Every year since September 11, 2001, there have been threats of potential Al Qaeda attacks during the month of Ramadan. This year is no exception, as there have been reports of an all-encompassing “Great Ramadan Offensive,” warnings of potential attacks on the subway system in New York, and an attack in Bali aimed at Western tourists. Each year also has seen Al Qaeda release communiques associated with jihad during this holiday.

In Ramadan 2004, the 27th issue of Sawt Al-Jihad, an Internet journal affiliated with Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, included articles devoted to jihad during Ramadan. The opening editorial stated: “Muslims! Go out to [fight] Jihad for the sake of Allah! Paradise has already flung open its gates and the virgins of paradise are already decked out in anticipation of their grooms … You should at the very least pray for your brothers the Jihad fighters, who gave their lives … in revenge for the pride of the Muslim nation that was wounded by the cross bearers and … Jews.”

In reference to bombings in Taba, Egypt, that killed 32 Israelis, the writer, Sheik Aamer Bin Abdallah Al-Aamer stated: “We pray for the Jihad fighters [who] … attacked a hotel in which Jews were gathered and killed dozens of them as an offering to Allah before Ramadan. We ask of Allah that he not deny them [their] reward …” It concluded: “This month of Jihad has come with all its blessings … Come closer to Allah through the blood of infidels, do not relent in spilling [their blood], and through [this blood] wipe out humiliation and disgrace from among your Muslim nation! Make this month like the month of the Battle of Badr, the conquest of Mecca, [the conquest] of Shaqhab, and other Islamic victories. We ask Allah to turn this Ramadan into a month of glory, victory, and might, to hoist high in [this month] the banner of religion, to strengthen Islam and the Muslims, to humiliate polytheism and polytheists, to wave the banner of monotheism, to firmly plant the banner of Jihad, and to smite the perverts …”

Sheik Aamer Bin Abdallah Al-Aamer wrote another editorial in the Al Qaeda journal stating: “Men of Jihad, this is your festive season since Jihad, in a state of fasting, has a particularly delectable taste for the believers … wonderful it is to delight in the breaking of the fast and to taste the killing of infidels, to delight in the sound of the wailing of tyrants and lowly degenerates … [This is a] month of fighting, of self-sacrifice, of military victories, of the victory of religion and the humiliation of the infidels. The most courageous and finest forays took place in Ramadan …”

In November 2003 during Ramadan, a previously unknown Al Qaeda group, Islamic Bayan Movement, issued a communique that opened with a passage from the Koran, then said: “The American rulers, who think [of] themselves as good-doers. Allah is the witness that they write the end of America by their own hands …” The communique further warned: “Our Muslim brothers in America, we ask you to immediately leave the following cities: Washington, D.C., New York, and Los Angeles.”

Another communique, by Abu Shihab Al-Qandahari, threatened Americans with a terror attack on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr in December 2002. Koran verses cited in the communique that were addressed to Americans: “You did not understand the reasons for the raids of Washington and New York … This structure of theirs, which they have built, will ever continue to be a source of disquiet in their hearts, unless their hearts are cut to pieces and they perish … Allah’s words were rightly said about those who slew you on that white day: ‘Allah has purchased from the believers their souls and their property in return for the promise that they shall have Paradise, for they fight in the cause of Allah and they slay and are themselves slain. This is a promise that He has made incumbent upon Himself as set out in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Koran …”

The communique added, “Allah promises [the Muslims] Paradise, and to you he has promised defeat … Oh community of Americans, we repeat for the thousandth time: leave our lands and stop supporting the Jews, otherwise men faithful to their vow to Allah will come upon you [to martyr themselves] …”

It should be expected that during the rest of Ramadan this year, the main Islamist sermons and jihadi Web sites will continue to incite attacks, particularly against Americans.

Mr. Stalinsky is the executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute.