The image is of the al-Qa’ida general commander in Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu Yazid.The Egyptian al-Yazid, who was (for a long time) al-Qa’ida Central’s (AQC) financial manager, was reportedly killed in a U.S. unmanned drone missile strike along with members of his family in North Waziristan, Pakistan. He was also known to be one of AQC’s liaisons with the Afghan Quetta Shura (Council) of the Taliban, headed by Mullah Muhammad ‘Umar.

The caption at the bottom of the image is a verse from the Qur’an (Q 6:162-63), which reads: “qul inna salati wa-nusuki wa-mahyaya wa-mamati li-lah rabb al-‘alamin; la sharika lahu, wa-bi-dhalika umirtu, wa-ana awwal al-muslimin” (“say: my prayer, my devotion, my life, my death are for God, Lord of the Worlds; He has no partner, and I was commanded with this [i.e., monotheism], and I am the first Muslim”).

More Information
Group Name al-Rahmah (aka arrahmah) internet presence for Jama`a Islamiyya (JI); founder and owner Muhammad Jibriel Abdul Rahman
Group Type Jihadist Group
Dominant Colors Green
Secondary Colors White, Black
Language Arabic
Isolated Phrases / Mottoes / Slogans Q 6:162-163 qul inna salati wa-nusuki wa-mahyaya wa-mamati li-lah rabb al-`alamin; la sharika lahu, wa-bi-dhalika umirtu, wa-ana awwal al-muslimin
Image Number 0268
Groups Region of Operation Global
Groups Country of Operation Afghanistan
Date Image Created Online 03/06/2010
Body Parts Pointer Finger, Face / Bust
Fire Light Rays / Light
Geopolitical Symbols Slogan
People Group Leader / Influential figure, Man / Men
People Analysis Mustafa Abu al-Yazid AQ financier
Religious Textual References Quranic Text, Quranic Citations, Other Medieval Text, Use of Calligraphy
Religious Textual References Analysis 8:162-163. Prayer for the deceased "rahimahu Allah" [may God have mercy on him]
Visual Themes The green color of the background is significant, as green is considered the traditional color of the Prophet Muhammad’s tribe, and has been adopted as a sacred color based on Qur’anic verses (76:21; 18:65-82) and a reliable hadith (prophetic tradition or report) that associates green with “universally good things.” The color is also related to jihadi doctrine, as it is believed that while the corpses of martyrs lay in their graves, their souls are to be put into the bodies of green birds that drink from the rivers of Eden and eat from its fruit. Finally, the greenery motif resonates the idea of God’s benevolence, and is symbolic of creation, life and sustenance.

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