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. Below is a question that was presented to Bashir Ahmed Salad, one of the current leaders of Jama’atu al-‘I’tisam, on why the scholars of Jama’atu Al-I’tisam gave a legal verdict to the general masses to do khurooj on the dawlah of Abdullahi Yusuf on the basis that he brought Ethiopian troops into the country, while those same scholars of Jama’atu Al-I’tisam did not give the same verdict for the government (i.e dawlah of Hassan Sheekh Mahmood) that was established in the year 2012, despite the fact that he brought Ethiopian troops into Somalia the same way that the former president Abdullahi Yusuf did.

Listen here wherein Bashir Ahmed Salad (i.e a head member of Al-I’tisam), ridiculously tries to justify these verdicts of their scholars.

Some Of The Observations Made Against جماعة الاعتصام Jama’atu Al-I’tisam 📋:

1⃣ – Jama’atu Al-I’tisam have shared on their official website on May 1st, 2013 a couple of general fatawa by Shaykh Bin Baaz rahimahullah on the ruling of having multiple jama’at (i.e groups) in Islam, yet for some reason Jama’atu Al-I’tisam left off sharing the clearest verdict out of all of them, wherein Shaykh Bin Baaz rahimahullah, said:

… ولا ريب أن تعدد الجماعات فيه خطر كثير، والواجب عليهم أن يكونوا شيئا واحدا…

“… And with no doubt that having multiple groups is a matter of much danger. It is obligatory upon them to become one (i.e. to unite)…”

More of the advice of the Shaykh rahimahullah could be read on his official website here.

Likewise, Ash-Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan hafidaho-Allah has refuted Dr Abdurrahman Abdul-Khaliq (i.e. a key role model for the group Jama’atu Al-I’tisam) for misleading the masses to believe that having multiple groups in Islam is something encouraged by our scholars. (see image below)

[Download]

2⃣ – Jama’atu Al-I’tisam deems it permissible to form a Jama’ah that has an Amir (leader) that should be obeyed in ma’roof and that you could do البيعة (i.e. pledge allegiance) for him. (Tape: Dialogue between Itixaad and the Salafis, min 75 span to 80 minute span)

3⃣ – Jama’atu Al-I’tisam haven’t made a clear retraction and haven’t announced their repentance for their bloody history in Somalia. In fact, Jama’atu Al-I’tisam stated in a press interview online that the mistake which occurred from them concerning their previous wars in Somalia was mainly in the strategic approach of it.

Listen here where Sheikh Hassan Habayb rahimahullah, clarifies this point concerning Jama’atu Al-I’tisam.

4⃣ – Jama’atu Al-I’tisam have stated on their current manifesto:

… وقد اعتمدت اللجنة في إعداد هذا المنهج على كتب ومؤلفات علماء أهل السّنة والجماعة من المتقدمين والمعاصرين ، واقتبست عبارات وجمل من هذه المصادر ، إما بنصها وإما بتقريب معناها ، ولا سيما من : السراج الوهاج للشيخ أبي الحسن المأربي ، والقضايا الكلية للاعتقاد للشيخ عبد الرحمن عبد الخالق ، ووثيقة ترشيد العمل الجهادي للدكتور سيد إمام…

They have based their methodology mainly from the book as-Siraaj al-Wahaaj by Abul Hassan al-Ma’rabi and the book ‘al-Qadhaayaa al-Kuliyyah’ by Dr. Abdurahman bin Abdul Khaliq and ‘Watheeqatu Tarsheedul Amal ‘ by Dr. Sayyid Imam.

Bashir Ahmed Salad, one of the main heads of Jama’atu Al-I’tisam publicizes on this clip here that the scholars and du’ats of Jama’atu Al-I’tisam, whether they be in Somalia or outside of Somalia, all of them are in acknowledgement to the manhaj of Jama’atu Al-I’tisam being taken from these books.

Those three individuals and many of their books have been warned from by the scholars.

More on Dr. Abdurahman Abdul-Khaliq here.

More on Abul Hassan al-Ma’rabi here.

5⃣ – Jama’atu Al-I’tisam and many of its members have a strong affiliation with Dr Yusuf Qardhaawi and they continue to mention him with high regards on their website.

6⃣ – Jama’atu Al-I’tisam, in many of their statements, have referred to the Salafi Somali Shuyookh who have advised them long ago (such as Shaykh Hassan Habeeb rahimahullah and Shaykh Ukaasha hafidaho-Allah) as ‘Salafi jaded, neo-salafis’ an unmistakable derogatory term amongst the Somali people. This type of oppressive name calling started from the Somali Da’ee Hassaan Hussein, may Allaah guide us and him. It was used by AbdulQadir Nur Farah (i.e a former leader of Jama’atu Al-I’tisam), as found in his memoir (part number six) concerning the history of Somalia.

First example from his speech:

… وكنا ثلاثة أنا ومحمد عبدي طاهر يقيم حاليا في لندن وقد انتقل إلى فكر السلفية الجديدة…

Second example from his speech:

أما منهج الجماعة في العقيدة والعمل فقد زكاه علماء وهو منهج سليم، ولم تنبثق أفكار (السلفية الجديدة) ولا (القاعدة) ولا (الشباب) من خلاله.

And we continue to see the Masaajids that are associated to Jama’atu I’tisaam using such a term upon those who advise them concerning their errors.

7⃣ – Sheikh Ali Warsame who was the first leader for the group Al-Itihaad and a huge figure for Jama’atu Al-I’tisam, states on this clip here the following statement:

“…You could scent the smell of takfeer from Shaykh Muhammad bin AbdulWahaab rahimahullah…” [i.e ‘smell of takfeer’ is a phrase used to show a person has extreme takfeeri views].

8⃣ – Sheikh Mohammad Idris, from the prominent figures for Jama’atu Al-I’tisam, is infamous for his dramatic speeches concerning the Somali governments. Listen here wherein Sheikh Mohammad Idris, may Allaah guide us and him, exaggerates greatly in his praises for al-Mahaakim al-Islaamiyyah as-Somaaliyyah and mentions the six months they ruled in Somalia was the best experience Somali people ever had.

9⃣ – A number of the du’ats of Jama’atu Al-I’tisam were from those who applauded and supported the Arab Spring and the revolution that occurred, for example what emanated from the Somali Da’ee Mustafa Haaji Haroon in a lecture he gave in Hargesia at Masjid Ali Mataan which is recorded with him applauding and supporting the acts of the Arab Spring despite the Arab Spring being something condemned by the scholars and is regarded as a stepping stool for the Khawaarij.

📝 Compiled by

AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman
Abu Fajr