“We are in a battle
with the liberals and the secularists...
I swear by Allah
that we can tolerate the killing of all people and wiping all
countries off the map but we cannot tolerate a single swear word
that could hurt our prophet...
Our brave youths
will continue their struggle until they impose Sharia"
Mohammad Ali al-Zahawi,
the leader of the Libyan arm of Ansar al-Sharia, which has massacred
hundreds.
Mali
“We are fighting to establish Sharia.”
Jihadist leader in Mali, 2022.
“All we want is the
implementation of Sharia.”
A spokesman from
Ansar Dine, a group which has been compared to al-Qaeda for its
summary execution of civilians and captured soldiers.
“We are going to kill you because you don't want Sharia.”
Ansar Dine in
Northern Mali
Mozambique
“We are not fighting for wealth, we only want Islamic law.”
A spokesman from Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jama, shortly after a deadly attack in March, 2020
Netherlands
"What moved me
to do what I did was purely my faith. I was motivated by the
law that commands me to cut off the head of anyone who insults Allah
and his Prophet."
Mohammed Bouyeri,
explaining in court why he stabbed Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh to
death. (Bouyeri was holding a Quran at the time).
Niger
"Thanks to
Allah, we carried out two operations against the enemies of Islam in
Niger."
Mujao spokesman
Abu Walid Sahraoui, following a terror attack.
Nigeria
"We warn that nothing will be able to save those raising their
voices against us and Allah. Nothing will be left behind, from the
East, West and Middle Belt except those who accept the creation of
Allah and the leadership place of Fulani in fulfilling this destiny...
Insha Allah, we shall take this battle across the sea, on the land,
in the air, on the mountains, in every territory currently occupied
by the Kafirs. This is our position. This is our destiny.
Badu Salisu Ahmadu, leader of the Fulani Nationality Movement,
which targets Christian farming communities.
"For peace to
reign in the land, all Christians must convert to Islam. Allah has
tasked all Muslims in Quran chapter 9 verse 29 to continue to attack
Jews and Christians who refused to believe in him and his messenger,
Prophet Mohammed"
Abu Qaqa, explaining
why his band massacred nearly one hundred worshippers, including
children, in a series of attacks on churches in a single Sunday
morning.
"Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) in his life time flushed out all idol worshipers and
their leaders and all these evils. So, our aim and target is to do
so here... Allah commanded us to obey His Holy Quran. Whether one
likes it or not, we will follow it... we will get people to believe
Allah is one, and Muhammad, His Prophet. They will come to the right
way. "
Ustaz Muhammed Yusuf,
founder of the Boko Haram terror group that has been known to kidnap
and behead Christian pastors who refuse to embrace Islam
“Whomever we kill, we kill because Allah says we should kill and we
kill for a reason."
Abubakar Shekau,
a cleric and spiritual leader calling for holy war against
Christians.
"I enjoy killing
anyone that Allah commands me to kill the way I enjoy killing
chickens and rams"
A Boko Haram spokesman explaining
his group's declared war on Nigerian Christians.
"Today Almighty
Allah has given us victory against Christian Churches in Kaduna and
Zaria which led to the deaths of many Christians... "
A Boko Haram spokesman who went on to quote the Quran to explain why
the group bombed churches, killing many Christians, including
children.
"As for killing, we
will kill because Allah says we should decapitate, we should
amputate limbs, we should mutilate which led to the deaths of
many Christians"
Abubakar Shekau the leader of the Boko Haram sect .
"We are warriors
who are carrying out Jihad (religious war) and our struggle is based
on the traditions of the holy prophet. We will never accept any
system of government apart from the one stipulated by Islam because
that is the only way that the Muslims can be liberated. We do not
believe in any system of government, be it traditional or orthodox,
except the Islamic system which is why we will keep on fighting
against democracy, capitalism, socialism and whatever.
"We will not allow
the Nigerian Constitution to replace the laws that have been
enshrined in the Holy Qur’an, we will not allow adulterated
conventional education (Boko) to replace Islamic teachings. We will
not respect the Nigerian government because it is illegal. We will
continue to fight its military and the police because they are not
protecting Islam. We do not believe in the Nigerian judicial system
and we will fight anyone who assists the government in perpetrating
illegalities."
Boko Haram 'Statement of Principles' 2011
"We are all happy when unbelievers are killed."
Islamic Scholar Isa Pantami, who presided over the murder of a student who had distributed a Christian tract at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University. He also said that Bin Laden is a "better Muslim" than he.
Pakistan
"[Pakistan]
will be turned into a citadel of Islam and secularism will be
purged... only Islam guarantees human rights and peace."
The Tehrik-e-Taliban
in a statement claiming responsibility for a brutal series of bomb
attacks on Shiite pilgrims and mosques in which children were killed
"Our whole
struggle is for the enforcement of Sharia law"
Muslim Khan, Spokesperson for the Pakistani Taliban, responsible for
hundreds of bombings, shootings and abductions.
"With regard
to Osama and Al-Zawahiri, I never met them, but I have the utmost
love and respect for them, because of their enmity towards the Jews
and the Christians. The Muslims must be harsh towards the infidels
and compassionate among themselves. These two men reflect this
Koranic verse... We place our trust in Allah. Soon, we will witness
the miracles of Jihad."
By'atullah Mahsoud, Emir of the Pakistani Taliban
"We have taken up guns for Islam. We have not taken up guns for any
nation, country. We want Islamic system here, the system of Quran and not
the system of falsehood. And for that, give your blood, life and property
"
Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist
"We will come out as a force to establish Islamic rule over the entire world... We want Sharia within our country and I, along with my pupils, will go to any extent to implement Sharia – even at the cost of waging a war
"
Maulana Mohammad Abdul Aziz, considered the most dangerous man in Pakistan
Philippines
“We may be small in
number, but we have plenty fighting with us--the angels and the hand
of Allah. We dream of an entire Islamic world, and we will
achieve it. Allah is with us."
Abu Sayyaf terrorist
group leader, Khadaffy Janjalani, responsible for church bombings
and beheadings.
Russia
"I have come here only to make Allah pleased with me, to earn heaven.
Why should we follow those Christian commandments, when Allah, may
he be glorified, urges us to fight those kafirs? Why shouldn’t
we leave their children orphan?"
Pavel Pechyonkin, a suicide bomber who ended the lives of 17
innocents at a bus stop
"Allah is great. The infidels will be defeated. We went out for the sake of Allah and to seek his religion."
Selfie made by gunmen in the act of slaughtering nearly 150 unarmed people at a concert in Moscow
Saudi Arabia
"One of the greatest
virtues in Islam is jihad for the sake of God. Ramadan is the month
of jihad and battles, and most Muslim battles took place during the
blessed month. This is your season, o people of jihad. Jihad during
the fasting month of Ramadan has a great taste -- for what better
way to break your fast than to kill infidels and relish the sound of
the weeping of the despicable tyrants and infidels."
Saudi-based
terrorist magazine, al-Jihad
Scotland
"This all happened for one reason and no other issues and no other intentions. It is mentioned in the
Quran that there is no doubt in this book no one has the right to disrespect the sayings of the Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him. And no one has the right to disrespect the Prophet of Islam Muhammad,
Peace be upon him."
Tanveer Ahmed, who brutally stabbed to death a member of the Ahmadi religious sect
Somalia "The call of Jihad that we constantly reiterate is a holy struggle aimed at achieving the pleasure of Allah and His reward... [The goal is to build]
righteous Muslim society that adheres to the laws of the Quran and Sunnah, upholds the teachings... and disassociates itself from all forms of disbelief."Abu ‘Abdurahman Mahad Warsame, a senior official for the al-Shabaab terrorist group
"We’re going to fight and keep on
fighting until we rule the whole world by the Sharia and this black banner of la ilaha illa
Allah [There is no god but God]. "The Islamic State in Somalia
"And your brothers
of the Mujahideen Movement are on their way, going forth in Jihad
against the occupiers and disbelievers so that the word of Allah is
the highest and there is no more fitnah on earth and the
religion is solely for Allah."
Deadly Somali
terrorist group calling itself, Youth Islamic Movement
"Know that I am
doing this martyrdom operation only for the sake of Allah and for
his religion."
A 21-year-old member
of al-Shabaab and former British college student who murdered 20
Africans.
South Africa
"Verily Allah
has purchased the lives of the believers that theirs shall be
paradise. They fight in Allahs cause, so they kill and are killed...
it will NEVER be over until the day that we see our lands governed
by He Allah the almighty, whose law is complete."
Samantha Lewthwaite,
the so-called 'white widow', in a poem discovered shortly after the
Westgate mall massacre.
Spain
"Kill the unbelievers and leave only Muslims who follow their religion."
Moussa Oukabir, a leader in the terror cell behind the 2017 Barcelona massacre
"Allah, may he be
praised, said… ‘Kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out
from where they have driven you out; for internal strife [Fitna] is
worse than killing.’"
The Qur’anic verse
quoted by the Abu Hafs Al-Masri Brigades in explaining the murder of
202 Madrid train commuters
Sri Lanka
"Allah created this land for Muslims... Only Muslims have the right to rule... Even if a kafir does good things, I hate him, because he is a non-believer"
Zahran Hashim, imam and mastermind of the Easter Sunday massacre that killed over 300 in 2019. The attack specifically targeting churches, as Easter was called a "blasphemous holiday" in the group's suicide video.
Sudan
"To Fight and
Conquer. Death in the name of Allah."
The unit logo of the
Janjaweed militia, responsible for “cleansing” Darfur of African
people along with the rape of thousands of women.
"Long live the
Mujahideen"
Sudanese President,
Omar al-Bahir, at a meeting of Janjaweed fighters.
“Jihad is a duty.”
The constitution of
the Islamic Republic of Sudan
Sweden
"Instead of putting
on a T-shirt and going to the most hated place for Allah, just to
stand there and do dawah [missionize] you should go there with a
bomb instead. Download Inspire Magazine, start making bombs from
simple stuff . Now is the time to show who the earth belongs to!"
Mikael Skramo, a
convert to Islam who openly advocates killing 'kafir'
Syria
“Our hero [the
suicide bomber] believed in Allah and died while fighting for Allah”
Islamic Jihad
leader, Abu Ayman
"We are fighting to
apply what Allah said to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. We
are fighting so people don’t look to other people but only to Allah.
We don’t believe in complete freedom: it is restricted by Allah’s
laws."
A member of
al-Nusra, an al-Qaeda affiliated group responsible for hundreds of
terror attacks
"Being Muslims, we
do not believe in political parties or parliamentary elections, but
rather in an Islamic regime... Our heading towards the establishment
of Islamic law (Sharia) is jihad in Allah's way."
A spokesperson for
al-Nusra, explaining what motivates the car bombings, suicide
attacks and execution of hostages
"Jabhat Fatah el al Sham will work towards achieving actions for the religion
of Allah, may he be exalted, strengthening
Sharia law and the rule of justice between people, all people."
The leader of an al-Qaeda linked terrorist group
Tajikistan
"The Mujahideen,
fighting in our ranks, have firm faith, they do not fight for power
or positions in the society, they only want to make supreme the
world of Allah... we abandoned this world, and, Allah willing,
strive for the appeasement of Allah”
Mujahideen of Tajik,
the country's bloodiest terror group.
Thailand
"The Islamic
warriors of Pattani announce the purpose that we will never stop
killing the Siamese kafir (infidel) and will never stop destroying
army weapons, the economy, politics, education and the Siamese kafir
society until we regain the land of Pattani and establish the state
of Pattani Dar al-lslam”
Leaflets distributed
by separatists to intimidate the local Buddhist population.
“….Martyrs, how
glorious we will be if we fall as warriors of our land. When Martyrs
are killed, they are not dead but alive next to Allah. They will
watch and listen to every piece of news to see if their children
will follow in their footsteps….”
Berjihad di Pattani,
“calls for a holy war to liberate Pattani from ‘colonists’. It is
liberal in employing metaphoric references and verses from the
Quran. ...a significant and clear articulation of the radical
religious dimension of the conflict in south Thailand used within
the context of Malay-Muslim resentment of the central government. It
engages in Takdir (the labeling of fellow Muslims as infidels) and
makes direct calls for Martyrs to attack fellow Muslims perceived to
be collaborating with the “occupation”, or the Jahili (people of the
ignorance). It views the practice of religious obligations of these
“hypocrite” Muslims as a disguise hiding hearts filled with fury and
hatred against Islam…”
Turkey
“The Koran says:
‘Fight them until evil disappears and all religion becomes Allah's
[religion].' The suicide activists who blow themselves up are
carrying out the Koran's commandment.’"
Ali Osman Zor,
Great
East Islamic Raiders Front terrorist organization
"We are following
Allah’s word. We believe that humanity’s only duty is to honor Allah
and his prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. We are implementing
what is written in the Koran... It is every Muslim’s duty to
fight those of a different belief until only Allah is worshipped
around the world."
Abu Sattar, Islamic
State recruiter in Turkey
"After the blessed actions of the ISIL martyr against those in Turkey who observe the religion of
the cross, when he destroyed them with hand grenades and bullets, and turned their joy into
sadness, 150 people were killed and wounded in revenge for the sake of Allah’s religion. The commander
of the believers has ordered us to harm those who serve the cross, in Turkey."
Statement claiming responsibility for the New Year's Eve massacre at an Istanbul nightclub.
"Muslims are terrorists. The first duty of Muslims is to be terrorists. Kafir should be afraid of Muslims. If they are not afraid, then a Muslim is not a Muslim.
İsmet Özel, a well-known Muslim poet from Turkey
United Kingdom
“Our religion is
Islam - obedience to the one true God, Allah, and following the
footsteps of the final prophet and messenger Muhammad... This is how
our ethical stances are dictated. “
Mohammad Sidique
Khan, London subway bomber, explaining his motives on a pre-recorded
video tape.
"Know that,
I did what I did for the pleasure of Allah alone."
From the
will of Bilal Abdulla, a Glasgow suicide bomber.
"We are
doing this in order to gain the pleasure of our Lord and Allah loves
us to die and kill in his path. Anyone who tries to deny this,
then read the Koran and you will not be able to deny this because
this is the words in the Koran and the words of our the messenger of
Allah, prayers and peace upon him."
"We love to
die in the path of Allah... On top of this is to punish and to
humiliate the Kuffar [non-believer]"
"Thank God
Allah accepted my duas [prayers] yeah, and provided me a means to do
this."
From the
farewell videos of those convicted in the plot to kill thousands of
airline passengers over the Atlantic in 2006.
"O
enemies of Allah, we have heard and seen you openly insulting the
final Messenger of Allah. You should know that for every action
there is a reaction. Today is a day of retaliation
(especially) for your blasphemy of Allah and his messenger Muhammad.
We love death more than you love life."
Letter of
explanation from six Muslim devotees who admitted to plotting a bomb
attack on critics of Islam at an EDL rally.
"We are
forced by the Quran, in Sura at-Tawba, through many ayah in the
Quran athat that say we must fight
them... Allah's peace and blessings be upon you."
Convert Michael
Adebolajo, explaining himself on video right after hacking an off-duty soldier to
death on a London street while shouting praises to Allah. In
court, he told a judge, "I did it for God."
"This is for Allah!"
Shouted by assailants as they stabbed their victims on London Bridge in June, 2017
"Let all my relatives die along with the disbelievers for all I care. It is their
own fault for living amongst the disbelievers and not doing hijrah away from
the disbelievers.
"Allah tells us in the Quran, 'O you who have believed, fight those disbelievers nearest to you and let them find in you harshness. And know that Allah is with the righteous'. (Quran 9:123)
So our beloved brothers were just carrying out God's command.
As for those killed, then I show no sympathy to any disbeliever, whether male or female, young or old."
Omar Hussein a cafeteria security guard turned ISIS jihadi, explaining why it is imperative to kill non-Muslims and those who befriend them
"We primarily fight wars due to people being disbelievers. Their drones against us are a secondary issue, their kufr (disbelief/denial) against Allah is sufficient of a reason for us to invade and kill them. Only if they stop their kufr will they no longer be a target male or female, young or old."
Abu Rahim Aziz, a British ISIS fighter
United States "We call on every Muslim who believes
in Allah and wishes to be rewarded to comply with Allah's order to kill the Americans and plunder their money
wherever they find it."
Statement released on the 19th anniverary of the 9/11 attacks
"They have one purpose, they are fighting to impose Sharia on earth."
Sayfullo Saipov, who mowed down New Yorkers in 2017 for ISIS, explaining the goals of that organization
"I am following orders of Allah, who gave me life"
Sayfullo Saipov, explaining his own motivation for killing New Yorkers along a bike path
"In the name of Allah, the merciful (Arabic), Praise be to Allah, and prayers as well as peace upon the prophet of Allah. I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings.
Omar Mateen, while massacring 49 innocents at a gay night club in Florida
"We ask Allah to
make us follow their path [Muhammad's companions]. To give us a
complete understanding of the message of Islam, and the strength the
live by this knowledge, and to know what role we need to play to
establish Islam in the world."
Final posting from Mohammad Youssuf
Abdulazeez,
the Americanized Kuwaiti immigrant who shot four US Marines to death
in Chattanooga, TN
"When you put a bomb in a place like this, are you okay, you've made peace with Allah that you're fine with killing women and children and everything else... I feel that I'm doing it for a good cause for Allah."
James Media, aka James Mohammad, a convert to Islam who plotted to bomb a synagogue in Florida.
”The Mujahedeen are
proud to kill in the name of God and this is exactly what God told
us to do in the Quran."
Umar Farouk
Abdulmutallab, the "underwear bomber" who tried to down an airplane
over Detroit - speaking at his sentencing.
"I did not act out
of hatred for Americans, but love for Allah instead. I live
only to serve Allah by obeying all of Allah’s commandments, of which
I am aware by reading and learning the contents of the Koran.”
Mohammed Reza
Taheri-Azar, explaining (in his words) “reasons for premeditating
and attempting to murder citizens and residents of the United States
of America.” He also quoted 141 verses from the Qur'an.
"We, Muslims, are
content with God's book, the Quran, to fight you with. God has
granted us to fight... In God's book, He ordered us to fight you
everywhere we find you... We ask to be near to God, we fight you and
destroy you and terrorize you. The Jihad in God's cause is a great
duty in our religion.”
The "9/11 Shura
Council" - 9/11 planners held at Guantanamo Bay - in a March 2009
letter.
"[The United
States Government] openly acknowledges that it would hate for the
law of Almighty Allah to be the supreme law of the land. Is
that a war on Islam? You bet it is."
Maj. Nidal Hasan,
the Army psychiatrist who gunned down thirteen people at Fort Hood,
Texas.
"I wasn't insane or post traumatic nor was I forced to do this
Act... [it was] justified according to Islamic Laws and the Islamic
Religion. Jihad to fight those who wage war on Islam and
Muslims."
Abdulhakim Muhammad
(formerly Carlos Bledsoe),
explaining why he gunned down an unarmed soldier outside a
recruiting station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
"Jihad means holy war for the sake of God. It is one of the holiest deeds in Islam…
With Jihad the word of Allah is raised higher, and his religion prevails...
The Muslim war will continue until Islam is spread throughout the whole world."
Faisel Shahzad, in
his farewell tape, made shortly before the attempt to mass murder
hundreds of New Yorkers at Times Square.
"In late 2009, in fulfillment of a
religious obligation, I decided to participate in jihad against the
United States. The Koran obliges every able Muslim to participate in
jihad and fight in the way of Allah, those who fight you, and kill
them wherever you find them."
Umar Farouk
Abdulmutallab, the "Underwear Bomber", proudly telling a court why
he attempted to detonate a plane full of innocents over Detroit.
"The attack by the Islamic State in
America is only the beginning of our efforts to establish a wiliyah
[Islamic territory] in the heart of our enemy. Allah, those who
fight you, and kill them wherever you find them."
Statement by ISIS
following the shooting massacre at San Bernardino.
"The first thing we are calling you to is Islam... to reject the immoral acts of fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling, and trading with interest...
"You are the nation who, rather than ruling by the Shariah of Allah in its Constitution and Laws, choose to invent your own laws as you will and desire. You separate religion from your policies..."
Osama bin Laden,
extending the dawah (invitation to Islam) to America prior to Jihad
as Muhammad
instructed.
Uzbekistan
"We have declared a
jihad to create a religious government in Uzbekistan”
Islamic Movement of
Uzbekistan leader, Tahir Yuldeshev
Yemen
"We will
implement the rule of Allah on earth by the tip of the sword."
"We
need men who are willing to go all the way and not hold back
anything from Allah. The religion of Allah cannot be given
victory by part-time service. This is not a weekend religion. The
contract is to sell our souls to Allah. The compensation is
paradise."
American-born
Islamic cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who has inspired
multiple bombing and shooting plots in the U.S. and Europe from his base in
Yemen.
"Our project is to institute the Sharia of Allah on Earth and reject
the man-made laws and constitutions. Nothing will rule the country
other than the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger
We
will fight the enemy without leniency and not surrender until only Islam
rules"
Nasir al Wuhayshi, the
leader of Yemen's most feared terrorists
"In the name
of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful... Praise is to
Allah, the glory granter to Islam with His victory and the disgracer
of the unbelief with his Might... and I bear witness that Muhammad
is His slave and messenger who said:
'I have been
inspired between the hands of the hour until Allah alone is
worshiped and my sustenance has been made under the shade of my
spear, and disgrace and humiliation has been prescribed for the one
who disobeys my command.'"
al-Qaeda al-Jihad in
Yemen taking credit for a brutal suicide attack and quoting the
words of Muhammad to explain why.
"Muslims, this is what the Holy Quran states. Believers, you must do everything you can to terrorize the enemies of God.
“This is legitimate terrorism."
Hussein Badreddin's 2002 sermon to fellow members of Ansar Allah
September 11th Attacks (9/11)
"We killed them
outside their land, praise be to Allah. Today, we kill them in the
midst of their own home.
O Allah, revive an entire nation by our deaths. O Allah, I sacrifice
myself for your sake, accept me as a martyr. O Allah, I sacrifice
myself for your sake, accept me as a martyr. O Allah, I sacrifice
myself for your sake, accept me as a martyr.
To the Garden of Eden, our first house. We shall meet in the eternal
Paradise with the prophets, honest people, martyrs and righteous
people. They are the best of companions. Praise be to Allah. Allah's
peace, mercy and blessings be upon you. "
Ahmad al-Haznawi,
Flight 93 Hijacker
"Those 19 brothers who left us made
efforts and offered their lives for the cause of Allah. Allah has
favored them with this conquest, which we are enjoying now"
Ayman
al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's Number Two, explaining the motives for the
plot.
"I heard someone on Islamic radio
who owns a school in America say: 'We don't have time to keep up
with the demands of those who are asking about Islamic books to
learn about Islam.' This event made people think about true
Islam, which benefited Islam greatly."
Osama bin
Laden, bragging of the 9/11 attacks during a video-taped November,
2001 meeting.
"These actions are our offerings to God. In God’s book, he ordered us to fight you
everywhere we find you… Our religion is a religion of fear and terror to the
enemies of God: the Jews, Christians, and pagans. With God’s willing, we are
terrorists to the bone.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, 9/11 mastermind
"Be cheerful, for
you have only moments between you and your eternity, after which a
happy and satisfying life begins...
"Remember: it is a
raid for the sake of Allah. Recite the prayer. As you take the
seat, recite the prayer. Mention Allah a lot. When the
hijacking begins, "Shout Allah is great because this shout strikes
terrors in the hearts of the infidels
"And the moment of
death should be accompanied by the basic statement of belief recited
by all Muslims at the call to prayer. Seconds before the
target, your last words should be, 'there is no god but Allah.
Mohammed is his messenger!."
Written
instructions to the hijackers.
"Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
Allahu Akbar!"
Last words from
the cockpit of Flight 93.
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