Ekhlaas member al-Suhayl observes that JIhadis criticize Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and other Arab countries for collaborating with the United States, but they say nothing about Oman. Moreover, Oman has not been the object of Jihadi violence. This despite the fact that Oman allows the U.S. to use its military bases, has an office for Omani-Israeli relations, has a constitution that violates Sharia law, and has reformed its curriculum to conform with “Bushi-Blairi” Islam.
Abu al-Usud al-Saffak (The Blood-shedding Father of Lions) responds that Jihadis come from every country of the world except Oman. He’s at a loss to explain it.
Suhayl concurs, remarking: “One of the mujahids said: ‘There are two countries from which mujahids do not originate: Oman and Bahrain.'”
`Adhab al-Qabr (Torment of the Tomb) believes that the reason for Oman’s lack of Jihadi production is the Ibadi ideology that dominates religious matters. (This would be ironic given that Ibadism is a soft remnant of the revolutionary Kharijite Movement that roiled the early Islamic empire–a movement often compared to contemporary Jihadi-Salafism.) `Adhab’s solution is that the brothers need to start joining Omani forums and spreading Jihadi ideas.
Al-`Adiyyat (Antiquities) complains that he has already done so, but to little effect. Even the non-Ibadis in Oman are not interested because they are too taken with Sufism.
The absence of Jihadi foreign fighters from Oman and the dearth of Jihadi activity in Oman does need explanation. It has the right ingredients–authoritarian rule, no civil rights, a revolutionary and misanthropic ideology, and a U.S. presence–but no cake. Perhaps there needs to be more ingredients. Or perhaps the ingredients have to be mixed in specific portions (i.e. Oman lacks the right recipe). At the very least, the absence challenges the standard cultural or political explanations for Jihadi violence. Any takers?
Document (Arabic): 7-17-08-ekhlaas-why-no-jihad-in-oman