Islam, Cellular Automata and the Game of Life IV: Boko Haram Kills a Commander

Ali Gaga, Left

From The Last English Prince:

Prior posts at this link

Assurance of adequate safety and security.  “Foreign influencers” (vague/covert) who promised rescue.

The two questions pondered by The Last English Prince are simple enough:

Did anyone involved truly understand the tremendous courage and resolve of a senior Boko Haram Commander?

And did any comprehend the tremendous threat to life and limb when a man chooses to break free from the ranks of Islam?

The murder of Ali Gaga sheds light on what is my deeply felt truth, one gained by years of close observation of both C2 (command and control), doctrine of warfare, and allegiances in Islam.

Unfortunately, the line between faith and folly is a thin one.  Ali Gaga believed he would be rescued. Faith gave birth to courage.  Folly, did not facilitate the rescue in an actionable, timely, operational manner.  Folly, is married to disaster and we need to remember that small fact.

Mutakallimun.  We could move deeply into the topic at hand – but not on a blog. So here are just a few thoughts.

The purpose of an Islamic state is not self-determination. It is to obtain the unyielding allegiance (Ba’yah) of the Ummah.   Prior to the Battle of Hudiabiyyah combatants placed their hand on Prophet Muhammad’s thigh and gave allegiance (Ba’yah al Ridwan).  This binding act took place under a tree.  This oath gave way to the boast in Surah 48:1.

These oaths are still enacted.  On the Shi’a side of the house an oath is given to a particular Grand Ayatollah.  On the Sunni side, the same is in existence (example:  Abid Ullah Jan and his close friendship with Osama bin Ladin). So oaths are binding. And in Islam, there can be no Bowe Bergdahl mercy.  His throat would have been cut for desertion because in Islam there is no desertion from the battle.

In Islam there is no desertion from the ranks.  And in Islam, desertion is apostasy.  The apostate is kept in solitary for three days and then beaten to death if there is no repentance.  It is a discretionary Hadd penalty, as is crucifixion.

Ali Gaga was killed and it was considered a righteous act. It was righteous because the command (‘amr) of Allah was meted out.  So much for faith and the folly of those who did not understand the nature of the threat and move with an operational tempo suited to the threat. What was lost was not just a life but perhaps also a trove of information.