A detailed, lengthy discussion of facts and claims concerning extremism in Islam, allegedly written by Abu Yehia al-Libi, who escaped from the U.S. prison in Bagram, Afghanistan, the main prison for Taliban and al-Qaeda suspects in Afghanistan, in July 2005, with three other detainees, was recently distributed to jihadist forums. The document develops a treatise on extremism and its prohibition within Islam by Allah, with the title being branded upon those who deviate from popular and modern views, or even government policy. Providing an example of one whom people have called “extremist,” Abu Yehia references Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the emir of al-Qaeda in Iraq. He states that since Zarqawi was in Afghanistan, he was calling the Saudi government infidel and operating in excess to oppose Islamic law; however, Abu Yehia avers: “We bear witness to Allah that we know that the Mujahid Commander Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (may Allah preserve him) is innocent of what they say. Far from the extremism, irresponsibility, haste in takfir, no one like him needs such testimony… Abu Musab is known among his brothers as being one of the people of correct guidance and truth, humble among his brothers and strong against his enemies.”
Abu Yehia al-Libi’s argues the notion of extremism within religion, mounting his claims on Qur’anic verse, the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad and general discourse. Also, he cites the branding of “push back jihad” by the “enemies of Islam” as the only form of jihad, which in any other language may be considered “legitimate resistance”. He states that jihad is an eternal attachment to the Islamic religion and it “cannot be stopped or rejected and will continue as long as there is polytheism on earth”. Further, he argues that there can be no good that comes from using the extremist label, stating: “Do the people looking for the truth know that there is a big difference between saying the truth and exaggeration, which makes everybody lose their temper and be involved in what Allah forbade?” |