[4] During the civil war the organization worked in cooperation with Aidid's faction, the Somali National Alliance.

[5] Originally ASWJ focused on community religious affairs and was not primarily a militant organization prior to 2008.

In 2008, ASWJ gained prominence as the main resistance force to the militant organization Al Shabaab, which was conducting many anti-Sufi attacks and destroying sacred Sufi tombs.

In response to those attacks, ASWJ organized itself as a cohesive militant force for the first time, taking its fighters from clan militias.

[6] ASWJ are fighting to prevent strict Sharia and Wahhabism from being imposed, while protecting local Sunni-Sufi traditions and generally moderate religious views.