The Al Qaeda Reader
Book Summary Information
Editor: Raymond IbrahimEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-08-07
ISBN: 076792262X
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Broadway
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780767922623
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
- Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
Book Reviews of The Al Qaeda Reader
Book Review: Absolutely Fascinating, And Must-Read, Too
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read quite a few books on Islam and its role in terrorism, but there may be none more fascinating, and more important, than Raymond Ibrahim's "The Al-Qaeda Reader". This is a collection of the writings of al-Qaeda top dogs Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, some of which have never before translated into English.
What these writings reveal most of all is the careful manipulation of bin Laden and Zawahri. When they write letters to the West, they claim that they are fighting us because of our "crimes" against them: we have occupied their territory, we "oppress" them - bin Laden even claims that the US' refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol justifies terrorism against Americans. Some of their talking points in these writings are lifted directly from liberals such as Michael Moore. These pieces are clearly intended to appeal to self-loathing Western liberals who will jump at the chance to agree with the West's enemies as long as it gives them the chance to besmirch their own culture.
But when bin Laden and Zawahiri write treatises to other Muslims, which are not intended for a Western audience, they do not mention any of this. Instead, their true motivations come out. They simply use their knowledge of the Qur'an and of Islamic theology and law to explain that we non-Muslims are to be fought simply because we are non-Muslims, just as Islam commands. And Zawahiri in particular shows a comprehensive knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence, including several quotes from Islamic authorities that I had not seen before.
The editor divides these two differing groups of writings into two sections: Theology and Propaganda.
The Propaganda pieces are mostly old and well-known, but the theological treatises (one by bin Laden and three by Zawahiri) are genuinely fascinating. In "Moderate Islam is a Prostration to the West", bin Laden criticises the very notion of "moderate Islam", pointing out how theologically weak it is compared to his own brand of the religion. In "Loyalty and Enmity", Zawahiri contends that the proper Islamic attitude towards non-believers is one of hatred and enmity, while the proper attitude to other believers is always one of friendship. According to Islam, Zawahiri maintains, Muslims and non-Muslims can never peacefully co-exist as equals. Then, in "Sharia and Democracy", he explains why Islam will never be compatible with democracy, and quotes at least a dozen scholars and jurists to show that all rulers who call themselves Muslims but do not enforce Islamic law in all its brutality are themselves infidels and should be violently overthrown by the more pious. And finally, in "Jihad, Martyrdom, and the Killing of Innocents", Zawahiri quotes numerous hadith and scholars to justify suicide bombings and the killing of civilians - two far from ageed-upon issues in Islam, and Ibrahim points out in his notes on this treatise that the al-Qaeda no.2 really has to stretch his interpretive powers to the limit to make his point here.
Overall, a fascinating and important read. Fascinating because it allows us to see al Qaeda and its founders in a completely different light to how they are usually portrayed in the Western liberal media. And important because it is vital that we understand our enemy's motivations if we are ever to counter them properly. Raymond Ibrahim aptly sums it up in his introduction to the book: "When Adolf Hitler wrote 'Mein Kampf'...it was not taken seriously...millions died as a result of the world's indifference to Hitler's straightforward words...The same mistake should not be made twice."
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