Editing Al-Qaeda (section)

=== Objectives ===
The long-term objective of al-Qaeda is to unite the Muslim World under a supra-national [[Islamic state]] known as the ''[[Caliphate|Khilafah]]'' (Caliphate), headed by an elected [[Caliphate|Caliph]] descended from the ''[[Ahl al-Bayt]]'' (Muhammad's family). The immediate objectives include the expulsion of American troops from the Arabian Peninsula, waging armed [[Jihad]] to topple US-allied governments in the region, etc.<ref name="Klausen 2021 53–54">{{Cite book|last=Klausen|first=Jytte|title=Western Jihadism: A Thirty-Year History|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2021|isbn=978-0-19-887079-1|location=Oxford, UK|pages=53–54|chapter=2: The Founder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=J. Tompkins, Crossett|first1=Paul, Chuck|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SPZdWxjMd6cC|title=Casebook on Insurgency and Revolutionary Warfare Volume II: 1962–2009|last2=Spitaletta, Marshal|first2=Jason, Shana|publisher=United States Army Special Operations Command|year=2012|location=Fort Bragg, North Carolina|pages=543–544|chapter=19 – Al-Qaeda: 1988–2001}}</ref>

The following are the goals and some of the general policies outlined in al-Qaeda's Founding Charter "''Al-Qaeda's Structure and Bylaws''" issued in the meetings in [[Peshawar]] in 1988:<ref name="ctc">{{Cite web|title=Al-Qa'ida's Structure and Bylaws|url=https://ctc.westpoint.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Al-Qa%E2%80%99ida%E2%80%99s-Structure-and-Bylaws-Translation1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013055746/https://ctc.westpoint.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Al-Qa%E2%80%99ida%E2%80%99s-Structure-and-Bylaws-Translation1.pdf|archive-date=October 13, 2022|website=CTC}}</ref><ref name="Klausen 2021 53–54"/>

{{Blockquote|text=
'''General Goals'''<br />
i. To promote ''[[jihad]]'' awareness in the [[Islamic world]]<br />
ii. To prepare and equip the cadres for the Islamic world through trainings and by participating in actual combat<br />
iii. To support and sponsor the [[Jihadism|jihad movement]] as much as possible<br />
iv. To coordinate Jihad movements around the world in an effort to create a unified international Jihad movement.

'''General Policies'''<br />
1. Complete commitment to the governing rules and controls of ''[[Sharia|Shari‘a]]'' in all the beliefs and actions and according to the book [''[[Qur’an]]''] and ''[[Sunnah|Sunna]]'' as well as per the interpretation of the nation's [[ulema|scholars]] who serve in this domain<br />
2. Commitment to Jihad as a fight for God's cause and as an agenda of change and to prepare for it and apply it whenever we find it possible...<br />
4. Our position with respect to the tyrants of the world, [[secularism|secular]] and [[nationalism|national]] parties and the like is not to associate with them, to discredit them and to be their constant enemy till they believe in God alone. We shall not agree with them on half-solutions and there is no way to negotiate with them or appease them<br />
5. Our relationships with truthful Islamic jihadist movements and groups is to cooperate under the umbrella of faith and belief and we shall always attempt to at uniting and integrating with them...<br />
6. We shall carry a relationship of love and affection with the Islamic movements who are not aligned with Jihad...<br />
7. We shall sustain a relationship of respect and love with active scholars...<br />
9. We shall reject the regional fanatics and will pursue Jihad in an Islamic country as needed and when possible<br />
10. We shall care about the role of [[Muslims|Muslim people]] in the Jihad and we shall attempt to recruit them...<br />
11. We shall maintain our economic independence and will not rely on others to secure our resources.<br />
12. Secrecy is the main ingredient of our work except for what the need deems necessary to reveal<br />
13. Our policy with the [[Afghan Jihad|Afghani Jihad]] is support, advise and coordination with the Islamic Establishments in Jihad arenas in a manner that conforms with our policies"|title=Al-Qa`ida's Structure and Bylaws, p.2|source=<ref name="ctc" /><ref name="Klausen 2021 53–54"/>}}