Islamic State Leader Threatens Saudi Arabia and Israel

By Kyle Orton (@KyleWOrton) on December 28, 2015

Ibrahim al-Badri (Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi), the leader of the Islamic State, gave a speech, “So Wait, We Too are Waiting with You” (or “We, Too, Will Wait With You”), on December 26, 2015. The title is drawn from Qur’an 9:52. This is al-Badri’s fifth speech since the declaration of the caliphate in June 2014, and his tenth speech since becoming leader in 2011. The speech acknowledged some struggles for the “caliphate” and made a rare threat against Israel. Al-Furqan Media released a transcript of the speech, which is reproduced below.

Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His aid, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of our souls and the wickedness of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, then none can misguide him; and whomsoever Allah leaves astray, then none can guide him. I testify that there is no god but Allah alone, who has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is His slave and messenger.

As for what follows:

Allah (the Exalted) said, “Say, ‘Do you await for us except one of the two good ends while we await for you that Allah will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting’” [At-Tawbah: 52],

O Muslims, indeed we fight in obedience to Allah and as a means of coming closer to Him. We fight because He—the Glorified—commanded us with fighting, encouraged us towards it, and made it the best means of coming closer to Him. We praise Allah for commanding us with fighting and promising us one of the two good ends, for He has not made us responsible for victory. Allah (the Exalted) said, “And he who fights in the cause of Allah and is killed or achieves victory—We will bestow upon him a great reward” [An-Nisa: 74], So it is only upon us to fight and be patient, and upon Allah is the victory. For this reason, we should not let the mobilization of the nations of kufr against us alarm us, frighten us, or break our resolve, for we will be the victors in any case, with Allah’s power and strength. Allah (the Exalted) said, “Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment” [At-Tawba: 111]. And Allah (the Exalted) said, “And [He promises] other [victories] that you were [so far] unable to [realize] which Allah has already encompassed. And ever is Allah, over all things, competent. And if those who disbelieve had fought you, they would have turned their backs [in flight]. Then they would not find a protector or a helper. [This is] the established way of Allah which has occurred before. And never will you find in the way of Allah any change” [Al-Fath: 21-23].

So if we persist in the face of the world and fight all its armies with all their capabilities and then triumph, it will be of no surprise. It is Allah’s promise to us. “And [you will obtain] another [favor] that you love—victory from Allah and an imminent conquest” [As-Saff: 13].

And if we are afflicted with killing, and our wounds become many, and the storms rage against us, and our adversities become great, then it would also be of no surprise. It is Allah’s promise to us. Rather, affliction is an inevitable decree. Allah (the Exalted) said, “Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [their] messenger and those who believed with him said, ‘When is the help of Allah?’ Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near” [Al-Baqarah: 214]. It was reported on the authority of Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) who said, “We complained to Allah’s Messenger (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) while he was reclining on a cloak of his in the shade of the Ka’bah. We said, ‘Will you not seek help for us? Will you not supplicate for us?’ He said, ‘Indeed, from those who came before you, a man would be taken and a hole would be dug for him in the ground and he would be placed inside. Then a saw would be brought and placed on his head and he would be sawed in half. And he would be raked with iron combs beneath his flesh and bones, but that would not turn him back from his religion. By Allah, this matter will be completed, to the point that a rider will travel from Sana’a to Hadramawt not fearing anyone other than Allah and a wolf after his sheep, but you are being hasty’” [Reported by al-Bukhan].

O Muslims, do not be amazed at the gathering of the nations and religions of disbelief against the Islamic State, for this is the condition of the victorious group in every era. This gathering will continue and the trials and tribulations will intensify until the two camps are completed, such that there does not remain in this camp hypocrisy, and there does not remain in that camp faith. Furthermore, have certainty that Allah will aid His believing slaves. And rejoice and be at ease, for your state continues to do well. And the more the nations increase in their frenzied mobilization against it, the more it increases in its certainty of Allah’s victory and that it is upon the straight path, and the more severe its tribulations become, the more it casts out the enemies and hypocrites and the more pure, firm, and steadfast its ranks become.

O Muslims, indeed the battle today is no longer merely a crusader campaign. It is but the war of the nations of disbelief altogether against the umma [community or nation] of Islam, and it has not occurred before in the history of our umma that the entire world gathered against it in one battle as is occurring today. Indeed, it is the battle of the disbelievers altogether against the Muslims altogether, and indeed every Muslim is intended by this war. And he is obliged to execute Allah’s command to him by carrying out the obligation of jihad for the cause of Allah. So if he obeys, then for him is good, salvation, success, nearness to Allah, and the attainment of His pleasure, and if he disobeys, then for him is destruction, loss, and the attainment of Allah’s anger and wrath. Indeed, every Muslim is intended by this war. And he is obliged to defend the religion of Allah and His shari’a and to support the oppressed men, women, and children, for this war is every Muslim’s war. Indeed, it is upon him to engage himself in it in order to defend his religion, defend himself, defend his wealth, and defend his honor and dignity.

So prepare yourselves for your war, O Muslims everywhere. Prepare yourselves while being confident of Allah’s victory. Prepare yourselves, and do not weaken and do not grieve. Indeed, your Lord (the Mighty and Sublime) has said to you about the disbelievers, “You [believers] are more fearful within their breasts than Allah. That is because they are a people who do not understand. They will not fight you all except within fortified cities or from behind walls. Their violence among themselves is severe. You think they are together, but their hearts are diverse. That is because they are a people who do not reason” [Al-Hashr: 13- 14]. Allah (the Mighty and Sublime) spoke the truth. Here are the Christian crusaders and the nations and religions of disbelief gathered alongside them, with the Jews behind them all, not daring to come by land to fight a small group of mujahideen. Each one of them pushes the other forward in order to get him entangled. They don’t dare come, because their hearts are filled with fear of the mujahideen, and because, by Allah’s grace, they were taught a lesson in Afghanistan and Iraq and realized that they don’t have the power to defeat the mujahideen. They don’t dare come, because they know with certainty what terrors and calamities await them in Sham, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Sinai, Africa, Yemen, and Somalia. They know what awaits them at Dabiq and Ghouta of defeat, ruin, and devastation. They know that it will be the final war, and thereafter—by Allah’s permission—we will raid them and they will not raid us, and Islam will lead the world once more until the establishment of the Hour.

For this reason, they delay their coming as much as they are able to, and work vigorously to mobilize more of their tails and agents from among the Sahwat, the apostates, the atheist Kurds, and the herds of Rafidi cattle. And America and its allies continue to dream of eliminating the Caliphate through their proxies and tails. And every time one of their coalitions fails or one of their tails is cut off, they race to create another coalition, such that they recently announced the Saluli (Saudi) coalition—falsely called Islamic—and it was declared that its goal is to wage war against the Caliphate. If it were an Islamic coalition, it would have declared its support and aid for the oppressed and afflicted people of Sham and its war on the Nusayriyyah and their Russian masters. If it were an Islamic coalition, it would have declared enmity and war against the pagan Rafidah and the atheist Kurds in Iraq who have legitimized the killing and expelling of Sunnis and have spread corruption in their lands. If it were an Islamic coalition, atheist China would not have supported it and requested to join it. If it were an Islamic coalition, it would have declared its disavowal of its masters, the Jews and Crusaders, and would have made its goal killing the Jews and liberating Palestine.

Yes, Palestine, which the Jews thought that we had forgotten, and thought that they had distracted us from. No, O Jews! We have not forgotten Palestine for a single moment, and by Allah’s permission, we will not forget it. And soon, soon, by Allah’s permission, you will hear the march of the mujahideen and their vanguards will besiege you. They will put their swords and knives to work on you, crush you with their boots, and completely destroy what you have taken, on a day which you deem to be far off and we deem to be near. And here we are coming closer to you day after day, and indeed your reckoning will be extremely severe. You will never find comfort in Palestine, O Jews, and it will not be your home and your land. Palestine will be nothing but a grave for you, and your Lord has not gathered you in it except for the Muslims to kill you, after you’ve hidden behind the trees and stones, and you know this very well. So wait; indeed, we, along with you, are waiting.

O Muslims, return to the Book of your Lord (the Mighty and Sublime) and the Sunnah of your Prophet (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in order to learn the reality of this war and the reality of this Jewish-Crusader-Safawi coalition led by America and planned by the Jews, and in order to learn the reality of those who stand in its ranks, its trench, and its camp. For indeed, your Lord (the Mighty and Sublime) has said to you, “And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion” [Al- Baqarah: 120]. “And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able” [Al-Baqarah: 217]. “If they gain dominance over you, they would be to you as enemies and extend against you their hands and their tongues with evil, and they wish you would disbelieve” [Al-Mumtahanah: 2]. “They do not observe toward a believer any pact of kinship or covenant of protection. And it is they who are the transgressors” [At- Tawbah: 10]. “They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason” [Ali Imran: 118]. “If good touches you, it distresses them; but if harm strikes you, they rejoice at it. And if you are patient and fear Allah, their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is encompassing of what they do” [Ali Imran: 120]. “Neither those who disbelieve from the People of the Scripture nor the pagans wish that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord” [Al-Baqarah: 105].

Then, after all this, there remains among the Muslims he who doubts and thinks that it is not a war against Islam and the Muslims. There remains among the Muslims he who thinks that the gathering of the nations and religions of disbelief upon waging war against the Islamic State is not to wage war against the shari’a of Allah and the umma of Muhammad (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). So what level of misguidance has been reached by he who believes this, and upon what religion is he who stands in this coalition’s trench against the Islamic State, and upon what religion is he who incites against the Islamic State night and day and calls for it to be fought—rather for fighting it to become the priority—while it is taking this stance, fighting all the armies of disbelief alone!

O Muslims, it is upon you to realize that since its establishment ten years ago and to this day, the Islamic State has been the spearhead in the conflict between the camp of faith and the camp of disbelief. Rather, it has been the backbone of this camp and its pillars and foundation. And because the enemies of Allah grasp this well, all the forces of the disbelievers and apostates in the entire world gathered together and agreed altogether to wage war on the Islamic State and to strive night and day to weaken and eliminate it using every means and all sorts of paths. Indeed, this gathering of theirs is evidence that the Islamic State is the backbone of the camp of faith and the spearhead of its trench. It is evidence that is clearer than the sun in the middle of the day and no longer concealed even from elderly women and from children. And no one denies this but a stubborn opponent of the truth.

O Muslims, indeed engaging oneself in this war is obligatory on every Muslim, and no one is excused concerning it. And indeed, we call on you altogether in every place to mobilize, and we specify the sons of the lands of al-Haramayn (the two sanctuaries). So march forth, whether light or heavy, old or young. Rise, O grandsons of the Muhajirm and Ansar (companions of the Prophet Muhammad). Rise against Al Salul (the House of Saud), the apostate tawaghit (tyrannical rulers), and support your people and your brothers in Sham, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, the Caucasus, Egypt, Libya, Somalia, the Philippines, Africa, Indonesia, Turkistan, Bangladesh, and in every place. “O you who have believed, what is [the matter] with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allah, you adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little. If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all. And Allah is over all things competent” [At- Tawbah: 38-39]. And He (the Glorified) said, “Go forth, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is better for you, if you only knew” [At-Tawbah: 41].

And O soldiers of the Islamic State, be patient—indeed you are upon the truth. Be patient—indeed Allah is with you. He is your protector and supporter. So what an excellent protector and what an excellent supporter. Be patient, for it is only a new Battle of al-Ahzab (the Factions). And as for the near future, by Allah’s permission, their tents will be uprooted, their plots will be overturned, and Allah (the Glorified) will vanquish them, and thereafter we will raid them, by Allah’s permission, and they will not raid us. So be steadfast, and be certain of Allah’s victory. And indeed this gathering against you and this tremor is Allah’s promise to the believers, for Allah has promised His pious slaves victory after poverty, hardship, and tremors.

Allah (the Exalted) said, “And when the believers saw the companies, they said, “This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth.” And it increased them only in faith and acceptance” [Al-Ahzab: 22]. Thus, the believers rejoiced on the day of al-Ahzab, knowing victory was near, as they saw severity and tribulation similar to what had afflicted those before them. The test must be severe and the trials must be great, until hypocrisy surfaces and faith takes root, in order for victory to descend. And truly, Allah (the Blessed and Exalted) supported us over these ten years. The day we announced the establishment of the Islamic State, the trials increased and the ordeals became great, to the point that the Islamic State left many of the areas that it had conquered and taken control of. The earth became constricted for us despite its expanse, such that the enemies of the Islamic State thought they had eliminated it, and such that the hypocrites and the sick-hearted said, “Allah and His Messenger did not promise us except delusion” [Al- Ahzab: 12], and the believing, patient mujahideen said, “When is the help of Allah?” [Al- Baqarah: 214]. Then as they stood firm and persevered, and Allah made the hypocrites manifest and the believers evident, Allah’s support came nearer and faster than the believers had expected. The State returned—by Allah’s grace—much stronger than ever before. So stand firm, O mujahideen! There is nothing in your future except one of two good ends; it is either victory or shahadah. There is no good in living if we do not live under the rule of Allah and in the shade of His shari’a. And how sweet a death it is to die while supporting Allah’s religion and defending His shari’a and His rule.

Therefore, stand firm! It is either a dignified, respectable life or a pleasant death and honorable shahadah. Renounce this lowly world and turn to Allah, for this world will pass, while what Allah has is better and longer lasting. Abandon sins and avoid oppression. Obey your commanders and do not dispute. Increase in reading the Qur’an, in repentance, and in seeking forgiveness. “And Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness” [Al-Anfal: 33]. And when you encounter the enemies of Allah, seek the aid of Allah, be steadfast, and repeat the statement, “There is no power or strength except with Allah.” And be patient so that Allah will support you and make your footholds firm, giving you success from where you did not anticipate. “O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful. And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient” [Al-Anfal: 45-46].

My directive to you is to strive to release Muslim prisoners everywhere, especially the seekers of knowledge in the depths of the tawaghit’s prisons. Be patient, O prisoners! Do not think that life can be pleasant for us when we have not yet liberated you all, with Allah’s power and strength.

And we say to the Jews and Crusaders, and their followers and factions; to America, Europe, Russia, and their allies and agents; to the Rafidah and apostates in all their shapes and forms, “Say, ‘Do you await for us except one of the two good ends while we await for you that Allah will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting’” [At-Tawbah: 52].

Indeed, our Lord (the Mighty and Sublime)—the Knowing, the Wise—told us, “Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of Allah. So they will spend it; then it will be for them a regret; then they will be overcome” [Al-Anfal: 36].

Indeed, our Lord (the Mighty and Sublime)—the Mighty, the Knowing—told us, “And if those who disbelieve had fought you, they would have turned their backs [in flight]. Then they would not find a protector or a helper. [This is] the established way of Allah which has occurred before. And never will you find in the way of Allah any change” [Al-Fath: 22-23]. So wait, O disbelievers and apostates; indeed we, along with you, are waiting.

Indeed, our Lord (the Mighty and Sublime)—the Forceful, the Subduer—told us, “Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them and give you victory over them and satisfy the breasts of a believing people” [At-Tawbah: 14].

Indeed, our Lord (the Great and Competent)—the Glorified—told us, “And Our word has already preceded for Our servants, the messengers, [that] indeed, they would be those given victory and [that] indeed, Our soldiers will be those who overcome” [As-Saffat: 171-173].

So our Lord (the Glorified) promised us one of the two good ends. He promised us victory and triumph. But He promised you—O disbelievers—humiliation and punishment from Himself or at our hands. He promised you disgrace and defeat, and Allah does not go back on His promise—Glorified is He. And so we promise you, by Allah’s permission, that every person who participates in this war against the Islamic State will pay a heavy price.

So keep waiting, America. Keep waiting, Europe. Keep waiting, Russia. Keep waiting, O Rafidah. Keep waiting, O apostates. Keep waiting, O Jews. Indeed we, along with you, are awaiting.

O Allah, revealer of the Book, mover of the clouds, defeater of the factions, defeat them and shake them. Defeat them and support us against them. And O Allah, send blessings and peace upon our prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions. And our final call is that all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.