The ghoulish, celebratory pronouncement by ISIS in the wake of the jihad carnage (at least 129 murdered, 99 critically wounded in Paris, and 352 others wounded) “A Statement on the Blessed Onslaught in Paris against the Crusader Nation of France,” opens with Koran 59:2. The full statement is reproduced below, preceded by a modern gloss of this verse, which places the ISIS statement in its appropriate Islamic context, i.e., of jihad terror.
Shabbir Ahmad Usmani (1886-1949) was a renowned theologian, writer, orator, and politician, with particular expertise in the study and interpretation of the Koran, and the traditions of Muhammad, or hadith. Usmani’s magnum opus was his Koranic commentary, Tafsir-e-Usmani, which drew upon some 14 prior commentaries. What follows is the crux of Usmani’s exegesis—a consensus, mainstream Islamic interpretation—which demonstrates ISIS invoked Koran 59:2 in a manner concordant with this authoritative gloss.
Seeing goods and materials, their [the Jews, specifically; non-Muslim “infidels” more broadly] strong fortresses and militant manners you could not think they would flee so soon and surrender so easily, nor could the Jews calculate that a handful of Muslims would reduce them to great straits. They were in this dreamland that the Muslims would not dare to come to their fortresses—(those Muslims upon whom was the hand of Allah). In other words they saw it very well that no power could defend them against the order of Allah. Upon the order of Allah came from whence they imagined not, i.e., from the interior of their hearts, i.e., Allah cast terror into their hearts and established the power of the unequipped Muslims, having no spectacular material resources, upon the powerful enemy. One onside they were distressed and terrified at the sudden murder of their [the Jews] chief Ka’ab ibn Ashraf [whom Islam’s prophet Muhammad ordered assassinated], now this sudden assault of the Muslims lost their remaining senses.
Out of greed, anger and wrathful emotions they [the Jews] began to tear down the beams and planks of their houses, so that they could carry as much as they could and leave nothing for the Muslims. In this work, the Muslims also helped them. On one side they dilapidated; on the other side the Muslims dilapidated, and if observed honestly, the dilapidation at the hands of the Muslims was the result of their own treacheries and breaking of covenants. For the wise men possessed of discernment, there is an ample lesson in this event. Allah has clearly showed what was the result of unbelief, wrong, mischief and breach of contract, and that mere putting trust in external causes, heedless of Allah’s power, is not the work of a wise man.
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“A statement on the Blessed Onslaught in Paris against the crusader nation of France. Saturday the second of Safar 1437 hijri. [November 14, 2015]
“In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent. “Allah-ta’ala said: “They thought that their fortresses would protect them from Allah. But Allah came upon them from where they had not expected, and He cast terror into their hearts so they destroyed their houses by their own hands and the hands of the believers. So take warning, oh people of vision.” (Al-Hashr: verse 2 [Koran 59:2])
“In a blessed battle whose causes of success were enabled by Allah, a group of believers from the soldiers of the Caliphate–may Allah strengthen and support it–set out targeting the capital of prostitution and vice, the lead carrier of the Cross in Europe: Paris. “This group of believers were youth who divorced the worldly life and advanced towards their enemy hoping to be killed for Allah’s sake, doing so in support of His religion, His Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, and his allies. They did so in spite of His enemies, thus they were truthful with Allah. We consider them so, and Allah granted victory upon their hands and cast terror into the hearts of the Crusaders in their very own homeland. “And so eight brothers equipped with explosive belts and assault rifles attacked precisely chosen targets in the center of the capital of France. These targets included the Stade de France stadium during a soccer match between the teams of Germany and France–both of which are Crusader nations–attended by the Imbecile of France, Francois Holland. “The targets included the Bataclan Theater for Exhibitions where hundreds of pagans gathered for a concert of prostitution and vice. There also simultaneous attacks on other targets in the Tenth, Eleventh and Eighteenth Districts and elsewhere. “Paris was thereby shaken beneath the Crusaders’ feet, who were constricted by its streets. The result of the attacks was the deaths of no less than 200 Crusaders and the wounding of even more. All praise, grace and favor belong to Allah. “Allah blessed our brothers and granted them what they desired. They detonated their explosive belts in the masses of the disbelievers after finishing all their ammunition. We ask Allah to accept them amongst the martyrs and to allow us to follow them. “Let France and all nations following its path know that they will continue to be at the top of the target list for the Islamic State. And that the scent of death will not leave their nostrils as long as they partake in the Crusader campaign; as long as they dare to curse our Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him; and as long as they boast about their war against Islam in France and their strikes against Muslims in the lands of the Caliphate with their jets–which were of no avail to them in the filthy streets and alleys of Paris. “Indeed this is just the beginning. It is also a warning for any who wish to take heed. Allah is the greatest. “And to Allah belongs all honor, and to His Messenger and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.”(From Al-Munafiqun: verse 8)
