By Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) on 2 February 2021

Jaysh al-Islam in Gaza joins the Islamic State in 2015 (image source)

Hamid al-Zawi (Abu Umar al-Baghdadi), the second leader of the Islamic State movement, known at the time as the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), made his ninth speech out of what would prove to be twenty-three, entitled “Al-Deen al-Naseeha” or “The Deen is Sincere Advice” (الدين النصيحة), on 14 February 2008. “Deen” is often translated as “religion”, but the implication of referring to the “spiritual” side of life—and not the “secular”—is inadequate to describe the totality contained within the word; something like “creed” or “lifeway” is more accurate. The speech is most notable as something of a rarity in that it focused on Palestine. A transcript of the speech was put out by ISI and is reproduced below with edits for grammar and clarity. Continue reading →