Osama bin Laden was born in 1957 to the Yemeni family of Mohammed Awad bin Laden. The 17th child among 54 brothers and sisters, surprisingly, Osama is the only child of his father’s union with a Palestinian woman, the tenth and least favoured wife of Mohammed.
Bin Laden’s father owned the biggest construction company in Saudi Arabia. A poor porter by birth, Osama’s father had immigrated to Saudi Arabia in 1930. He shot to fame by bagging a few prestigious construction projects. Not only did he build a powerful business empire, but also established close relationship with the royal family.
The Bin Laden household enforced strict religious and social code. Discipline was a must. At the same time, the children were entertained by picnics and trips. Mohammed expected his children to be confident and responsible right from a young age. He saw to it that his sons handled several projects independently. Osama’s father passed away in 1968 leaving behind a huge industrial and financial empire. Osama began his schooling in Jeddah and along with his brothers went on to study at Victoria College, Alexandria. He studied with the likes of King Hussein of Jordan and actor Omar Sharif. Osama further pursued economics and management at the King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. At the age of 17, he married a Syrian relative.
As a child, Osama was exposed to the Islamic culture and views from the hundreds of Haj pilgrims who would stay in his house every year. He would build up a good rapport with these people, consisting of Islamic scholars and leaders. His distinguished guides to Islam were Abdullah Azam and Mohammed Quttub, two famous Islamic scholars.
Osama was just like any other rich child. He had all the luxuries that he could wish for. He had life laid out on a platter for him. He could have easily inherited his family business, earning name and fame with it. But, Osama bin Laden was destined to make a name, albeit in a different way
Osama bin Laden – a name that stands for terror worldwide. The man responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians. Indicted for numerous crimes, his is a fight for upholding his religious principles against political interference. Call him a zealot, call him a fanatic, but he is a man with a mission: to uphold his cause at any cost.
He is idolized, he is worshipped, he is hated, he is condemned. He stands up for his cause and leads from the front. His quest for unifying all Islamic countries remains incomplete but his passion and persistence towards fulfilling it remains unabated. Having successfully dodged one of the world’s best investigating agencies for a decade, he carries forward his jehad with missionary zeal. With a deep rooted hatred against the western world, he is out to threaten its very existence. Through his deeds, Osama bin Laden has unleashed a rampage that is hard to be contained
1957
Birth of Osama bin Laden in Saudi Arabia.
1968
Bin Laden’s father Mohammed Awad passes away.
1975
Bin Laden marries a Syrian relative.
1979
Goes to Pakistan and meets refugees.
Starts funding the jehad.
1981
Graduates from King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah.
1984
Establishes a guesthouse in Peshawar to host the Mujahideen.
1986
Builds training camps in Afghanistan.
1988
Establishes Al Qa’edah (The Base).
1989
Returns to Saudi Arabia.
Travel ban imposed on him.
1991
Escapes from Saudi Arabia and reaches Afghanistan.
Fearing extradition, he flees to Sudan.
1993
His Saudi citizenship is cancelled and assets are frozen.
1995
Involved in a car bombing in Riyadh.
1996
Flees Sudan and returns to Afghanistan.
Declares war on America.
1997
Escapes an assassination bid.
1998
Bombs US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
2000
Bombs USS Cole killing 17 US sailors.
2001
Allegedly bombs the twin towers of World Trade Center, New York and Pentagon, Washington killing thousands of people from 47 countries.
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If instigation for jehad against Jews and Americans is a crime then let history be a witness that I am a criminal.
Our job is to instigate and by God’s grace we did that and some people responded to it.
We will avenge every martyr by killing 100 Americans.
What I lived in two years there (Afghanistan), I could not have lived in a hundred years elsewhere.
No, I was never afraid of death. As Muslims, we believe that when we die, we go to heaven. Before a battle, God sends us "Seqina", tranquility.
I was under bombardment but I was so peaceful in my heart that I felt asleep.
We – with God’s help – call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded to comply with God’s order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it.
It is our duty to lead people to the light.
We believe that the biggest thieves and terrorists are the Americans. The only way for us to fend off these assaults is to use similar means.
We do not differentiate between those dressed in military uniforms and civilians; they are all targets.
