As I noted here early this morning, “it hardly matters whether he is dead or alive.” This is because jihadis don’t turn to jihad because they’re following some charismatic leader. They turn to jihad because they believe that in doing so, they are pleasing Allah and winning a place in Paradise. But of course our learned mainstream analysts refuse to accept this or consider its implications, and thus continue to misapprehend the nature and magnitude of the jihad threat.
“ISIS Supporters Respond Defiantly To Reports Of Al-Baghdadi’s Death: Jihad Is Not Founded On Men,” MEMRI, October 27, 2019:
…Following are examples of the reactions….
English-Speaking Outlets Reiterate Defiant Message
These defiant messages were reiterated for the benefit of English-speaking ISIS followers as well. For example, on October 27, 2019, a pro-ISIS English language Telegram channel called “Virtual Dawa,”[6] released a post stating that the strength of supporters does not rely on the individuals but on their faith in Allah alone, downplaying the importance of the Muslim leaders in contrast to the Muslim faith. The post compares the situation to the death of the prophet Muhammad. It should be noted, however, that the post doesn’t explicitly mention Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. The message reads: “The manifestation and continuation of this religion does not reside on the shoulders of people, not now, nor in the past. This even applies to the person of the prophet Muhammad. […] We worship Allah alone! Our struggle is for His pleasure, we will remain on this path even if we are alone! Even if the strongest of winds blows it will not shake us, as our feet are well rooted in this religious methodology. As for those who are wishy-washy, rely on men and phases, and not on certainty and sure knowledge, their colors will soon show; never were they firm to begin with, they were nothing but worshipers of new trends. So we remain with the belief of the Prophets and Messengers.”
Post by Virtual Dawah, pro-ISIS group on Telegram
Another pro-ISIS Telegram channel,[7] which mostly publishes news items in English and French, released a short post warning supporters not to rush to conclusions regarding rumors of Al-Baghdadi’s death, adding that sources in the area which reported on the raid did not mention Al-Baghdadi. The message reads: “I wouldn’t rush to conclusion when it comes to the news of Al-Baghdadi killing. A lot of times these announcements are untrue. Multiple sources indicate that the raid targeted the house of Abu Muhammad Salaama in Barisha village in Idlib. No mention of Al-Baghdadi. ISIS will not deny, if indeed Al-Baghdadi was killed, the news of Prominent figure Al-Adnani’s killing was reported through ISIS’s official media at the time when it happened.” In a later post, the same channel shared a message which also downplayed the importance of the news, stating that if Al-Baghdadi had indeed been killed it still would not change the situation on the ground. The message reads: “Let’s say Al-Baghdadi was killed… Will that change the situation in the ground? Probably not. Al-Baghdadi although influential is but one person, the term Caliphate that ISIS promotes is not a temporary idea whereby if one person dies the whole term or ideology ends. Al-Baghdadi is not the first Jihadi leader to be killed if the news is verified, before him influential figures such as Bin Laden, Al-Zarqawi, Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi, Al-Muhajir, Al-Adnani, Al-Shishani were all killed, it didn’t stop anything neither it changed the situation in the ground.”
Several jihadi Telegram channels, including a pro-Al-Qaeda Telegram channel reporting on jihad in Syria, warned against following “rumors from the unbelievers,” stating that it is currently “still not clear, who was targeted!”[8] Along the same lines, an ISIS media operative[9] shared a post and an image which imply that ISIS supporters should only follow official sources. The message reads: “The real supporter of the Caliphate state: The supporters of the Caliphate amplify the preaching of the Caliphate, having adopted the messages put out by its OFFICIAL MEDIA (NOT crusaders Media) and Strives to disseminate it far and wide.”…