New Telegram Channel Offering Courses In Islam Affiliated With Michigan-Based Jihadi Cleric Publishes Children's Book Promoting Salafi-Jihadi Ideology

The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here. 

On February 2, 2024, a new English-language Telegram channel, "The Comprehensive University of Jibril," published its inaugural post.[1] Describing the "university" as "a new chapter in [the] Da'wah [preaching] mission" of Michigan-based jihadi cleric Musa Abdullah Jibril, the post notes that it will "provide structured Islamic courses designed to foster a generation grounded in authentic Islamic Monotheism that goes back to the original roots of the Prophet and the methodology of his companions." The "university" intends to offer "books, classes, interactive Q&A sessions and a wealth of Islamic resources."

The post describes Jibril, who graduated from the Islamic University of Medina in Saudi Arabia in the 1980's, as "a treasure trove of Islamic knowledge" committed to "spread pure Islam at a time corruption and misguidance was prevalent," stating that he returned to the U.S. after graduation "after realizing the urgent need Muslims in the West had, which was to be connected back to their religion." According to the post, Musa Jibril was "behind the successful raising of his own children and grandchildren" – including prominent pro-Islamic State (ISIS) preacher Ahmad Musa Jibril – and "nurtured an entire generation of youth on the Quran and Sunnah, at a time when Islamic presence was scarce (particularly in the West)."

According to the post, Musa Jibril "believes in the importance of early and proper Islamic upbringing," quoting him as having said: "The likes of Khalid ibn Waleed [the commander of the Prophet Muhammad's army] and Nusaybah bint Ka'b [one of his female Companions who participated in several battles] don't just come about, they are carefully raised and nurtured; their future and education begins even before birth, it starts by selecting a righteous mother with high aspirations to serve the religion of Allah."

The channel was created on January 9 and has 718 subscribers, as of February 6.[2]

On February 3, the channel published a 38-page book for children, titled "Aqeedah of Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jama'ah" (Creed of Sunnis), written by Musa Jibril.[3] The book, essentially a catechism of Islam, subtly promotes Salafi-jihadi ideology. Some cardinal Salafi-jihadi principles taught in the book include the rejection of democracy and government not by shari'a as forms of polytheism, and that those who govern by manmade law or participate in elections are apostates from Islam.[4] It also explicitly rejects several beliefs embraced by moderate or rationalist Muslims, such as that religious knowledge can be attained through reason; Allah is everywhere; one who professes belief in Allah is a Muslim regardless of his actions; Islam means "peace";  one is either a believer or an unbeliever; and that Allah's attributes can be understood allegorically.

Following is a review of some of the book's content:

Purpose Of Existence Is To Worship Allah, Acts Of Polytheism Take One Out Of Islam

The children's book opens by stating that after a person's death, he will be met by two angels with "a large and powerful iron rod," who will ask the deceased: "Who is your Lord? Who is your Prophet? What is your religion?" To escape punishment, one must answer that his Lord is Allah, prophet Muhammad, and religion Islam, and should live by these beliefs.

According to the book, beliefs must be based on the Quran, Sunnah, and consensus of the Prophet Muhammad's Companions, and interpreted according to the teachings of the first three generations of Islam.

Creed of Sunnis declares that humans were created to worship Allah and tasked with "inheriting from the Messengers of God and calling to good and prohibiting evil." It warns: "If you commit Shirk [polytheism], you are not a Muslim anymore. Associating partners with Allah or worshipping other than Allah is Shirk." Insisting that Allah is above the heavens, not everywhere, the book states: "Allah rose over His gigantic Divine throne in a manner that suits His Majesty."

The book teaches children that being a Muslim means to "submit to Allah's Oneness (Tawheed), abiding by His laws and always seeking to attain His pleasure through obedience. And never committing Shirk by associating partners with Allah." Insisting that Islam is complete and unalterable, it states that anything which was not part of Islam during Muhammad's lifetime will never be part of it and that the religion should be followed as understood by the prophet and his Companions, "not our own thoughts and logic."

Muslims Must Hate False Deities, Such As Presidents And Prime Ministers; Polytheism Is The Greatest Sin

According to Creed of Sunnis, the first part of the Shahadah [Islamic profession of belief] should be translated: "There is no deity worthy of being worshipped, followed, or obeyed except Allah alone," while "no God but Allah" is an incorrect translation. This statement requires "negation of all worship offered to other than Allah," which is known as "kufr bit taghout" [disbelieving in the false deity], i.e. "anything that is worshipped besides Allah." Muslims "denounce and hate taghout, as they violate the right of Allah, which is to be worshipped."

Declaring that "a popular example of taghout today are presidents and prime ministers. They make people commit Shirk by voting for them in democratic elections, and make laws that replace and oppose the Shari'ah of Allah," the book quotes Quran 12:40, translating the verse as: "Verily (the right to) legislation belongs to none but Allah."

Allah demands that His creations worship Him alone and avoid Shirk. In return, they can expect "(as a mercy and favor)" that he "not … punish us in return."

The greatest sin, according to the book, is Shirk, which is "worse than murder and drinking alcohol!"

Muslims Must Hate Polytheists, Avoid Their Company Except To Preach To Them

The lowest level of belief is "to submit to Allah fully in Tawheed and to obey Him, and stay away from Shirk and its people."

"Peace" is an incorrect translation of Islam, according to the book, which asserts that although Islam "contains in it peace and comes with peace," it means "complete and utter submission to Allah alone."

Discussing the bare minimum necessary to be considered a Muslim, the book declares: "You need to free yourself from Shirk and its people … You hate in your heart Shirk … and do your best to speak against it, and the lowest level of faith is to hate it in your heart, the second is to speak against it, and the highest degree of faith is to change it with your hand if you're in a position of authority to do so. You should not sit with the people of Shirk and your association with them should be for Da'wah. In your day-to-day interactions with them, at the very least you hate their Shirk in your heart."

Asserting that faith "increases with obedience and good deeds and decreases with disobedience and evil deeds," Creed of Sunnis declares that faith is dependent on one's internal beliefs, words, and actions, while the idea that faith is only in the heart is "misguided."

The book declares that good deeds must be committed with sincere intentions for the sake of Allah and in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah, and warns: "Even if a person does lots of good deeds, but they are not Muslim, their deeds are not accepted. They have committed the worst crime ever, crime against God; Shirk."

Many Who Profess Belief Are Unbelievers For Granting Humans The Right To Legislate

Elaborating on the concepts of mono- and polytheism, Creed of Sunnis states: "Shirk is the worst crime to ever be committed. It is a crime against the Almighty Allah. Shirk is directing forms of worship to other than Allah and it can take place in different forms." There are five "heads of taghout [false deities]," including: "whoever calls the people to worship them, whoever is worshipped and is pleased with that, whoever claims to possess anything from the knowledge of the affairs of the hidden and unseen, [and] whoever judges by other than what Allah sent down."

The book further asserts that there are three parts to Tawheed [Islamic monotheism]: acknowledging Allah as the only God, accepting Him as the only object of worship, and professing the oneness of His names and attributes. Creed of Sunnis notes that many people believe that Allah alone is the creator and sustainer, but are still unbelievers because "they commit Shirk in the other categories of Tawheed." A "majority of the people commit Shirk" by "devoting physical acts of worship to other than Allah, giving legislative authority to other than Allah, or even saying statements that are exclusively for Allah." The book further warns that one may only name or describe Allah as He named and described Himself in the Quran and as Muhammad described Him in the Sunnah. One must not seek to understand His attributes, compare Him to his creations, or deny His attributes.

Musa Abdullah Jibril, a Palestinian immigrant to the U.S., is the father of pro-Islamic State (ISIS) preacher Ahmad Musa Jibril. Both served sentences in federal prison on 42 criminal charges, including conspiracy, bank and wire fraud, money laundering, failure to file income tax returns, and felon-in-possession of firearms and ammunition. The younger Jibril is an important influence for jihadi supporters who are not fluent in Arabic and has been hailed by his followers as the "imam of the West."[5] In December 20023, he gained notoriety after several mainstream media outlets reported on video lectures in which he called on Western Muslims to "start normalizing" jihad, and for mothers to "nurse their infants with the love of jihad and the ambition to become a mujahid and a martyr."[6]