Jordanian jihadi ideologue, and Al-Qaeda supporter Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi, shared several tweets commenting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In his tweets, the jihadi cleric highlighted social media reports that Chechen soldiers are fighting alongside the Russian forces in Ukraine, deeming that as deviant Muslims whose prayers will not be accepted.[1]
“Prayers Of Those Supporting Tyrants Will Not Be Accepted”
On February 25, he shared a photo of soldiers performing Islamic prayers. The text on the photo reads: “Soldiers of [Ramzan Akhmadovich] Kadyrov,” the current president of the Chechnyan republic, “who are fighting in support of the Russian army, “the prayers of those who do not disown the abomination of the tyrant will not be accepted [by Allah],” added the text.
Commenting on the photo, Al-Maqdisi wrote that a Muslim should not fight in support of a tyrant like Russia nor to defend another tyrant like Ukraine. “So beware, oh Muslim, not to fight under the banners of the pre-Islamic regimes, do not support a tyrant to triumph over another tyrant. They use you to support their dirty regimes, then they throw you as they do with toilet tissues.”
Earlier on February 25, he retweeted a video showing the alleged pro-Russia Chechen fighters performing prayers. The tweet was posted by “Daily Islamist”[2] a twitter account that identify itself as “news feed on the Islamist agenda.”
He also retweeted two photos showing the same Chechen fighters praying behind a commander. The original tweet was posted by an Arabic account that its username translates into “News Of Conflicts and Wars.”[3]
Al-Maqdisi commented on the tweet with a poem that denounced Muslims who supports tyrants. “Neither a prayer nor the Islam [of a person] is accepted if they do not abide by [the principle of] monotheism. Monotheism requires disowning the support of the tyrants. So, renounce the tyrant and his family. Renounce the laws of falsehood and slander. This must be accomplished first before performing prayers and the rest of [Islam] pillars. The Judge does not accept our deeds unless we are a monotheist,” he wrote.
“Zelensky, President of Ukraine Is A Jew With Israeli Citizenship And Russian Origin”
Al-Maqdisi also shared a tweet indirectly criticizing Muslims who sympathize or show solidarity with Ukraine. He posted a photo of the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky wearing the kippah, and commenting: ” Vladimir Zelensky, President of Ukraine, a Jew of Russian origin with Israeli citizenship. His father’s grandfather was a member of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party imprisoned by Stalin and exiled to Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Aschmahul, also a Jew with Israeli citizenship, in addition to 10 other ministers.”
He ended his post with a note that wished for Putin and Zelensky to “break each other.”
“Nothing Wrong With Rejoicing Russia’s Defeat”
In an earlier post, Al-Maqdisi answered questions from Muslims about the religious validity of wishing the Russians a defeat or rejoicing their potential defeat at the hands of the Ukrainians.
“Some of our brothers ask about the validity of their wish or joy at the defeat of the Russians and the victory of the Ukrainians, because Russia is more wary of Islam and its people, and in Ukraine is somewhat easy on preachers and Muslims? We say: There is nothing wrong with rejoicing in that, and I hope that this war will be won by the kindest to Islam and its people on the condition that no one should show support or fights in the ranks of either country.”
“U.S. Betrayed Ukraine”
Speaking on the U.S. position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the jihadi cleric described it as “betrayal,” arguing that pro-U.S. Arab leaders should take a note. “America’s betrayal of Ukraine, and its contentment with condemnation and threatening with sanctions, sends a message to America’s proxies – the Arab tyrants that: The White House will not help you on a black day. Oh Allah, hasten their dark days, and give us the pleasure to see them [humiliated].”
ISIS Supporters: Chechens Fighting With Putin Are Similar To Pro-U.S. Sahawat
It is worth noting that several jihadi social media accounts including supporters of the Islamic State (ISIS) on Rocket. Chats shared similar photos condemning the participation of Chechen soldiers in the Russian invasion to Ukraine. For example, a pro-ISIS user, Bakir_alanbari, published a photo of Chechen soldiers performing their prayers as they go to join the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He commented: “A vivid picture of the fight in the service of the tyrant. Soldiers of polytheistic Sufi Kadyrov [the current pro-Russian president of the Chechnyan republic] join the camp of infidels.”[4]
Another ISIS supporter, “abw.jhad” posted on Rocket Chat posted a photo of a large Muslim fighters, commenting: “The Russian army is recruiting the apostate Sahawat [i.e., anti-ISIS militias] to fight under its banner just as the American unbelievers do.”