Six Men Who Shaped Osama bin Laden’s Life and Ideology

The book Osama bin Laden by Michael Scheuer, a former CIA officer who was the chief of the bin Laden unit mentions six men who had the greatest impact on bin Laden's life, according to Scheuer's analysis. They are:

- The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him: He is the founder of Islam and the final messenger of God. He is revered by Muslims as the perfect example of faith and morality. He received the revelation of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and established the first Muslim community in Medina. He also led several battles and expeditions to defend and spread Islam. Bin Laden claimed to follow his teachings and emulate his actions, especially in the context of jihad, or holy struggle. 

- Ibn Taymiyyah: He was a medieval Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in Damascus. He is considered one of the most influential thinkers in Sunni Islam, especially among Salafis, who advocate a return to the pure and authentic Islam of the early generations. He wrote extensively on various topics, such as theology, jurisprudence, politics, and history. He also opposed the Mongol invasion of Muslim lands and issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, declaring jihad against them. Bin Laden cited his works frequently and adopted his views on takfir, or excommunication, which allows one Muslim to declare another as an apostate and kill him. ³ 

- Saladin: He was a Kurdish Muslim leader who ruled over Egypt and Syria in the 12th century. He is famous for his military campaigns against the Crusaders, who had occupied Jerusalem and other parts of the Holy Land. He defeated them at the Battle of Hattin in 1187 and recaptured Jerusalem, ending almost a century of Christian rule. He is regarded as a hero and a model of chivalry by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Bin Laden admired his courage and skill in fighting against the enemies of Islam and liberating Jerusalem. He also compared himself to Saladin and vowed to repeat his achievements.  

- Muhammad bin Laden: He was Osama's father and a wealthy businessman who founded the Saudi Binladin Group, one of the largest construction companies in Saudi Arabia. He was born in Yemen and migrated to Saudi Arabia, where he worked as a laborer before becoming a contractor for the royal family. He had more than 50 children from several wives, including Osama, who was his 17th son. He died in a plane crash in 1967, when Osama was 10 years old. Bin Laden inherited his father's fortune and used it to fund his activities in Afghanistan and elsewhere. He also learned from his father's work ethic, generosity, and loyalty to Islam and Saudi Arabia.  

- Mullah Omar: He was the founder and supreme leader of the Taliban, a radical Islamist movement that ruled over most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. He was a former mujahid who fought against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. He established the Taliban as a force to restore order and implement Sharia law in Afghanistan after years of civil war. He also provided sanctuary and support to bin Laden and al-Qaeda, who had moved to Afghanistan from Sudan in 1996. He refused to hand over bin Laden to the United States after the 9/11 attacks, despite international pressure and military intervention. Bin Laden swore allegiance to him and regarded him as the true leader of the Islamic world.  

- Abdullah Azzam: He was a Palestinian Islamic scholar and activist who played a key role in mobilizing Muslims from around the world to join the Afghan jihad against the Soviets. He was a mentor and teacher of bin Laden, who met him in Jeddah in 1984. He founded Maktab al-Khidamat, or the Services Bureau, an organization that recruited, trained, and financed foreign volunteers for the Afghan jihad. He also wrote influential books and pamphlets on jihad, such as Join the Caravan and Defense of Muslim Lands. He was assassinated by a car bomb in Peshawar in 1989, under mysterious circumstances. Bin Laden was deeply influenced by his ideology and vision of global jihad.