بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

💥 Jama’atu Al-I’tisam جماعة الاعتصام (i.e. Ictisaam) [1996] 💥 I wanted to briefly share some information concerning the Somali group called Jama’atu Al-I’tisam جماعة الاعتصام. This Somali movement and group was formed and established in 1996 in the city of Las’aanod, Somalia. Jama’atu Al-I’tisam, in reality, is a new version of the old Somali group called al-Itihaad الاتحاد [see more info about them here]. When the movement of al-Itihaad began to divide amongst itself into multiple groups in the early nineties, they once again united, but this time under a new name called Al-I’tisam. However, many of its members at that particular time would still ascribe themselves to the name al-Itihaad. So Jama’atu Al-I’tisam is a byproduct of al-Itihaad: تلك العصا من تلك العصية – – و هل تلد الحية إلا الحوية Listen here where Sheikh Hassan Habayb rahimahullah clarifies that the orgin of al-Itihaad is a branch of Ikhwanul Muslimeen. The group Al-I’tisam جماعة الاعتصام has been quite active since its establishment – whether it be in relation to the political affairs in Somalia or the dawah. Jama’atu Al-I’tisam stated on their manifesto in the year 1996 in the city of Las’aanod that from their main objectives in establishing themselves is to announce Jihaad إعلان الجهاد. The meaning of Jihaad, as they have stated in a number of their tapes that were recorded in the late nineties, is to wage war against anyone who refuses to establish Shari’ah law. As a result, much bloodshed and a lot of tribal wars occurred in Somalia. In the year 1998, Sheikh Umar Shiino hafidaho-Allah and Sheikh Hassan Habayb rahimahullah had a dialogue with two main members of Jama’atu Al-I’tisam at that time advising them concerning the harm they have caused in Somalia. However, Jama’atu Al-I’tisam persisted in continuing upon what they were established for. You could listen to the full dialogue from here. In the early 2000s, Jama’atu Al-I’tisam formed a military army by the name الجبهة الإسلامية al-Jabha al-Islaamiyyah which was led by Abdullah Umar Nur as-Somaali. The Jabha at that time stated in their public address that they were established to remove foreign occupation in our lands and not to fight against Somali citizens (as found in a press interview broadcasted by al Jazeera News Channel). Of Jama’atu Al-I’tisam’s many stages was their beginning one, whereby they mentioned in their old manifesto that their هدف goal is to reestablish the khilaafah إعادة الخلافة. This particular goal would explain why they encouraged the overthrowing of the previous Somali governments. However, in recent times they have edited their manifesto on their official website to state: … دعوة الأمة إلى إقامة دين الله في الأرض، وتحكيم شرعه “Calling the Ummah to establish the Religion of Allah on the earth and to rule by His Legislation” The reader will notice that this is a common habit from the group Al-I’tisam; they have a tendency to secretly remove a certain belief or methodology that they held from their websites without any clarification or any form of bayyaan. In 2003, Jama’atu Al-I’tisam announced in a conference of theirs that they would dedicate themselves to being members of the Somali Parliament and that they would no longer use military force in their da’wah, which led to the Somali terrorist group called ‘al-Shabaab’ breaking off from them. Eventually this was the reason why Jama’atu Al-I’tisam announced in the year 2004 that they are free from the group al-Shabaab. In the year 2006, Jama’atu Al-I’tisam unfortunately went back on their words of no longer encouraging the use of military force to obtain position in the lands. Hence, all the main scholars of Jama’atu al-I’tisaam gave a verdict to rebel and to try to overthrow the dawlah (i.e.government) of Abdullahi Yusuf.