New Translation Taps Muslim Brotherhood as Islamic Extremists

A new translation of a book by a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood rebuffs claims that the Brotherhood is not an extremist organization bent on global domination for Muslims.

The ongoing turmoil in Egypt has focused attention on the banned Brotherhood, as its representatives say they do not want to take over the country but merely want to be part of the government.

One Brotherhood spokesman said the organization rejects “the religious state,” and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has tentatively welcomed the group's participation in the negotiations over Egypt's future.

But the translation of the 1995 book “Jihad Is the Way,” compiled by Palestinian Media Watch and released on Tuesday, details the group’s goal of global Islamic conquest.

The book was written by Mustafa Mashhur, who headed the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt from 1996 until 2002.

Palestinian Media Watch founder Itamar Marcus told the Jerusalem Post that the Brotherhood should not be expected to moderate its objectives after being allowed into the political process, and said the movement differs from terrorist groups like al-Qaida only in tactics, not in its goals.

Some of the passages from Mashhur’s book, as translated by Palestinian Media Watch:

    “There exists an unavoidable personal duty for every Muslim to equip himself and prepare and gear up toward Jihad.”

   “Without Jihad and the preparation towards it, the obligation cast upon every Muslim to establish an Islamic state and the Islamic Caliphate and to consolidate this religion, will not be realized.”

   “Jihad and the preparation towards it are . . . for the purpose of realizing the great task of establishing an Islamic state and strengthening the religion and spreading it around the world.”

   “Jihad is our way and death for Allah is our most lofty wish.”

   “The Islamic [community] can regain its power and be liberated and assume its rightful position which was intended by Allah, as the most exalted nation among men, as the leaders of humanity.”

   “It should be known that jihad and preparation towards Jihad are not only for the purpose of fending off assaults and attacks of Allah’s enemies from Muslims, but are also for the purpose of realizing the great task of establishing an Islamic state and strengthening the religion and spreading it around the world.”

   “Prepare yourself and train in the art of warfare, and embrace the causes of power. You must learn the ways and manners and laws of war. You must learn them and embrace them and adhere to them, so that your Jihad will be the one accepted by Allah.”

   “Jihad for Allah is not limited to the specific region of the Islamic countries, since the Muslim homeland is one and is not divided, and the banner of Jihad has already been raised in some of its parts, and shall continue to be raised, with the help of Allah, until every inch of the land of Islam will be liberated, and the State of Islam established.”