A Critical Analysis of the Use of the Qur’an in Boko Haram’s Anti-Western Discourse

Central to the message of Boko Haram, officially known as Jamāʿat Ahl al-Sunnah li-l-Daʿwah wa-l-Jihād, is opposition to “boko,” a term it equates with Western civilisation, and the call for an Islamic order free from such influence. To assert the authenticity of its claims, the group frequently appeals to the Qur’an, prompting the question of how far its discourse and methods are authorised by it. Thus, this study examines how Boko Haram constructs and defends its anti-Western ideology through Qur’anic interpretation. It analyses how specific verses are employed to justify the group’s critiques of political entities, the education system, and “the others.” Drawing upon audio, visual, and print materials produced by the group between 2006 and 2024, the study employs content, thematic, and comparative analyses to evaluate these interpretations against mainstream exegetical traditions. The findings reveal that Boko Haram instrumentalises the Qur’an as a rhetorical and ideological tool to legitimise violence, delegitimise traditional scholarship, while asserting its own religious authority.