He (the terrorist) may have been introduced to someone through his training for competition. They may have said, study these Koran verses, and dedicate yourself to Allah if he will help you win the next Championship. A Faustian Pact is reached, in a moment of competitive, superstitious zeal. Lo and behold, he does win the next Championship. The next day, the “training assistant” reconnects, all ready to collect the young man’s soul.
My apologies. I got this story mixed up with the newer story of the Muslim who killed those five serviceman just this week. Sorry about that error. There are just so many such ‘stories’ these days.
It’s not uncommon for Islamic parents to encourage their adult children to go ‘deeper into Islam’....this he did as was evidenced by those in his Mosque....I don’t think he needed any “persuasion” rather encouraged by his family and others in Islam to pursue further.
His trip to Jordan and then Yemen simply furnished the rest of what he was seeking....Islam is ISIS ...it IS Jihad....he was simply doing what Islam teaches....
If there was any direct “order” it came from the Iman who said to shoot the military here in our country if they were not fighting in their wars. So that’s what he and others are doing.