The Boko Haram Reader by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2018-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

27

A LETTER TO OSAMA BIN LADEN’S DEPUTY

BY ABUBAKAR SHEKAU

(c. FALL 2010)

[Trans.: David Cook]

Available at: https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ubl2016/arabic/Arabic%20Praise%20be%20to%20God%20the%20Lord%20of%20all%20worlds.pdf

This undated letter is probably from late 2010 or early 2011, prior to Osama b. Laden’s death on 2 May 2011 at the hands of U.S. forces in Pakistan. Most of the letter’s contents are requests for Islamic advice, and are not translated here. There has been some commentary on the significance of the letter; its pleading tone and absence of self-confidence indicates a leader (Shekau) who has not yet decided what to do with Boko Haram. Notwithstanding, this letter evinced the early transmutation of Boko Haram from a local group into a transnational actor and its gradual co-optation into the al-Qaeda jihadi universe via the middlemen from the Sahelian-Sahara region.1 Even though there is no clear evidence of how Shekau’s letter from Nigeria was delivered to bin Laden in Pakistan, a connection existed during this period (see text 22). Some of the Boko Haram fighters knew operatives of AQIM such as Abdallah Abu Zayd ‘Abd-al-Hamid, Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Yunus al-Mauritani; the latter was in contact with al-Qaeda, but was arrested in 2011.2

Praise be to Allah, since the time when Allah granted us this understanding, we have been united according to one belief, sworn to one imam, Abu Yusuf Muhammad b. Yusuf, desiring union and harmony to the command of our Lord until this very day.

Praise be to Allah, we have listened carefully to your videos, and heard your news, meaning the videos of the knowledgeable and senior ones of the al-Qaeda organization, like Osama b. Laden, may Allah protect him, Dr Ayman al-Zawahiri, Abu Mus‘ab al-Zarqawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, and other knowledgeable ones such as Abu Yahya al-Libi and Abu Qatada al-Filistini,3 may Allah protect and shepherd them.

There is nothing remaining but for us to know its [al-Qaeda’s] order and organization, because the one who does not know the way in which he trods will be helpless after the journey. When he is helpless, whether returning backwards or making another mistake in judgment—but one who knows the ways in which he trods, will not be helpless because he knows them.

O Allah! We desire to be under one banner, although it is necessary to consider closely before this, as our religion is one of close consideration and knowledge. We desire to have this close consideration, and our goal is the raising of the Word of Allah upon the face of the earth, and seeking His favor. We ask Allah Almighty to aid us in this goal, and to place us among those who are fighting in Allah’s path, not among those who are unbelievers fighting in the path of the āghūt.

Please, I will like particularly to speak with a representative of Osama b. Laden, may Allah protect him, because the group is a trust from Allah, who will ask me concerning it on the Day of Judgment.

Your brother in Allah, Abu Muhammad Abubakar b. Muhammad al-Shekawi, the Muslim in Shakau, leader of the JASDJ.

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