By Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) on 3 May 2018

The Islamic State of Iraq’s (ISI) Information Ministry released a statement on 3 May 2007 announcing the death of Muharib al-Jubouri, the first official spokesman since “the State” was declared in October 2006. A translation of the statement, “Bleeding of the Umma With the Martyrdom of the Official Spokesman”, is produced below.

Muharib, who was unusually known by his real name even during his lifetime and appeared in person in a couple of ISI videos, was killed on 1 May 2007. The ISI statement publicly acknowledging this was not just an obituary and celebration of Muharib. It was intended to counter to an extraordinary slew of false reporting by the United States military and the Iraqi government over the forty-eight hours that followed Muharib’s demise. It was first claimed the ISI deputy, Abd al-Munim al-Badawi (Abu Hamza al-Muhajir), was dead,^[1] and then that the slain man was the “Emir al-Mu’mineen” (Commander of the Faithful) himself, Abu Umar al-Baghdadi (whose real name, Hamid al-Zawi, was unknown at the time).

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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

“Say, ‘Do you await for us except one of the two best outcomes, while we await for you that Allah will afflict you with a punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed, we, along with you, are waiting’” [Qur’an 9:52].

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.

As for what follows:

We reassure the umma that our master and leader Abu Umar al-Baghdadi—may Allah preserve him—is enjoying, by the grace of Allah, wellbeing among his people, the subjects of the Islamic State of Iraq. And what the media has circulated regarding news of his killing—“may Allah make us his ransom”—has no basis in truth.

If Allah had decreed something upon any of the leaders of the State, we would not hesitate to announce it, for we believe that our jihad’s banner is only raised by the blood of leaders before soldiers, and that the tree of victory is only irrigated with the blood of the martyrs, and that the price of victory is much flesh and blood.

We say to the umma of the beloved one—peace and blessings be upon him: You were the best umma brought out for mankind; jihad in the path of Allah Almighty and martyrdom is your hallmark. You are the fertile umma, and you still continue to give birth to leaders and horsemen until the banner of tawhid is raised high and the word of Allah becomes supreme: “And fight them until there is no fitna and the deen is entirely for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors” [2:193].

Thus, martyrdom is our hallmark; it is an honour for us in this world and forgiveness in the Hereafter, by Allah’s permission. Allah Almighty said: “Among the believers are men who have been true to what they pledged to Allah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance], and they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration” [33:23].

Today, we bring to you the news of the martyrdom of the mujahid shaykh Abu Abdullah al-Jubouri, who combated falsehood from the mid-1980s until this day—striving diligently, working hard, calling according to the method of Prophethood, and being a preacher who feared not the blame of any blamer for the sake of Allah.

In the middle of the night of Monday, 13 Rabi al-Thani 1428 AH, the enemies of Allah attempted an airborne landing on the house where Shaykh Muharib al-Jubouri—may Allah have mercy upon him—was present. But the shaykh and those with him engaged with the planes, vehicles, and soldiers of the cross in a battle that exceeded eight hours, a battle in which the soldiers of Islam showed exceptional bravery, writing the finest examples of heroism, courage, and boldness despite their small number and limited equipment. The number of brothers with the shaykh was no more than four, but they refused to submit in their deen or accept capture by the worshippers of the cross. The battle ended without the enemies being able to land them in their cowardice, so they resorted to aerial bombardment. Thus, the shaykh Abu Abdullah al-Jubouri and those with him were martyred. Glad tidings to them, and may Allah accept them all. We ask Allah to raise their stations in the highest ranks of Illiyyin [the highest part of Paradise].

We say to our people from the noble tribe of al-Jubur, and to the family of the shaykh—may Allah have mercy upon him—congratulations for what you have offered and are offering of martyrs. Allah has elevated you and raised your status because of what you have given of your very flesh and blood.

Our Emir [Abu Umar] sends you his greetings and says: “Be patient and seek reward, for Abu Abdullah al-Jubouri’s wish was always to end his life with a death in the path of Allah, and he often insisted on carrying out a martyrdom operation.”

We say to our umma: Our martyr—may Allah accept him—had no concern except gathering the ranks and uniting the word.

Shaykh Muharib—may Allah accept him—was the emir of Saraya al-Ghuraba [The Brigades of the Strangers], and he met at the time with his brothers in the Mujahideen Shura Council [al-Majlis Shura al-Mujahideen]. He then proclaimed with his resonant voice the formation of Hilf al-Mutayibeen, and later pledged allegiance to the Islamic State on the Land of the Two Rivers [Iraq]. He was selected to be its official spokesman—may Allah accept him for what he offered in service of this deen, and bless his family and offspring.

We thank our Islamic umma for sharing in the news of the martyrdom of Shaykh Muharib al-Jubouri. We promise it that which will bring joy to every Muslim’s heart.

The signs of victory are appearing on the horizon. “It is nothing but the final death throes through which we will—by Allah’s permission—expel the soul of the Crusader giant”, as Shaykh Muharib—may Allah have mercy on him—used to say.

And Allah is the One sought for help, and upon Him is reliance.

O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Mover of the clouds, Defeater of the confederates, defeat the spiteful Rafidites and the Crusader Zionists and their allies.

O Allah, make them and their equipment a booty for the Muslims.

O Allah, destroy them and shake them.

O Allah, You are our Supporter and You are our Helper; by You we charge forth, by You we move about, and by You we fight.

And Allah is the Greatest.

“And to Allah belongs honour, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know” [63:8].

The Islamic State of Iraq / Ministry of Information

[Source: Al-Fajr Media Centre]

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NOTES

[1] ISI put out a statement on 1 May, “Denying the Death of the War Minister”, which said:

“The Islamic State of Iraq reassures the umma regarding the safety of Shaykh Abu Hamza al-Muhajir—may Allah preserve him —and that he is still fighting the enemies of Allah. We also caution that the enemy persists in attempting to sow division among the ranks of the mujahideen in Iraq, but such efforts are far from succeeding and will not happen, by Allah’s permission. We issue this denial only to reassure the hearts of the Muslims and to expose the plotting of the enemies of Allah, who now have nothing left except the card of lying media [stories] after all their other plots have collapsed. And we say to our people everywhere: Your brothers in the Ministry of War bring you glad tidings of [imminent] painful strikes that will delight the believers and enrage the disbelievers, by the will of Allah. And Allah is the One sought for help, and upon Him is reliance.”

That was about half the statement, the rest was supplications to God—for help in destroying the “Zionised Crusaders” (al-Salibiyeen al-Mutasahyineen) and their allies among the “spiteful Rafidites” (Shi’is), making these forces into a source of “ghanima [war booty or spoils] for the Muslims”, and direct divine intervention to “afflict them with what You afflicted Pharaoh and his people” and send a flood to the West.