The Boko Haram Reader: From Nigerian Preachers to the Islamic State

by Abdulbasit Kassim, Michael Nwankpa, David Cook

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190908300
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/01/2018
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 6.00(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Abdulbasit Kassim is a PhD student at Rice University, focusing on African Islamic movements and international relations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Michael Nwankpa is a PhD candidate at the University of Roehampton, focusing on the dilemma of security, development and human rights. David Cook is associate professor of religion at Rice University and author of Understanding Jihad and Martyrdom in Islam.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Notes on Authors
Introduction
Glossary
Chapter 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 Maiduguri
2. 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 Yusuf
4. Exegesis of Surat Hud (Quran 11) by Muhammad Yusuf
5. Who is the Prophet Muhammad? by Muhammad Yusuf
6. Exegesis of Surat Al-Tawba (Quran 9 Verses 9-16) by Muhammad Yusuf
7. Explanation of the Meaning of Monotheism by Abubakar Shekau
8. Exegesis of Surat Al 'Imran by Muhammad Yusuf
9. BBC Hausa Service Interview with Muhammad Yusuf
10. Film by Muhammad Yusuf
Chapter Two: Reaching A Verdict (2008-2009)
11. History of the Muslims by Muhammad Yusuf
12. Admonition by Muhammad Yusuf
13. Exegesis of Surat Al-Baqara (Quran 2 Verses 284-286) by Muhammad Yusuf
14. Western Civilization is Atheism and Anti-Islam by Abubakar Shekau
15. Grouping of Sermons by Muhammad Yusuf
16. Hadhihi 'Aqidatuna (This Is Our Creed) by Abubakar Shekau
17. Provision of the Muslim Fighters by Muhammad Yusuf
18. Lecture on Returning to the Path of the Qurʾān and Sunna by Muhammad Mamman Nur and Muhammad Yusuf
19. Open Letter to the Nigerian Government or Declaration of War by Muhammad Yusuf
20. Interrogation of Muhammad Yusuf by Nigerian Security Forces
Chapter Three: Making Nigeria Ungovernable (2010-2012)
21. Statement of Sani Umaru
22. Documents from Advice and Shari'i Instruction by Abu Al-Hasan Rashid to the Fighters in Nigeria
23. Declaration of War against the Christians by Abubakar Shekau
24. Message of Condolence to the Mujhidin by Abubakar Shekau
25. Letter from the Bauchi Prison Break
26. 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-Jihad
27. Letter to Osama Bin Laden by Abubakar Shekau
28. Message from Shekau
29. Message to Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan by Abubakar Shekau
30. We Are Coming to Get You, Jonathan! by Abubakar Shekau
31. Reasons for Attacking Thisday Newspaper by Jama'at Ahl Al-Sunna Li-l-Da'wa wa-l-Jihād
32. Formation of Jama'at Anar Al-Muslimin Fi Bilad Al-Sudan (Group of the Muslims' Helpers in the Land of the Blacks) by Amir Abu Yusuf Al-Ansari
33. Message to the World by Abubakar Shekau
34. Clarification of the False Report on Negotiations with the Nigerian Government by Abubakar Shekau
35. Glad Tidings, O Soldiers of Allah by Abubakar Shekau
36. Disassocation of the Jama'at Anar Al-Muslimin from Targeting Muslim Innocents
37. Sermon for 'Id Al-Adha1434/2013 by Abu Usama Al-Ansari
Chapter Four: Boko Haram State (2013-2015)
38. Raid on Maiduguri by Abubakar Shekau
39. Hausa Nashid in the video "The Raid on Maiduguri" by Jama'at Ahl Al-Sunna Li-l-Da'wa wa-l-Jihad
40. Message to the Umma by Abubakar Shekau
41. Message about the Chibok Girls by Abubakar Shekau
42. Beheading of Nigerian Air Force Officers
43. Declaration of an Islamic Caliphate by Abubakar Shekau
44. Interview with a Mujahid
45. Beheading Video by Chadian Faction of Boko Haram
46. Shekau Says He is Alive and Well
47. Shekau speaks on Ceasefire Talks and the Chibok Girls
48. Boko Haram Communiques
49. Message to the Emir of Kano by Abubakar Shekau
50. Message to President Paul Biya of Cameroon by Abubakar Shekau
51. Charlie Hebdo by Abubakar Shekau
52. Message to the World on Baga by Abubakar Shekau
53. Interview with Official Spokesman Abu Musa'b Al-Barnawi About the Events in the City of Baga
54. Message from a Mujahid
55. Allah is Our Master by Jama'at Anar Al-Muslimin Fi Bilad Al-Sudan
56. Message to the African Leaders, specifically Idriss Déby by Abubakar Shekau
57. Applications of the Rulings of Islam in the Islamic State in Africa by Jam?'at Ahl Al-Sunna Li-l-Da'wa wa-l-Jihad
58. Investigation of the Nigerian Army by Jama'at Anar Al-Muslimin Fi Bilad Al-Sudan
59. Proclamation Concerning the Aggression being led by Chad Against Jama'at Ahl Al-Sunna Li-l-Da'wa wa-l-Jihad
60. Message to the Unbelievers' Leaders by Abubakar Shekau
Chapter 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-Hamad
62. Bay'a to the Caliph of the Muslims by Abubakar Shekau
63. Arrival of the Caliphate's Soldiers in West Africa by Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiy?
64. 'Id [Al-Fitri] Prayer and Sermon from Wilyat Gharb Ifriqiya
65. Message to Nigerian Unbelievers by Abubakar Shekau
66. 'Id Al-Adha Atmosphere in Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiya
67. Messages from the Caliphate's Soldiers in Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiyaby Man Chari
68. Message from the Mujahidin in West Africa to the Mujahidin in Somalia
69. Message from Shekau
70. Investigate by Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiy?
71. Message to the World by Abubakar Shekau
72. Exposé: An Open Letter to Abubakar Shekau by Mamman Nur
73. Message from the Soldiers by Man Chari and Abubakar Shekau
74. Shekau Responds to his Critics
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

"Until now, understanding of Boko Haram has been poor, but that is about to change. The Boko Haram Reader, a massive compendium of original sources translated into English, provides an essential tool for understanding what drives the movement. This is a highly important scholarly contribution that will be a basic reference work for policymakers and scholars alike."— John Campbell, former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria; Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies, Council on Foreign Relations

"This is, without doubt, the most comprehensive compilation of original materials on Boko Haram that exists to date — profound, brave and transformative. It is indeed a gripping and extraordinarily timely book. The contributors and editors have done a terrific job and one that will put us in their debt for a long time to come." — Abiodun Alao, Professor of African Studies, King's College London

"A unique and indispensable resource for anyone interested in the Boko Haram phenomenon. Thanks to these brilliant translations of original written and audio-visual materials, it will finally be possible to establish the authentic raison d'être of this apocalyptic terror group, so often interpreted through extrapolations and conjectures." — Amidu O. Sanni, Professor of African & Middle Eastern Studies, Lagos State University, Nigeria

"This is the most useful book on the insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria that I have so far seen published. It is a truly remarkable achievement, meticulous and carefully sourced. From now on, any serious analyst of Islamic radicalism will also have to study The Boko Haram Reader in detail — for here is an outstanding contribution to understanding how jihadi thought can be applied, literally, in deadly earnest." — Murray Last, Professor Emeritus, Department of Anthropology, University College London

"Boko Haram has proven to be not only one of the deadliest terrorist groups currently operating, but also one of the most misunderstood. This veritable goldmine of primary source material — much of it published for the first time — will finally allow scholars to analyze Boko Haram through its own lenses. An invaluable resource." — J Peter Pham, Vice President for Research & Regional Initiatives and Director of the Africa Center, Atlantic Council

"The Boko Haram Reader fills a major lacuna in the existing literature on jihadist Salafist groups operating outside the Arab Middle East. These translations of obscure but vitally important primary sources — from Hausa, Arabic and Kanuri — will finally make it possible for non-specialists to obtain a much clearer glimpse of the group's ideological development and radicalization over time." — Jeffrey M. Bale, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

"A veritable goldmine of primary source material—much of it published for the first time—and a reminder that if researchers would only take the time to analyse what militant groups actually communicate to their adherents, they would be less inclined to misread them and the threat they pose."—Atlantic Council

From the Publisher