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Raymond Ibrahim
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The Al Qaeda Reader Hardcover – August 7, 2007

by Raymond Ibrahim (Editor)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 77 ratings
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The global war on terror is not just a military conflict but a war of ideas. Indeed it is in some respects primarily an ideological struggle.  Yet it is a war we cannot win without a broader understanding of al-Qaeda's goals and motives.

What do our enemies believe?  What motivates their war against the West?  What is their vision of the ideal Islamic society?  Surprisingly, more than five years after 9/11, there is very little understanding of these questions. 

Despite our tendency to dismiss Islamic extremism as profoundly irrational, al-Qaeda is not without a coherent body of beliefs.  Like other totalitarian movements, the movement’s leaders have rationalized their brutality in a number of published treatises.  Now, for the first time, The Al Qaeda Reader gathers together the essential texts and documents that trace the origin, history, and evolution of the ideas of al-Qaeda founders Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden. 

This extraordinary collection of the key texts of the al-Qaeda movement—including incendiary materials never before translated into English—lays bare the minds, motives, messages, and ultimate goals of an enemy bent on total victory. Al-Qaeda’s chilling ideology calls for a relentless jihad against non-Muslim "infidels," repudiates democracy in favor of Islamic law, stresses the importance of martyrdom, and mocks the notion of "moderate" Islam.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of these works is how grounded they are in the traditional sources of Islamic theology: the Koran and the teachings of the Prophet. The founders of al-Qaeda use these sources as powerful weapons of persuasion, reminding followers (and would-be recruits) that Muhammad and his warriors spread Islam through the power of the sword and that the Koran is not merely allegory or history but literal truth that commands all Muslims to action.

In addition to laying bare al-Qaeda’s ultimate motives, The Al Qaeda Reader includes the organization’s propagandist speeches, which are directed primarily at Americans, Europeans, and Iraqis. Here, al-Qaeda’s many "official" accusations against the West are meticulously delineated, from standard complaints such as the Palestinian issue and Iraq to wholly unexpected ones concerning the U.S.’s exploitation of women and the environment.

Taken together, the Theology and Propaganda sections of this volume reveal the most comprehensive picture of al-Qaeda to date. They also highlight the double-speak of bin Laden and Zawahiri, who often say one thing to Muslims in their religious treatises ("We must hate and fight the West because Islam commands it") and another in their propaganda directed at the West ("The West is the aggressor and we are fighting back merely in self-defense").

Westerners from across the political spectrum will be fascinated and enlightened by The Al Qaeda Reader’s insights into the nature of Islamic texts and the ways in which al-Qaeda has used these texts to manufacture hatred against our civilization and our way of life.
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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Doubleday
  4. Publication date
    August 7, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    5.77 x 1.03 x 7.93 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    038551655X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0385516556
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
77 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate the accurate translation of radical Islamists' beliefs expressed in their own words. The notes enhance the text and make it a worthwhile purchase. Overall, customers consider it an insightful and important resource for understanding Al Qaeda.

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ReadabilityTranslation qualityValue for money
14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and well-researched. It provides good information on Islamic history and theology, as well as explanations about various scholars referenced by Bin Laden and Zawahiri. Readers consider it an essential text for understanding Al Qaeda and the war on terror.

"...Some of the facts in the book are accurate...." Read more

"...These notes are a goldmine of information relating to Islamic history and theology, as well as explanations about the various Islamic scholars..." Read more

"...same lines like The Eleventh Day for example and both provide insight by being descriptive and helping me see things from the other side's..." Read more

"...It turns out that he was quite the scholar of Islam and knew the life of Mohammad intimately. For an example: &#..." Read more

7 customers mention "Translation quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's translation accurate. They say it provides an informative look at letters and essays written by Al Qaeda insiders to Muslims. The notes enhance the text, providing guidance, contradictions, ideologies, and vulnerabilities of radical Islamists. The book paints the intentions behind the actions of Al-Qaeda using transcripts used to garner support.

"...I believe this book accurately expresses what the radical Islamists believe..." Read more

"...Ibrahim's knowledge of these subjects is superb and the notes greatly enhance the text...." Read more

"...It turns out that he was quite the scholar of Islam and knew the life of Mohammad intimately. For an example: &#..." Read more

"This is a superb collection of radical Islamists in their own words...." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good value for money. They say it's worth buying and provides serious reading for anyone interested in Al-Qaeda.

"This is an amazing book, consisting of the writings of Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri in two categories: translations of Arabic writings..." Read more

"...This is serious reading for anyone that wonders what Al Quaida is really up to." Read more

"...Well worth the buy this book...." Read more

"Any of Raymond Ibrahim's books are great and worth purchasing...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Thomas W. Blakey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Robert Burns and Al Qaeda
    Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    To A Louse
    Robert Burns

    O wad some power the giftie gie us
    To see oursels as ithers see us!
    It wad frae many a blunder free us,
    An foolish notion:

    Halfway effective propaganda is characterized by several things. It should contain as much truth (or believable lies) as possible. These act as that "spoon full of sugar" that "helps the medicine go down." It should also appeal to one's preconceived notions and prejudices, or create those prejudices and notions.

    The Al Qaeda Reader demonstrates the truth of this. I believe this book accurately expresses what the radical Islamists believe (or, at least, claim to believe - true believers are not noted for being excessively in touch with reality). I do not agree with most of what is said in this book. Some of the facts in the book are accurate. Actually, enough of them are accurate to give the work credibility if you accept the Islamists' basic assumptions, which I don't. From the Al Qaeda viewpoint, the conclusions logically follow. The presentation is made (and made rather well) in a manner to appeal to those Moslems who feel victimized by events and/or by the west.

    The mind set demonstrated in this book is one which should be familiar to anyone who has studied the history of any other organization, political, religious, or a combination of the two, which claims to have sole possession of THE TRUTH!!!! Change a few words and the book could be describing radical Christianity or Communism or lots of other organizations. In that respect, the book also demonstrates what I see as the weakness of Al Qaeda & etc. For every bin Laden, there is an Ibrahim, for every Torqemada there is a George, for every Stalin there is an Ivan who just wants a quiet life without all the brou-ha-ha of crusades or jihad or other vast, loud and dangerous causes.

    Burns was right. The book allows us to "see oursels as ithers see us." If Al Qaeda's picture of us isn't pretty, the self portrait they present also lacks charm.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • andy_c
    5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for understanding terrorists' motivations and propaganda techniques
    Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is an amazing book, consisting of the writings of Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri in two categories: translations of Arabic writings intended for audiences in the Islamic world, and English writings intended for Western audiences. The starkly different messages in the two different categories of writing illustrate the duplicity of these men.

    In the writings intended for Western readers, the stated reason for their acts is retaliation against the alleged injustice of American foreign policy in the manner of "an eye for an eye". But the writings intended for the Islamic world paint an entirely different picture. In those, the religious obligations of hating the infidels and waging offensive jihad against them are stressed. One can reasonably assume that the messages intended for the West are mostly lies, albeit carefully and cleverly crafted ones.

    There a collection of notes at the end of the book. When reading, I kept two bookmarks and followed along. These notes are a goldmine of information relating to Islamic history and theology, as well as explanations about the various Islamic scholars referenced by Bin Laden and Zawahiri. Raymond Ibrahim's knowledge of these subjects is superb and the notes greatly enhance the text.

    This book is essential reading for everyone in the West.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • BeaRug58
    4.0 out of 5 stars Frightening !
    Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    If there is anyone that thinks it is possible to negotiate with the likes of bin Laden, they need to read this collection of communiques. These stark documents illustrate the megalomaniac, and mentally unstable condition of the head of Al Quaida. Raymond Ibrahim presents some of the most frightening writing since Mein Kampf, and the Communist Manifesto. This is serious reading for anyone that wonders what Al Quaida is really up to.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • A. Somers
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    When I started researching the ideology of the people who were involved in the World Trade Center attacks, it was easy to find statements in support and against it, then I noticed as I was furthering my research the decent reviews this book got and it influenced me to buy it.

    This is important because the author here has translated statements that may not otherwise have ever been translated. Most of the subject matter and content deals with the reasoning behind why certain groups of people think the way they do and shows how they always politicize their own beliefs in order to have a following from the public.

    Because most of the statements come from one or two people it probably isn't as detailed as it could have been but I have had the chance to check out other books along the same lines like The Eleventh Day for example and both provide insight by being descriptive and helping me see things from the other side's perspective as a behind the scenes type look at what the terrorists say and think.

    Most revealing and perhaps most importantly is the fact that what they tell the West and what they tell their own people and audience are two very different things as they purposely try to be cunning and deceptive. I highly recommend.

    Aryan Somers
    9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Peter Skovgaard
    5.0 out of 5 stars and I can only recommend readers of this book to get a copy of ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book gives you a unique insight of the mindset behind violent Jihad. It is well written by Raymond Ibrahim, and I can only recommend readers of this book to get a copy of Qur'an and Shafi'i School of Thought Shari'ah - "Reliance of the Traveller", in order to fully understand the concepts described in this book.
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  • D. Sherwood
    3.0 out of 5 stars A heavy but necessary read if you want to understand what Al Qaeda was and how IS thinks
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 20, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A heavy read of the turgid, twisted and evil mindset that made Al Qaeda briefly a exceptionally feared and serious danger upon the world stage. The convluted justifications used by Osama bin Laden and his number 2 in order to justify their position is incredible but not unusual amongst tyranical despots.
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