ONLINE FIRST
published on September 12, 2025
Hicham Zag

https://doi.org/10.5840/jrv202591199
Chants of Terror
Framing Jihad in Islamic State Propaganda
Media technologies and cultural artifacts have been at the core of jihadist propaganda. Among these, anasheed¡ªa cappella jihadi songs¡ªappear as a significant genre within jihadi rhetoric. Despite their role in mobilization, anasheed have received limited scholarly attention. This research investigates the thematic composition of the Islamic State¡¯s hymnal propaganda to explore what it reveals about the jihadist worldview. Through a mixed-content analysis, guided by a framing-to-mobilization approach, anasheed from Ajnad Media Foundation are analyzed to identify how jihad is framed and the frames used to legitimize violence and mobilize their audience. Findings reveal that anasheed provide a concise yet revealing window into the jihadist worldview. Apart from serving as a communicative tool and fulfilling tactical purposes, anasheed function as a mobilizing agent that emotionally and ideologically prime its audience for the fantasy culture of jihad. The study suggests that these cultural artifacts sustain the presence of jihadist narratives despite territorial defeats. It is implicated that jihadism is invincible if not countered from within the cultural scripts on which it feeds rather than relying solely on the traditional security paradigm of surveillance, securitization, and military force.