DA’ISH MUSIC VIDEO ‘FISABILILLAH’ CALLS FOR ATTACKS IN THE WEST
DA’ISH MUSIC VIDEO ‘FISABILILLAH’ CALLS FOR ATTACKS IN THE WEST
By Michael S. Smith II
On 14 April 2015, the manager(s) of @oyun_ommah, a popular Twitter account used to publicize DA’ISH propaganda materials, promoted a music video that calls for attacks in the West. Titled “Fisabilillah” (literally “in the cause of Allah,” or “for the sake of Allah”), the production of the video is attributed to DA’ISH’s al-Hayat Media Center.
The video begins with a man seated on a sofa in what appears to be a household living room. As he reviews information on his laptop computer, a song is aired, the lyrics of which are presented in English-language subtitles (transcript below).
The screen of the man’s computer is brought into focus. He is viewing clips of DA’ISH propaganda materials, such as videos produced to document the beheadings of hostages.
Eventually, the lyrics focus on the January attack in France and an alleged sleeper cell in Germany, and scenes portray attacks to be executed by individual terrorists, including a stabbing, sniper attack, truck bombing, and a suicide attack in New York.
Finally, as the video concludes, the man’s computer screen is brought back into focus. On it, there is a blueprint for the construction of a machine gun. The shot then fades to the sofa he was seated on earlier, upon which rests a rifle of similar make.
This video’s distribution is part of a noticeable push on the part of the group’s influence operations agents to incite attacks in the West. Days earlier, the group’s propagandists promoted a video titled “We Will Burn America,” the English-language subtitles from several scenes of which asserted: “By the grace of Allah, the Mujahideen today are much more stronger [sic] and they have more resources than before. Thus they are able to burn the United States again.”
Since the terrorist formerly known to his followers as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi rebranded his group the Islamic State and claimed he had established a caliphate in mid-2014, DA’ISH’s propagandists have encouraged the group’s supporters to either travel to the areas under the group’s control in Syria and Iraq — and, more recently, to areas where it has established footholds in Africa — or wage jihad against the group’s enemies in their home countries. Evidently, the group’s propagandists perceive there is a need for a more diverse set of tools that promote such narratives.
Rush transcript of lyrics:
To the enemies of Allah: Where are your troops?
We can no longer wait.
O Allah, destroy them!
Grant us victory over them.
Take from us, make us honorable.
Take from our blood, Fisabilillah!
Now listen you dogs of hell.
This is a message, and more are going to follow.
This is just the beginning.
[English-language interpretation of Islamic texts appear on the computer screen]
The words have been written.
The ink has dried.
The judgment has been made.
Until the day of judgment … your end approaches.
Mutilated soldiers are coming back to your homeland.
Close to desperation.
Eyes are being lost.
Bodies without legs …
We want your blood.
It tastes so wonderful!
To the enemies of Allah: Where are your troops?
We can no longer wait.
O Allah, destroy them!
Grant us victory over them.
Take from us, make us honorable.
Take from our blood, Fisabilillah!
[Scenes from the immolation of Jordanian fighter pilot Lt Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh]
The fire has been lit.
We are going to burn you, slay you, and choke you.
Al-wala’ wal bara’ …
We came to slaughter and exterminate kuffar.
Bombs are dropping on us.
This increases our faith.
Men with black masks …
A creed sharp like knives …
Heads are rolling.
We slaughter for Allah.
Faces are mutilated.
Blood-spattered walls,
Whining and howling …
The terror is now here!
To the enemies of Allah: Where are your troops?
We can no longer wait.
O Allah, destroy them!
Grant us victory over them.
Take from us, make us honorable.
Take from our blood, Fisabilillah!
In France, it has been proven by deeds.
German sleeper cells are waiting.
The brothers are operating.
Terrorizing the kuffar.
War has just begun.
We have smelled blood.
The black flags have come to Sham with the Bayah to Sham.
“Take revenge for the Messenger.”
And for our sisters,
For our noble brothers,
And all the Martyrs.
A truck filled with explosives …
Loving farewell …
Don’t be sad my mother.
Your son is rushing to Allah.
To the enemies of Allah: Where are your troops?
We can no longer wait.
O Allah, destroy them!
Grant us victory over them.
Take from us, make us honorable.
Take from our blood, Fisabilillah!
Allah has called you!
There is no way out.
Fill your car with gas.
[Hand shifts gear of a BMW]
My brother, hurry up!
Your neighbor is a kafir.
“Slandering the Messenger.”
Take a big knife and give him what he rightly deserves.
Brother don’t be sad,
But I had to go.
Even while you are in Europe, do your jihad.
Allah is going to reward you.
Finish the dirty one.
Paradise is waiting.
Do it with sincerity.
To the enemies of Allah: Where are your troops?
We can no longer wait.
O Allah, destroy them!
Grant us victory over them.
Take from us, make us honorable.
Take from our blood, Fisabilillah!
We only have one life.
And it is Allah who gave it to us.
Time is running out.
So brother struggle hard.
Deeds make the difference.
[Scenes of traffic in New York]
The earth is shaking.
Khilafah what a blessing.
A favor from Allah …
[Man detonates a suicide vest, followed by screams]
A few from a few …
They all die for one cause.
You either die or gain victory.
There is no god but Allah!
Now it has arrived.
No one can hide it.
Now it has arrived.
We call it qital.
To the enemies of Allah:
To the enemies of Allah: Where are your troops?
We can no longer wait.
O Allah, destroy them!
Grant us victory over them.
Take from us, make us honorable.
Take from our blood, Fisabilillah!
