Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 68
our language. To bin Laden and other Islamists, the Ummah defines the political and
religious boundaries of Islam the existing nation-state boundaries are irrelevant.
For Islamists, separating into nations and adopting nationalism is actually denying the
supremacy of the ―global nation‖ [ummah]. Furthermore, believing in the sovereignty of a
nation is denying the sovereignty of Allah. In an Islamic State, Allah is the absolute
authority, and sovereignty rests exclusively with Him (One Ummah Network, not dated).
The Islamists seek to overthrow the existing governments of Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Libya,
Syria—all secular governing institutions in the Middle East (Viviano, 2001, A14). They
deplore any action to create peace between Israel and the PLO because they insist that the
Jews be expelled or subsumed into an Islamic state (Taji-Farouki, 2000). Those observers
who cannot distinguish between Iraq, the PLO, and the Islamists fail to note that the secular
Arab leaders are the main targets of the Islamists, and the West is simply in the way.
Jihad to Defend and Expand the Ummah
The implications of viewing the world as composed not of nation-states but of an Islamic
Ummah surrounded by hostile enemies should not be underestimated. Al Qaeda is an
international movement dedicated to the defense and expansion of the Ummah and the
purification of Islam within the Ummah. ―We are carrying on the mission of our Prophet,
Muhammad ,‖ bin Laden explained. We are only defending ourselves. This is defensive
Jihad. We want to defend our people and our land.‖ (Mir, 2001).
Offensive Jihads will occur once the defensive Jihad has accomplished its goal.
If they reject this true faith, then they will have to pay Jizyah [a tax on non-
believers]. If they refuse to submit to the payment of Jizyah, then the
Muslims are to fight against them. With this type of Jihad the Kuffar
[disbelievers] who plot against the Muslims are repelled and their hearts are
filled with fear, so that they do not succeed in their plans ....The offensive
Jihad is Fardh Kifayah [collective obligation], the purpose of which is to
ensure the Kuffar remain terrorized and away from mischief, thereby,
allowing the message of Islam to be conveyed without any obstructions.
(Taliban Online, no date)
Islamists view the Jihad as worldwide. Pro-Islamist Web pages, such as Azzam.com, and the
demographics of Usama bin Laden‘s recruits revealed a global conflict (Moore &Baker,
2001, A10). Military fronts include Palestine, Chechnya, Bosnia, the Philippines, Kashmir,
and now the United States. We are a theater of military operation, and it is an error to view
these conflicts as having entirely different social or political causes.
Holy Places
Another aspect of Islam different from Christian thought is the continuing importance of the
Holy Places. While Christians still use terms such as ―Holy Lands,‖ there is no agreed belief
that Christians must posses any particular location to maintain their religion. Islam does
have such a belief. The view is imbedded by the Hajj, the obligation of all Muslims, if it is
practicable, to visit Mecca in their lifetime. For Islamists and the Muslim community in
general, these sacred sites are physical manifestations of their submission to God. Bin
Laden declared his war against the United States because of the presence of U.S. troops on
Saudi soil, which must not have disbelievers polluting it. ―Muslims burn with anger at
America. For its own good, America should leave [Saudi Arabia]‖ (bin Laden, 1996).
Cult-Like Recruitment Techniques
There are some cultic manifestations among Islamic terrorist groups when it comes to
recruitment. Like cult groups, terrorist groups seem to focus their recruitment upon young
our language. To bin Laden and other Islamists, the Ummah defines the political and
religious boundaries of Islam the existing nation-state boundaries are irrelevant.
For Islamists, separating into nations and adopting nationalism is actually denying the
supremacy of the ―global nation‖ [ummah]. Furthermore, believing in the sovereignty of a
nation is denying the sovereignty of Allah. In an Islamic State, Allah is the absolute
authority, and sovereignty rests exclusively with Him (One Ummah Network, not dated).
The Islamists seek to overthrow the existing governments of Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Libya,
Syria—all secular governing institutions in the Middle East (Viviano, 2001, A14). They
deplore any action to create peace between Israel and the PLO because they insist that the
Jews be expelled or subsumed into an Islamic state (Taji-Farouki, 2000). Those observers
who cannot distinguish between Iraq, the PLO, and the Islamists fail to note that the secular
Arab leaders are the main targets of the Islamists, and the West is simply in the way.
Jihad to Defend and Expand the Ummah
The implications of viewing the world as composed not of nation-states but of an Islamic
Ummah surrounded by hostile enemies should not be underestimated. Al Qaeda is an
international movement dedicated to the defense and expansion of the Ummah and the
purification of Islam within the Ummah. ―We are carrying on the mission of our Prophet,
Muhammad ,‖ bin Laden explained. We are only defending ourselves. This is defensive
Jihad. We want to defend our people and our land.‖ (Mir, 2001).
Offensive Jihads will occur once the defensive Jihad has accomplished its goal.
If they reject this true faith, then they will have to pay Jizyah [a tax on non-
believers]. If they refuse to submit to the payment of Jizyah, then the
Muslims are to fight against them. With this type of Jihad the Kuffar
[disbelievers] who plot against the Muslims are repelled and their hearts are
filled with fear, so that they do not succeed in their plans ....The offensive
Jihad is Fardh Kifayah [collective obligation], the purpose of which is to
ensure the Kuffar remain terrorized and away from mischief, thereby,
allowing the message of Islam to be conveyed without any obstructions.
(Taliban Online, no date)
Islamists view the Jihad as worldwide. Pro-Islamist Web pages, such as Azzam.com, and the
demographics of Usama bin Laden‘s recruits revealed a global conflict (Moore &Baker,
2001, A10). Military fronts include Palestine, Chechnya, Bosnia, the Philippines, Kashmir,
and now the United States. We are a theater of military operation, and it is an error to view
these conflicts as having entirely different social or political causes.
Holy Places
Another aspect of Islam different from Christian thought is the continuing importance of the
Holy Places. While Christians still use terms such as ―Holy Lands,‖ there is no agreed belief
that Christians must posses any particular location to maintain their religion. Islam does
have such a belief. The view is imbedded by the Hajj, the obligation of all Muslims, if it is
practicable, to visit Mecca in their lifetime. For Islamists and the Muslim community in
general, these sacred sites are physical manifestations of their submission to God. Bin
Laden declared his war against the United States because of the presence of U.S. troops on
Saudi soil, which must not have disbelievers polluting it. ―Muslims burn with anger at
America. For its own good, America should leave [Saudi Arabia]‖ (bin Laden, 1996).
Cult-Like Recruitment Techniques
There are some cultic manifestations among Islamic terrorist groups when it comes to
recruitment. Like cult groups, terrorist groups seem to focus their recruitment upon young
