Since the 9/11 attacks, scholars have struggled to help Westerners understand what motivates the jihadi movement. Noting that the best way to understand jihadists is to ignore statements they release to the West in favor of examining what they say to each other, Jim Lacey provides a definitive collection of writings that intellectually underpins the movement. Rather than guessing about terrorist motivations from a Western perspective, readers are offered essays-including those by the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hasan al-Banna, and a leading early member, Sayed Qutb-that define the movement through the eyes of the terrorists themselves. As jihadist cadres begin to rebuild, Lacey notes that they are turning once again to their original thinkers to justify their actions.

Includes maps of: [Europe and North Africa].

Introduction -- Jihad against Jews and crusaders: issued by the World Islamic Front, February 23, 1998 -- Jihad / Hasan al-Banna -- Milestones / Al Shaheed Sayyid Qutb -- The neglected obligation / Muhammad al-Salam Faraj -- The management of savagery / Abu Bakr Naji -- The Qur'anic concept of war / S. K. Malik -- Join the caravan / Abdullah Yusuf 'Azzam -- Bush under the microscope / Abu-'Ubayd al-Qurashi -- Toward a new strategy in resisting the occupier / Muhammad Khalil al-Hakaymah -- The call to global Islamic jihad / al-Suri.