jihad - Khadijah Mosque

JihadStrategic FlexibilityThe Al-Manhaj Al-Harakiy Li Iqomatid Dien(The Progressive Methodology In Establishing TheReligion) reveals that JI conceived of theirstruggle in three stages-namely, the preparationto establish the Daulah (Islamic State), thesetting up of the Daulah itself, and finally, theestablishment of the caliphate. To ensure theoverall cohesion and long-term survivability ofJI in this struggle, the PUPJI laid out a broadset of operational guidelines for all JI operativesto follow during each successive stage of therevolutionary struggle.During the first, preparatory stage, foundinga jama’ah, or party, supersedes all otheractivities for JI. All of this, however, is veiled insecrecy; all JI members operate on a need-toknowbasis. An investigation by Singapore’sInternal Security Department (ISD) of JImembers revealed that they operate as aclandestine organization, complete with codenames and “JI-speak.” 19 To date, most of the2000 JI operatives that have been arrested havebeen more or less foot soldiers with noknowledge of JI’s overall operations ororganization 2O An integral part of founding theparty is the formation of a core group orrighteous leadership that lays the groundworkand designs the future course of developmentof the group as a whole. A rigid, military-stylecommand and control structure is developedand enforced. Instilling discipline andobedience amongst new recruits is ofparamount concern - a central part of thereligious imperative to establish the faith.Listening and obeying the leadership is alsoinculcated through Amar ma’ruf, nahi munkar(the code of enjoining good and forbidding evil)and enforced by various internal reviewmechanisms such as hisbah, which serves moreor less as a thermostat in controlling fluctuationin the members’ commitment. Members areobligated to collectively ensure the complianceof all and to refrain from any deviation from thedirectives of the leadership.After the core group is established, the nextstep is the recruitment and education of newmembers. Dakwah or missionary work is anattempt by JI to reach out to the masses, tocommunicate their ideology and popularize theirversion of Islam Kaffah. The intent of this activitywas to promote and exploit feelings of guilt withinMasjid Khadijah 33