The image is from a video series entitled (center caption) “fursan al-shahada” (“knights of martyrdom”), part 7. The video was produced by al-Furqan Media Foundation, the media arm of ISI. In a common measure of self-promotion, the image also contains the phrase (just right of center) “al-isdar al-mar’iyy al-mutamayyiz” (“the excellent video production”). In the bottom appears a number of different jihadist figures. From left to right: ‘Abdallah Hasan ‘Asiri (who attempted to assassinate the Saudi Prince Nayyif in August 2009 in an operation executed by AQAP), Baitullah Mehsud (the previous leader of TTP), Hakimullah Mehsud (current leader of TTP) and Abu Dujana al-Khurasani (Khost bomber), Usama bin Ladin and Abu al-Laith al-Libi (experienced AQ commander killed in Afghanistan).
The black banner standing to the right of the computer screen is featured throughout jihadist video productions. According to hadith (prophetic tradition or report), the black flag was the battle flag of the Prophet Muhammad and it was carried into battle by many of his companions. In the contemporary Islamist movement, the black flag is used to evoke notions of jihad and of reestablishing the Islamic Caliphate. In particular, the black banner with the shahada (Islamic testimony of faith holding that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger) and the seal of the Prophet has come to be associated with the al-Qa’ida franchise (i.e., al-Qa’ida in Iraq, al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, etc.).
