I posted the full statement from al-Baghdadi here yesterday, but this aspect of it is worth noting separately: Rome, as the leading global center of Christianity, has long been a focus of jihadist aspirations.
“Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad that Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘As (may God be pleased with him) reports, Whilst we were around the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) writing down, he was asked, ‘Which of the two cities is to be opened first, Constantinople or Rome?’ He (the Prophet) answered, ‘The city of Heraclius will be opened first!'” (Imam Ahmad, and Al-Albany)
Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi quoted this hadith a few years ago and added: “This means that Islam will return to Europe as a conqueror and victor, after being expelled from it twice – once from the South, from Andalusia, and a second time from the East, when it knocked several times on the door of Athens.”
And the Saudi Sheikh Muhammad bin Abd Al-Rahman Al-‘Arifi, imam of the mosque of King Fahd Defense Academy, once boasted: “We will control the land of the Vatican; we will control Rome and introduce Islam in it. Yes, the Christians, who carve crosses on the breasts of the Muslims in Kosovo – and before then in Bosnia, and before then in many places in the world – will yet pay us the Jiziya [poll tax paid by non-Muslims under Muslim rule], in humiliation, or they will convert to Islam.”
There are many more such statements here.
“Rome will be conquered next, says leader of ‘Islamic State,'” by Damien McElroy, the Telegraph, July 1, 2014:
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed leader of the ‘Islamic State’ stretching across Iraq and Syria, has vowed to lead the conquest of Rome as he called on Muslims to immigrate to his new land to fight under its banner around the globe.
Baghdadi, who holds a PhD in Islamic studies, said Muslims were being targetted and killed from China to Indonesia. Speaking as the first Caliph, or commander of the Islamic faithful since the dissolution of the Ottoman empire, he called on Muslims to rally to his pan-Islamic state.
“Those who can immigrate to the Islamic State should immigrate, as immigration to the house of Islam is a duty,” he said in an audio recording released on a website used by the group formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.
“Rush O Muslims to your state. It is your state. Syria is not for Syrians and Iraq is not for Iraqis. The land is for the Muslims, all Muslims.
“This is my advice to you. If you hold to it you will conquer Rome and own the world, if Allah wills.”
Having claimed the title of “caliph”, Baghdadi appealed to “judges and those who have military and managerial and service skills, and doctors and engineers in all fields.”
He also called on jihadi fighters to escalate fighting in the holy month of Ramadan, which began on Sunday. “In this virtuous month or in any other month, there is no deed better than jihad in the path of Allah, so take advantage of this opportunity and walk the path of you righteous predecessors,” he said. “So to arms, to arms, soldiers of the Islamic s, fight, fight.”
In a reflection of the havoc wreaked the past month by the Sunni insurgency led by the group, the United Nations said more than 2,400 people were killed in Iraq in June, making it the deadliest month in the country in years.
Baghdadi’s claims to control vast territority [sic] have yet to be tested by an Iraqi government counter attack. Many Muslim groups dispute his putative caliphate. However some experts fear his rise could transform the appeal of extremist Islam, partly by harassing social media to build a global following….
Jaladhi says
Another delusional Muslim!! One of these days a drone will take him to Mo/allah’s brothel!!
John C. Barile says
Delusional with a two billion-dollar war chest, an arsenal, a captive population, and a nice chunk of Allah’s real estate.
mariam rove says
delusional none the less, m
John C. Barile says
Yeah.
I forgot to mention having 10,000+ lunatics to do his bidding for him. Times ten.
Aardvark says
“I forgot to mention having 10,000+ lunatics to do his bidding for him.”
10,000 disorganised savages. A couple of squads of Sayeret Matkal would make short work of the lot.
John C. Barile says
True, Aardvark, but these lunatics would have to enter Jordan en masse before they meet they get their comeuppance.
John C. Barile says
I don’t always edit my posts well.
john smith says
Yet another artical to stir things up. Why is the media keep trying to push us to hate Muslim’s or kill them or whatever? I have met muslims and I believe there good and bad people. The main question I have on my mind is why are they so against islam in the media? yet when its religious festivals they show like they support them to make some cash. I believe its all propaganda. There trying to control people by the media and so far looks like some people are dumb enough to fall for it. Looks like another justification to go to war and kill people and take there resources. What did they achieve in iraq or Afghanistan again? You can lie once and say it was a accident but you cant keep repeating saying yes we made a mistake. How many mistakes will it take for people to realise what there trying to do.
Joseph says
Pope Francis will surely welcome this development. He can engage Mr. Baghdadi is some inter-faith dialogue about how…
“Authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence” [Evangelii Gaudium #253].
C’mon, in his day, Pope St. Leo the Great met Attila the Hun outside Rome and persuaded him not to destroy the city, right? Let’s see if Francis can do the same with some good old fashioned inter-faith dialogue.
I mean, Islam is a “religion of peace”, right? Should be far less dangerous than Leo’s meeting, right?
TH says
Atila the Hun was a pretty civilized guy compared to these folks. As for Pope Francis, if I could have a chat with him I would invite him to have a look at what some of his predecessors thought about Islam and what they did to prevent it from taking over Europe. For insance P. St. Pius V who sent his fleet to the Battle of Lepanto and fervently prayed the rosary for victory. Pope Innocent XI who worked diligently diplomatically to help get a Christian army to rout the Turks at the gates of Viena on the 11th of Septemeber 1683 (notice the date). Thanks to the ooportune arrival of the Polish army under its King John Sobieski, the turks were routed, despite have a much bigger army than the Chritians. Not to mention a whole lot of other pops, like Pope Pius II, who in the 15th century dedicated his whole Pontificate to trying to organize a cruzade against the Turks, and was even willing to go to Venice to accompany the cruzaders. None of them thought that the Koran was a nice pious book. Otherwise they wuldn’t have organized cruzades. Pope Francis must think that being nice to Muslims will solve the problem. As for dialogue, there is no such thng as dialogue with Muslims. Maybe he knew some “nice” Muslims in Buenos Aires, but he doesn’t realize that niceness is part of the Islamic strategy and part of yihad, while they are in a minority as they are in Buenos Aires.
Jovial Joe says
I thought ‘jihad’ meant owning oneself (as in ‘mastering the passions’), not owning the world. How wrong was I?!
Jaladhi says
>”Baghdadi, who holds a PhD in Islamic studies,..”<
WOW a PhD in Islamic studies – he must have really piled high and deep in Quran in his mosque to get the degree.
Peter Clemerson says
The Telegraph article said nothing about where al Baghdadi got his PhD. Is the Telegraph article accurate? If so, which university awarded him this degree? What was his topic? And what has the university said publicly about his declaration?
gravenimage says
The Guardian says he has a doctorate in education from the University of Bagdad. One presumes this means “Islamic education”.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/12/baghdadi-abu-bakr-iraq-isis-mosul-jihad
After that, he preached and taught at Mosques and Madrassahs—and got involved in violent Jihad.
rev g says
Seems to me they are well on their way to peacefully taking over the Vatican.
KrazyKafir says
It must be so very inconvenient for the stealthy invaders, and their liberal allies, that this PhD scholar of Islam has expressed such a profound degree of misunderstanding Islam, and so spectacularly too. LOL
Uri says
When Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan, “…the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, ‘All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou wilt worship me all shalt be thine.’ (Luke 4:5-7).”
John C. Barile says
It ain’t easy being Caliph. You just gotta feel for the guy. Settin’ out to conquer the WHOLE WORLD; takin’ in 1/5 of the goods and handin’ out the rest–why, it hardly leaves ANY TIME for enjoyin’ those Possessions of the Right Hand what he gets.
dumbledoresarmy says
“IT ain’t easy bein’ Caliph”.
Can you imagine someone doing a parody of Kermit’s “It ain’t easy bein’ green”, with the refrain, “It ain’t easy bein’ Caliph”??
It has possibilities. Done with muppets or knock-offs of the muppets. Miss Piggy as a harem girl in a yashmak.
Petey says
Even better, Miss Piggy only gets a cameo in a picture on the wall, …as the prophet, double whammy, no pictures, and especially a picture of the prophet… oh and the pig thing…lol if you do Id love to see it
Charli Main says
Ah, shucks, whats all the fuss about ???
These people are not real Muslims, just a few deluded misunderstanders of Islam. All the real Muslims are living peacefully in Europe, Canada and elsewhere and making enormous contributions to the countries that have taken them in.
There—there, nothing to worry about, go back to sleep.
All the “peaceful” “moderate” “tolerant” Muslims living in your country, have your back.
Keith says
I’m so glad about that my plans for turning my house into a fortress along the lines of Windsor Castle have just been turned down by the local council and my wife was having kittens over the cost of proposed alterations. At least now I can relax knowing that “All the “peaceful” “moderate” “tolerant” Muslims living in your country, have your back”. Even prime minister Cameron has reassured us that they are all peaceful but he is a politician and you know how they can lie when they want to.
Jon says
Quite worrying developments if one has read books like Joel Richardson’s The Islamic Antichrist. I am not saying that here is the antichrist but it seems clear where things are going, and that Islam will unite and conquer, throw off its mask of peace and murder Jews and Christians en masse. I hope I am wrong.
Joseph says
Jon, if this subject interests you, you should check out the website of Walid Shoebat and his son, Theodore. Shoebat dot com. And read Walid’s book, “God’s War on Terror”. Fascinating stuff. Walid predicted, years ago, many of the things that are happening in the Middle East today, based on his understanding of Bible prophecies. Enjoy.
Jon says
Thanks, Joseph, for the recommendation. So far I have read books by Richardson and of course by Robert Spencer. Right now I am reading Daniel Revisited by Mark Davidson which seems very good and builds on things Richardson has written. However, I have seen Walid Shoebat’s name come up again and again so I will check out his work after I finish the current book.
bobm says
even though Rome fall ; he will stand before God without Christ the Lamb. He will have chosen his own eternal separation from God.
Cindy Mccoy says
I agree everything will be conquered, but it will be the victory of Jesus Christ!!! Everything will fall under HIS rule. Every knee will bow and every tongue WILL confess that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords!!!!!! Praise God for HIS goodness and faithfulness!!!!!
ADryad says
Christian fanatics aren’t any better than Muslim fanatics.
rev g says
They sure are a lot less deadly!
gravenimage says
Christian fanatics aren’t any better than Muslim fanatics.
…………………………
I’m *so* tired of this bs. The next time Christian “fanatics” start lining the streets of their cities with the severed heads of those who disagree with them, I’ll be worried.
You can disagree with millenialist Christians and consider them silly, but deeming them “no better than Muslim fanatics” is just witless moral equivalence.
Jay Boo says
Hi gravenimage
I sure wish Rosie O’Donnell would stop posting here
I guess this time it is the alias ADryad
Let’s not forget Rosie O’Donnell ‘s comment on ‘the View’ just after the 911 attack
Stan the man says
Christians make up 1/4 of the world’s religions. Muslims make up just a tad over 1 billion and they’re not even a religion, they’re an ideology. The rest of the world is compromised of Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, atheists and 2 billion Chinese and other forms of religions. And then there are others that will be in the crosshairs of islamic militancy…….homosexuals, adulterers, gamblers and imbibers and many, many others that won’t be tolerated by this ‘allah’ dude. Each and every one will be held to the sword by a muslim if they get the chance. The West has major modern weaponry……..these morons live in caves and mud houses and wear drapes for armour. By my count, I think the odds are against them.
voegelinian says
The Rome we know, and the Ar-Rum which is the title of sura 30 of the Koran, are one and the same in the Muslim mind.
(It would be quibbling to point out that “Ar-Rum” literally means “the Romans”; not to mention that it was specifically referring to the Romans of the Constantinian translatio imperii, the Byzantines.)
gravenimage says
Voegelinian, as you know, “Rum” has come to mean more than just “Rome” or “Byzantium”—it is evocative more generally of great Occidental Infidel power—and as such “Rome” is Rome, but it is also Paris, and London, and New York city—and the British and Americans are “Romans” every bit as much as the Italians are.
In other words, this is the nascent Caliphate taking aim at the free West.