The image appears at the end of a statement posted by Fath al-Islam regarding the death of Usama bin Ladin. The large white text is a calligraphic representation of the name “tanzim fath al-Islam” (“organization of Fath al-Islam”). The bottom caption is the text of the shahada (Islamic testimony of faith holding that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger) and in the middle appears the traditional phrase from a prophetic hadith (saying or tradition of the Prophet): “innama al-nasr sabr sa‘a” (“victory is only through patience”).
Behind the text appear a number of elements often seen in jihadi imagery: the pointed index finger, s a gesture that accompanies the utterance of the shahada; a copy of an open Qur’an; an AK-47; and the Dome of the Rock. The Dome of the Rock is recognized and revered by all Muslims, but it is particularly a powerful symbol of Palestinian self-determination. It was built in 692 A.D. by the Umayyid caliph ‘Abd al-Malik on the site where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven in his mi‘raj (night journey), and it is considered the third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and al-Madina.
