The Forest Jihad

A very interesting paper indeed. I quote:

Recent Al Qaeda threats and related jihadi propaganda potentially herald a new weapon in the terrorist arsenal: the deliberate setting of forest fires and other conflagrations both to terrorize society and wreck untold economic damage. Beyond the immense, new burdens that would be placed on emergency response personnel, these fires could also create grave environmental crises causing severe pollution from gases escaping into the atmosphere. The strategy of “Forest Jihad,” now being championed by Al Qaeda strategists, is supported and justified theologically by radical Islamic scholars. With this new weapon, the terrorists believe, maximum physical and financial damage can be inflicted to targeted countries at comparatively little risk.

The paper was an eye opener for me. I didn't realise the sheer prevalence of using forest fires as a terrorist weapon. Over the 2 decades in Palestine/Israel, terrorism driven arson in the forest area was quite prevalent. Here’s the message posted as an example:

I quote

English translation of the statement:

“summer has begun so do not forget the Forest Jihad.”

“In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.”

“We pray for God to aid us and heed our calls.”

“Summer has begun so do not forget the Forest Jihad.”

“I call on all Muslims in the United States, in Europe, in Russia,

and in Australia to start forest fires.”

“Praise God and praise God once more.”

“Peace and blessings upon his prophet.”

“The active intellectual scholar, the jihadist Abu Mus'ab Al-Suri, may God set him free, says: Jihad is an art just like poetry, music, and the fine arts. There are people that draw and there are others that are jihadists. They both act upon inspiration.”

“May God ease his calamity and set him free along with all of our imprisoned brothers. It is by the glory of God that his imprisonment has not prevented him from publishing his writings in the form of books and media. The idea of forest fires is attributed to him, may God set him free, as is in this short clip:”

“This call goes out to Muslims in Europe, in the United States, in Australia,

and in Russia to start forest fires.”

“Forest Fires.”

“The Jurisprudence of forest fires, as in 'an eye for an eye'; the amazing results;

and the operational instructions.”

“The Jurisprudence:

Is it permissible to burn trees?”

“Yes, under certain circumstance, such as when the prophet, PBUH

[peace be upon him], burned the Jews' palm trees in Al-Nadir.”

“Ibn Al-Qayyim narrated in [a book entitled] 'I'lam Al-Muwaqqa'in,' that: You should retaliate in the same manner as that in, which you were attacked. He goes on to say that: The punishment for a sin should be a similar sin. He also mentions that: If you should punish, punish as you were punished. This, in essence, justifies that. This suggests that the punishment should fit the crime, for instance in life, in matters of honor, and where assets are involved. Scholars have justified chopping down and burning the infidels' forests when they do the same to our lands.”

“God Almighty agreed to allow the companions to cut down the Jews' palm trees in order to dishonor them [Jews]. This was the Almighty's intention when He said: 'Whether ye cut down (O ye Muslim!) the tender palm-trees, or ye left them standing on their roots, it was by leave of Allah, and in order that He might cover with shame the rebellious transgressors. [Koranic Verse; Al-Hashr, 59:5].' This proves that God Almighty wishes to punish the unjust aggressor. The justification for burning their belongings is their aggression against Muslims and their deception. It is they who burn the Muslims' wealth.”

“This section was taken from a book by active and anonymous [as received] jihadi scholar Yusuf al-Ayiri²⁸ may God accept him, entitled: 'The Truth about the New Crusade.' This is particularly evident in the Chapter regarding the times when it is permissible to kill those among the infidels who would be otherwise protected. The first case in this chapter addresses this topic. This is in the event the book entitled 'I'lam Al-Muwaqa'in' Shaykh Yusuf, may God have mercy on his soul, is unavailable.”

“Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdasy writes in [his book entitled] 'Al-Muqni' [The Convincer], in the chapter on killing infidels and shelling them with manganese, as well cutting off their water supplies and destroying their fortresses: Concerning the issue of uprooting or burning their trees and plants, there are two views. The first is that it is permissible to do so as long as it does not harm Muslims. The second is that it is not permissible to do so unless it is justified to do so to them, for instance when they have done the same to us. An eye for an eye.”

“Shaykh Sulayman Bin Abdallah Bin Muhammad Bin Abd-al-Wahhab narrates in 'Al-Muqni' that trees and plants can be divided into three groups. The first group comprises [those trees and plants] which need to be cleared for a particular purpose, and can thus be uprooted or burned. This, however, solely on the basis of an undeniable need, as the narrator explains. The second is that group whose uprooting will cause Muslims harm. In this case, it is totally forbidden to uproot or to burn them. The third encompasses all other cases, which can be further divided into two subgroups. The first is a group that it is considered permissible to uproot or burn in the Hanbali [Muslim scholar] school of thought, where the scholars Malik, Shafi'i, and Ibn Al-Muthir followed the Hadith of the Prophet, PBUH, in the case of the burning of the palm trees in Bani Nadir, where God sent down the following: 'Whether ye cut down (O ye Muslim!) the tender palm-trees, or ye left them standing on their roots, it was by leave of Allah, and in order that He might cover with shame the rebellious transgressors.' [Koranic Verse; Al-Hashr, 59:5].”

“This has been taken from page 486 of the book entitled 'Al-Muqn'i Ma'a Hashiyatihi,' published by the Al-Salafiyyah [Salafist] Publishing House in Cairo.”