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In an article titled "Suleiman Al-Halaby – 18th Century Lone Mujahid Assassin," appearing in issue 14 of the English-language Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) magazine Inspire, writer Khalid Al-San'ani relays the story of Halaby, an 18th-century Syrian student in Cairo who assassinated French General Jean Baptiste Kléber, head of the French Occupation Force in Egypt. The graphic attached to the article, which refers to Al-Halaby as the "first lone mujahid to attack the French," includes some background detail on the killing: "June 14, 1800; type – assassination; target – the French army General Jean Baptiste; weapon – stiletto (stabbing); pursued target for 31 days and finally killing the general." A picture of a stiletto is also included with the text: "Assassin's choice of weapon deadly and easily concealable."
The following is the full text of the article:
"The battle of Hearts & Minds will never cease to exist: Ever since the days of Prophet Muhammad ... the disbelievers have tirelessly embarked on an effort to gain support; either by propagating their ideals or by conspiring against Islam. This is the same case with [the] current disbelievers; the Obamas, Hollandes, [and] Charlie Hebdos. They will always continue to exist, serving as a scale for Muslims. A scale that weighs their love for the sake of religion and a scale that exposes the hypocrites and their betrayal for the very core of Islamic values. Will a Muslim stand up against the disbelievers or will he just ignore [them] and try to mold his own taste of Islam in order to please the disbelievers? And how will a Muslim comprehend the verse: 'the Jews and Christians will never be pleased with you until you follow their millah' and the verse 'You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they be their fathers, their sons, their brothers or their relatives' [Koran 58:22].
"France has always been on the forefront of this war. A secularist nation that has tirelessly been working to spread and instill their ideals on Muslims, history is a clear testimony to this. But what is most important is the role of Muslims in confronting this kind of secularist aggression. Two groups of Muslims emerge in such cases; those who sit back and 'enjoy' ideological slavery, and those who fight back even if the only army they have is their own selves. As done by the Lone Mujahid Assassin, Suleiman Al-Halaby on June 14, 1800.
"What do you know about Suleiman Al-Halaby? He is Suleiman Muhammad Amin Wanis Al-Halabi. He was born in Kukan village in Afrin, Halab (Aleppo) - Syria in the year 1777 AD (1191 AH). He studied theology in Al-Azhar University for 3 years. And furthered his studies in Mecca and Medina for 3 years. His teachers include Sheikh 'Abdullah Al-Ghazzi, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Ghazzi, [and] Sheikh Ahmad Al-Waali. His travels included Mecca – Medina - Cairo - Giza - Jerusalem - Gaza.
"His target was a French Army General - Jean Baptiste Kléber. Leader of the French occupational forces in Egypt. Reconnaissance for the operation took 31 days, in order as to study the general's movement and to gain an advantage. On June 14, 1800 - Suleiman disguised himself as a beggar, Suleiman approached the general and stabbed him with a stiletto. Killing him and wounding Kelber's chief Engineer.
"Our brave Mujahid was arrested with weapon still red with blood. He was severely tortured and his right arm burnt to the bone. They forced him to name [accomplices] but he confessed to nothing. He and the aforementioned three teachers were sentenced to death. His execution was by impalement and the body was left for animals to feed on him. His skull and stiletto are on display at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris. Suleiman Al-Halaby has since then become an icon figure of Jihad and revolution and especially in lone Jihad."[1]
[1] Inspire, issue 14. The original English of the article has been lightly edited for clarity and standardization.
