The Middle East Media Research Institute features an Islamic State (ISIS) video released online on September 6, 2016 showcased a shari'a school that it operates in its Al-Khayr Province, featuring its young pupils - "the cubs of the Caliphate" - discussing their aspirations of martyrdom, instructing citizens on approved clothing and grooming, and fighting on the front lines. The video states that these children will "become the vanguard of the army of the Caliphate, Allah willing, and... the generation that will conquer Damascus, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Mecca, Al-Madina, Dabiq, Rome, and Andalusia."
Narrator: "The Caliphate's Generation
"In the lands of the tyrants, the children are asked, from a very early age: 'What would you like to be when you grow up?' If a child says that he wants to be a mujahid, or a student of religion, or an imam, or to work in the field of da'wa, his words are frowned upon and he is held in disdain. But if a child says that he wants to be a minister or an MP, a judge, a pilot, a soldier, or a policeman, they rejoice, laugh, and praise him. This way, the secular education system instills these aspirations in the souls of Muslim children from a very early age, so that they are raised on heresy and on fighting Islam and the Muslims, and they view things in a distorted way, using misnomers. The child who wanted to become a fighter pilot realizes his dream, thanks to the secular education he received in the education systems of the tyrants. He sees nothing wrong with receiving orders from the American Crusaders, or with honoring them with a military salute. He is not ashamed to fly over Muslim cities, and to rain rockets and bombs down upon them, killing vulnerable women and children.
"On our tour of a shari'a institution, run by the Islamic State in the Al-Khayr Province, we asked the cubs of the Caliphate about their dreams and aspirations."
Child 1: "I want to be a martyrdom-seeker for the sake of Allah, thus heeding the words of the Prophet Muhammad: 'The martyrs that Allah loves most are the ones who fight in the front lines, and do not turn their backs until they are killed.'"
Child 2: "I want to be a martyrdom-seeking religious scholar, like my brother was."
Narrator: "Parents undoubtedly play a role in their children's deviation from the right path. You see some of them hastening to enroll their children in Western schools, artistic groups and clubs, and singing competitions. They do not care about the harm these cause to the faith of their children. You see them elated with happiness if their sons win a song or dance competition.
"On the other hand, in the Islamic State, parents take their children to shari'a institutions. They urge their children to study the Quran and religion. You see them happy if their children learn part of the Quran or a religious text by heart. How great is the difference between those raised on monotheism and the Quran and those raised on listening to songs and music."
Child 3: "My brother, Allah bless you, you are not allowed to swim in these clothes, because your private parts can be seen. If a woman passes you by, would you like her to see you this way? Put your shirt on."
Child 4: "Assalaam alaykum."
Man: "Assalaam alaykum."
Child 4: "How are you?"
Man: "Fine, Allah be praised."
Child 4: "Uncle, you need to grow your beard, in order to comply with the words of the Prophet Muhammad: 'Trim your mustaches and grow your beards.'"
Narrator: "The cubs do not engage only in activities in the field of shari'a. They join their brothers fighting on the front lines. Just as they are humble towards Muslims, they are harsh towards the infidels. From a very young age, they are raised on harshness, hatred, and animosity toward the infidels.
"The tyrants strive to make the sons of Muslims deviate from their religion, to open the gates of apostasy for them, to obstruct the fountains of goodness and promote Satan's merchandise, so that these children will become soldiers of the Crusaders, and will fight Islam and the Muslims, or so that they will become humiliated and subjugated, steeped in secularism and its values, like respect for the infidel 'other,' and rejecting the 'violence' that Allah called 'Jihad.' It reached the point that when the tyrants closed in on them, killed thousands of them and raped their women, all they did was say: 'Our peaceful [protests] are stronger than bullets!'
"At the same time, the Caliphate is teaching its cubs about their religion, so that they become the vanguard of the army of the Caliphate, Allah willing, and so that they will become the generation that will conquer Damascus, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Mecca, Al-Madina, Dabiq, Rome, and Andalusia, Allah willing.
"The Islamic State is proud to have planted true Islam within these cubs, who will be in the midst of the battles in a few years, Allah willing. Even if we are all eradicated and no one survives, these cubs will carry the banner of jihad and will complete the journey. By Allah, with these young men, we will make the infidels forget the whispers of Satan."
*Images courtesy of the Middle East Research Center Institute
