Jihad Cosmo': Al Qaeda Launches New Women's Magazine

What do you get when you combine bombs and beauty, marriage tips and jihad? That's easy: Al Qaeda's new women's magazine, "Al-Shamikha," or "The Majestic Woman."

The new 31-page, glossy magazine is believed to be produced by the same media wing of Al Qaeda behind the flashy, English-language terrorist magazine "Inspire." That magazine is said to have an American-born jihadi author, Samir Khan.

Called "Jihad Cosmo" by some, the London Telegraph explains what you can expect to see inside.

"Much like Elle or Cosmopolitan, it includes advice on finding the right man ('marrying a mujahideen'), how to achieve a perfect complexion ... , and provides tips on first aid and etiquette," the paper says.

The magazine also features interviews with martyr's wives, who support their husbands' choices to die during jihad. The magazine agrees: "From martyrdom, the believer will gain security, safety and happiness."

But it's not all about dying for the cause. There's also practical advice, like telling women not to leave the house "except when necessary," arguing the pros and cons of honey facemasks, and a warning against "towelling too forcibly." There's even a "beauty column," the Daily Mail explains, which instructs women to stay indoors with their faces covered to keep a "clear complexion," and says they should wear a niqab -- a full body burkha -- for "rewards by complying with the command of Allah Almighty."

The magazine's editor, Saleh Youssef, explains the periodical's goal in the first edition's introduction:

Because women constitute half of the population – and one might even say that they are the population since they give birth to the next generation – the enemies of Islam are bent on preventing the Muslim woman from knowing the truth about her religion and her role, since they know all too well what would happen if women entered the field of jihad... The nation of Islam needs women who know the truth about their religion and about the battle and its dimensions and know what is expected of them.

"Al-Qaeda see how effective magazines are at pushing the ideals of western culture and want to try the same thing," James Brandon at anti-extremism think tank Quilliam told the Mail. "As a result they have come up with a jihadist's version of Cosmopolitan magazine."

Plans are already in place for the second installment, which promises to deliver tips on exfoliation and electronic jihad.