Abu al Britani - A Brief Guide to Islamic State (2015)

Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His aid, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of our souls and the wickedness of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, then none can misguide him; and whomsoever Allah leaves astray, then none can guide him. I testify that there is none truly worthy of worship, following or obedience except Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His last and final messenger.

With so much interest in the Islamic State, since its inception on 29th June 2014,1 have written this short guide that glosses over some of the main aspects of the country, including: food, weather, transport, technology, people and education.

In a time where the whole world has literally gathered against the Islamic State, I felt it was necessary to provide an alternative narrative to life under the Caliphate, which was free from many of the distortions pushed out by mainstream media.

All the views expressed in this book are my own, and all parts have been written whilst I have resided under the just shade of Islamic law in the Caliphate.

This book does not contain any information on how to perform acts of terrorism, nor does it provide any instructions on how to migrate to the Islamic State. It is simply my take on unravelling events that have transpired in the Islamic States first year of governance.

I hope you find this book useful and that it also becomes a valuable primary resource for future historians proving the superiority of Islam over all other ways of life, and the subsequent truth of the Quran and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Lastly, I invite all non-Muslims to embrace Islam and save themselves from hellfire by testifying none has the right to be worthy of worship, following or obedience except Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His last and final Messenger.

By late 2013 it was obvious to those who had been paying attention that something special was brewing in Iraq and Syria. Truth be told, none of us really knew how earth shaking the events would turn out to be that following summer, but one thing was for sure all of our eyes were glued attentively to what was happening and we were not looking away.

Convoys. We all remember the iconic scenes of Toyota Hiluxes laden with battle hardened mujahideen it was clear that they were in their element. Brimming with confidence? They had the right to be.

Enter Saleel ul Sawarim 4. If things could not get any worse for the disbelievers then the debut of this blockbuster must have rattled their souls. From the clever camera angles to the slow motion assassinations everything about the special effects scenes breathed Hollywood, and yet it was not, what we had instead was a powerful masterpiece that was Islamic to the core. It was all building up to a thunderous crescendo, but many of us were still too unaware to see it coming, and when it hit we were caught totally off guard.

29th June 2014. That date is right up there with 11th September 2001. In fact, in many ways it surpasses it purely for what it symbolises. After years of blood, sweat and tears the emirate led by Abu Bakr al Baghdadi (ha) had finally achieved what no other organisation was able to establish the Islamic State.

Yes, it is true, we all saw how on that glorious Tuesday morning those magnificent planes of terror jolted the Muslim Ummah but it was the Islamic State that not only managed to pump more voltage into the fight, but it fundamentally repackaged international jihadism and graduated it to juggernaut empire.

It is said that the Muslim Ummah is like the rain and that its flashes of brilliance can be found scattered throughout the pages of history, but sometimes it produces real gems. Take the charisma and magnetism of Sheikh Usamah bin Laden (rh) or the raw fury of Abu Musab al Zarqawi (rh) we thought we saw it all, but then came the poetic eloquence of Sheikh Adnani (ha) and the strong leadership of Abu Bakr al Baghdadi (ha), and now we lie and wait for the next Ibn Taymiyyah (rh) and Tariq bin Ziyaad (rh) and Muhammad bin Qasim (rh). Amazing, isnt it?

So take a deep breath and think for a moment yes we have it a Caliphate upon the methodology of Prophethood. Never in my lifetime did I envisage seeing it let alone live in it, but here I am relishing every moment and working hard to see it in Rome and beyond.

It has been nearly a year since the birth of the Islamic State, from the writing of this piece, and as the word spreads that the dream has indeed become reality more and more Muslims will sooner or later take that leap of faith and migrate. Yet, there are still those who are genuinely hesitant, perhaps curious, whilst there are others who have already made the decision to move, but need that extra push.

So if you want to know more about this new fledgling state and what life is really like under the Caliphate then continue reading and get ready to set fire to procrastination.

If you thought you would be living on stale bread and septic water then erase that culinary fib from your mind. Below are some of the most popular dishes served on the streets of the Caliphate, and some familiar snacks.

Shawarma

Succulent pieces of chicken or lamb married with lemon juice, lettuce, cabbage, onions and wrapped neatly in a flat round piece of bread called khubs. Sauces include mayonnaise and a spicy red pepper relish.

Sheesh Kebab

A spin off from the shawarma except this time the juicy pieces of chicken or lamb are skewed and slow cooked over a smoky charcoal grill. Scrumptious.

Falafel sandwich

A great vegetarian option, it is a satisfying meal on the go. Shredded cabbage, lettuce and tomato mixed with squashed falafels (fried chick peas) and smooth creamy humus all wrapped with wholesome flatbread.

Ijaa

A tempting choice for the bargain hunter this sandwich is a mirror of the falafel sandwich except it substitutes falafels for deep fried eggs.

Jubun bread

Diamond shaped pieces of delicately baked bread stuffed with melted cheese. Other fillings include spiced chicken and minced lamb.

Fruity cocktails

Very popular in the summer and costing less than a dollar, use your imagination to create your own unique blends. You can even spoil yourself by adding milk, sugar and crushed ice.

Tea and coffee

If you were worried about leaving behind your local Costa Coffee then you will be happy to know that the Caliphate serves some of the best lattes and cappuccinos around. The milk is truly delightful creamy and fresh. As for the tea then the distinctive pekoe leaves of Layalina are, at the moment, the frontrunners.

Ice cream

Fluffy, velvety and sweet. If you want to treat yourself then indulge in this full fat delight all for less than 30 pence.

Bizr

Roasted sunflower seeds. Can be found salted or unsalted. A popular snack.

Chocolates

Snickers, Kit Kat, Bounty, Twix, Kinder Surprise, Cadburys yes, yes we have it all.

The great thing about food in the Caliphate is its freshness. You can be sure that the vegetables you crunch down on basked gloriously in the sunshine before reaching your dinner plate. And what about the olive groves? Yes, there are plenty of them and the pickles and rich oils that spring from them beat anything from your local Tescos or Walmart.