By Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) on May 3, 2014

As-Sabah Media released a video on 2 May 2014 that contained a speech from Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda, responding to the ferocious statement by Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, the spokesman of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which denied that ISIS was ever under al-Qaeda’s command and thus al-Zawahiri’s expulsion of ISIS from al-Qaeda in February was a meaningless gesture. Al-Zawahiri presents a compelling case to the contrary, drawing on documents sent by ISIS’s leaders, past and present, to al-Qaeda, some of which are public—taken in the raid that killed Usama bin Laden. Al-Zawahiri concludes with a call for ISIS to return to the fold, to accept al-Zawahiri’s order that ISIS leave Syria and return to Iraq—even if they think it is unjust—for the sake of jihadi unity and avoiding the shedding of Muslim blood.  The speech is entitled, “Testimony to Preserve the Blood of the Mujahideen in Syria” (Shahada li-Haqn Dima al-Mujahideen bil-Sham). A rough translation is given below with some important sections highlighted in bold.

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In the name of God. All praise is due to God, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of God, his family, his companions, and those who follow him.

To the Muslim brothers everywhere: Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.

To proceed:

I had resolved to content myself with what I had already said concerning the fitna [strife, discord] among the mujahideen in Syria [al-Sham], until I listened to the noble appeal from the beloved and virtuous brother, the muhajir who proclaims the truth and remains patient at the frontlines of da’wa [proselytism], communication, and counsel to his umma: the honourable, noble shaykh, Dr. Abu Karim, Hani al-Sibai, may God protect him from all evil, grant him steadfastness upon the truth, and aid him in reconciliation between the Muslims and the mujahideen. So I decided, after consultation and istikhara [seeking guidance from God], to return to speaking about the matter in general, and specifically regarding what he asked me in the statement dated the 25th of Jumada al-Awwal, 1435 AH [26 March 2014], broadcast from Maqrizi Radio.

I say: I have decided to return to speaking about this problem for two reasons. The first is what my beloved brother, Shaykh Dr. Hani al-Sibai, reminded me of: that my answers to his questions might extinguish the fitna among the mujahideen. So I said: what harm is there if I speak some words that God might make a reason for halting the bloodshed of the Muslim mujahid? The second reason is my yielding to the request of the noble brother, sincere and compassionate, who has from me the right of brotherhood and a response.

I will divide my speech, if God wills, into a testimony, a command, a plea, a reminder, and advice.

As for the testimony, it concerns the Islamic State of Iraq and its honourable emir, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Husayni (may God protect him), and their connection to Jamaat Qaedat al-Jihad [more properly, Jama’at Qa’idat al-Jihad (جماعة قاعدة الجهاد), “the Base of Jihad Group”, the formal name of al-Qaeda].

So I say, seeking the aid of God:

This is the testimony from me: I swear with God as my witness that the Islamic State of Iraq is a subordinate branch of Jamaat Qaedat al-Jihad.

Here, I wish to clarify some details:

1) When the Islamic State was established without seeking authorisation from the leadership of Jamaat Qaedat al-Jihad, with the reviver imam Shaykh Usama bin Laden at its head, nor did it consult nor even inform [them]. The martyred shaykh, as we reckon him, Abu Hamza al-Muhajir (may God have mercy on him), sent a message to the General Command [al-Qiyada al-Amma, i.e., al-Qaeda Central] in which he justified the establishment of the State and affirmed therein the loyalty of the State to Jamaat Qaedat al-Jihad. He also stated that the brothers in the shura had taken an oath [al-ahd] from the martyred shaykh, as we reckon him, Abu Umar al-Baghdadi; that his emir was Shaykh Usama bin Laden (may God have mercy on him); and that the State was subordinate to Jamaat Qaedat al-Jihad. However, they deemed it appropriate to inform the brothers of that without making it public due to certain political considerations they saw in Iraq at the time.

2) The brothers in the General Command of Jamaat Qaedat al-Jihad and in the Islamic State of Iraq used to operate based on this principle: that the Islamic State of Iraq is a part of Jamaat Qaedat al-Jihad.

Some examples of that include:

a. The message published by the Americans from the documents they found in the home of Shaykh Usama bin Laden (may God have mercy on him) [SOCOM-2012-0000011 (28 March 2007)]. It was a letter from Shaykh Atiyya [Abd al-Rahman (real name: Jamal al-Misrati)] to Shaykh Mustafa Abu al-Yazid [(kunya: Saeed al-Masri)] (may God have mercy on them both), in which Shaykh Atiyya emphasised to Shaykh Mustafa Abu al-Yazid the necessity of writing firm guiding letters to al-Karoumi [or Karrumi]—by whom he meant Abu Hamza al-Muhajir—and to Abu Umar and their people, out of his fear for them regarding political mistakes.

b. At the time Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Husayni al-Baghdadi (may God grant him success) had assumed leadership without the permission of the General Command, Shaykh Atiyya (may God have mercy on him) sent a message to the leadership of the Islamic State of Iraq on 7 Jumada al-Awwal 1431 AH [21 April 2010], in which he said:

“We propose to the noble brothers in the [ISI] leadership that they appoint a temporary leadership [qiyadan mu’aqqata] to manage affairs until consultation takes place, and we believe it is better for them to delay [the appointment]—unless there is an impediment or strong justification to hasten an official, permanent appointment—until they have sent us the candidates’ names, along with an explanation of each one: name, identification, qualifications, etc. … and we will send [them] to Shaykh Usama for his advice to you.”

c. And Shaykh Usama (may God have mercy on him) sent a message to Shaykh Atiyya on 24 Rajab 1431 AH [6 July 2010] in which he said:

“It would be preferable if you could provide us with sufficient information about our brother Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who has been appointed as the successor to our brother Abu Umar al-Baghdadi (may God have mercy on him), and [about] his first deputy [al-awwal lahu (Abu Abdullah al-Hassani al-Qurayshi)] and Abu Sulayman al-Nasser li-Deen Allah [Numan al-Zaydi]. It would be best if you ask about them from multiple sources among our brothers whom you trust there, so the matter becomes clear to us to a greater extent.”

This is the letter [SOCOM-2012-0000019] that the Americans seized from Shaykh Usama’s home (may God have mercy on him) and published.

d. Shaykh Atiyya (may God have mercy on him) replied with a message dated 5 Sha’ban 1431 AH [17 July 2010], in which he said:

“If God wills, we will request information about Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, his deputy, and about Abu Sulayman al-Nasser li-Deen Allah.”

He then added:

“And we will obtain a more accurate picture.”

e. Shaykh Atiyya sent a message to the Ministry of Information [Wizarat al-I’lam] in the Islamic State of Iraq on 20 Shawwal 1431 AH [29 September 2010], in which he said:

“The shaykhs [at al-Qaeda] are requesting from you introductory profiles about your new leadership shaykhs (may God grant them success and aid you): Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Commander of the Faithful in the Islamic State of Iraq; his deputy; his Minister of War; and—if you wish—others among the officials. You may inform the shaykhs about this, and perhaps they can write the introductions themselves or record them in audio form.”

f. The representative of al-majlis shura [or the shura council, the consultation council] of the Islamic State of Iraq replied on the 1st of Dhu al-Qa’da 1431 AH [9 October 2010] as follows:

“My noble brother, we have received your gracious message dated Rajab al-Haram 1431 AH [13 June – 11 July 2010], as well as an earlier letter in which you enclosed some directives from the noble shaykhs (may God preserve them) regarding the situation of the State here and to delay the appointment of the new emir. However, it reached us after the announcement of the new leadership. In all cases, the decision of the brothers here [was intended] from the beginning was to ensure that the shaykhs on your side are informed of the true state of affairs as it is.”

He then added:

“We inform you, our noble shaykhs and leaders [wulat amrina], that your Islamic State in the Land of the Two Rivers is well and holding together.”

He continued:

“Our noble shaykhs, after the killing of the two shaykhs [Abu Umar and Abu Hamza], the shura council attempted to delay the announcement of the new emir until we received a command [or directive: amr] from you after securing communication. However, we were not able to extend the delay any further for several reasons, the most important of which was the lurking of enemies inside and outside.”

He further added:

“The brothers here, foremost among them Shaykh Abu Bakr (may God preserve him) and the shura council, unanimously agreed that there is no objection to this leadership being temporary, and that if any person is sent by the shaykhs on your side, should they deem that in the interest of fulfilling the benefit, to assume leadership, then we have no objection. Everyone here will be his soldiers, with the duty of listening and obeying him. This commitment is unanimously agreed upon by the shura council and Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, may God preserve them.”

g. After the martyrdom of Shaykh Usama (may God have mercy on him), the honoured shaykh Abu Bakr al-Husayni al-Baghdadi issued a statement in which he said:

“Although I am confident that the martyrdom of the shaykh will only increase his mujahideen brothers in cohesion and steadfastness, I say to our brothers in Tanzim al-Qaeda [the Base (of Jihad) Organisation]—foremost among them the mujahid shaykh Ayman al-Zawahiri (may God preserve him)—and to his brothers in the leadership of the organisation: may God magnify your reward and grant you the best of consolation in this affliction. Proceed with the blessing of God in what you see fit for your affairs, and rejoice, for you have in the Islamic State of Iraq loyal men continuing on the path of truth. They do not yield nor quit. By God, it is blood for blood and destruction for destruction.”

h. Following that statement, the liaison representative for the Islamic State of Iraq sent a message to Shaykh Atiyya (may God have mercy on him) dated 20 Jumada al-Thani 1432 AH [23 May 2011], in which he said:

“The shaykh (may God preserve him) advised that we reassure you about the situation here. Matters are improving, developing, and becoming more cohesive, and all praise is due to God. He is asking your view on what is appropriate when the new emir of your organisation is announced: Should the State renew its bay’a [pledge of allegiance] publicly or keep it secret as we have done previously? This is to let you know that the brothers here are arrows in your quiver, and that their relationship with you is as the shaykh said in his public statement: ‘[It is] blood for blood and destruction for destruction.’”

i. After I assumed leadership in succession to Shaykh Usama (may God have mercy on him), Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Husayni used to address me as his emir, even in his last message to me (may God preserve him) dated 29 Jumada al-Awwal 1434 AH [10 April 2013], which he began by saying, “To our emir, the honourable shaykh,” and concluded by saying:

“I have just received word that [Jabhat al-Nusra leader, Abu Muhammad] al-Jolani has released an audio statement declaring his bay’a to your excellency directly. This is what he had been planning in order to shield himself and those with him from the consequences of the sins and calamities he committed. This poor slave, along with his brothers here in Syria, believe that our shaykhs in Khurasan must set out a clear and unambiguous stance to stifle this conspiracy before blood is spilled and we become the cause of another calamity for the umma. We believe that any support for what this traitor has done, even if only by allusion, will lead to a great fitna by which the project for which Muslim blood was spilled will be lost. And delaying the clarification of the correct stance will lead to the consolidation of the status quo, the splitting of Muslim ranks, and the collapse of the prestige of the group [jama’a], for which there is no effective remedy other than the shedding of more blood.”

j. Likewise, Shaykh Abu Muhammad al-Adnani sent a testimonial for me, concluding it by saying:

“Written by the poor slave Abu Muhammad al-Adnani on 19 Jumada al-Awwal 1434 [31 March 2013], as an excuse before God Almighty, then before the umma, then before his emirs, Shaykh Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri and Shaykh Dr. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, may God preserve them both.”

k. Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Husayni al-Baghdadi sent a message dated 21 Ramadan 1434 AH [29 July 2013] to one of the group’s officials, in which he said:

“Our review of Shaykh al-Zawahiri’s recent letter went through three phases:

1. The phase of consultation with Islamic State leadership members present in Syria.
2. The phase of consultation with the emirs of the Syrian provinces, who are members of our shura council there.
3. The study of the letter from the shar’i [legal-religious] perspective by the Islamic State’s shar’i committee.

We decided to remain only after it became clear to us that obeying our emir would constitute disobedience to our Lord and ruin for those with us among the mujahideen, especially the muhajireen. So we obeyed our Lord and preferred His pleasure over the pleasure of the emir.”

He added:

“It should not be said about someone who disobeys an order from an emir, when he sees it as ruinous for the mujahideen and disobedience to God Almighty, that he has shown bad manners.”

I will suffice with these examples.

2) As for the question about the nature of the ruling on the problem: is it a command from an emir to his soldiers, or a judgment in a personal dispute between two parties brought before a judge?

I have clarified this matter in detail in a lengthy letter to the brothers in the State dated 28 Shawwal 1434 AH [4 September 2013], in which I affirmed that this ruling is a ruling issued by an emir concerning a problem that arose among his soldiers, and not a judgment of a judge between two litigants who brought their personal dispute before him.

3) As for the question that is sometimes raised, Why was the group [i.e., al-Qaeda] and its leaders pleased with the Islamic State of Iraq and accepted it, while they do not accept the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria [al-Dawla al-Islamiyya fi al-Iraq wal-Sham, ISIS]?

The answer: although the General Command of Jamaat Qaedat al-Jihad and its emir Shaykh Usama bin Laden were neither consulted, nor their authorisation requested, nor were they even notified prior to the declaration of the Islamic State of Iraq, they nonetheless saw fit to accept it because there were several differences between it, and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Among them [the differences between ISI “State” declaration in 2006 and the declaration of ISIS in 2013]:

a. The Islamic State of Iraq was not established on the basis of a fitna between the brothers in which they threatened bloodshed if support was given to the Front [Jabhat al-Nusra].

b. The Islamic State of Iraq was founded upon a broad consultation [shura] involving the mujahideen’s consultative bodies and the Sunni tribal leaders, as Shaykh Abu Hamza al-Muhajir (may God have mercy on him) informed us, and he was someone whose honesty we trusted due to our long companionship with him, and he strove to contact all the jihad groups to invite them to the State. In contrast, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria was the result of consultation within a limited group inside the organisation, while Jabhat al-Nusra publicly stated that it had not been consulted at all.

c. The declaration of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria resulted in a clear violation of the orders of the leadership of Jamaat Qaedat al-Jihad to its soldiers in Iraq and Syria, namely that they should not declare any official presence of al-Qaeda in Syria. Rather, the general approach of the leadership of the Jamaat Qaedat al-Jihad was not to declare any emirates at this stage.

This is a matter that Shaykh Usama bin Laden (may God have mercy on him) confirmed in detail in his letter to Shaykh Atiyya (may God have mercy on him), a letter which the Americans published [SOCOM-2012-0000019], and which was repeated by Shaykh Abu Yahya [al-Libi (real name: Mohamed Hassan Qaid)] (may God have mercy on him) to the brothers of the State in Iraq.

I also repeated it to Shaykh al-Husayni al-Baghdadi in my letter to him dated 25 Jumada al-Thani 1435 AH [25 April 2014], in which I wrote to him:

“Had you asked our opinion before announcing that State, we would not have agreed with you. We, along with my brothers here, see that this declaration causes more harm than benefit, for the foundational elements of a State are, as of yet, not fulfilled in Syria.”

d. The declaration of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria caused a political disaster for the people of Syria. The people of Syria had been coming out in demonstrations that supported Jabhat al-Nusra after the American government placed it on the list of terrorist organisations [in December 2012], denouncing this designation. But the leadership of the State has presented [a political weapon] on a silver platter to [Bashar] al-Asad. The declaration [of ISIS] also provoked the rest of the jihad groups, who saw that the State was attempting to impose itself upon them without consent or consultation.

e. The declaration of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria sparked a severe conflict within the same group, reaching the point of fighting. Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Husayni al-Baghdadi himself threatened that any support for Jabhat al-Nusra, or any delay in adopting what he viewed as the correct stance in joining him in what he had announced, would lead to a torrent of blood, which has indeed begun.

f. And the torrent of blood continues to flow in Syria. Had the State accepted the arbitration decision in the dispute, which was seeking to spare the blood of the mujahideen and avoid the looming fitna, and had they focused on Iraq, which is in need of multiple times their effort, had they accepted that and acted on the basis of consultation, of listening and obedience [al-sam wal-ta’a] to their emir, and not rebelled against their emir and leadership, then I reckon they would have spared the Muslims that flood of blood. They would have struck the Rafidi Safavid [i.e., Iranian-controlled Shi’a] government and supported the Sunnis in Iraq many times over. And praise be to God in every case.

This was the testimony, and I follow it with the command and the plea:

As for the command: it is addressed to the Conquering Shaykh [Shaykh al-Fatih] Abu Muhammad al-Jolani (may God preserve him) and to all the honourable soldiers of the Front [Jabhat al-Nusra], and the plea is to all the factions and groupings of the mujahideen in the land of Syria [Bilad al-Sham], the land of ribat: that they immediately cease all fighting which constitutes aggression against the lives and sanctities of their mujahid brothers and the rest of the Muslims, and that they devote themselves to fighting the enemies of Islam among the Ba’athists, Nusayris [or Alawis, i.e., Asad’s regime], and their Rafidi allies.

I also reiterate what I have demanded repeatedly before: that all sides submit their disputes for adjudication to an independent shar’i committee. And I call on everyone to refrain from trading accusations, name-calling, and fuelling the fitna among the mujahideen through the media and social platforms [i.e., Twitter], and to be keys to good and locks against evil.

In conclusion, what remains is the reminder and the advice.

It is a general reminder and advice to all the mujahideen throughout the land of Syria: Enough: enough bloodshed of innocent, inviolable Muslim lives. Enough killing of the leaders and shaykhs of jihad. Enough! Your blood, all of you, is dear and precious to us. We had wished it would be offered as a sacrifice in support of Islam against its enemies.

A specific reminder and advice to the honoured shaykh Abu Bakr al-Husayni al-Qurashi al-Baghdadi: Return to listening and obedience to your emir. Return to what your shaykhs, your emirs, and those who preceded you on the path of jihad and hijra strove for. Devote yourselves to wounded Iraq, which needs multiple times your efforts. Devote yourselves to it, even if you see yourselves as wronged [or oppressed: mazlumin] or deprived of your rights, so that you may bring an end to this bloody massacre, and focus on [fighting] the enemies of Islam and [supporting] the Sunnis in Iraq, the land of jihad and ribat. Respond to my reminder for the sake of sparing the blood of the mujahideen, uniting their ranks, and securing their victory over their enemy, even if you consider this to be an offense [dayman], a diminution [or denial (of right): hadman], or an injustice [or oppression: zulman].

A more specific reminder and advice to the honoured shaykh Abu Bakr al-Husayni al-Baghdadi: Take your example from your grandfather, Hasan, the grandson [of the Prophet Muhammad] (may God be pleased with him), who relinquished the caliphate and spared Muslim blood. In doing so, he fulfilled the glad tidings spoken of by his and your grandfather, our master, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him): “Indeed, this son of mine is a master, and perhaps God will bring about reconciliation through him between two great factions of the Muslims” [hadith]. Is this glad tiding not sufficient for you? Does this form of mastery not please you? Would it not gladden you to make a decision through which God raises your status in this world and the Hereafter, by His permission and guidance, through which you confront the enemies of Islam in Iraq, who are in dire need of multiplied efforts, extinguish the fitna among the Muslims, and restore to them unity, love, and brotherhood? Place your trust in God and make this decision. You will find all your mujahid brothers and supporters of jihad are your helpers, your supporters, and your reinforcements, O honoured shaykh. Follow the example of your grandfather. Be the best successor to the best predecessor. Revive a noble deed from the legacy of the Prophetic Household, and you will triumph in this world and the Hereafter, by God’s grace.

From a people whose love is [part of the] deen [lifeway, Islam], and whose hatred is disbelief / Closeness to them is salvation and a refuge.

Our final supplication [wa-akhir da’wana] is that all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.

May prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.

And peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.