Abdullah Yusuf Azzam (Arabic: عبد الله يوسف عزام, ‘Abdu’llāh Yūsuf ‘Azzām; 1941 – November 24, 1989) a.k.a. Father of Global Jihad was a highly influential Palestinian Sunni Islamic scholar and theologian, who preached in favor of both defensive jihad and offensive jihad by Muslims to help the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviet invaders and became a leader of Al Qaeda. He raised funds, recruited, and organized the international Islamic volunteer effort of Afghan Arabs through the 1980s, and emphasised the political ascension of Islam.
He is also known as a teacher and mentor of Osama bin Laden, and persuaded bin Laden to come to Afghanistan and help the jihad, though the two differed as to where the next front in global jihad should be after the withdrawal of the Soviets from Afghanistan. He was also a co-founder of Hamas and Lashkar-e-Taiba. He was killed by a bomb blast on November 24, 1989.
Read more about Abdullah Yusuf Azzam: Early Life in The West Bank, Religious Studies in Damascus, Life in Jordan and Egypt, Life in Saudi Arabia, Life in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Assassination, Legacy, Quotes, Written Works