April 9th, 2002

26 Muharram 1423 A.H

Praise be to Allah, all prayers and blessings be upon the mercy sent unto this world,
the Prophet of epic wars, Muhammad ibn Abdullah and whoever follows him
with benevolence until the last Hour.

Allah (SWT) says: "Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision. They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His Bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve. They rejoice in a Grace and a Bounty from Allah, and that Allah will not waste the reward of the believers. Those who answered (the Call of) Allah and the Messenger [Muhammad (SAWS)] after being wounded; for those of them who did good deeds and feared Allah, there is a great reward. Those (i.e. believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, "Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them."

To begin with, and before mentioning anything else, we assert that Shaykh Usama bin Laden (may Allah protect him) is safe and that he is in a safe location. He is blessed with good health, prosperity and worthy companions with whom he strives and prepares his next phase (and whoever doesn't thank the people, doesn't thank Allah). Indeed, The Base (al-Qaeda) sends its thanks and gratitude to whoever has joined it and to whoever walks in its path, either with their lives, wealth, tongues or especially with their supplications. We designate our memory (dhikr) to the tribes of Afghanistan and Pakistan, who have opened their hearts and their actions to us, who also introduced us to their sons and relatives and supplied us with their food, beverages, clothing and shelter, may Allah reward them with good deeds. Indeed, the glory of religion and the blessings of the Hereafter is theirs by helping the Mujahideen and by standing with them. How could they not, when the proud imperialist British forces were destroyed on mountain rocks that belong to these tribes.

Dear beloved Ummah, rest your eyes and do not sadden. Indeed, what has happened in Afghanistan is a slip up that will heal soon, with the permission of Allah (SWT). And know that the children of Allah's knowledge are still bound to their promise with their swords held up high and with their souls set on their palms, wanting what Allah has to offer, their slogan being: "We have ridden hardships, We have donned resistance." Let us raise a force that will dominate the existence. O Ummah, indeed, happy are the ones of your children that were chosen by Allah and were martyred by the Crusaders' bombs. Indeed, with the permission of Allah, each of them will have the reward of two martyrs. Blessed is the one who is covered with a medal on his body. These wounds will increase his levels (with Allah) and will wipe away his bad deeds. As to the one who is afflicted with capture, seek Allah's help and we promise that we will work on freeing him and that is a duty on every Muslim that is capable of doing so, be certain of this. As for condolences, they are for the ones which have left the marketplace of martyrdom and who haven't been blessed with life under its shadows, hoping to grasp it in another location.

We foretell our Ummah that Allah (SWT) has given us, and whoever is with us, success in planning a Jihad program that corresponds to our present phase and has also given success to the changing and unfolding events. All that has affected us in Afghanistan won't hinder our motion and it won't impact what we have resolved on attaining. Indeed, your sons (O Ummah) are the sons of The Base of Jihad (al-Qaeda). They are prepared and ready for days like these. No decision will bear upon them. no matter what, until they attain victory or the eternal life. "Verily, the home of the Hereafter - that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew." [Qur'an 29:64]

With the realm of this message, we would like to confirm that the declarations made by the American Minister of Defense pertaining to our casualties and losses, indeed 90% of them are sheer allegations and lies. To clear things up, the number of the Mujahideen that confront the Crusaders' invasion is much smaller than what is declared by the Crusaders and this is due to the fact that the current phase is in need of small numbers. But, in their eyes, our small numbers appear to them as very large, due to Almighty Allah's help to us. And so that you know, O Ummah, that the number of the martyrs of the Mujahideen - we ask Allah (SWT) to accept them as such and we trust he will give them their due reward - do not amount to the quarter of the total casualties of the Crusaders and the apostates. Indeed, we have killed from both sides close to 6,000 since the beginning of the battle and the numbers they have killed from the Mujahideen - thanks to Allah (SWT) - do not even reach a quarter of that amount, out of which a little more than a tenth represent Arab casualties. One has to take into consideration the great differences between our capabilities, preparations, support and arrangements. Indeed, we are still in the beginning of the battle and in front of us lie ahead rounds and rounds. "And those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned." [Qur'an 26:227]

Remember, O Minister and likewise the White House Goof, that your frightened soldiers escaped from Aden (Yemen). They were defeated in Somalia and kicked in Kenya and Tanzania. You received the deep backstab in Aden again and you were slapped in the middle of your sanctuary in New York and Washington - and that is all sheer success from Allah to the brigades of good deeds from the children of our Muslim Ummah. Indeed, good is still present in our Ummah and the days to come will prove to you that you won't be able to evade the stronghold of the children of our Ummah, no matter how long your oppression lasts and no matter how great your evil (shirk).

As to your standing with your own people, it can be summed up by the words of Allah (SWT): "Thus he (Pharaoh) befooled (and misled) his people, and they obeyed him. Verily, they were ever a people who were Faasiqoon (rebellious, disobedient to Allah)." [Qur'an 43:54] May the American people understand this and may they be certain that we are - thanks to Allah - watchful over their actions. Indeed, the American system was born from the American people, it is part of them and it belongs to them, and similarly, to the Jewish nation in Palestine. We and Shaykh Usama (may Allah protect him) are bound to an oath which we have given to Allah (SWT), and not to humans, that America, and whoever lives in America, will not dream of safety, until safety becomes a reality for us living in Palestine, until all the soldiers of the disbelievers depart from the land of Muhammad (SAWS), until all our children return from the American and Cuban prisons and until all the glory and strength returns to the Ummah of Islam, which will lift the banner of Tawheed (the Oneness of Allah) up high, so that it can control and elevate the world and it will not be feared except by the submissive and the shallow ones.

May every person that cooperates and works under the Banner of the Cross, from leaders who have paved the roads for them, to clans and individuals that have fought with them, know that the last Hour is coming. Indeed, those people will only have themselves to blame, those who sold the Hereafter for the world, those who turn back on their heels in loss and have caused mischief to their Ummah, which has nothing to do with them.

As to the heroes of the blessed Jihad in Palestine, who have smudged the nose of the Zionist enemy and forced him to ask for a truce. Indeed, know that the Arab leaders that recently held a summit in Beirut hide behind it to cover their laughter and their true allegiances. With their so-called summit, they extend their right hand to Sharon, and with their left they stab the heroic people of Palestine in the back. They diminish the enthusiasm of our Islamic nation, they seal off its victory and they secure the future of the Jews in the regions, whose flags are still raised over their homes. Indeed, they work on burying Jihad alive, whose fragrance has filled the horizons with the blood of the purified martyrs due to their cunning. The one that has built this heroism is indeed the Palestinian people. As to the Arab leaders, they beg the Americans and the Jews in order to keep their authority which derives from them (Americans and Jews). As to the ones who derive their authority from Allah (SWT), they will not receive anything from them but the sword.

Jihad in Palestine is only represented by that heroic people of Palestine and the Islamic nations who support it. As to the ones who barter with the bloods of martyrs at a low price, they drug the consciences that are faithful to the truth with compensations. Indeed, know that the blood and souls of martyrs cannot be bought or sold or bargained upon and its only price tag is the surrender or extinction of the Jews and the death of whoever allies them.

To begin with, those Arab leaders, who have hid behind their people and who have released evil demons to suppress them, should have build their armies and readied them for days like these. Indeed, they are the ones who have exhausted the wealth of the Ummah in order to stabilize their authority upon the rights of the Muslims and their religious freedom.

O our beloved Ummah, we implore you to make available your full support, in terms of weapons, wealth, men and supplications, to be able to carry on the blessed Jihad in Palestine, while confirming that Jihad today is appointed on all the nations which are in the vicinity of Palestine, and in excess, to the entire Ummah wherever they were not pushed towards this rambling enemy and also to continue defending the vulnerable borders.

O Ummah of Islam, neglect your rulers and destroy your straps and your limits. Transcend them while desiring what Allah has to offer, wishing his satisfaction, while being afraid of his annoyance and revenge.

As to the heroic, Mujahid [one who performs jihad] and Muraabit [one who guards the land] people, indeed Allah (SWT) says to them and to the believers: "O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful." [Qur'an 3:200]

Until we meet again in the land of glory, Palestine.

The Base of Jihad (Qaa`edat al-Jihad)