The image contains pictures of influential al-Qa‘ida figures and key leaders, including Usama bin Ladin, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Abu Yahya al-Libi, ‘Atiyyat Allah al-Libi, Adam Gadahn and Anwar al-‘Awlaqi, as well as pictures of operatives who carried out lone wolf operations (e.g., Nidal Hasan). Under the fiery yellow and red al-Shahab logo appears the caption: “al-isdar al-mari’yy al-mutamayyiz la tukallaf illa nafsaka (juz’ayn)” (“the excellent video production ‘don’t be bothered with anyone but yourself’ (two parts)”). The title includes a phrase from the Qur’anic verse 4:84, which reads, in part: “fa-qatil fi sabil Allah la tukallaf illa nafsak” (“so fight in God’s path, you are not held responsible except for yourself”). Notably, in the Qur’anic context, this command was given strictly to the Prophet, making the decontextualization and manipulation for the purposes of propaganda and incitement to violence by individuals quite clear.
Finally, it is worth noting that the designer of the image chose a fairly common picture of Usama bin Ladin, who is portrayed raising his pointer finger in a motion carried out when uttering the shahada (Islamic testimony of faith holding that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is his messenger).
