After Teen Teacher Arrested In UK For Distributing Children's Textbook Promoting Salafi-Jihadi Ideology, Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Telegram Channel Calls To 'Spite Unbelievers' By Disseminating It Further

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On November 12, 2024, British media reported that a 19-year-old teacher at an Islamic Sunday school, Dzhamilya Timaeva from the London suburb of Windsor, had gone on trial on charges of disseminating terrorist publications and possessing a document for terrorist purposes, after she printed a children's textbook titled "Little Muwahideen" [Monotheists] and planned to teach it to children. Prosecutors further noted that Timaeva was found in possession of an Islamic State (ISIS) video that incites attacks, as well as notes concerning the "Permissibility of Suicide Operations," and that she wrote that she aspired to be "the mother of the soldiers of Allah ... the one who raised them and incited them to jihad."[1]

In an email sent the day after her March 2023 arrest, she mentioned that the "Little Muwahideen" booklets had been confiscated and thanked Allah that only a few copies were found at her house since she had recently distributed many of them.[2]

Pro-ISIS Telegram Channel Notes Arrest Of Timaeva, Calls To Disseminate "Little Muwahideen" Book

In a November 13 Telegram post, an English-language channel devoted to publishing news about prisoners arrested for supporting ISIS and other jihadi groups, reported on Timaeva's case. The post asked Allah to protect Timaeva. The channel requested supporters not share articles about her, since they show her with her face uncovered.

The channel added that supporters should spite the unbelievers by further disseminating the book.

The 60-page book "Little Muwahideen," covering the "basics of Islam" and inculcating Salafi-jihadi beliefs in children, was published by a group called Al-Muttaqun [the Pious] in March 2022.

Following is a brief review of the more jihadi passages in the book. The original English has been lightly edited for clarity and standardization:

Book Intended To Protect Children 7-13 From "Evils" Such As "Homosexuality Being Normalized"

The book opens with a "letter to parents" explaining its purpose and noting that the authors – who identify themselves as "your brothers in Islam" – tried to keep the writing simple in order to reach children between the ages of seven and 13. The authors explain that the book is intended "to help us educate our children and ground them with the correct Aqeedah [belief] from the early years of their life, in a time when fitna [temptation] and the war against Islam from all sides is at its peak." Alleging that children are being taught "all kinds of evils," such as "modernization" and "homosexuality being normalized," they write: "It is a heavy responsibility on our shoulders to protect our children from these evils and instill in their hearts Tawheed [Islamic monotheism], Walaa and Baraa [loyalty to fellow Muslims and disavowal and hatred of unbelievers], and the correct fundamentals of this deen [religion] from an early age."

Jihad Example Of Act Of Worship; Muslims Should "Overthrow" Ideologies Like Democracy And Capitalism

Noting that the word "Islam" is Arabic for "to submit," the book declares that "Islam is the only religion acceptable to Allah Almighty … It means total and complete submission to Allah alone with obedience, while hating and disassociating from shirk [polytheism] and the people of shirk."

A page on Tawheed, with the subheading "live by it, fight by it, die by it," is illustrated with a black flag used by ISIS and other jihadi groups. A later page discussing the concept of Tawheed declares that all acts of worship must be performed "in order to get closer to Allah alone" and for no other purpose, offering jihad as an example.

The book further elaborates on Salafi-jihadi ideology in a page concerning the concept of Tawheed Al-Hakimiyah, which the authors define as "unifying Allah in His judgement … and His legislation." The book explains that Muslims must "not confine Islam only to the mosque, but implement its laws and rulings in the society, to bring true justice by overthrowing false and incomplete religions and ideologies, like democracy and capitalism."

Muslims Must Hate Unbelievers

In a page on the Salafi-jihadi concept of Al-Walaa wal-Baraa [loyalty to fellow Muslims and disavowal and hatred of unbelievers], the authors teach that Muslims should only love and support Allah, the prophets, and their fellow believers, and should not form alliances based on "nationality, language, race, fame, wealth, or other worldly benefits." One must therefore "aid or support [the believers] against their enemies," and also "hate the disbelievers, hypocrites, and apostates" and "have enmity towards them." They further state that Allah obligates Muslims "to hate and disassociate from both shirk as well as its people," and that those who do not "are not really Muslims."

Rulers Must Be Disavowed, Unbelief Fought To Enforce Shari'a

Several pages are devoted to the Salafi-jihadi concept of Kufr bit Taghut, which the book defines as disbelieving in anything that is worshipped or obeyed, other than Allah. One type of Taghut is "the tyrant ruler who alters the rulings of Allah," such as "the heads of states and governments, kings and leaders who substitute … the rulings of Allah with fabricated man-made laws … or dismantle a legislated ruling, such as abolishing the Hudud [penalties ordained by shari'a], Jihad, and Zakah [alms which Islam mandates paying to the Islamic government]." Another is someone who "judges by other than what Allah revealed."

A page about shari'a declares that the term Khilafah [caliphate], defined as "Islamic governing system," was meant for mankind "to rule and dominate the Earth on [Allah's] behalf." Asserting that there is an "ever-going battle between Emaan [faith] and Kufr [unbelief]," the authors write that Allah "wants his believing slaves to dominate His earth, so they can then enjoin all that is good and forbid all evil … It is a communal obligation upon us to enforce the final Shariah of Allah upon His earth by fighting the heads and forces of Kufr."

Jihad Is An Obligatory Means Of Propagating Islam

Devoting a page to discussing jihad, the authors describe the concept as "waging war for the sake of Allah, "explaining that jihad is "a means of calling people to the true religion of Allah by fighting those who reject it." Noting that the Prophet Muhammad and the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who succeeded him waged jihad against the "enemies of Islam," they declare jihad "a communal obligation upon the Muslims," explaining that it is sometimes described as the sixth pillar of Islam, or "the roof of Islam which protects its pillars." Quoting a hadith, the authors state that Muhammad declared jihad the third-greatest action, after prayer and good treatment of parents.

Noting that jihad can be offensive or defensive, the book elaborates that "in offensive jihad, the disbelievers are invited to Islam or forced to pay Jizyah [a tribute which the Quran mandates for Jews and Christians to pay their Muslim overlords] in return for security from the Muslims, those who reject Islam and do not pay Jizyah are fought." With respect to defensive jihad, "when the enemies of Islam attack the Muslims and their lands, jihad becomes an individual obligation upon every adult and sane Muslim."

Groups associated with Michigan-based pro-ISIS preachers Musa Abdullah Jibril and his son Ahmad Musa Jibril have published booklets teaching children principles of Salafi-jihadi ideology.[3] Australian pro-ISIS preacher Wisam (Abu Ousayd) Haddad has also been active in teaching Islam to children, running a Saturday school and tutoring homeschoolers, among other activities geared to children.[4]