The State

Hey, little man.

They gave me a password, and he was supposed to tell the driver where

to take me, but he's not answering. It was all arranged but I just...

What... what is it?

Time to go.

We can't cross yet... we have to wait here.

What is it, what's going on?

What are you talking about?

Bruv.

Welcome.

I can't believe we're here, bruv. It's for you.

My friends, this is

Abu Anwar Al-Brittani that I told you about.

His brother was

Abu Hamid Al-Brittani, the humble one.

Mujahideen.

This way.

Dump your stuff here, yeah?

Be careful. The power's out again.

Allahu Akbar.

Allahu Akbar.

Allahu Akbar.

All right, this is my good friend, Abu Hafeez.

He doesn't speak much English.

Assalamu alaikum. Alaikum salaamwa.

Yo, yo... where you going?

Home.

I thought...

I thought this was home. Eh?

No, akhi, this house is for the new arrivals, yeah?

And the men who can't find women who'll marry them.

I've got my own house, bruv.

Don't worry... look, Abu Hafeez is the Emir of the house.

He'll make sure you don't do anything stupid.

I'll catch you tourists later.

So you pay no rent or bills,

you get your food and drink each month at no charge,

plus an allowance.

If you need anything from the store, just let us know.

We'll get it brought in for you.

OK? On we go.

Anything you need, we can get.

Just don't go outside... we leave that to the guys.

OK, this way.

Actually, while we're

on the subject of the men,

here's how it is.

Whatever you've heard, whatever you've seen on Facebook,

you can't be single here.

The Prophet... salla Allahu alayhi wa' sallam...

said marriage is half the din,

and that's how it is in dawlah.

So get yourselves married as soon as possible,

and we can help you with that.

Now, this...

is where we meet

and talk and hang out together.

We do pretty much everything in here, actually.

Come on, come on, say hello.

Erm, excuse me... why isn't everyone covered?

OK, good question.

Why aren't we all covered?

Well, that's because the men never come here.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

That's incredibly rude, isn't it?

What I meant is men over a certain age never come here.

So we can relax and be ourselves.

Oh, look at me forgetting my main job...

which is to collect up your phones, please.

Oh, I need to call home.

I was told I can do that when I arrive.

They're going to be worried. Well, I know, I know, sweetie,

but the phones have these built-in trackers and things,

so we can't take the chance.

The brothers will take a look at them.

You can call home when it's safe.

Once you're settled in. OK?

Yeah, that was for, like, if we got stopped.

It's my mother.

We don't have pictures of uncovered women here.

Maybe you should delete it.

It's better.

I did a factory reset, like they said.

What's your name?

My real name or my kunyah?

We don't use real names around here.

Abu Anwar Al-Brittani. Ah. You're the brother of Abu Hamid...

No.

Did you know him?

Were you born Muslim?

Abdullah.

What are your skills?

Um...

I'm a Hafiz.

Inshallah.

So you know the whole Koran by heart?

Yeah.

Recite the Koran.

What else are you good at?

Besides reciting the Koran, what else can you do?

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

So that we can decide how to best use you.

I've come here to fight. That's it.

That's what you think you're doing here? Definitely. No.

What do you mean, no?

You're here for the worship of Allah Subhanuha Wa Ta'ala.

And to spread the worship of

Allah Subhanuha Wa Ta'ala across the living lands.

Everything else is for the love of dunyah.

How was yours?

Sick. We get four weeks training, then it's game on.

What did he ask you? Nothing. Why?

I don't know, man. It's like he was trying to catch me out.

They've got to be careful.

There's spies trying to come here, innit?

Can I help? No, madam.

Can't have you cooking on the first night in Sham.

I'd like to.

OK, if you insist.

Can you cut these into strips?

About that big, OK?

He's so cute, Isaac.

How old is he? Nine.

He looks younger.

Did his father give his permission for you to travel?

His father isn't around much.

It doesn't matter.

Once you make your bay'ah, all your sins are forgiven.

It doesn't matter what you did in your jahiliyyah,

it's all wiped clean.

I don't know if they told you, I'm a doctor.

I want to work in the hospital in Raqqa.

That'll depend on your husband when you marry.

Why?

I was told online I could practice.

I'm here to help build the state.

See what happens.

There are a lot of ways we can serve.

Our main job is to support the Muhejadin.

My hijrah isn't for anyone's benefit.

It's a test of patience.

And hardship, to see if I'm worthy to enter Jannah.

Where's Um Haleema? Who?

Your friend. That's the kunyah she chose.

She's not my friend. We met on the border.

She's upstairs.

She's crying.

Why, sweetie?

Because she wants to call home.

Hi. We'll let you sleep. No, it's OK.

Mum made it.

I'm not very hungry.

It's really good.

Where's the cutlery? There isn't any.

We have to use our fingers.

It's really cool. Isaac says you're upset.

I left without telling my parents where I was going.

I need to ring them. They'll be worried to death.

They'll be even more worried when they know where you are.

What's the point? It's fard on every Muslim to make hijrah.

It doesn't matter what they think.

And if you know your din,

you know it's also fard to keep up the ties of kinship.

Have you told your parents where you are?

No. Well, then.

Fear Allah and give your parents their due.

Allahu akbar

Allahu akbar. Allahu akbar.

Allahu akbar. Allahu akbar.

Passport.

No, no. Keep.

Passport!

Put, put.

Allahu akbar.

Your brother would be proud of you.

Rah.

Man's own five-star jihad.

You're German, right?

Better get your towel down now, keep your place, yeah?

Squeeze, don't jerk.

OK, girls.

All clear.

This is Um-Salaam.

Hi.

Sit down, sit down.

Come through, sit down.

Three, two, one.

OK, what do you want to know?

The door is closed.

The men are outside.

No secret microphones.

This is your chance.

Ask me anything you want.

How do we get a husband?

It's a good question.

You cannot leave the house.

You are covered from head to foot in black clothes.

How do you get a husband in Dollah?

The answer is we help you.

Most of us are married and our husbands have friends,