NOOR DAHRI
FORMER JIHADIST, MIDDLE EAST ANALYST, COUNTER-TERRORISM EXPERT, AUTHOR, AND SPEAKER
Noor Dahri is a former Jihadist and the former Executive Director of the Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism (ITCT), a UK-based counter-extremism think tank. He served with the London Police for seven years. He is an independent researcher specializing in countering Islamist terrorism and radicalization. Mr. Dahri is also a Middle East analyst and has published several articles on Middle Eastern geopolitics.
He has authored numerous research articles and reports on key issues, including counter-terrorism, violent extremism, de-radicalization, and the Israel–Palestine conflict, many of which have been published in reputable newspapers.
Mr. Dahri has actively participated in a wide range of counter-terrorism events and has delivered speeches at international conferences addressing the evolving threat of terrorism. He has also engaged with various academic and policy institutions to discuss these issues in depth.
He frequently appears on television and radio programs, offering expert analysis and commentary. In addition, he regularly contributes to discussions and forums held in the House of Commons and the House of Lords within the UK Parliament.
He has authored and edited six books, all published between 2019 and 2022, which are available on Amazon. He has authored a forthcoming book, “Oct 7: The World’s Most Complex Warfare”, which has been accepted for representation by one of London’s leading literary agencies, the Neil Blair Partnership.
Mr. Dahri’s research can be found on his professional website: www.NoorDahri.com.
A Former Jihadist’s Confessions
NOOR DAHRI
Human interpretation of religion is, in effect, an elucidation of God. Religious and secular scholars throughout history have understood God in different ways. Claims such as “my God,” “your God,” or that “one conception of God is superior,” have divided humanity and undermined efforts to grasp the idea of God. No one can possess God or claim their understanding is better than another’s.
Humans often view God through anthropomorphic concepts or forms, yet God exists beyond any mortal perception. Rather, He may be seen as a supernatural life-sustaining energy within everything. Whether we believe in Him or not, we cannot move beyond His boundaries, for the limits He has set are fixed.
When I was a jihadist, my understanding of God was entirely different from today. I believed God belonged only to me, that the God of Islam was the only true God, and that the gods of other religions were false human inventions. I believed my God commanded me to destroy anyone whose understanding differed from mine. This concept of God was instilled in me from the teachings of those around me.
In my former life, I mistakenly believed I could possess God. In truth, no one can “own” Him; rather, He owns everyone and everything in the universe. God is not extreme, nor does He command people to be extreme in their actions or understanding of Him. He is complete love, compassion, and mercy. He asks nothing from us except that we follow the rules and restrictions He has prescribed.
Just as we follow the laws of the countries in which we live, we must also follow the edicts of God’s universe. Many people obey His commandments, striving to please Him within religious borders, out of a desire for paradise. Many judge others through a religious lens. Yet they often forget that religion is only one of many paths toward Him. In fact, God’s existence extends beyond religious confines and lives within and among His creations. For this reason, He made human beings superior to all other creations in the universe, including angels.
Religion is very important to me because it taught me how to please God and where to seek Him. Once I comprehended that His existence extends beyond religious boundaries, I stepped outside the exclusive walls of my religion (stopped judging others through my strict religious perspective) while continuing to practice as a Muslim. I chose to serve humanity regardless of others’ religious beliefs, because this is where I found the presence of God.
Must we hate anyone to please Him? Must we seek paradise in order to follow Him? Must we belong to a particular religion to find Him? I do not believe so. Every path leads to Him, and every person can follow Him in their own unique way. We should not serve Him merely to attain paradise; rather, we should seek His acceptance through our efforts to benefit humanity in His name. Once He accepts us, we move beyond paradise into His happiness.