Description
Since it erupted onto the world stage in 2009, people have asked, what is Boko Haram, and what does it stand for? Is there a coherent vision or set of beliefs behind it? Despite the growing literature about the group, few if any attempts have been made to answer these questions, even though Boko Haram is but the latest in a long line of millenarian Muslim reform groups to emerge in Northern Nigeria over the last two centuries. The Boko Haram Reader offers an unprecedented collection of essential texts, documents, videos, audio, and nashids (martial hymns), translated into English from Hausa, Arabic and Kanuri, tracing the group's origins, history, and evolution. Its editors, two Nigerian scholars, reveal how Boko Haram's leaders manipulate Islamic theology for the legitimisation, radicalization, indoctrination and dissemination of their ideas across West Africa. Mandatory reading for anyone wishing to grasp the underpinnings of Boko Haram's insurgency, particularly how the group strives to delegitimize its rivals and establish its beliefs as a dominant strand of Islamic thought in West Africa's religious marketplace.
Table of Contents
AcknowledgementsNotes on AuthorsIntroductionGlossaryChapter One: Nigerian Preachers (2006-2008)1. Debate on the Status of Western Education and Working for the Nigeria Government between Mallam Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and Mallam Muhammad Yusuf Maiduguri2. Translation of Selections from Muhammad Yusuf Hadhihi 'Aqidatuna Wa-Minhaj Da'watina (This is our Creed and Method of Proclamation)3. Clearing the Doubts of the Scholars by Muhammad Yusuf4. Exegesis of Surat Hud (Quran 11) by Muhammad Yusuf5. Who is the Prophet Muhammad? by Muhammad Yusuf6. Exegesis of Surat Al-Tawba (Quran 9 Verses 9-16) by Muhammad Yusuf7. Explanation of the Meaning of Monotheism by Abubakar Shekau8. Exegesis of Surat Al 'Imran by Muhammad Yusuf9. BBC Hausa Service Interview with Muhammad Yusuf10. Film by Muhammad YusufChapter Two: Reaching A Verdict (2008-2009)11. History of the Muslims by Muhammad Yusuf12. Admonition by Muhammad Yusuf13. Exegesis of Surat Al-Baqara (Quran 2 Verses 284-286) by Muhammad Yusuf14. Western Civilization is Atheism and Anti-Islam by Abubakar Shekau15. Grouping of Sermons by Muhammad Yusuf16. Hadhihi 'Aqidatuna (This Is Our Creed) by Abubakar Shekau17. Provision of the Muslim Fighters by Muhammad Yusuf18. Lecture on Returning to the Path of the Qur'?n and Sunna by Muhammad Mamman Nur and Muhammad Yusuf19. Open Letter to the Nigerian Government or Declaration of War by Muhammad Yusuf20. Interrogation of Muhammad Yusuf by Nigerian Security ForcesChapter Three: Making Nigeria Ungovernable (2010-2012)21. Statement of Sani Umaru22. Documents from Advice and Shari'i Instruction by Abu Al-Hasan Rashid to the Fighters in Nigeria23. Declaration of War against the Christians by Abubakar Shekau24. Message of Condolence to the Muj?hidin by Abubakar Shekau25. Letter from the Bauchi Prison Break26. Hausa Nashid "We Are Not Boko Haram, We Are The People Of Sunna" by Jama'at Ahl Al-Sunna Li-L-Da'wa wa-l-Jihad27. Letter to Osama Bin Laden by Abubakar Shekau28. Message from Shekau29. Message to Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan by Abubakar Shekau30. We Are Coming to Get You, Jonathan! by Abubakar Shekau31. Reasons for Attacking Thisday Newspaper by Jama'at Ahl Al-Sunna Li-l-Da'wa wa-l-Jih?d32. Formation of Jama'at An?ar Al-Muslimin Fi Bilad Al-Sudan (Group of the Muslims' Helpers in the Land of the Blacks) by Amir Abu Yusuf Al-Ansari33. Message to the World by Abubakar Shekau34. Clarification of the False Report on Negotiations with the Nigerian Government by Abubakar Shekau35. Glad Tidings, O Soldiers of Allah by Abubakar Shekau36. Disassocation of the Jama'at An?ar Al-Muslimin from Targeting Muslim Innocents37. Sermon for 'Id Al-Adha1434/2013 by Abu Usama Al-AnsariChapter Four: Boko Haram State (2013-2015)38. Raid on Maiduguri by Abubakar Shekau39. Hausa Nashid in the video "The Raid on Maiduguri" by Jama'at Ahl Al-Sunna Li-l-Da'wa wa-l-Jihad40. Message to the Umma by Abubakar Shekau41. Message about the Chibok Girls by Abubakar Shekau42. Beheading of Nigerian Air Force Officers43. Declaration of an Islamic Caliphate by Abubakar Shekau44. Interview with a Mujahid45. Beheading Video by Chadian Faction of Boko Haram46. Shekau Says He is Alive and Well47. Shekau speaks on Ceasefire Talks and the Chibok Girls48. Boko Haram Communiques49. Message to the Emir of Kano by Abubakar Shekau50. Message to President Paul Biya of Cameroon by Abubakar Shekau51. Charlie Hebdo by Abubakar Shekau52. Message to the World on Baga by Abubakar Shekau53. Interview with Official Spokesman Abu Musa'b Al-Barnawi About the Events in the City of Baga54. Message from a Mujahid55. Allah is Our Master by Jama'at An?ar Al-Muslimin Fi Bilad Al-Sudan56. Message to the African Leaders, specifically Idriss Déby by Abubakar Shekau57. Applications of the Rulings of Islam in the Islamic State in Africa by Jam?'at Ahl Al-Sunna Li-l-Da'wa wa-l-Jihad58. Investigation of the Nigerian Army by Jama'at An?ar Al-Muslimin Fi Bilad Al-Sudan59. Proclamation Concerning the Aggression being led by Chad Against Jama'at Ahl Al-Sunna Li-l-Da'wa wa-l-Jihad60. Message to the Unbelievers' Leaders by Abubakar ShekauChapter Five: West African Islamic State (2015-2016)61. Jumbled Words and Authentication for the Important Period prior to Shaykh Al-Shakawi's Allegiance which made the Umma Happy by Abu Malik Shayba al-Hamad62. Bay'a to the Caliph of the Muslims by Abubakar Shekau63. Arrival of the Caliphate's Soldiers in West Africa by Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiy?64. 'Id [Al-Fitri] Prayer and Sermon from Wil?yat Gharb Ifriqiya65. Message to Nigerian Unbelievers by Abubakar Shekau66. 'Id Al-Adha Atmosphere in Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiya67. Messages from the Caliphate's Soldiers in Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiyaby Man Chari68. Message from the Mujahidin in West Africa to the Mujahidin in Somalia69. Message from Shekau70. Investigate by Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiy?71. Message to the World by Abubakar Shekau72. Exposé: An Open Letter to Abubakar Shekau by Mamman Nur73. Message from the Soldiers by Man Chari and Abubakar Shekau74. Shekau Responds to his CriticsBibliography
