al Sunna Wal Jamma

9.9

An Islamic group in Nigeria that plans or carries out terrorist attacks

proper noun

NSFW

: al Sunna Wal Jamma

Several reports have linked al Sunna Wal Jamma to regional attacks in northern Nigeria.

Examples

The Nigerian government has increased security due to threats from al Sunna Wal Jamma.
International agencies monitor the activities of al Sunna Wal Jamma for potential terrorist threats.
The group al Sunna Wal Jamma is known for its extremist views.
Many reports indicate that al Sunna Wal Jamma has been involved in violent acts.
International agencies monitor the activities of al Sunna Wal Jamma for potential terrorist threats.
Several reports have linked al Sunna Wal Jamma to regional attacks in northern Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has increased security due to threats from al Sunna Wal Jamma.

Synonyms

Followers of the Prophet

vsal Sunna Wal Jamma

Offensive

1 9.9

An armed Islamic group in Nigeria that attacks people and causes violence

is described as believed to have engaged in or planned attacks

Surface Forms

al Sunna Wal Jamma main

Morphology

al + Sunna + Wal + Jamma

This is a proper name of an Arabic-language organization: its constituents (Arabic article 'al', 'Sunna', and 'Jamma'/'wal') are not standard English words and do not transparently signal an extremist or terrorist group to a B1 learner. Even if a learner knows 'Sunna' as an Islamic term, the name functions as a label and its specific meaning and connotations (a Nigerian fundamentalist organization) cannot be derived from the parts without prior knowledge.

Etymology

Al Sunna Wal Jamma is an Arabic phrase that literally means 'the Prophet's tradition and the community'. It joins al Sunna ('the Prophet's example') and Wal Jamma ('and the community'), so groups use the name to show they follow those religious ideas, and the Nigerian group with this name has been linked to violent attacks.