The media institution called "The Al-Himma Library", which publishes pamphlets and manifestos for the Islamic State, published a new edition of a document entitled "Thirty Suggestions for Islamic State Emirs and Soldiers". The document was originally authored by Abd al-Mun'im bin Izz al-Din al-Badawi, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajer and as Abu Ayyub al-Misri. Al-Misri was a prominent Egyptian Jihadist official who served as a leader of Al Qaida in Iraq after the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and was killed in a raid on his home in April, 2010. The document was initially published in November 2010 by The Al-Himma Library, which operated under the auspices of the Islamic State of Iraq. In the introduction, which was composed by the Al-Himma Library, it was explained that the new edition was published five years after al-Misri's death (the first new edition was published in January 2015, and the second in February 2016), in hopes that the mujahedeen and the emirs in the Islamic Caliphate would find it beneficial.
The timing of the document's republication is not sufficiently clear, since the suggestions do not offer any new strategies or information that wasn't familiar beforehand. The document consists of extremely general guidelines and advice, which don't indicate any change in established patterns of thought. And in any case, nothing current or concrete regarding the present state of affairs on the ground was added to the document – which was written several years ago.
It is possible to explain the appearance of the document in relation to the ongoing conflict between Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, and to interpret the republication as another measure taken by ISIS in the framework of raising awareness of its position regarding Al-Qaeda. It seems that the document was published with the intention of clarifying the difference between Al-Qaeda in the present and Al-Qaeda under the command of past leaders such as Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Abu Hamza al-Muhajer – before the organization strayed from the "straight path". It was therefore an attempt to legitimize the Islamic State, and present it as an organization that emulated Al-Qaeda in its foremost structure, in order to "restore it to its original splendor".
The document is divided into two sections, and includes a total of sixty suggestions or instructions – thirty are directed at Emirs, and thirty are intended for soldiers and fighters. The suggestions consist of practical advice for managing jihad (for example, ensuring that the equipment and vehicles are ready for operations, taking strict measures regarding secure communications, and choosing the battlefield wisely). The suggestions also include religious-spiritual directives which place emphasis on the aspect of faith (for example, attaining religious knowledge, overcoming desire, prayer, etc). It is important to note that in order to give the suggestions religious validity, verses from the Koran and quotes from the Hadith are interwoven into the text.
Below is a short summary of the suggestions as they appear in the document. In the framework of the suggestions for the Emirs, al-Misri specifies that every Emir must:
In the framework of suggestions for the soldiers and fighters, al-Misri specifies that every soldier must: